I love travel, but I started writing about cruises because I loved ships. Specifically, I love seeing the evolution of the onboard product, and the interior design changes that come with that.
On my recent voyage aboard Viking Rivers‘ Viking Baldur last month, I discovered yet another round of subtle but significant changes in the Viking Longships. Although there are now 18 Longships in service, Viking seems to be building them in pairs. Viking Embla and Viking Freya, for instance, are nearly identical – and both sport the same aqua-green frosted glass walls on their stateroom showers. Likewise, the earlier Viking Njord and Viking Odin are nearly identical.
Viking Baldur entered service in August, becoming the latest Viking Longship to enter service until the next batch are christened in Avignon, France in March.
So what’s changed? I’m glad you asked!
The Lobby
The Reception Atrium aboard the beautiful Viking Odin, the first of Viking’s new Longship-class of River Cruise Ships. Photo © 2012 Aaron Saunders
Viking Odin’s upper atrium. Note the lack of seating near the staircase and the carpeted flooring – not to mention the illuminated stairs. Photo © 2012 Aaron Saunders
By the time Viking Baldur was launched in 2013, a number of changes had been made. Note the lack of a chandelier, and the change in the flooring on the upper story from carpet to tile. Lighting sources have also been modified; note the lack of the ‘doughnut’ lamps on the ceiling. Photo © 2013 Aaron Saunders
The stunning, newly designed atrium space aboard Viking Bragi. While wood would be incorporated heavily into the newer Viking Baldur, the wooden ‘lattice work’ on the left of the staircase would revert back to the glass-and-marble design found aboard Viking Odin. Photo © 2013 Aaron Saunders
Staterooms
Viking Freya Category A. Note the headboard, lighting options, and bed runner. Photo © 2012 Aaron Saunders
Viking Aegir Category A. Note the change in bed runners, lighting and headboard, and wood trim above the step-out balcony. Photo © 2013 Aaron Saunders
Viking Baldur Category A. Note the revised headboard trim size, lighting elements and position, and the bed throws. Photo © 2013 Aaron Saunders
Viking Odin, stateroom bathroom. Note the tiled wall shower in the reflection of the mirror. Photo © 2012 Aaron Saunders
My stateroom bathroom aboard Viking Aegir in March. Note the new vanity and shelving arrangements. Photo © 2013 Aaron Saunders
Viking Baldur stateroom bathroom, 2013. The most significant change to the Longships bathrooms to-date. Note the new vanity, textures, color palette, and even the now-standard marine vacuum toilet and plastic push-button in place of the former circular silver button. Photo © 2013 Aaron Saunders
Smile! The bathroom’s aboard Viking Freya could be made “transparent” with the push of a button, as seen from the bedroom of my Category “A” stateroom. Photo © 2012 Aaron Saunders
On Viking Aegir in March, closet doors were switched to wood-like materials, replacing the frosted glass on earlier Longships. Also note the proper bathroom wall where the picture is (Viking Freya has an all-frosted glass bathroom wall) Photo © 2013 Aaron Saunders
Viking Aegir, March 2013. Note the curvature of the desk, the television and the wall treatments. Photo © 2013 Aaron Saunders
Viking Baldur, December 2013. Note the new model of Sony flat-panel television, the new mirror and wall treatments. Not to mention, the ledge that no longer curves inward. Photo © 2013 Aaron Saunders
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The Viking Lounge
Viking Aegir, March 2013. This design was indicative of the first few Viking Longships to enter service in 2012. Photo © 2013 Aaron Saunders
Viking Bragi, March 2013. Note the change in seating, carpeting, wall treatments and lighting over the previous design. Photo © 2013 Aaron Saunders
Viking Baldur, December 2013. Note the change in the tables from Viking Bragi, and the new accent lighting above the picture on the left. I love this design. Photo © 2013 Aaron Saunders
The Restaurant
The Restaurant aboard Viking Odin in March 2012. Note the color scheme, recessed accent lighting, and wall treatments. Photo © 2012 Aaron Saunders
A portion of the Restaurant aboard Viking Baldur, December 2013. Note the change in colors, wood treatments, and lighting. A much improved, warmer design. Photo © 2013 Aaron Saunders
On the Outside
Compare As We Dare: Note the solar panels on the sun deck of the Viking Freya (left) and their disappearance aboard Viking Embla (right.) Don’t worry – they’ve just been relocated aft next to the ship’s funnel! Photo © 2012 Aaron Saunders
Viking Embla (left) and Viking Freya (right), docked in Melk, Austria. Note the black hull on Viking Embla versus the white bow hull on Viking Freya. Photo © 2012 Aaron Saunders
The upper deck of Viking Freya in December 2012. Photo © 2012 Aaron Saunders
Note the addition of a grey strip of decking to indicate the jogging track aboard Viking Baldur in December 2013. Photo © 2013 Aaron Saunders
With 14 more Viking Longships on the way this year — and another 14 tin 2015 — you can bet there will be more little changes, tweaks and exciting differences to come.
Stay tuned for an even more comprehensive look at some of the changes incorporated into Viking’s trendsetting longships.
Very helpful. However, I don’t care for the translucent bathroom doors and walls. If one gets up in the night, the light may disturb one’s partner. Hope they rethink that.
The translucent bathroom walls were only used on two Viking Longships. The rest all have “normal”-style walls, and only the first few ships constructed featured the glass bathroom doors and closet doors. The latest Longships even have a cool “night-light” feature located underneath the lowest lip of the shelving below the sink that illuminates the bathroom enough at nigh that you don’t need to pop the main lights on.
Beautiful photos – thank you!!