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Viking
Viking Star
The first Viking ocean ship: calm, Scandinavian, adults only.
Overview
Viking Star entered service in 2015 and carries around 930 guests. It set the Viking ocean formula: adults only, no casino, an excursion included in every port, Scandinavian interiors and a quiet, cultural tone.
Star is the template its sisters copied almost exactly: a light, uncluttered ship with the Explorers' Lounge forward, an infinity pool at the stern, a thermal spa included in the fare and a theater used for lectures as much as shows.
It suits couples and grandparents traveling without children who want destination-led days and calm evenings at a fare below the all-suite luxury lines.
At a glance
- Line
- Viking
- Size
- Mid-size ship, around 930 guests
- Entered service
- 2015 (approximate)
- Our pick
- A Penthouse Veranda midship on Deck 6
Thinking about Viking Star?
We will say whether Viking Star is right for your party, which suite we would book and which sailing, or name the ship we would choose instead.
Best for
- Couples who want a calm, cultural ship
- Grandparents traveling without grandchildren
- First-time cruisers who dislike the idea of big resort ships
- Value-led travelers who still want a veranda in every stateroom
Not for
- Anyone traveling with children; adults only
- Travelers who want butlers and all-suite accommodation
- Anyone who wants a casino or production shows every night
Price
What Viking Star costs
Premium rather than luxury: noticeably below Regent and Silversea per person, with an excursion in every port, Wi-Fi, beer and wine at meals and the spa included. Planning figures on each sailing page.
Have a budget in mind?
Tell us what you are looking for and the figure you have in mind. We will say what it buys on each line, and where the same money goes further.
On board
Suites, cabins, dining and evenings on Viking Star
In our words, from the questions we are asked most. Suite names are the line's; which one we would book is ours.
- Suites
- Every stateroom has a veranda; Penthouse Veranda and Penthouse Junior Suites add space and earlier reservations; Explorer Suites at the corners are the ones worth paying for.
- Cabins we would book
- A Penthouse Veranda midship on Deck 5 or 6 for most couples; an Explorer Suite aft for the wraparound terrace.
- Dining
- The Restaurant, Manfredi's Italian, the Chef's Table, World Café and Mamsen's Norwegian deli; all included, with specialty reservations tied to stateroom category.
- Entertainment
- Lectures, classical and jazz in the Explorers' Lounge, a theater with modest shows, the Nordic spa. No casino.
Want the right suite on Viking Star?
Tell us who is traveling and we will name the deck and the suite numbers we would hold, and the ones we would avoid.
Children, grandparents, mobility
Viking Star for the whole family
Three honest notes: what the ship does for children, what it does for grandparents, and what it asks of anyone with limited mobility.
- Children
- Adults only; guests must be 18 or over.
- Grandparents
- Calm, uncrowded, well-organized and good value; the included excursions suit first-time cruisers and anyone who dislikes planning.
- Accessibility
- Accessible staterooms in several categories; many ports alongside, some by tender. We check each itinerary.
Planning for the whole family?
Connecting suites, different activity levels, dining that works for everyone, and transfers that suit grandparents and toddlers alike. The best family suites go first, so start early.
Where it sails
Where Viking Star goes
The regions this ship sails as far as we know; the itinerary confirms the ports and the season.
Baltic & Northern Capitals
Copenhagen, Stockholm, Tallinn and Helsinki in a week, with culture the whole way.
Norwegian Fjords
No long flight, dramatic scenery from your terrace, and a season made for grandparents.
Caribbean
Winter sun for the whole family, on ships that make Christmas and half-term easy.
Alaska
Glaciers, whales and bears from a small ship, with a pre-cruise stop in Vancouver.
Sample itineraries
Sailings on Viking Star
We have not written up a sample sailing on Viking Star yet. Viking publishes the current itineraries; tell us the season you have in mind and we will send the two or three we would consider, with planning figures.
Not sure where to go?
Give us the month, who is traveling and how far you will fly. A specialist will name the two or three regions and ships we would choose.
Deck plans and photographs
Deck plans and pictures of Viking Star
On Viking's official site; we send the marked-up plan with every proposal.
Viking Octantis, the expedition ship, under way under a bright skyPhoto: Shiphistory62 · CC BY-SA 4.0 
Viking Sky, one of Viking's 930-guest ocean ships, in SètePhoto: Christian Ferrer · CC BY 4.0
Our promise
We will say no.
We do not recommend a cruise because it is expensive, and we do not put people on the wrong ship. If Viking Star is not right for your party, we will tell you and suggest the one that is, even if it costs less or is sold by someone else. We are an advisor, not a booking engine.
Speak to a specialistGood to know
Viking Star FAQs
Is Viking luxury?
Premium rather than luxury: no butlers, not all-suite, fewer included drinks than Regent or Silversea. It is calm, well run and good value, which is why we sell it to couples who want quiet over gilt.
Same line
Other Viking ships we have written up
Viking Octantis
Viking's expedition ship: Antarctica and the Great Lakes with a science deck.
Compared
Viking against the alternatives
The best luxury cruises for over-60s
Luxury cruise lines that suit travelers in their sixties and seventies: pacing, comfort, inclusive fares, accessibility, no-fly options and the ships we recommend most.
The best luxury Norwegian fjords cruises
Luxury Norwegian fjord cruises compared by Blackbury: no-fly departures from Southampton and Dover, small ships with the right decks, and which suits grandparents, couples and families.
Plan your Viking Star cruise with Blackbury Travel.
Our pick: A Penthouse Veranda midship on Deck 6. Tell us who is traveling and when, and we will say which sailing and which suite, or whether another ship would suit you better.