When Viking Cruise Lines expanded into the ocean cruise market, it quickly set a new standard for service, comfort and style.
Viking’s fleet of 930 passenger ships are where it all began. Built and designed to convey a sense of intimacy, in a modern, non-fussy Scandinavian sort of way, each ship is just that – warm, inviting, and most of all, relaxing.
Key to this welcoming atmosphere is the Viking stateroom. Perhaps more than any other space, the stateroom is where passengers should most feel at home, and in this, Viking seems to have succeeded.
The standard accommodation, known as the Verandah Stateroom, was just what we expected from a new Viking ship. Roomy, with ample storage space, plenty of creature comforts, quite a large bathroom and shower, and of course, a private balcony (Viking’s ships are all balcony).
Quick Facts
Viking ship – Viking Sky
Room type – Verandah Stateroom
Room Number – 4004
Days onboard – 7
There are six types of stateroom accommodations to choose from – the Verandah, Deluxe Verandah, Penthouse Verandah, Penthouse Junior Suite, Explorer Suite, and Owner’s Suite.
With each room type offering various perks and amenities, Verandah Staterooms come with the following amenities and inclusions:
- 270 square-feet (25 sqm) stateroom (including verandah)
- Luxury robes, slippers & premium Freyja toiletries
- Large bathroom with oversize glass-enclosed walk-in shower, heated bathroom floor & anti-fog mirrors
- Spacious closet & drawer storage
- In-suite binoculars
- 42″ flat-screen LCD TV loaded with free entertainment
- King-size Viking Explorer Bed with luxury linens
- Security safe, hair dryer, 110/220 volt outlets & ample USB ports
- Direct dial satellite phone & cell service
- Mini-bar with soft drinks, water & snacks replenished daily
- Purified water refilled daily
- 24-hour room service
- Free Wi-Fi
- Shore excursion reservations up to 60-days prior to departure
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Here’s our review of Viking’s Verandah Stateroom features and amenities.
King-Size Bed
Each stateroom has a super comfortable Viking Explorer King-Size bed (which can convert to two king singles) featuring quality linens, four pillows and either a 100% New Zealand wool throw or cashmere blanket – perfect for those cooler days when you need a wrap on the balcony.
Above the bed, a handy adjustable personal reading light can be manoeuvred to the perfect angle and it’s also dimmable – ideal for when you don’t want to disturb your sleeping partner.
On your bed each night, you will find a room-service breakfast order form. Fill this out and leave it on your outside doorknob before 1am with your nominated delivery time.
Power Outlets
Within easy reach of the bed are power outlets, the master light switch, and a very helpful feature, the on/off control for the heated bathroom floor. A heated bathroom floor is simply heaven on a chilly morning – especially when cruising through the Scandinavian fjords!
An American power socket and larger universal power port (110/220 volt) are suitable for most multi-country adaptors. The ever-handy double USB port makes it easy to charge your electronic devices such as phones, laptops and cameras.
Quick Tip – Bring your own power adaptor, or you can purchase one from the gift shop onboard.
Closet Space
The generous closet space is large enough for the contents of two suitcases. You will also find two satin padded hangers, 15 wooden shirt and trouser hangers, an umbrella to take onshore with you, plus a full-length shelf above the hang space for extra storage.
The floor of the closet provides plenty of space for shoes and suitcases. An interior closet light illuminates when the sliding doors are opened.
Quick Tip – To maximise your stateroom real estate, bring along suitcases that fit within one another. That way, once unpacked, storage space is required only for the largest suitcase.
Drawers and safe
The entryway to the Verandah Stateroom features a convenient nook with storage shelves, drawers, a small safe for valuables, and space with a coffee maker.
In one of the three drawers, you’ll find amenities like a laundry service bag, a hair dryer, shoe horn and lint roller.
The safe is a standard digital combination lock and is large enough to fit a small laptop and other personal items.
Quick Tip – There’s no need to pay for laundry service on Viking. There is a self-serve laundry area available for use, with washing-machines, clothes dryers, as well as ironing stations. The convenient laundry area is found on the port (left) side, mid-ship, decks 3 to 6.
