A Smaller, but Elegant Viking
Today’s highlight of the many cruise ships visiting St. Maarten focuses on the Viking Sea of Viking Cruises. This ship is not amongst the largest of the ships visiting the Philipsburg cruise port (so it will not influence the availability of cruise excursions much), but a very refined one nonetheless and holds many fun stories hidden behind its stern:
A Reverse Viking Route
Whereas the Vikings were known to reach Italy and Britain from Scandinavia, this ship followed the reverse route. The vessel was built by Fincantieri in Italian Ancona in April 2016 and was christened in England a month after.
Three Other Countries Involved
Though the branding, design and name sounds Scandinavian, Viking Cruises headquarters is in Basel (Switzerland) and is also operating from Los Angeles.
A Godmother of Viking Dynasty
Viking Sea was christened on the Thames in Greenwich by Karine Hagen in May 2016. Official “Godmother” Karine Hagen is the Executive Vice President of Product at Viking Holdings, the parent company of Viking cruise operations. As the daughter of Viking’s founder and chairman, Torstein Hagen, she has been a prominent face of the brand and frequently featured in Viking’s television ads.
Designed for Smaller Ports
At 228 m long (about 745 ft) and a gross tonnage of 47,800 GT, Viking Sea is purposely sized to access exclusive smaller ports that mega-ships can’t reach.
Voluminous Verandas
Every one of the 465 staterooms includes a private veranda. Among them are 14 Explorer Suites (spanning 757–1,163 sq ft, with wraparound verandas) and a lavish Owner’s Suite featuring amenities like a sauna, boardroom, personal wine collection, and private transfers.
Retractable Pool Roof
The ship offers two pools: a main pool with a retractable roof for all-season dipping, and a dramatic glass-backed infinity pool cantilevered off the stern—giving swimmers the illusion of floating above the ocean.
High-End Entertainment
You will not find a casino or nightclub on this ship. Playlists feature classical/regional musicians, lectures can be followed in the theatre, live cooking classes take place, and the ship features themed spaces like the tranquil Wintergarden where guests can enjoy tea ceremonies.
Snow In The Caribbean
The LivNordic Spa is inspired by Scandinavian wellness traditions. It includes saunas and a snow grotto, and is consistently ranked among the best Spas at sea.
If you missed this boat in port today, see the St Maarten cruise ship schedule when it is prone to return – Viking Sea is a frequent St. Maarten visitor in the winter months. If you are a cruise ship spotter, also see the cruise blog if any other ship of interest can be found in port this week.
