We are spa people.
No proper spa means no resort ship.
No resort ship means no luxury ship.
Viking designers decided to build something more than just a cruise ship - a proper cruise ship, an ideal ship.
They followed the list of amenities for a real luxury ship.
A proper spa is in the list.
So....
Every Viking brochure presents you a beautiful picture of the spa pool, heated tile loungers, steam room, saunas, even "the snow grotto".
This is Viking thermal suite that we were looking forward to.
A proper spa on a "luxury" ship (those small club style ships - think of Selversea, etc.)?
This sounds like non-scientific fiction.
Viking designers have made an attempt.
This fact itself makes credit this cruise line.
So....
The steam room was out of order for the duration of the cruise.I have seen temporary technical problems with steam rooms on cruise ships. That could last for a day, not more.
But for 14 days??
OK, this is a temporary problem anyway. This is not a design flaw.
The main part of the thermal suite - the pool - that is a design flaw.
Let's see...
Thermal Suite
The blue room is the "snow grotto".
Thermal pool
What is wrong?
Let's take a closer look.
First of all, the pool is not as large as it looks on photos.
This is my photo - a typical presentation of the Viking spa:
That were "brochure" type photos (not as good of course).
Now you see a photo that a cruise critic would take.
The underwater part of the pool is significantly smaller:
And the major fault...
This is supposed to be a "hydrotherapy pool".
It is supposed to have hydro massage jets. This is the purpose of the spa pools: hydromassage.
In fact there are only four underwater jets on the left side.
Two of them are useless because of the underwater bump-out.
The two available jets are for legs only.
No "shoulder" jets at all.
There is a "lounging" area where you can have fun enjoying the "bubbling" water effect.
That's it.
As a result we have just a larger jacuzzi.
Looks "fantastic".... but in fact.....
Is it possible to swim "against current" in this pool?
"Swim against current" pools are completely different things (Princess Cruises).
But yes, (with a risk of traumatizing yourself) you can swim a little bit on condition that you are alone in the pool.
Considering the investments into the major part of the thermal suite... this is a huge miss.
This is not a complaint.
This is an assessment.
Even more...
I love this ship so much that this design flaw hurts me as if it was my own fault.
Even more...
I love this ship so much that this design flaw hurts me as if it was my own fault.
Other faults.
Heated tile beds
I wish they were heated at least as the heated floors in cabin bathrooms.
I believe the temperature is adjustable though.
What is not adjustable is the location.
By definition heated tile beds is a place for deep relaxation. It cannot be in the same room with a noisy pool.
Heated tile beds
I wish they were heated at least as the heated floors in cabin bathrooms.
I believe the temperature is adjustable though.
What is not adjustable is the location.
By definition heated tile beds is a place for deep relaxation. It cannot be in the same room with a noisy pool.
Saunas
Saunas are located in the changing rooms that is not convenient.
Normally changing rooms in spas on cruise ships are separate rooms.
Changing rooms are separate rooms even in spas on German ships (where ladies and gentlemen - totally naked - share spa facilities).
Saunas are located in the changing rooms that is not convenient.
Normally changing rooms in spas on cruise ships are separate rooms.
Changing rooms are separate rooms even in spas on German ships (where ladies and gentlemen - totally naked - share spa facilities).
Sauna door opens… in the Changing room:
Plunge pool
A relaxation room is merely a passage between rooms ...
OK, if this is not the right thermal spa, what is the
right one?
A valid question.
I do realize that many Viking passenger “exclusively” come
from “luxury” cruise lines, river cruises, possibly from Celebrity ships (newer
than the Century-class 1995-1997) and therefore have no idea of a proper thermal spa on a cruise ship at sea.
This is how it looks on a luxury (sans quotation marks)
resort cruise ship (one of the Viking role models) Nieuw Amsterdam.
The core muscle of the spa - hydropool.
You see the metal lounger.
You see two sets of the side jets.
You see a pair of the shoulder/neck jets, and a vortex area in the middle.
No imitations, no tricks. All powerful.
Nieuw Amsterdam
The core muscle of the spa - hydropool.
You see the metal lounger.
You see two sets of the side jets.
You see a pair of the shoulder/neck jets, and a vortex area in the middle.
No imitations, no tricks. All powerful.
Nieuw Amsterdam
The core muscle at work:
Nieuw Amsterdam
Heated tile beds in a quiet room (sea views):
Nieuw Amsterdam
Steam rooms:
Nieuw Amsterdam
Saunas:
Nieuw Amsterdam
A relaxation room (sea views):
Nieuw Amsterdam
Now you see the difference.
Viking designers have made a great attempt but in this particular area they did not learn a lesson from the larger and more sophisticated luxury resort ships.
Fitness Center
The gym is relatively small but well equipped.
Large windows, great views.
Towels, bottled water "served"..
Just don't be lazy...
Nieuw Amsterdam
Heated tile beds in a quiet room (sea views):
Nieuw Amsterdam
Steam rooms:
Nieuw Amsterdam
Saunas:
Nieuw Amsterdam
A relaxation room (sea views):
Nieuw Amsterdam
Now you see the difference.
Viking designers have made a great attempt but in this particular area they did not learn a lesson from the larger and more sophisticated luxury resort ships.
Fitness Center
The gym is relatively small but well equipped.
Large windows, great views.
Towels, bottled water "served"..
Just don't be lazy...
Spa Prices
(other than Thermal Suite)
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