Viking Orion Cruises

Viking Orion will be the first of Viking’s ships to spend time cruising Australia and New Zealand.  From January to March each year she will cruise between Sydney and Auckland via New Zealand’s eastern coastline as well as feature ports in Australia’s south including Melbourne and Hobart.  From there, Viking Orion makes her way into the exotic waters of Asia with 12 to 28 night cruises departing Hong Kong, Beijing and Tokyo, as well as Benoa (Bali), Bangkok and Mumbai.

In Alaska, Viking Orion will be undertaking a series of 10 night Alaska and Inside Passage voyages which cruise one way from Vancouver to Seward or vice versa.

Expand your horizons on comfortable, state-of-the-art ships, intimate and thoughtfully created by experienced nautical architects and designers to enrich your interaction with your destination in every way. Whether you seek to expand your palate, your knowledge, or just your circle of friends with like-minded people, we’ve designed our ships with a unique onboard experience in mind, from the serene Wintergarden, perfect for a calming cup of tea; to The Spa, a Nordic sanctuary of wellness; to the Library, carefully curated with books to add to your knowledge. Not to mention inspiring onboard talks that help you understand every destination in depth.  All set in tasteful, understated elegance.  And all designed to deliver a life-enriching experience that stays with you forever.

Explorer’s Lounge

The notion of civilized camaraderie in elegant surroundings is what inspired us to create the Explorers Lounge, where fellow travelers can share their latest adventures. It is the perfect setting to celebrate firsts, whether glimpsing your first fjord or savoring Aquavit. With two-story panoramic windows for maximum views plus a selection of craft beers and the Viking Deli, this is the perfect place to relax and take in the scenery.

Your Viking cruise is a journey to new discoveries and your ship is designed to enhance those discoveries not only in port, but also on board. The notion of civilized camaraderie in elegant surroundings is what inspired us to create the Explorers Lounge, where fellow travelers can share their latest adventures. It’s the perfect setting to celebrate firsts, whether glimpsing your first fjord or savoring aquavit. Here, from expansive, double-height windows, you can take in the spectacular approaches to the Aurlandsfjord or the Golden Horn of Istanbul. Comfortable and elegant, this is the place to unwind over a chilled pint from our extensive Craft Beer Library.

Pools & Spa

Swim surrounded by your destination in the glass-backed infinity pool cantilevered off the stern. Or experience our main pool, complete with a retractable roof, so you can always enjoy the perfect swim. Here, on star-filled nights, enjoy an outdoor movie as you sail under a canopy of stars. And when it is time to relax, try the ultimate Scandinavian tradition with our snow room and sauna; or a massage in the Spa.

Since every part of our Viking ships was crafted to maximize your destination experience, we didn’t just create a pool, but instead made it a setting for exploration. Here, you find one of only a few oceangoing infinity pools, designed to give you a sense of swimming right in your destination-imagine being surrounded by the sun dancing over the Mediterranean as you relax in this glass-backed pool cantilevered off the ships stern. In the evening, the space transforms into the Aquavit Terrace, where you can dine to music playing and watch the world unfold.

Then there’s our main pool, complete with a retractable roof, so you can always enjoy the perfect swim even if the weather should be less than perfect. And on star-filled nights, gather friends for an outdoor movie as you sail under a canopy of stars.

We also reinvented the spa experience; drawing upon the holistic wellness philosophy of Nordic culture. To stimulate your circulatory system visit our snow grotto where snowflakes gently descend from the ceiling through chilled air, then invigorate yourself in the sauna, following a centuries-old Nordic tradition. And not only are Viking ships designed for your comfort and serenity, they’re also kind to the earth, with hybrid engines; streamlined hulls and now designed for maximum fuel efficiency; solar panels; and equipment that minimizes exhaust pollution and meets the strictest environmental regulations.

Culinary Experiences

Our ships offer multiple restaurant locations and food choices, from casual cafes and pool grills to crafted wine-pairing menus and regional specialties. From the crown jewel of our main venue, The Restaurant, to the Tuscan cuisine of The Italian Grill, not to mention, the varied global and destination-based cuisine to sample at The World Cafe, featuring live cooking stations and al fresco dining.

