Tropical Getaway
VIKINGSTAR CRUISES THE CARIBBEAN.
PEGGY AND I LEAN AGAINST THE EDGE of Viking Star’s infinity pool and gaze out at the sun- drenched landscape of St. Kitts. This has become a late afternoon ritual for us during this 11- day West Indies Explorer sailing, one of the first of the ship’s inaugural Caribbean season.
Cruise-wise, Peggy and I are worlds apart: I, a ship nut with 40 years of sailings under my belt and Peggy, a first-time sailor. Yet, here in the Caribbean, we have both found oceangoing Nirvana aboard Viking Star since boarding in San Juan for an itinerary that includes Tortola, Antigua, St. Lucia, Barbados, Guadeloupe, and now St. Kitts before winding down with St. Maarten and St. Thomas.
Aboard the all-veranda, 930-(adult)-passenger Viking Star, incidentals are few with Wi-Fi, specialty restaurants, non-alcoholic beverages, and wine and beer at lunch and dinner included (a Silver Spirits beverage package should be considered by those who tipple outside of mealtimes). Even the ship’s LiVNordic Spa thermal suite with its bubbling Jacuzzis, pools, steam room, sauna, and icy Snow Grotto requires no fee. On all itineraries, one complimentary shore excursion is offered at each port and a selection of reasonably priced optional tours is also provided so guests can immerse themselves completely in their exotic destinations, which is actually the whole point of Viking Ocean Cruises.
Bucking the ship-as-destination trend, Viking Ocean’s mission is to connect its guests to the places they’re visiting for a celebration of the lands, people, culture, and cuisine. Aboard Viking Star you won’t find a waterpark, casino, or daily program filled with round-the-clock activities designed to amuse and entertain because, quite frankly, Viking
Star’s guests (many of whom first discovered the line through its impressive riverboat operation) are dazzled far more by a local market, an informative lecture, a breeching whale, or a rain forest than by pool games or dance lessons.
But unlike many ships that provide a destination focus at the expense of luxurious surroundings, Viking Star allows us to explore our world from a sleek and light-filled vessel that somehow combines awesome beauty and meticulous detail with an intimacy that’s as warm and comfortable as home: Cozy nooks with easy chairs and table lamps, stocked bookshelves, and wall units that display antiques and curios fill the ship. Lush greenery and sofas are set before stunning wall treatments, transforming even the largest onboard lounge into a pleasing arrangement of restful alcoves. Blonde wood, Norwegian art, and clean Scandinavian design is evident throughout the ship.
With each day filled with Caribbean adventures and tours, it is the evening when guests meet and mingle for pre-dinner cocktails at the popular Viking Bar or Explorer’s Observation Lounge, or dine at one of the ship’s delightful restaurants, most of which include the outdoor seating that is so desirable on balmy Caribbean nights.
Since boarding, Peggy and I have been entranced by Viking Star’s cuisine, its variety, and its quality even at the most casual spots such as Mamsen’s Deli, the Pool Grill, and the World Café buffet. At The Restaurant, the ship’s main dining room, I gravitate to the selection of regional specialties that further underscore the ship’s destination focus. Manfredi’s, Viking
Star’s open-kitchen Italian restaurant, and The Chef ’s Table, a venue that offers a fivecourse themed menu each night (reservations required), provide further dining options.
Viking Star is filled with outstanding dining, but the true foodie simply can’t miss the optional Kitchen Table, a pricy ($250 on our sailing) though oh-so-worth-it excursion that is perhaps the best example of destination immersion. The day began with Viking Star’s executive chef leading our small group to Guadeloupe’s local vendors, fishermen, and meat markets where we selected the ingredients that would form the base of a lavish and intimate dinner that evening. Colorful produce and exotic spices perfumed the air as Chef evaluated the selections. A massive tuna rested alongside the shore near baskets piled high with snapper and cod.
We watched as a young man, with a gentle tap of a screwdriver, released the meat hiding within a conch shell and Chef reached in to smell, to taste … and sometimes
With a destination focus, Viking Star has redefined the traditional Caribbean cruise.
to reject. Chickens, for example, were immediately dismissed during our shopping expedition. “We have excellent chickens on board,” Chef states, explaining that safety is paramount and he just didn’t like the looks of those available at the market.
Later that evening, our group is escorted to a private room to find the table dressed with a trough of crab legs and exotic fruits. Champagne is served and the wines flow freely while Chef prepares our courses tableside. A heady ceviche drenched in coconut milk follows the delicate crab and that raw conch, now chopped and seasoned, has been transformed into crispy fritters and served alongside pungent spheres of salted cod cakes. We can hardly find room for the green tea chicken with rice and black beans, but we try, even knowing that the bananas we purchased, now sweet babkas and fritters, will follow, along with a vast selection of liqueurs.
With a destination focus, Viking Star has redefined the traditional Caribbean cruise. But with her outstanding cuisine, flawless service, and stunning Scandinavian-accented ship there’ s no question: This viking would be a star anywhere she sails.