Viking Orion: Ultimate Guide

If you’re after a cruise that offers stargazing, fine dining, and destination-deep diving, Viking Orion might just be your kind of ship. Part of the Viking Ocean Cruises and purpose-built for curious travellers, this mid-sized, adults-only vessel carries just 930 guests and leans hard into cultural enrichment, scenic itineraries, and pared-back luxury.

Named after the constellation and the mythical hunter, Viking Orion is all about exploration, whether that’s through lectures from astronauts, immersive shore excursions, or watching the world go by from your own private balcony. Add in sleek Scandinavian design, a no-kids policy, and a few clever features (like a planetarium at sea), and you’ve got yourself the perfect adult-only retreat.

Here’s what to expect on board for the 2025/26 season,  from staterooms and spas to stargazing and steak.

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2025/26 Itineraries and Destinations

If you’re dreaming of seeing the world in style, Viking Orion has you sorted. The 2025/26 season is packed with small-ship itineraries that take you to some of the most fascinating corners of the globe.

The Grand Voyages

If you’ve got a few months to spare, Viking Orion kicks off the season with some serious mileage:

• Auckland to Vancouver (March 2025): A 91-day epic that takes you from New Zealand’s natural beauty, through Australia, Southeast Asia, and Japan, before cruising past Alaska’s glaciers and finishing up in Canada. It’s basically several trips rolled into one.
  
• Sydney to Vancouver (March 2026): A 77-day spin through the Pacific and Asia, including stops in Indonesia, Vietnam, Hong Kong, and Japan. Perfect if you’re keen on culture, food, and avoiding long-haul flights between continents.

Alaska & The Inside Passage

Between June and September 2026, Viking Orion heads north for a run of 10-day voyages between Vancouver and Seward. Expect dramatic scenery, glaciers the size of city blocks, and maybe even a breaching whale or two if you’re lucky. 

Australia & New Zealand

Back-to-back 14-day sailings between Sydney and Auckland in December 2025 and February 2026 give you the chance to soak up the best of both sides of the ditch. You’ll get to enjoy laid-back coastal cities, rugged fjords, wine regions, and wildlife that looks like it belongs in a fantasy novel.

Asia & The Tropics

• Bangkok to Bali (April 2026): A 12-day getaway through Southeast Asia with a bit of everything: temples, markets, island hopping, and lots of local flavour.
  
• Hong Kong to Tokyo (May 2026): This 14-day itinerary blends mega-cities with serene landscapes, from the buzzing streets of Hong Kong to the calm, ordered beauty of Japan.

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Dining and Culinary Experience

Viking Orion offers a solid mix of dining options, with plenty of nods to Scandinavian flavours but a broader global menu overall. Here are the highlights:

The Restaurant

This is the ship’s main dining room. It’s an open-seating venue with a relaxed atmosphere and rotating menus that highlight regional and contemporary cuisine. You’ll find à la carte breakfast here (not buffet-style), and multi-course dinners that change nightly.

Aquavit Terrace

If you’re after something light with a glass of wine and a sea breeze, Aquavit Terrace hits the spot. It’s an outdoor extension of the World Café, offering relaxed seating and sweeping views.

World Café

The World Café is Viking Orion’s buffet venue. It’s open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, serving up destination-inspired cuisine alongside international favourites. You’ll also find a live cooking station where chefs whip up fresh dishes to order. Grab a table inside or head outside for al fresco dining.

The Chef’s Table

One of the two specialty restaurants on board, The Chef’s Table offers a five-course tasting menu that rotates every few days. Each menu is themed (e.g. Asian fusion, Scandinavian-inspired, or modern French) and comes with wine pairings. It’s an intimate experience that’s perfect for foodies, and while it’s included in your fare, you’ll want to book early to snag a spot.

Manfredi’s Italian Restaurant

This Italian grill serves up Tuscan-style steaks, rich pastas, and decadent desserts. The bistecca alla Fiorentina is a crowd favourite, and the antipasti spread is dangerously good. 

The Pool Grill

This casual lunch spot is perfect when you’re in the mood for something quick. You’ll find fresh salads, fries, and burgers hot off the grill. Depending on the day, you might spot options like the Viking Burger or a Nordic roll.

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Onboard Activities

Though Viking Orion is all about ports and destination-focused adventures, there’s still plenty to do while you’re at sea. Most of the activities are built around cultural immersion, so expect guest lectures from experts, usually held in the main theatre. The Viking cruise line regularly invites accomplished and well-known speakers like historians, scientists, authors, and yes, even astronauts.

