TRAVELCruise ship tours: Viking Cruises' Viking SeaRiver giant Viking's second ocean ship, the 930-passenger Viking Sea, is a sister ship to the Viking Star. The two vessels met for the first time in early April in Santorini, Greece.Viking CruisesAt 48,000 tons, the Viking Sea is a third the size of many of the megaships being rolled out by major cruise lines -- and that's on purpose. It's smaller size will allow it to access smaller ports that megaships can't visit.Viking CruisesThe centerpiece of the Viking Sea's top deck is the Main Pool area, which features a glass magrodome that can be closed during inclement weather.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYShown here with its retractable magradome in the open position, the Main Pool area is surrounded by lounge chairs and features a rectangular hot tub.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe lounge chairs that line the Viking Sea's Main Pool area have a space-saving design that features a retractable foot rest.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe hot tub adjacent to the main pool is lined with small tile with a lovely geometric design.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYLocated in a nook behind the main pool is the sleek Pool Bar, which is open throughout the day.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYAdjacent to the Main Pool area on the Viking Sea's top deck is the airy Wintergarden, a stylish indoor/outdoor lounge space that is home to an afternoon tea service with finger sandwiches and pastries.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe light-filled Wintergarden has uncluttered, comfortable seating areas and glass walls overlooking the sea.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYFrank Gehry-designed Cross Check chairs are among the designer touches in the Wintergarden.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe little touches on the Viking Sea include cozy blankets draped over lounge chairs in the Wintergarden.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYA second pool area is located at the back of the Viking Sea on Deck 7.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYAn outdoor promenade encircles the Viking Sea on Deck 2.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe focal point of the Viking Sea's interior is an elegant, three-deck-high atrium.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYEchoing Viking river ships, the atrium has a stylish, modernist design featuring lots of light woods.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe atrium is at the center of what is known as The Viking Living Room -- a multipurpose space with living room-like seating nooks with sofas, comfortable chairs and bookshelves; a bar and cafe serving light snacks throughout the day; and entertainment such as piano music.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYOne of several comfortable seating areas in the Living Room.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYAnother seating area that is part of the Living Room.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYMore comfortable seating is available one deck up from The Viking Living Room along balcony areas overlooking the atrium.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe Viking Living Room around the atrium includes the Viking Bar, a central gathering point for passengers throughout the day and into the evening.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe Viking Bar's cafe-like seating area features classic Mario Bellini-designed leather Cab chairs -- one of many high design touches throughout the ship.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYAt the base of the atrium is a Steinway grand piano where a pianist often plays in the evenings.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYA seating area in the Living Room at the base of the grand stairway.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYCard tables occupy a nook on Deck 2 overlooking the atrium.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYIn a nod to Viking's Norwegian heritage, the Living Room on the Viking Sea is lined with original art by Norwegian artist Edvard Munch.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYMore comfortable seating is available one deck up from The Viking Living Room along balcony areas overlooking the atrium.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYAlso on Deck 2 is Torshaven, a nightspot that's home to live music and a collection of Armagnac.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYOverlooking the front of the Viking Sea on Decks 7 and 8 is the elegant, two-deck-high Explorer's Lounge.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe lower deck of the Explorer's Lounge features a semi-circular bar.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYFloor-to-ceiling glass walls in the Explorer's Lounge offer stunning vistas of the ocean while the ship is under way.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe second floor of the Explorer's Lounge also offers stunning views from floor-to-ceiling windows.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYAn explorer's theme runs through the decor of the Explorer's Lounge, including wall cases with antique objects and books that relate to exploration and adventure travel.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYModels of historic vessels including the airship 'Norge' adorn the second floor of the Explorer's Lounge.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYKeeping with the exploring theme, the second floor of the Explorer's Lounge also features glass cases with displays about historic Norwegian explorations.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe Viking Sea's main eatery, called The Restaurant, is located on Deck 2 and serves breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYAnother bar is located at the center of The Restaurant.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYModern furniture is a hallmark of the design on the Viking Sea, as seen here in the seating area just outside The Restaurant.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYLocated on Deck 1, Manfredi's Italian Restaurant is one of two specialty eateries on the Viking Sea, both of which are available to passengers at no extra charge.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYNamed after Silversea Cruises chairman Manfredi Lefebvre d'Ovidio, a friend of Viking Cruises founder Torstein Hagen, the Manfredi's Italian Restaurant serves hearty Tuscan cuisine such as Osso Bucco and a Tuscan-style New York Strip steak.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYAlso located on Deck 1 is The Chef's Table, a second specialty restaurant on the Viking Star that is available at no extra charge.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe cuisine in the Chef's Table restaurant changes every few nights.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYIn keeping with its Scandinavian theme, the Viking Sea has an expansive LiV Nordic spa operated by Scandinavian spa company Raison D'Etre.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYLocated at the front of the ship on Deck 1, the LiV Nordic spa touts "Nordic wellness" and features a Nordic-style thermal suite that includes a salt water-filled thermal pool.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYComfortable lounge chairs line the spa.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe LiV Nordic spa's thermal suite also includes a nook with heated lounge chairs.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYPerhaps the most unusual feature in the LiV Nordic spa's thermal suite is its chilled "snow grotto," which features real snowflakes falling from the ceiling. A brief plunge into the space is touted as beneficial to one's circulatory system.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe Snow Grotto at times is piled high with snow.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYAnother highlight of the LiV Nordic spa's thermal suite is the bucket dump, which plunges cold water onto spagoers daring enough to give it a try.