Coffee Nook
Located above the safe and storage drawers is your personal Paulig coffee pod maker, with Villeroy & Boch cups and saucers. The small selection of coffee and teas are replenished daily, with further pods available upon request.
The only drawback is the artificial ‘coffee creamer’. Fresh milk or long-life milk on request is always preferred of course but you could always bring a carton or jug of milk from one of the restaurants or bars if required and store in your room’s refrigerator.
Quick tip – Filtered water is provided daily in the room. The pod maker also has a hot water function for the tea lovers amongst us.
Lounge Area
The lounge area between the bed and verandah is compact, but functional, with two comfortable armchairs and a surfboard shaped coffee table. This is a restful area to read, enjoy a coffee or room service.
Work Desk & Mini Bar
A writing desk adds to the functionality of the room. The desktop also lifts to reveal a concealed storage area for make-up, jewellery and other small personal items. It is here that Viking stores the in-room set of binoculars.
Beneath the writing desk, the mini bar and refrigerator houses various drinks and snacks items. It is re-stocked daily. Have a preferred drink or snack of choice? No problem, just let your cabin attendant know and they will do their best to stock it.
QuietVox Headsets
Each room is equipped with a pair of QuietVox headsets. Used on some shore excursions, the device allows travellers to connect with the tour guide to hear their commentary.
Bathroom
The Verandah Stateroom has one of the largest bathrooms available on cruise ships’ “standard” cabins. The bathroom is also stocked with Freyja toiletries which include shampoo, conditioner and a lovely body wash and hand lotion.
The shower is a good size with a sturdy glass door to prevent water seepage. A soap dish would have been handy but the small ledge does the trick. The shower is equipped with a quality showerhead offering great pressure.
Verandah
Every stateroom has a private verandah. Two chairs and a table make it comfortable to sit outside and admire the passing scenery.
Quick Tip – For the perfect start to the day, order room-service breakfast (or lunch, dinner or midnight snack!) and enjoy it on your balcony.
In-Room Dining
Breakfast in bed? A quite dinner on your private verandah? How about a midnight snack? The 24-hour room-service menu can be found on your TV round-the-clock.
Purely in the name of research, I had to sample several room-service food combinations.
For an indulgent breakfast in bed, try pancakes, juice and coffee delivered fresh. Ordering room-service breakfast also doubles as a great wake-up call and convenient for those days when you have an early morning shore excursion. Just remember to leave your order on the outside door by 1am (menu is left on your bed).
Quick Tip – One of my favourite dinner experiences was the Viking recommended dish – Chairman’s Norwegian poached salmon fillet with cucumber salad and baby potatoes. This delightful creation was soft, delicate, moist and bursting with flavour.
Entertainment
The stateroom TV offers a wealth of information and entertainment options. The options include:
- Live TV – Sky News, BBC, MSNBC, sports and Prime one
- Movies – new release and classics, with approximately forty to choose from including documentaries
- TV Series – several popular full TV series are loaded onboard including, of course, Viking’s
- TED Talks – pre-recorded TED Talks across a range of topics
- Music Library – choose from various albums ranging from classical to jazz, pop, rock and more
- Shore Excursions – view all the shore excursions available throughout your cruise
- Weather updates
- Ship tracker – shows a live tracking map of your cruise
- My Calendar – see what bookings you have for restaurants and shore excursions
- Onboard Account – View your account anytime throughout your cruise
- Viking Daily – your daily planner is uploaded to your TV so you can plan your day from the comfort of your stateroom
Last word
Overall, I found the cabin roomy, comfortable and relaxing. While the size of the room is not much larger than your standard balcony cabin on other cruise lines, the oversized bathroom, heated tile floor, water pressure, free Wi-Fi and other extras made the value of this cabin well worth the price.
If the standard room is this good, I can only imagine what lies in store for travellers in the higher cabin categories!
YOUR VIKING OCEAN CRUISE STARTS HERE