If live classical music is more your thing, head to the Living Room, a three-deck-high atrium space at the heart of the ship where musicians play daily. It’s also a great spot for a quiet drink or a good book. For something a bit moodier after dark, there’s Torshavn, a cosy, speakeasy-style lounge with jazz, cocktails, and the occasional bit of dancing. 

One of the cruise ship’s standout features is The Explorers’ Dome, a high-definition planetarium tucked inside a two-deck lounge space. It screens free 2D and 3D shows about space and the Arctic. It’s immersive, it’s fascinating, and it’s a nice change of pace from sunbaking.

As for bars and lounges, you’ll find a few low-key spots for live music and cocktails most nights, but they usually wind down around midnight, especially on port-heavy itineraries. The Viking Bar in the Living Room is perfect for coffee by day and something stronger in the evening. The Wintergarden Conservatory also hosts a daily afternoon tea with a keyboardist playing in the background.

There are two pools on board: a main mid-ship pool with padded loungers and a glass magrodome that opens up when the weather’s good, and an aft infinity pool with wide-open sea views that’s ideal for a dip at sunset. Both pools have hot tubs and scattered nooks if you’re keen to chill in peace.

Wellness-wise, Viking Orion has a compact but well-equipped gym with Technogym gear and the option to book personal training. Right next door is the LivNordic Spa, which comes with a thermal suite, a thalassotherapy pool, sauna, steam room, snow grotto, and heated loungers. 

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Accommodations Details

Viking Orion has 465 staterooms that can accommodate up to 930 guests. It has six different types of staterooms, including the Owner’s Suite, Explorer Suite, Penthouse Junior Suite, Penthouse Veranda, Deluxe Veranda, and a Veranda Stateroom.

The Owner’s Suite is a two-passenger stateroom that measures 135 square metres, including a private veranda size of around 16 square metres. On the other hand, the 14-stateroom Explorer Suite has a cabin area of 43 to 65 square metres, with balconies ranging from 16 to 46 square metres. There’s plenty of space for stretching out or watching the world drift by.

The ship also has 32 Penthouse Junior Suites that measure 31 square metres, each with a 7-square-metre balcony. Then there are the 104 Penthouse Veranda staterooms, a step up from the standard, offering 26 square metres of space and a 6-square-metre balcony, ideal if you’re after a little more room and a few extra perks.

Finally, Viking Orion’s Veranda and Deluxe Veranda Cabins make up the bulk of the ship with 314 staterooms, each coming in at 21 square metres with a balcony of about four square metres. Cosy, stylish, and just the right size for winding down after a day on shore.

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Deck Plan

Viking Orion’s deck plan features 464 staterooms for up to 930 passengers, looked after by a crew of 470. The ship has 10 decks, two swimming pools, two Jacuzzi hot tubs, and six elevators. Since the Viking Orion is adults-only, there are no kid zones or family play areas.

All stateroom decks come with self-service laundry rooms, fully equipped with washers, dryers, ironing boards, and detergent. Handy if you’re packing light or just want to freshen up mid-journey.

Down on Deck 1, you’ll find the LivNordic Spa and Fitness Centre, plus The Bar, Manfredi’s, and The Chef’s Table for a more elevated, multi-course dining experience. There’s also The Kitchen Table, a special venue for cooking demos and food-focused shore excursions.

Deck 2 is where you’ll find the main dining room, simply called The Restaurant, along with The Theatre, Torshavn, and The Shop. There’s also a wraparound promenade deck here, perfect for getting your steps in with a view.

Decks 3 to 6 are mostly home to passenger cabins: everything from Veranda to Penthouse Junior Suites. Quiet, comfortable, and easy to navigate.

Up, on Deck 7, things get a bit livelier. You’ve got the Aquavit Terrace for outdoor lounging, the main pool with its retractable roof, the buffet-style World Café, the Wintergarden for afternoon tea, and Mamsen’s for Nordic snacks. The Explorer’s Lounge begins here, too. The Owner’s Suite and a handful of Penthouse Junior Suites are tucked into this level as well.

Deck 8 continues the Explorer’s Lounge with a second level, plus the Explorers’ Dome. You’ll also find more cabins (mostly Deluxe Verandas and Penthouse Junior Suites), a sun deck, and the ship’s only designated smoking area tucked discreetly outdoors.

And finally, Deck 9 is the sports deck: a quiet, open-air space with a walking track and outdoor gym equipment for anyone keen to work off those Manfredi’s carbs.

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FAQ