Cruise

Exploring the Splendours of Northern Europe on the ‘Viking Homeland’ Sailing

Article and photography by Michael Morcos

Eleven destinations, six countries, five currencies and one incredible cruise! In this part two of our ‘Vikings ‘Homelands’ itinerary sailing article, we will dive into the many ports of call that offered us everything from natural outdoor settings to cosmopolitan panache, all while our home away from home, the fabulous Viking Sky, awaited our return with its luxury and comfort.

Life could not be any better as we were pampered, entertained, wined and dined with the finest dishes and guided to the best sites and attractions in every stop from Norway, through Denmark, Germany, Poland, Finland and finally, Sweden.

To some, a cruise is a way to kick back, relax and enjoy cocktails by the pool. This is of course possible with Viking; however, most of their passengers lead an active lifestyle that includes learning about new lands and cultures and participating in hands-on adventures. This was the case for us on the 15-day itinerary during which we barely had any downtime, and days packed with activities. Being creatures of habit, our days were wonderfully repetitious with three wonderful meals, a daily excursion (or two), tea-time, cocktails, time at the gym or the spa, taking in music performances throughout the ship, early evening entertainment shows, a comfortable and restful sleep and then repeat the next day of delights!

The Viking Sky
Although a few years old, the Sky was in perfect condition, clean, well maintained and as attractive as the day it first set sail. We really had everything we needed on board and never thought of how to make things any better. The Sky, like all its sister ocean ships is the perfect size, well thought out, planned, designed, and built to take to the open oceans safely and comfortably, but also is the perfect size to visit smaller out of the way harbours.

It is spacious, which means that there are hardly ever any line-ups, and comfortable seating can be found just about everywhere. Having already sailed on these beautiful ocean ships, I should have known better than thinking the ship was half full, but when talking to a Viking manager I would find out the ship was at near capacity with more than 900 guests. This has always been a highlight to sailing with Viking, to be able to get around without negotiating other passengers in the way.

Sailing the old world
Europe has two massive seas. Compared to the well-known Mediterranean, with its tourism and popular destinations like Venice, Rome and Barcelona, the Baltic Sea is much more tranquil and inviting for the world traveler.

The six countries we visited were filled with beautiful natural surroundings including Norway, Denmark, Sweden, and Finland. So much so that our visit to Berlin was rather hectic but still a joy to be in the country’s capital, witnessing some of the best of Germany. We set aside two optional excursions where we would be guided through the magnificent countryside on bicycles to take in the fresh air and open spaces, with stop overs at historic out of the way churches and tranquil seaside harbours that made this part of our trip fun and memorable.

It is difficult to pick any one moment I enjoyed the most as there were far too many to pick from. What did stand out was taking a walk in Eidfjord alongside the river surrounded by tall mountains. In Oslo, we loved the masterpieces at Vigeland Park and viewing the famous “Scream” painting at the Munch Museum. In Copenhagen, we loved that worldly popular mermaid statue and the excitement and bustle of the Nyhaven harbour. We were delighted by the tranquil bike rides through the countryside in both Bornholm and Aland. Berlin was exciting and invigorating. Gdansk was a wonderful surprise with its charming and well-kept quarters, while we were enamoured by Stockholm’s medieval city center.

Professionally guided towards
As per our many Viking sailings, there are guided tours included in every part of call, and this was the case throughout our cruise. Viking does an exceptional job of coordinating all their passengers off the ship and to their designated guide who would then get us on luxury coaches or directly walking towards the attractions. These tours are always well organized with fantastic, friendly, and knowledgeable local guides.

Within a very short time, we would get an orientation on the destination and learn about its history, culture, museums, main attractions, and areas to shop and dine. In the big cities like Oslo, Copenhagen, Gdansk, and Stockholm, we easily navigated through the rush of the crowds and felt like we had been there much longer than the couple of hours exploring. The wonderful Viking staff would always welcome us back on board with smiles, a hot towel, refreshments and offered a perfect end to a wonderful day of exploration and touring. This contrasts with doing this on our own, where it could be complicated, tiring and a times frustrating.

Viking’s multiple sailing options
Cruising is cruising, right? Not at all! First, we must distinguish between high-capacity cruising with ships that host over 4000 passengers and the midsize and smaller vessels. This is where Viking comes in with three categories of their own. The ocean ships with a capacity of 930 passengers sail the world, while the Viking Expedition ships that accommodate less than 400 passengers visit Antarctica, the Great Lakes, and soon enough, the high Arctic. Even smaller are the masterfully built Viking Longships that sail the European waterways, while the Nile, Mekong, and the Mississippi rivers all have their distinctively built ships for these destinations.

All these Viking ship classes are different in character and sailing styles, but all have things in common. This includes remarkable design, décor, service and amenities and they have all proven to be a remarkable success as year after year Viking is continuously winning awards and leading the field.

With that in mind, the ‘Viking Homelands’ cruise is a winner and fabulous way of experiencing the splendours of Northern Europe!

www.viking.com