So, here I am living the dream on Viking Orion, enjoying uninterrupted ocean views through the two-story panoramic windows of the Explorer’s Lounge on deck 7 at the bow of the ship above the bridge. I easily found my own quiet little sitting area by a window to sit with my laptop and notes to write this review while sipping away on an Aperol Spritz.
I’m cruising with my husband, Michael, from Bangkok to Hong Kong on Viking’s fifth and newest ship since they began sailing the oceans in 2015. Almost identical to their other award-winning all-veranda ships, Viking Orion’s modern, elegant Scandinavian design exceeded our expectations from the moment we stepped in to the three-story atrium and were warmly welcomed by crew serving glasses of bubbles!
Glitzy and glamorous, Viking Orion is not! She is peaceful, understated and classy with blonde timbers and contemporary light-filled spaces of minimalist Scandinavian design. The onboard attire of guests matched her spaces with people dressed in smart relaxed casual in the day and elegant casual in most dining venues in the evenings and no formal nights.
We would often wander the ship admiring the onboard art collection which reflected the beauty of Viking’s Nordic heritage.
Instead of casinos and waterslides, you’ll find enough reading nooks and lounge areas that even on at-sea days you wouldn’t know you were cruising with a little over 900 other passengers.
Most passengers were discerning, well-travelled and active over 55’s. Viking’s immersive destination focused itineraries (with many overnight port stays) and daily guest lectures and in-depth shore excursions attract curious travellers.
Every evening we would meet up with our new group friends at the bar in the Explorer’s Lounge for a ‘hotwash’. Named by one of our friends (a retired Lieutenant General of the US Marine Corps), we all shared the high and low points of our days both on board and ashore. It was fun, highly informative and a great way to learn more about the destinations visited and hear reviews of the various shore excursions.
The serene Scandinavian spaces were continued in our well-appointed deluxe veranda stateroom – located midship on deck 6. There was ample space to fully unpack our two large suitcases, great lighting (I’m in to that!), nice size bathroom (with heated floors), our own private balcony and a large flat screen tv to watch complimentary on-demand movies from the king-size bed with luxury linens.
