Cruise

All Hail Neptune – Viking’s Newest Ocean Ship

by Michael Morcos, photos courtesy of Viking

One of the flagships of Viking cruises took to the sea and became yet another Viking work of art. An update or two, but in essence the Viking Neptune is identical to its other seven sister ocean ships. Of the many trips offered, this itinerary, the ‘Iconic Mediterranean’ heads off to sea in the slow season, a time when there are less tourists and, being in early December, we would enjoy Christmas markets all along the Italian, French and Spanish shores.

In this part one of a two-part article we will focus on the Neptune itself, with its amenities, shows, food and services and will devote the next story to the many amazing seven day cruise that brought us from Rome (Civitavecchia) to the Catalan shores and excursion destinations including Florence, Monaco and Barcelona.

Neptune the planet

New Viking ships have been named after planets in our solar system, and this time around it’s the Neptune, which came shortly after the ‘Mars’ which set sail soon and proceeds the ‘Jupiter’ which will be launched in 2023.

Neptune the vessel

Like it’s sister ships, Neptune has a maximum capacity of 930 passengers, and is considered small when compared to other mass market ships that hold thousands of guests, (some up to 6,000). This made our trip more pleasurable, as there was very little to no waiting times for embarking/disembarking, and many restaurants and all other activities were always available and accessible. This magnificent ship had plenty of public spaces and being restricted to under 1000, we thought this sailing was not fully booked but found it was near capacity.

Design and comfort

For the design, nothing is randomly placed, but rather each part of the ship is well planned, even the staircases are reproductions of the colorful and historic Bayeux tapestry and in the elevators there were hidden mystical Troll figures in the panels. All this made the Viking Neptune special, unique, and made for great conversation starters. The exterior views of the Viking are well balanced and quite pleasing with beautiful, smooth lines. This look flows into the ship’s interior. The first thing a passenger would notice when entering the ship is the atrium and the overall ‘less is more’ Scandinavian style. There is plenty to enjoy with wonderful art and sculptures throughout the ship and it is as lovely to the eyes and soothing to the mind as you can imagine. One can relax in all corners of this vessel without being bombarded with excesses.

Staterooms and suites

In keeping with the Nordic design, our suite was stylish, well lit, very practical, and we felt comfortable for the full week. Our washroom was quite spacious considering it was on a ship and had plenty of room. Bi-daily room service by a dedicated professional cleaning staff was ideal and our stateroom was always looking and smelling fresh. The best part of our room had to be the private balcony, where we would spend many hours watching the great scenery drift on by.

Public spaces

As small a ship as it was, there was still plenty to explore. It took an entire week to finally find all the nooks and crannies and experience everything the Neptune had to offer. Our favorite was the Explores lounge on the upper deck in the bow of the ship, which covered two floors with lots of quiet corners for curling up with a book. The views from here were amazing and you could see for miles. Drinks and cocktails were served most hours of the day and there was live music at times as well.

There were other spaces as well, with a main pool both indoor and outdoor with a gigantic retractable glass roof and perfect for all weather bathing. There is the ‘Living Room’, a peaceful area by the atrium for socializing, and the Torshavn bar, for late night partying, drinks and dancing. Other spaces open to all passengers include the open aired Aquavit, found in the back of the ship with its wonderful, heated infinity pool and was great for outdoor dining.

The Winter Garden with its fabulous Nordic inspired wooden columns and spiral ceiling is a great detail, and the spa found on the Viking Neptune is unique and a delight to visit. It consists of a large heated indoor pool with powerful jets as well as steam rooms, a small plug pool and a below zero snow grotto for that invigorating Scandinavian experience.

For those who want to keep in shape, there is a full gym to help burn off those excess calories. On the top deck there are outdoor exercise machines, golf putting greens and shuffle boards.

And for those nighttime performances, shows and daytime lectures and workshops there is the main theatre on the bottom floor that is spacious and, as with the rest of the ship, well designed.

Variety of dining options

One of the greatest joys of sailing is the choice of food. It’s a good thing there is a gym! The Neptune had an ample choice, with so many choices that we never got tired of the choices. The World Café located on the upper level was most travelers favorite as there were floor to ceiling glass windows for great views of the surroundings. Passengers can even sit outdoors on the balconies. The World café is buffet style with three settings a day. With a multitude of options, there was something for every palate, from freshly prepared meat and fish dishes to vegetarian plates and even vegan choices; it was always mouth-watering.

Other options included the Pool Grill that serves great burgers, while at Mamsen’s they serve late breakfasts and snacks and delectable pastry and cakes. Afternoon tea and snacks are served daily at the Winter Garden and my routine on many nights was the visit the Sushi bar for freshly made delights. Chefs on the spot prepared these exquisite delights and I just could not get enough!

‘The Restaurant’, yes, that is its name is an enormous space but did not feel like it. There are partitions for noise and privacy, and it offers a sit down service open for breakfast and suppers with many choices via menu and, as on all Viking cruises, beer, wine and soft drinks are included. Guests have an extensive wine list to pick from at an added cost.

For something different, there is Manfredi’s and The Chef’s Table. These two restaurants are smaller and quite intimate. Both need reservations. Manfredi’s is an Italian style cuisine, while the Chef’s Table has a rotating theme of international dishes.

For refreshments, bars are found throughout the ship and on most public floors. Getting a drink is very easy and made easier by waiters who were always available. We had the Silver Sprits package which allowed us unlimited soft drinks, cocktails, and premium spirits.

Shops

What would a trip be without bringing home gifts and souvenirs? Viking ships offer a nice collection of boutiques and specialty shops for everything from bathing suits to chocolate bars, and all tax free. There were also shops offering brand name perfumes, fine jewelry, and designer clothing.

Wonderful staff

The ship’s staff was always smiling and ready to assist us. Anywhere and everywhere the crew, from the Captain and his team down through the program director, to the kitchen staff, the maintenance personal, all made our trip that much more pleasant. As always, one of the best parts of the cruising experience.

Destinations and tours

Please join us again in our next issue as the adventure beings. We will explore the many wonderful ‘Iconic Mediterranean’ destinations and ports on the Neptune’s itinerary. Starting in the beautiful and tranquil coastal city of Civitavecchia (Rome) and ending in amazing Barcelona with many other special places in Italy and France. Sail with you soon!

www.viking.com