Viking Vesta

Boasting one hundred river, ocean and expedition ships in its fleet, more than any other cruise line, Viking has earned a reputation as "the thinking person's cruise.” Vesta, one of Viking’s newest ocean ships, embodies the line’s exceptional service, calming Nordic decor and understated elegance. Though Viking doesn’t use the term luxury, that is how many describe this adults-only brand. There are no water slides, casinos or high-tech theater productions, and instead of an atrium lobby bustling with excitement, Vesta's main public area, called The Living Room, resembles a luxurious home with its grand piano and high-end, comfortable seating conducive to conversation or playing cards and board games while live classical musicians perform nightly.

The majority of guests are English speaking from the United States, Great Britain and Canada. Beautifully furnished libraries and carefully curated bookshelves throughout the ship make it easy to find a good book. 

There are more things to do onboard than just read though. Two inviting pools and hot tubs and Vesta’s complimentary thermal spa offer serene retreats. Daily onboard lectures provide thoughtful insights into port destinations. Though there are no events or scheduled gatherings specifically for LGBTQ+ passengers, a progressive and friendly vibe onboard makes Viking a good cruise option for LGBTQ+ travelers.

What I love:

• All-inclusive cruising experience, with specialty restaurants, beer, wine, sodas, sparkling water, juices, high-end coffees and teas, thermal spa, wi-fi, and one complimentary shore excursion in each port included.

• Complimentary laundry facilities include soap and iron/ironing board, allowing passengers to vacation without bringing as much luggage.

• Enclosed atrium with pool and hot tub is a peaceful oasis and a welcome option on a day with cooler weather or rain.

Things to consider:

• Not much evening entertainment. Most passengers are asleep by 10pm.

• No children under eighteen allowed onboard, so it may not be a good fit for large extended family gatherings.

• No single-occupancy cabins, so solo travelers have to pay double occupancy rate. 

First Impressions:

Interior design reflects overall ethos of Scandinavian simplicity and serenity- soothing pale woods with a palate of cream and blue. Culinary experiences range from casual eateries and a cruise buffet to an upscale multi-course tasting menu. Unique to Viking, all restaurants are included in the base fare, including the two specialty restaurants. Food quality is excellent and service at all the restaurants is attentive and gracious. None of Vesta’s restaurants get crowded or have long lines, and waitstaff are not as hurried as one might experience on other cruises.

Who I'd recommend it to: Older cruisers who value civility and serenity, looking to travel the world and learn while they're doing it. Viking is meant for guests who'd rather read than drink or party.

WHAT TO EXPECT ON BOARD

Staterooms & Cabins 

Unique to Viking is that every stateroom is double occupancy and has its own private veranda. Standard stateroom amenities include U.S., European and USB outlets, flat-screen television, safe, minibar and refrigerator, hair dryer, umbrella, and ample storage with full-length closets and space underneath beds for luggage. Cabins also include a comfortable sitting area with coffee table, desk, and beds that can be configured into two twins or one king. 

Heated floors, large glass enclosed showers and contemporary design make the bathrooms feel like spas. Plush robes, slippers and the Nordic line of Freyja toiletries add to the feeling of being pampered. 

Since every stateroom has its own veranda, the main distinctions are size and added perks depending on cabin category. The Veranda and Deluxe Veranda are actually the same size (288 square feet), but Deluxe Verandas come with coffee maker, binoculars, a cozy Norwegian throw blanket, one hour earlier cabin access upon embarkation and earlier access to specialty dining reservations. 

The Penthouse Veranda provides more space (338 square feet) and earlier booking perks. The suites provide even earlier booking benefits, complimentary laundry service and more space with 432 square feet for the Penthouse Junior Suite and 800 –1,215 square feet for the Explorer Suite. The ship’s lavish Owner’s Suite features a separate bedroom, six person dining area, and its own sauna with ocean views.

Dining  & Drinking:

The Chef’s Table offers a set tasting menu and wine pairing that changes nightly, while Manfredi’s offers the same menu of homemade pastas and Italian specialties throughout the cruise. Both restaurants require reservations and have private dining rooms seating 12 that can be booked at no extra cost. 

The main dining room, simply called The Restaurant, serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with open seating featuring a menu that changes daily, reflecting the cruise itinerary. Vesta waitstaff eagerly accommodate dietary restrictions and menus in all restaurants are marked for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and no sugar added.

Many passengers choose to partake in nightly sushi and carving stations at the World Cafe buffet, with its floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the ocean. Themed buffet nights reflect ports being visited. There are also seafood-themed nights with lobster, king crab, snow crab, clams and massive shrimp. The buffet includes a salad bar, pizza station and ice cream and gelato station.

The glass-enclosed Wintergarden is popular for its daily afternoon tea accompanied by live musicians. While Mamsen’s, adjacent to the Explorer’s Lounge, is popular for breakfast waffles or quick lunch of soup and open-faced sandwiches. 

The Pool Grill offers salads, hamburgers, vegetarian burgers and hot dogs. Another option is complimentary room service with a full assortment of hot and cold breakfast options as well as a wide menu of offerings for lunch and dinner.

A unique dining experience offered at an additional cost is The Kitchen Table. Guests join Vesta chefs for a market visit in port that culminates in a private cooking class and dinner.

House beer and wine are included at lunch and dinner. If you purchase the $27/day Silver Spirits beverage package, higher-end wines, beers, and cocktails are available at any time. Unlike most cruise lines, there is no drink package necessary for soda, specialty coffees, sparkling water, juices or the popular afternoon tea. Those drinks are all included. 

The Explorers’ Lounge in the ship’s bow, with floor-to-ceiling windows, offers cozy seating and desk-height tables perfect for sending out emails or taking care of business on a laptop. Nightly live music makes this a popular spot. 

Torshavn is a popular lounge with nightly live music and dancing. And on deck 7, passengers will find two bars- one by the main pool and another by the smaller aft pool.  

Entertainment

The ship’s resident historian and guest lecturers give daily presentations in the theatre, where movies are also shown. The theatre also occasionally brings local performers onboard to highlight the port’s cultural heritage. 

Nightly live music, dancing and trivia games can be found in the lounges. The ship has a handful of resident singers and dancers whose performances feature popular music from bands like ABBA, Motown legends or other golden oldies of rock-n-roll.