Viking perfects the ocean cruise with spectacular infinity pool and more
The Okanagan Sunday
Tucked aft on deck seven is the most fabulously well-located infinity pool. The clear pool water, delightfully and deceitfully, melds seamlessly with the azure of the Mediterranean Sea and the blue of the sky on the horizon.
As such, it immediately and naturally becomes I and my wife’s favourite hangout on the new Viking Sky cruise ship.
It’s the ideal place for a morning dip, the perfect precarious perch for sail aways and a refreshing respite on hot afternoons.
Long a master of river cruising in Europe, Viking has taken the ocean by storm with elegant midsized ships carrying just 930 passengers each in all-inclusive style.
Most ships have sunken pools mid-ship. Viking ships have one of those too, under a retractable roof, no less, but it has perfected the infinity pool on its fleet of ocean liners, first the Viking Star, then Viking Sea and now the brand new Viking Sky.
Viking Sun will be delivered by year end and Viking Spirit will join the fleet in 2018.
“I’m proud to be working for Viking because it’s a company with vision,” says Viking Sky Captain Robert Bamberg when my wife and I meet him on the bridge.
The captain has just finished maneuvering the Sky into Kotor, Montenegro, which is nestled at the end of a 25-kilometre submerged river canyon that makes up Europe’s southernmost fjord.
He’s animated about this port and the entire 10-day Empires of the Mediterranean itinerary from Athens to Venice, which also has stops on the Greek islands of Santorini and Corfu, Dubrovnik, Croatia and Koper, Slovenia.
We feel like VIPs chatting with the captain in his cockpit. But the reality is, Bamberg is very accessible.
He hosts a reception for returning Viking cruisers, is introduced at the welcome reception and invites passengers to meet him and tour the bridge during special events you have to pre-register for.
All staterooms aboard Viking’s oceangoing vessels have private balconies and Scandinavian-cool decor.
Beer and wine are included at meals in the buffet and main restaurants, the specialty Manifredi’s and Chef’s Table restaurants and the outdoor Aquavit Terrace.
The Liv Nordic Spa is open to all and features a giant warm whirlpool, steam room, snow grotto, cold-bucket and experience showers.
There’s also a myriad of other stunning public spaces, from the Wintergarden Lounge under a ceiling of glass, the two-tier Explorer’s Lounge with commanding views from the front of the ship, a three-storey atrium with bar and library, and Aquavit Terrace with outdoor seating for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
There’s also an included excursion in each port.
In Santorini, my wife and I choose wine touring; in Corfu, mountain biking; in Montenegro, we climbed Kotor’s city wall; and in Slovenia tracked with Liza, the truffle-hunting dog.
The Viking Sky will spend the spring and summer doing Mediterranean and Baltic itineraries.
Then it will make its maiden transatlantic crossing to Montreal to sail Canada-and-New-England routes before heading to the Caribbean for the winter.
My wife and I flew to and from Frankfurt with Air Canada on its new 787-9 Dreamliner to connect to flights to Athens and from Venice.
It’s worth splurging to upgrade to business class with its lie-flat seats for sleeping to arrive in Europe rested and ready to enjoy the cruise.
We also extended the indulgence with pre-and-post stays at the Grande Bretagne in Athens and Danieli in Venice, which are both in Starwood Hotels’ The Luxury Collection portfolio.
Check out VikingCruises.com, AirCanada.com and TheLuxuryCollection.com.