When you understand local food traditions, you gain insight into local culture. At Viking, we believe cuisine is as much a part of travel as seeing the sights; that’s why we feature a sampling of regional specialties. Our restaurants are the perfect setting for your culinary discoveries, offering you choices from American classics and heart-healthy options to authentic regional delights to deepen your connection to your destinations. And since the ultimate “room” is the great outdoors, your ship offers more al fresco dining experiences than any ship at sea. Sample a Venetian risotto while you cruise through Venice; delight in a Turkish meze surrounded by the Bosphorus Sea, or enjoy gravlax as you glide through the breathtaking fjords. Because part of your experience is dining in your destination-even when you’re on board.

Enrichment Program

We believe the best way to understand a country is through enrichment. Each cruise is thoughtfully curated with hand-picked itineraries so you can immerse yourself in history, music, art, cuisine everything you need to know about your destination. And before you step foot on shore, you will glean insights from history experts and academic luminaries in our theatre, chosen by the Viking Enrichment Board.

Travel should be so much more than just a trip, and we believe the best way to understand a country is through enrichment. On our cruises, you truly explore your destination-through its food, culture, countryside and customs. Perhaps you accompany the ship’s chef on a trip to a local market; go behind the scenes at a famous theatre company; or even view private collections and hidden vaults at world-class museums.

We have a history of providing our guests a way to get below the surface, not just check off each port. That’s why our ocean cruises are centered around where you go, not just how you get there-with hand-picked itineraries so you can immerse yourself in history, music, art, cuisine-everything about your destination. In addition, we include excursions led by knowledgeable local guides in every port of call. You learn about the lands through which you travel via enrichment lectures that bring history to life; through cultural adventures; in-depth pre-trip materials; and on-demand programming-all designed to help you experience the most from your travels.

Wintergarden

When you yearn for serenity, there is no better place on ship than a visit to the Wintergarden. This charming, airy space around the main pool is perfect for relaxing in clean, uncluttered Scandinavian-designed environment. Even here, our focus is on enrichment, as this is the place to witness a tea ceremony, or indulge in an afternoon tea service, complete with hand-selected teas, finger sandwiches and pastries.

There may be times when you yearn for serenity, and that is the perfect occasion to visit the Wintergarden. Even here, our focus is on enrichment, as this is the place to relax and witness a calming tea ceremony, or indulge in an afternoon tea service, complete with hand-selected teas, finger sandwiches and pastries. The first thing you will notice about the Wintergarden is the space itself: a soaring modern forest of vaulted beech millwork trees forming a canopy on the skylight ceiling. Retreat into this aerie filled with the calming notes of a harpist as dappled light is cast throughout the room.

Life on Board

Whether you seek to expand your palate, your knowledge or your circle of friends, we are crafting life onboard to ensure you can explore in comfort. Like enrichment lectures that breathe insight into your destinations. Or privileged access behind-the-scenes tours of the Hermitage. Plus cooking classes that bring forth the cuisine of our destinations at The Kitchen Table, where you can gather knowledge with like-minded explorers. All in a setting of understated elegance and comfort. Welcome to a different kind of ship, a different kind of journey.

Entertainment

Even our theatres connect you to the destinations. Our main venue, The Star Theatre, features live performances that bring you closer to the culture of our destinations. Sometimes, the destination we connect you to exists solely in the realm of an otherworldly theatrical journey, as is the case with beautifully themed shows. We will also pull back the curtains of our destinations with cinema in our two movie theatres, which show first-run films you have not yet seen as well as destination-driven cinema such as “Room with A View” “Roman Holiday” or “Skyfall”. And because the intellect also needs to be stimulated, our theatres will always be buzzing with fresh, new insights from our port talks and on-board lectures that feature the history, art, and culture of our destinations. And since we have always promised you will explore the world in comfort, we have banished uncomfortable theatre seating in favour of soft and spacious sofa seating.

Facts

• Guests: 930
• Length: 745 ft.
• Beam: 94.5 ft
• Class: Small ships
• Year built: 2018