No casinos, no kids: This ship could convert cruise sceptics

The design

While Viking Saturn’s Nordic design ethos stops short of “cutting-edge Scandinavian” it still takes its inspiration directly from the northern European region’s classic calming aesthetics. The thoughtful touches even extend to a small on-board viking-themed historical display and a display of Norwegian national costumes. Elsewhere, Viking Saturn’s on-board shop champions Nordic design with an array of wares for sale, including exclusive Dale of Norway knitwear, which you’ll notice some on-duty crew members modelling.

The spaces

For a cultured nation like Norway that spawned the likes of the two enterprising Edvards (the artist Munch and the composer Grieg), it’s no surprise that music and art feature prominently throughout Viking Saturn’s public spaces. Munch prints, from the collection of Viking Cruises’ founder Torstein Hagen, adorn the walls along with contemporary black and white photography. All the on-board artworks can be viewed, deck by deck, in more detail with a self-guided tour on the app that’s well worth taking. Classy stuff.

The stateroom

Viking manages to incorporate luxury touches with little fanfare, something which extends to my aforementioned Nordic blond-timbered deluxe verandah stateroom. At 25 square metres, it’s about the size of some decent boutique hotel digs. The bathroom is equipped with anti-fog mirrors and underfloor heating as well as a reliably powerful shower, while in the main living space there’s an espresso coffee pod machine (fortunately, or unfortunately, it may be the best coffee you have aboard). On this late autumn-cum-early winter cruise it’s a little too cool to bask on the private verandah (really a balcony) but it’s reassuring to know it’s there, especially for enjoying arrivals and departures in and out of the sometimes spectacular featured ports.

The food

Viking Saturn has its share of a la carte options, such as the reservations-only Manfredi’s Italian diner and the walk-in The Restaurant, but most passengers, your reviewer included, are consistently drawn around the clock to the more relaxed World Cafe and Aquavit Terrace. It’s one of the most appealing food-station-cum buffet dining options at sea, with Viking’s multinational chefs going to commendable and appreciated lengths at World Cafe to reflect the cuisine of the ports visited. On the same deck, seven, afternoon tea can be enjoyed inside the strikingly trellised Wintergarden, overlooking the heated pool with its retractable dome roof allowing for trans-seasonal dips. Elsewhere, don’t miss the delectable Scandi-style open sandwiches, cakes and waffles served at the stylish Mamsen’s in the Explorer’s Lounge on the opposite end of the same deck.

Wellness

One of the ship’s most distinctive features is its “snow grotto”, part of Viking Saturn’s impressive Nordic-style spa and sauna complex. It’s rightly billed as the ideal place to recharge and revitalise after a day of foot slogging or pedal pushing on shore, or even on one of the sea days.

Entertainment

An exclusive partnership with Oslo’s Munch Museum allows Viking’s vessels to showcase, in the ship’s expansive deck one atrium-like Living Room space, the digitised artworks of Munch in the form of Munch Moments presentations, accompanied by live classic music including works by Edvard Grieg. For more elaborate performances, expert lectures or films, head to Viking Saturn’s 450-seat state-of-the-art, multipurpose theatre (a novel touch are the seat cushions which feature the faces of celebrated Scandinavian stars of the silver screen).

The crew

Aside from certain members of the all-important crew up on the ship’s bridge, the Scandinavian touch tends to begin and end with inanimate objects – Viking Saturn is staffed by the usual United Nations retinue of Filipinos, Eastern Europeans, South Africans and Indians. As ever on cruises, the standouts among the crew, who number 465, are the ever-cheerful and efficient Filipino housekeepers (there are no butlers, per se, on Viking ships). Even though gratuities are included in the cost of the cruise, do remember to reward them generously at voyage’s end.

The verdict

Same, same and loving it. This is one deluxe, no-nonsense cruise ship belonging to a no-nonsense cruise company which delivers oceans of Nordic style, design, comfort and sophistication.

The details

Viking’s 16-day Malta, Morocco & the Mediterranean cruise, beginning and ending in Barcelona, from $13,495 a person with departures on November 13, 23 and 28 and December 8 this year, still available at the time of writing. Companion flies free on voyages between 2025 and 2027, with up to $2400 + $500 Shipboard Credit if booked before March 31, 2025. Etihad Airways flies from Australia to Barcelona via Abu Dhabi. Barcelona’s boutique Hotel Borneta is located in the city’s atmospheric El Born neighbourhood with rooms from $444 a night. See vikingcruises.com.au; etihad.com; slh.com

Our rating out of five

★★★★★

Swell

Koselig is more or less Norway’s equivalent of Denmark’s hygge, roughly defined as a love of cosiness and the joy of the smaller things in life. Both exist in happy abundance aboard Viking Saturn.

Not so swell

Cruises lines, with Viking no exception, love to welcome the next group of passengers on the same day as disembarking passengers. Fine for them, but having to vacate your stateroom by 8am can feel a bit of a letdown after 16 days at sea.

The writer was a guest of Viking Cruises and Small Luxury Hotels of the World and travelled with the assistance of Etihad Airways.