9 Surprising Design Details on Viking Ocean Cruises

by Sherri Eisenberg

9 Surprising Design Details on Viking Ocean Cruises

by Sherri Eisenberg

The new Viking Ocean ships — the identical Viking Sea and Viking Star — are gorgeously crafted temples of modern residential design. So many spaces on board are chic and inviting, from the airy Wintergarden to the memorably cozy Explorers' Lounge, with its fur throws and fireplace. We sat down with the architect of the ships, Richard Riveire of Rottet Studio in Los Angeles, and were surprised to learn that even with our close attention to the many stunning details in the ships, the design still holds a lot of secrets not readily apparent to cruisers. Read on for the best hidden fine points we learned about on our insider ship tour.

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Wintergarden on Viking Star / Viking Ocean Cruises
The Atrium
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1. The Atrium

This striking three-story space has a grand staircase you can’t miss, but what you may not realize is the design is inspired by a viking ship. The ceiling pattern reflects the beams, the macramé designs on the windows represent rigging, and the tiered shape of the bar is an homage to the hull.

This striking three-story space has a grand staircase you can’t miss, but what you may not realize is the design is inspired by a viking ship. The ceiling pattern reflects the beams, the macramé designs on the windows represent rigging, and the tiered shape of the bar is an homage to the hull.

Torshavn
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2. Torshavn

This small music lounge actually holds a lot of cool details. Turn the corner behind the bar, and you’ll find an obscured VIP-style booth with a pass-through so that the bartender can hand cocktails directly to the booth's lucky inhabitants. Not fortunate enough to snag this table? Look up (again) and admire the whiskey bottle shape carved into the ceiling. There's also a brass lamp near the entrance that’s made of horns.

This small music lounge actually holds a lot of cool details. Turn the corner behind the bar, and you’ll find an obscured VIP-style booth with a pass-through so that the bartender can hand cocktails directly to the booth's lucky inhabitants. Not fortunate enough to snag this table? Look up (again) and admire the whiskey bottle shape carved into the ceiling. There's also a brass lamp near the entrance that’s made of horns.

Star Theater
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3. Star Theater

Past Torshavn, you’ll find the Star Theater, where shows and movie screenings are presented to guests sipping cocktails and munching on popcorn. This space holds plenty of unusual details — from cozy wool blankets to delicate Norwegian candle holders, but pay special attention to the throw pillows. Each is emblazoned with the face of a Scandinavian screen actor. Not sure you can pick out Greta Garbo and Ingrid Bergman? The cheat sheet, the artist’s signature, is on the back of each pillow.

Past Torshavn, you’ll find the Star Theater, where shows and movie screenings are presented to guests sipping cocktails and munching on popcorn. This space holds plenty of unusual details — from cozy wool blankets to delicate Norwegian candle holders, but pay special attention to the throw pillows. Each is emblazoned with the face of a Scandinavian screen actor. Not sure you can pick out Greta Garbo and Ingrid Bergman? The cheat sheet, the artist’s signature, is on the back of each pillow.

The Street on Viking Star
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4. The Street

You may not know that the architects think of this hallway, which leads from Torshavn to the theater, as “The Street,” but a large scene on the wall depicts a street in Oslo — and small black-and-white vignettes also display Norway's capital city. Average cruisers won’t recognize the city, but Torstein Hagen, the cruise line’s CEO, knew immediately. “I used to work in that building,” he told Riveire upon first sight of the image, pointing to a tower just left of center.

You may not know that the architects think of this hallway, which leads from Torshavn to the theater, as “The Street,” but a large scene on the wall depicts a street in Oslo — and small black-and-white vignettes also display Norway's capital city. Average cruisers won’t recognize the city, but Torstein Hagen, the cruise line’s CEO, knew immediately. “I used to work in that building,” he told Riveire upon first sight of the image, pointing to a tower just left of center.