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYMale and female rooms in the LiV Nordic spa feature lockers, a sauna, a cold plunge pool and showers.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYSaunas are located in private areas for men and women in the LiV Nordic spa.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe Viking Sea's LiV Nordic spa has eight treatment rooms.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe Viking Sea's LiV Nordic spa also is home to an expansive hair salon with multiple treatment areas for hair and nails.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThree stations for hair styling line one wall of the Hair Salon, which is located on Deck 1.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYStations for pedicures in the Viking Sea's salon.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYAdjacent to the LiV Nordic spa on the Viking Sea is a fitness area with several dozen treadmills, elliptical machines and other cardio-vascular fitness equipment.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe fitness center has a dedicated area for free weights.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe Viking Sea has five categories of cabins, not including its single Owner's Suite. The biggest cabins are the 14 Explorer Suites, one of which is shown here.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYEach of the 14 Explorer Suites on the Viking Sea measures at least 757 square feet including balcony space. Located at the front and back of the ship, they offer separate living rooms and bedrooms with king size beds, luxury linens and large flat screen TVs.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYExplorer Suite bathrooms have a stylish, contemporary look. Features include rectangular double sinks, upscale Italian-designed M&Z fixtures and light stone tiled walls and floors. As on Viking river ships, the bathroom floors are heated.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYExplorer Suite bathrooms have a separate compartment with a designer shower featuring elegant, Italian-made Bossini fixtures and a full bathtub with Italian-made Paffoni fixtures. A window next the bathtub offers views to the ocean.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe top four of five categories of cabins on the Viking Sea also feature a minibar stocked with complimentary sodas and water. Complimentary alcoholic beverages also are included for passengers in the top three categories of cabins.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYFour out of five of the Viking Sea's cabin categories come with a K-cup style Paulig brand coffee maker.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYA lounge chair on an Explorer Suite deck.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYEach of the Viking Sea's Explorer Suites features large, wrap-around balconies that measure from 167 to 490 square feet.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYCabins on the Viking Sea have both U.S.- and European-style electrical outlets. They also come with audio systems that are used to listen to guides during shore excursions.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe basic cabin on the Viking Sea is the Deluxe Veranda Stateroom. At 270 square feet, it's spacious for a cruise ship cabin.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYBathrooms in Deluxe Veranda cabins feature elegant fixtures, relatively large showers and heated floors.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe shower in a Deluxe Veranda Stateroom.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe Viking Sea offers a casual, buffet-style eatery called the World Cafe.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYCooking stations offer a wide variety of cuisine at the World Cafe.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYHomemade ice cream awaiting customers at the World Cafe.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYA soaring, two-deck-high bar area is located at the back of the World Cafe overlooking the ship's Infinity Pool.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYFresh squeezed orange juice is available at breakfast in the World Cafe.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYMore seating for the World Cafe is located at the back of the ship around the Infinity Pool.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYA coffee, tea and juice station at the World Cafe is open around the clock. It includes an automated espresso drinks machine that is available at no charge to passengers.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYAmong little touches, a hand-washing station at the entrance to the World Cafe offers cloth towels for drying.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe Viking Sea's main showroom, The Theater, features spacious lounge seating in lieu of traditional showroom seating.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe Viking Sea has two cinemas located just behind The Theater that have front walls that can slide open to give the showroom more seating.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYJust outside the Viking Sea's main theater and two cinemas is a theater bar.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYA small sports deck at the front of the Viking Sea is home to a putting green.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYComfortable outdoor seating areas are located at the corners of Deck 8 overlooking the stern of the ship.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYLocated on Deck 9, the sports deck also has a boccie ball court lined with faux grass.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYShuffleboard areas are located on both sides of the ship on the Sports Deck.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYOther offerings on the Viking Sea's Sports Deck include exercise machines that wrap around the front of the vessel.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYLounge chairs line the sides of the Viking Sea's top deck.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYComfortable outdoor seating areas also are located on Deck 8.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYJust steps away from the Main Pool on Deck 8 is the Pool Grill, which serves cooked-to-order hamburgers, grilled fish and pizza at lunchtime.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYEven the Viking Sea's out-of-the-way computer nook on Deck 1 displays high design with a row of iconic Charles and Ray Eames-designed, mid-century modern Aluminum Chairs.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYDeck 2 also offers a Viking Heritage display area that ties into Viking Cruises' Norwegian roots.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYTraditional Viking outfits are among the artifacts on display in the Viking Heritage area on Deck 2.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYA detailed model of the Viking Star can be found in a corner of the Viking Living Room on Deck 2.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe Viking Living Room also is home to a small nook with a model of a Viking river ship and that is used for future cruise sales meetings.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYAnother nod to Viking's Norwegian heritage on the Viking Sea is Mamsen's, a small food outlet in a corner of the Explorer's Lounge that serves Norwegian specialties such as Norwegian waffles. It's named after Viking founder Torstein Hagen's mother.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYNorwegian waffles and herring are among the options available for breakfast at Mamsen's.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYCabin decks on the Viking Sea feature laundrettes with self-serve washers and dryers. Unlike on many ships with laundry machines, there is no charge to use them.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYSmartly folded towels are available in nooks around the Main Pool deck.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe Viking Seas was built in Ancona, Italy by Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYThe Viking Star flies the flag of Norway, where it is registered.Gene Sloan, USA TODAYA buoy at the ready on the top deck of Viking Sea.Gene Sloan, USA TODAY