On my recent Viking cruise, I discovered that luxury cruising isn’t always about big, obvious things like fancy suites or free-flowing champagne!
Tiny, almost unadvertised luxury details can quietly change how the whole cruise feels.
When I sailed on Viking Star, I was constantly commenting on, and finding joy in these tiny little touches that made the cruise feel completely different to others I have taken.
In this article, we look at what those things were and why I appreciated them so much.
#1. Blankets in the Theatre
When I head to the theatre in the evening, I often find that I am cold.
This is because I am often wearing a dress, and the aircon in the theatre seems to be on full blast! This is doubtless because good air conditioning is needed when they are expecting a very full theatre.
I usually make sure I have a light cardigan with me to wear or wrap around my knees when I go to the theatre. Often, it is warmer in the rest of the ship, and I pop back to the cabin to get one before the evening show .
On Viking Star, soft blankets were freely available, so I could wrap one around my legs (or shoulders) if I was feeling cold.
And not just any old cheap blanket, luxury, soft blue wool blankets….
I really appreciated this small touch. I never had to worry about having cold legs or bringing a cardigan. I just picked up one of the blankets that were neatly folded on the back of the seats, and I was good to go!
#2. Little Covers on Door Handles
I often get static shocks on cruise ships.
One touch of the cabin handle, you can hear an audible crackle, and you feel that annoying, harmless shock go through your body. I am sure I am not alone in this!
Getting a static shock from a cruise ship door handle is a common, harmless, but annoying occurrence caused by the buildup of electrons on your body.
This happens because the air on ships is often very dry due to air conditioning, and walking on carpeted hallways creates friction that builds up a charge.
I never got static shocks on Viking Star. All the door handles had neat little leather covers on them!
This also helps to reduce noise in corridors – not that there was much noise in the corridors anyway – everything and everybody was remarkably quiet!
They had matching covers on the stair handrails, too. I have never seen anything quite like it. Everything looked very neat – and premium.
#3. Birdsong in the Bathroom
Whenever I went to a public bathroom/toilet on the ship, I enjoyed the bird song sound effects that were played in each one!
It was a bit spa-like, giving a peaceful feeling rather than a standard cruise bathroom experience.
The bathrooms never seemed busy, even during peak times outside the theatre.
According to a crew member, there is birdsong in the bathrooms because it is intended to reflect Torstein Hagen’s (Viking’s Chairman) focus on Nordic heritage.
In the Nordic wilderness, hearing birdsong typically signals that no predators are nearby, and it symbolises safety and comfort.
Whether this is true or not, I could not say – but I certainly enjoyed the birdsong!
#4. It Was Genuinely Quiet Everywhere – Including the pools!!!
The overall experience was different from the moment we stepped onboard Viking Star.
The lack of crowds and very quiet public spaces was immediately noticeable.
When I posted pictures online, many people asked where all the other guests were. Did I get up especially early to film and take pictures before other guests were around?
The answer is no. Apart from the occasional passenger here and there, the ship felt quite empty a lot of the time, it was easy to avoid filming or photographing the other guests.
There always seemed to be a sea of empty seats in the lounges and bars.
Even when the entertainment was scheduled, I never thought “I’d better arrive early to get a seat”.
This is very different to cruising with the mainstream cruise lines, where I often struggle to get a seat. This is particularly true if there are musicians playing or trivia and quizzes taking place.
The pools always seemed completely empty too. When we swam, we had the pool and hot tubs to ourselves.
On mainstream cruise lines, I often swim in the early evening, as that is the best time to get to the pool when it isn’t too crowded. Everyone else is usually at dinner.
#5. Drinks Available to Pick Up in the Buffet (and Included)
Drinks were freely available at the buffet, with no queuing or extra charges.
We could hardly sit down before waiters came over to offer us water and ask if we would like something else to drink.
Often, we just picked up a can of Coke from the side. We didn’t need ice or a glass, so there was no need for them to wait on us. Service was always excellent though. There was never any shortage of attentive staff.
6. Books Everywhere You Looked
There were books and quiet reading spaces throughout the ship.
And not dusty old tattered books either – the sort you might find in a charity shop!
There was something for everyone. Travel, autobiographies, novels, music, hobbies – all sorts.
My mum had brought along a recently published library book she wanted to read. She needn’t have bothered bringing it all the way from the UK, she found the same book on the shelves of the Winter Garden.
7. Things Weren’t Bolted Down
The ship was tastefully decorated throughout in a Scandinavian style. Everything was calm and relaxing.
Décor items, books, and furnishings felt like they belonged in a home rather than on a large cruise ship.
On other cruise lines, I have tried picking up the art pieces from the tables to have a closer look, only to find they have been stuck down.
I’m not sure whether that is because the cruise lines expect people to walk off with them, or because they are concerned about them moving about in rough seas. Either way, this didn’t seem to be a concern on Viking.
#8. More Comfort for Smokers
I am not a smoker, and never have been.
I often feel a little sorry for smokers, as they are often wedged in a small corner of the pool deck and forced to smoke outside in all weathers.
The areas put aside for smokers are often crowded, and the seats don’t look all that comfortable.
On Viking star I noticed this lovely little smoking area.
The smoking area was tucked away from the elements, had a choice of comfortable seating, and blankets to keep you warm on cooler evenings.
If I were a smoker, I am sure I would enjoy using this area.
# 9. Norwegian / Cultural Elements
There were lots of little elements on the ship that reminded you that you were on a Norwegian Vessel.
From the huge Norwegian flag at the back, to the Scandi decor inside and the themed artworks.
They even served traditional Norwegian dishes, like these wonderful heart-shaped waffles.
Norwegian waffles, known for being heart-shaped, sweet, and soft, are traditionally topped with brown cheese (Brunost), jam (especially raspberry or lingonberry), and sour cream or whipped cream, with fresh fruit like berries also a popular addition for a sweet and tangy contrast to the caramelised cheese. You make them with a batter of flour, sugar, cardamom, eggs, milk, and butter, then serve them warm with these classic sweet toppings
You will find these served at Mamsen’s, the Norwegian deli located in the Explorers’ Lounge on all Viking Ocean ships.
They are based on a recipe from Ragnhild “Mamsen” Hagen, mother of Viking’s founder, Torstein Hagen.
Although none of these details are headline features, together they create a noticeably different cruising experience.
These tiny touches are very noticeable when you are used to sailing with mainstream or budget cruise lines.
Before You Go
Compare my Viking experience to the luxury river cruise I took with Uniworld here:
I Booked The Cheapest Cabin on a LUXURY River Cruise Ship
Have a look at the luxury Yacht cruise I took on Emerald Azzurra below. It only had one hundred passengers onboard:
I Spent 7 Days in a Luxury Suite on a SUPER YACHT (Full Review)
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