Viking Star

Viking Star is a cruise ship operated by Viking Ocean Cruises, the ocean division of Viking Cruises. She is the lead vessel of the Viking Star class and entered commercial service in April 2015, establishing the basic design and onboard concept later used by sister ships including Viking Sea and Viking Sky. Unlike a mass-market resort ship, Viking Star was developed around a smaller-scale, destination-focused cruising model intended to combine a comparatively intimate vessel with an upscale Scandinavian aesthetic and extensive cultural programming. The ship was designed by SMC Design of London, with exterior styling by Clifford Denn Design and interiors by Los Angeles-based Rottet Studio. Her design language was intended to connect Viking's ocean fleet with the Scandinavian character already associated with the company's river vessels. Public spaces include a main swimming pool, an infinity pool, a spa, a fitness center, multiple restaurants, lounges, a piano lounge, the Explorers' Lounge, a wintergarden, the Aquavit Terrace, the World Cafe, a sports deck, the Star Theatre, bars and retail areas. The theatre supports live entertainment, films, destination lectures and cultural enrichment activities covering subjects such as art, history and local culture. Viking Star accommodates up to approximately 930 passengers in 465 staterooms and suites. Its accommodation plan emphasizes private outdoor space: the stateroom categories are fitted with private verandas, while the ship also includes 14 Explorer Suites. The smallest staterooms are approximately 25 square metres, and the largest two-room suites extend to roughly 134.5 square metres, with wraparound balconies. This configuration reflects Viking Ocean Cruises' positioning toward adults seeking quieter, destination-oriented travel rather than extensive amusement-park-style attractions. The vessel was built at Fincantieri's Marghera shipyard in Italy. Construction began with first-plate cutting in June 2013, followed by keel laying in December of that year. Viking Star was launched in June 2014 and completed a week of sea trials in the Aegean Sea in December 2014. Viking Ocean Cruises formally took delivery on 28 March 2015, and the ship entered service the following month. Viking Star's engineering incorporates a streamlined, hydrodynamically optimized hull and bow, hybrid engines, solar panels and exhaust-treatment equipment intended to improve fuel efficiency and support compliance with environmental requirements. The ship also uses seawater-lubricated COMPAC propeller-shaft bearings supplied by Thordon Bearings. This arrangement avoids the need for an aft seal and reduces reliance on stored biodegradable oils, while allowing the seawater lubricant to be returned to the ocean after use. In October 2016, a mast on the ship clipped the underside of the Cape Cod Canal Railroad Bridge. An inspection reported scraped paint but no structural damage to the bridge. Viking Star remains an operating vessel within the Viking Ocean Cruises fleet.

Viking Star was developed as the first ocean-going vessel for Viking Ocean Cruises, an expansion of Viking Cruises beyond its established river-cruise operations. The design sought to translate the company's Scandinavian visual identity and destination-led approach into a purpose-built ocean ship. SMC Design of London led the vessel's design work, Clifford Denn Design shaped the exterior, and Rottet Studio designed the interiors. The resulting concept emphasized understated contemporary spaces, direct access to ports, private verandas and cultural programming rather than the large-scale amusement facilities associated with many contemporary cruise ships. Construction took place at Fincantieri's Marghera shipyard near Venice, Italy. The first plate was cut on 7 June 2013 in a ceremony attended by Torstein Hagen, Viking's founder and chairman. The keel was laid on 18 December 2013. Fincantieri launched the ship on 23 June 2014, earlier than the previously indicated mid-July launch timing. After fitting out, Viking Star undertook a week-long series of sea trials in the Aegean Sea in December 2014. More than 80 tests examined the vessel's propulsion, engines, navigation systems, acoustics and other operational functions. Viking Ocean Cruises accepted delivery on 28 March 2015. Viking Star entered service in April 2015 as the lead ship of the Viking Star class. Her arrival marked the operational beginning of Viking's ocean-cruise fleet and provided the platform for the company's subsequent expansion. Viking Sea and Viking Sky joined the fleet in 2016, carrying forward the principal design and service philosophy established by Viking Star. The ship was designed at a relatively modest scale for a contemporary ocean liner, enabling access to ports that may be difficult for larger vessels to use directly. This supported Viking's emphasis on destination immersion and streamlined embarkation and debarkation. Her 465 staterooms and suites can accommodate up to approximately 930 passengers, with every stateroom category offering a private veranda. The accommodation ranges from approximately 25-square-metre rooms to large two-room Explorer Suites with wraparound balconies. Onboard facilities include two pools, a spa, a fitness center, three restaurants, the World Cafe, the Aquavit Terrace, lounges, a wintergarden, a theatre, a sports deck and retail spaces. The theatre and public areas support performances, films, port talks and lectures on art, history and culture. These features reinforce the vessel's premium, adult-oriented and educational positioning. Viking Star's technical specification also reflects an effort to reduce fuel use and environmental impact. The vessel has a streamlined hull and bow, hybrid engines, solar panels and exhaust-pollution-control equipment. Its COMPAC propeller-shaft bearings use seawater lubrication, eliminating the need for an aft seal and reducing the handling of biodegradable oils. In October 2016, the ship was involved in a minor contact with the Cape Cod Canal Railroad Bridge when a mast clipped the bridge's underside. The bridge inspection found scraped paint but no structural damage. Viking Star continues to serve as an operating ship in the Viking Ocean Cruises fleet.