Viking Star's Manfredi's
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5. Manfredi’s

In the Italian restaurant, the ships’ best dining venue, you’ll see vintage accordions, comfy brown leather chairs reminiscent of soft driving moccasins, chandeliers made of chocolate-colored Murano glass from Venice, and black-and-white tiles inspired by the buildings of Northern Italy. But you may not notice a hidden gem on the wall of pictures of stars dining on Italian food. Right near Sophia Loren twirling pasta is a photo of the line’s chef and Hagen himself in the kitchen with the restaurant’s namesake. Another bit of trivia: Manfredi is Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, a friend of Hagen’s … and the chairman of Silversea Cruises.

In the Italian restaurant, the ships’ best dining venue, you’ll see vintage accordions, comfy brown leather chairs reminiscent of soft driving moccasins, chandeliers made of chocolate-colored Murano glass from Venice, and black-and-white tiles inspired by the buildings of Northern Italy. But you may not notice a hidden gem on the wall of pictures of stars dining on Italian food. Right near Sophia Loren twirling pasta is a photo of the line’s chef and Hagen himself in the kitchen with the restaurant’s namesake. Another bit of trivia: Manfredi is Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, a friend of Hagen’s … and the chairman of Silversea Cruises.

Elevator detail
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6. The Elevators

Look carefully at the birch tree patterns on the back of the forward elevators, and you’ll see trolls ensconced among the autumnal, golden leaves. Popular in Norse mythology and Scandinavian folklore, these figures appear to be laughing at guests from just out of sight.

Look carefully at the birch tree patterns on the back of the forward elevators, and you’ll see trolls ensconced among the autumnal, golden leaves. Popular in Norse mythology and Scandinavian folklore, these figures appear to be laughing at guests from just out of sight.

Wintergarden
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7. Wintergarden

This gorgeous glassed-in area gets the most use from 4 pm to 5 pm each day, when afternoon tea is served. It's a special place to enjoy some tea and listen to live music, and it's designed with a natural, wooded theme, including support beams that are reminiscent of trees in Oslo's Vigeland Park. But you’ll want to tear yourself away from your warm scone or cool tartlet long enough to hunt down and admire the black cast-iron ravens in the back corner of the space. They are Huginn and Muninn, birds that served as carrier pigeons of sorts to the god Odin in Norse mythology. Along the sides of the room are iron depictions of cities the birds visited on their travels.

This gorgeous glassed-in area gets the most use from 4 pm to 5 pm each day, when afternoon tea is served. It's a special place to enjoy some tea and listen to live music, and it's designed with a natural, wooded theme, including support beams that are reminiscent of trees in Oslo's Vigeland Park. But you’ll want to tear yourself away from your warm scone or cool tartlet long enough to hunt down and admire the black cast-iron ravens in the back corner of the space. They are Huginn and Muninn, birds that served as carrier pigeons of sorts to the god Odin in Norse mythology. Along the sides of the room are iron depictions of cities the birds visited on their travels.

Living Room Library on Viking Star
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8. The Libraries

You’ll also find small libraries all over the ship, each with a collection of books hand-picked to fit a certain theme. Our favorite: the travel library in the lobby lounge, home to everything from picture books to travel memoirs. Fortunately, the space includes comfy arm chairs — with ottomans and reading lights — in case you decide to settle in with a tome.

You’ll also find small libraries all over the ship, each with a collection of books hand-picked to fit a certain theme. Our favorite: the travel library in the lobby lounge, home to everything from picture books to travel memoirs. Fortunately, the space includes comfy arm chairs — with ottomans and reading lights — in case you decide to settle in with a tome.

The Living Room
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9. All Over the Ship

Although the wooden treelike columns, the most striking feature in the Wintergarden, are actually made of wood, Riveire assures us most of the rest of the elements that look like wood on the ship are actually laminate or tile. This isn't about saving money: The architects wanted a warm, woodsy atmosphere that gives a nod to modern Scandinavian design, but wood must be limited at sea where most materials are required to be nonflammable.

Although the wooden treelike columns, the most striking feature in the Wintergarden, are actually made of wood, Riveire assures us most of the rest of the elements that look like wood on the ship are actually laminate or tile. This isn't about saving money: The architects wanted a warm, woodsy atmosphere that gives a nod to modern Scandinavian design, but wood must be limited at sea where most materials are required to be nonflammable.

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