Viking Saturn: Small-Ship Cruising with Scandinavian Style

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Boutique style, outstanding food and a refreshing approach to ocean cruising

I spent today in Liverpool visiting Viking Saturn, and it made a really strong impression on me.

Small, beautifully designed and incredibly calm, it feels much more like a stylish Scandinavian boutique hotel than a traditional cruise ship. Think light woods, natural textures, gorgeous spaces, understated elegance and, thankfully, no garish cruise-ship carpets!

What also really stood out was Viking’s philosophy that the ship should complement the places you’re visiting, rather than outshine the destination. You can feel that throughout the whole experience.

Small ship, plenty of space

Viking Saturn was built in 2023 and carries just 930 guests.

She is one of Viking’s fleet of almost identical ocean ships, which began with Viking Star, so if you love one Viking ship, you can expect a very similar experience across the fleet. The newest generation of ships is only slightly larger, accommodating 998 guests, so Viking is very much staying committed to small-ship cruising.

One thing I particularly liked is that there are no inside cabins or cabins with just a porthole or window. Every single stateroom has its own private veranda.

That also means the ship isn’t packed with hundreds of additional cabins taking up every available inch. Instead, there is a wonderful feeling of space throughout the public areas.

I visited Deluxe Veranda stateroom 6054 and found it beautifully designed in the same understated Scandinavian style as the rest of the ship.

There are lots of thoughtful inclusions too, including complimentary Wi-Fi and 24-hour room service.

And another small detail that regular travellers may appreciate more than they expect: there is a self-service launderette on every accommodation deck.

The food was a real highlight

Food is a big part of any cruise experience, and Viking Saturn really impressed me here.

We had lunch in the World Café and the food offering was outstanding. This is the more relaxed dining venue, but it certainly doesn’t feel like a compromise in quality.

More importantly, all of Viking’s restaurants are included in the cruise fare.

The main Restaurant has two menus each evening. One changes daily and reflects the region the ship is currently sailing through, while the other offers a selection of favourite dishes that remain available throughout the cruise.

There are also two alternative restaurants.

Manfredi’s is Viking’s Italian restaurant, with an extensive menu and the kind of leisurely, multi-course meal you would expect from a proper Italian dining experience.

The Chef’s Table is something completely different, offering a changing series of multi-course tasting menus with matched wines. Rather than simply being another speciality restaurant, it is designed as a full dining experience.

There is no additional charge for either restaurant and guests can dine in them more than once. Reservations can be made before travelling through My Viking Journey or once onboard, with the number of advance reservations available depending on your stateroom category.

For anyone who really loves their food, Viking also offers The Kitchen Table on selected itineraries — an optional experience which can take you into a local market with one of the chefs to shop for ingredients before returning onboard to cook together.

This is exactly the kind of thing I mean when I describe Viking as destination-focused. Even the food connects you back to where you are travelling.

So much is already included

Viking’s approach is quite inclusive.

Beer, wine and soft drinks are included with lunch and dinner, along with tea, coffee and bottled water throughout the day.

For anyone wanting a broader choice of drinks, the Silver Spirits package is currently £21 per person per day — £147 per person on a seven-night cruise — and adds cocktails, upgraded wines, spirits and other drinks throughout the ship.

Wi-Fi is complimentary for every guest, 24-hour room service is included and guests can also use the gorgeous Nordic Spa without paying an additional spa access charge.

And the spa really is gorgeous.

It continues that Scandinavian feeling of calm found throughout the ship and is somewhere I could very happily disappear to after a day exploring ashore.

Entertainment without the big production shows

If your idea of cruising is huge West End or Broadway-style productions every evening, Viking takes a different approach.

Entertainment is designed to complement the destination.

You’ll find guest speakers, historians, destination experts, port talks and performances connected with the countries and regions you are visiting.

There is still entertainment in the evening, but it is not really about big, flashy production shows. The emphasis is much more on enrichment and giving you a deeper understanding of the places you are visiting.

Even the port talks and presentations are streamed to your stateroom, so you can watch them there if you prefer.

Again, it comes back to Viking’s philosophy: you are travelling to experience the world outside the ship.

Relaxed rather than formal

There are no formal nights or Captain’s Gala evenings.

Dress in the evening is smart, elegant casual, which fits the overall atmosphere perfectly — stylish and sophisticated, but never stuffy.

Restaurant menus can be viewed through the Viking Voyager app, there’s plenty of flexibility around dining, and the whole experience felt refreshingly grown-up and uncomplicated.

Who would I recommend Viking to?

I came away from Viking Saturn thinking this would be a fantastic option for clients who want to explore the world but don’t necessarily want all the bells and whistles of a large resort-style cruise ship.

If you love beautiful boutique hotels, excellent food, smaller ships, interesting destinations and understated rather than flashy luxury, Viking is absolutely worth considering.

It would also be one I’d suggest to people who tell me, “I’m not sure cruising is really for me.”

Viking Saturn didn’t feel like a floating resort. It felt like a beautiful boutique hotel that happens to take you somewhere different.

And that distinction is quite important.

A huge thank you to Sabrina, Daniel and the Viking team for showing me around and giving me the opportunity to experience Viking Saturn for myself.

This was a ship visit I was genuinely reluctant to leave — and I think that probably tells you everything! Xx