1. 2016Sister ships join the fleet

   Viking Sea and Viking Sky joined Viking Ocean Cruises in 2016, extending the ship class pioneered by Viking Star.

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2. 2016Cape Cod Canal bridge contact

   A mast contacted the underside of the Cape Cod Canal Railroad Bridge on 12 October; the bridge was found to have only scraped paint.

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3. 2015Delivery and entry into service

   Viking Ocean Cruises took delivery on 28 March 2015, and the ship entered commercial service in April.

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4. 2014Viking Star launched

   The vessel was launched at Marghera on 23 June 2014, earlier than the previously announced launch schedule.

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5. 2014Sea trials completed

   Viking Star completed a week-long Aegean Sea trial program in December 2014.

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6. 2013First plate cut at Fincantieri Marghera

   Construction of Viking Star formally began at Fincantieri's Marghera shipyard on 7 June 2013.

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7. 2013Keel laid

   The ship's keel was laid on 18 December 2013.

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Upscale, destination-focused ocean cruising with Scandinavian-inspired design, comparatively intimate capacity, veranda-equipped accommodation and cultural enrichment.

• Viking StarOcean cruise ship2014

  The lead vessel of Viking Ocean Cruises' Viking Star class, Viking Star is an approximately 930-passenger ship with 465 staterooms and suites. Its facilities include multiple restaurants, two pools, a spa, fitness facilities, lounges, a theatre, a sports deck and cultural lecture spaces. The ship is designed around destination access, Scandinavian-inspired interiors and private-veranda accommodation rather than large-scale amusement attractions.

• 2015Viking Star enters commercial serviceProduct launch

  After delivery from Fincantieri on 28 March 2015, Viking Ocean Cruises prepared its first ocean-going ship for regular passenger operations.

  What changed. Viking Star entered service in April 2015 as the inaugural vessel of Viking Ocean Cruises.

  Aftermath. The vessel became the template for the company's subsequent Viking Star class ships and its upscale, destination-focused ocean-cruise proposition.

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• 2013Development of Viking's first ocean vesselStrategy

  Viking Cruises expanded from river cruising into ocean cruising and commissioned Viking Star as the lead ship for the new Viking Ocean Cruises fleet.

  What changed. The company selected a relatively small, destination-oriented design with Scandinavian styling, extensive veranda accommodation and cultural enrichment facilities.

  Aftermath. Viking Star entered service in 2015, followed by Viking Sea and Viking Sky in 2016, creating the initial Viking Star class ocean fleet.

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• 2016Viking Star mast contacts Cape Cod Canal Railroad Bridge

  On 12 October 2016, a mast on Viking Star clipped the underside of the Cape Cod Canal Railroad Bridge. The subsequent inspection found scraped paint but no reported damage to the bridge structure.

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• 2015Viking Star completes construction and enters the Viking Ocean Cruises fleet

  Viking Ocean Cruises took delivery of Viking Star from Fincantieri on 28 March 2015. The vessel entered service in April as the first ship in the Viking Star class and the first ocean ship operated by Viking Ocean Cruises.

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• 2014Viking Star undergoes Aegean Sea trials

  The ship completed a week-long sea-trial program in the Aegean Sea, during which propulsion, navigation, engine performance, cabin acoustics and other systems were evaluated through more than 80 tests.

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1. MV Viking Star