#MikeAtSea: First Impressions of Viking Star

Today, I embarked Viking Ocean’s new Viking Star in Istanbul, Turkey. I’ll be sailing aboard her for the next 10 days, calling in Turkey, Greece, Croatia, Montenegro, and disembarking in Venice, Italy. Viking Star is brand new to the cruise world and has every cruiser turning their head in awe. She is the first ship of a brand new cruise line and reflects the onboard atmosphere and experience of her sister line, Viking River Cruises. Embarking today, I began to realize that this ship is truly unlike any other.

The Crew

Now, I’m not saying that crew aboard other lines are any less impressive, but something about the Viking Star’s crew is really special. Walking around the ship, crew members stop and smile, greeting you and asking how your cruise is going. A number of crew members have stopped what they were doing to have a real conversation about me, asking questions about my life and vice versa from me to them. The connections crew members are seeking to make is truly unique and special.

The Design

I don’t think I’m in Turkey any more, there’s a very good chance I’ve stumbled somewhere into Scandinavia. This ship’s Norwegian roots are on full display aboard Viking Star. The ship was designed with a very modern and contemporary style, sporting a minimalist build and very soothing colors. Gone are the days of neon and spotlights, here are the days of woods and tans.

Going The Extra Mile

Last evening, which was my first night aboard, I left on a late excursion which coincided with the ship’s dinner times. I figured I’d just grab room service when I returned in the evening, but upon returning to my stateroom, I found a sandwich and fruit plate prepared for me on the table in my stateroom. I can only assume my stateroom steward knew I’d be out late and  figured I’d might be hungry later – and I was! Needless to say, I was impressed and later full.

All The Other Little Things So Far

• Heated bathroom floor. – It’s amazing…and so warm.
• Balcony light. – Simple, but I love to sit outside at night on a warmly lit balcony.
• 5 USB chargers in the stateroom, plus outlets everywhere. – A dream of every millennial.
• Pitcher of water in the stateroom. – Another simple but useful touch.
• A useful library. – It’s not all fiction. The onboard library is stocked with guidebooks and history books for each port of call.
• Quick luggage delivery. – My bags were at my stateroom door 30 minutes after embarking.

So far, my Viking Star experience is shaping up to be a cruise unlike any other. Stay tuned for more features over the next 10 days as I sail throughout the Middle East and Eastern Europe. If you have any questions about the Viking Star, Viking Ocean Cruises, or my ports of call, please feel free to email me at [email protected] or leave a comment below. Stay in the loop on my adventures by following me across our social platforms: @CruiseCurrents and @MikeWFaust on Instagram and Twitter. I’ll also be using the hashtags #MikeAtSea and #MikeTheViking.

Finally, I’ll leave you with this panorama from our stern overlooking the European (left) and Asian (right) sides of Istanbul. Oh, and yes, that is an infinity pool.

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