M/S Viking Glory Review – a Modern Cruise Ferry
On Christmas Eve 2024, we deviated from tradition and drove our car onto the M/S Viking Glory to participate in a Christmas cruise. We enjoyed good food and explored the ship's services. In this article, we share our experiences on the Viking Glory, including photos and a review of the vessel. Read on to find out how we arrived at a four-star rating.
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M/S Viking Glory
M/S Viking Glory is Viking Line's newest ship and perhaps the finest ferry operating from Finland. Viking Glory operates from Turku to Stockholm, carrying nearly 3,000 passengers and plenty of cargo. Unlike its predecessor, M/S Viking Grace, Viking Glory was built in Xiamen, China, instead of the Turku shipyard. Although the design of Viking Glory follows the idea used in Viking Grace, the ship's interior has undergone many upgrades.
Viking Line typically places its newest ships on the Turku-Stockholm route, as it is possible to operate the route back and forth in less than 24 hours, which leads to efficient use of the fleet. Viking Glory usually departs from Turku to Stockholm in the mornings, but sometimes, the ship makes special cruises. It is difficult for those living outside Turku to get to the port in the morning, so the normal cruise schedule is not optimal.
Our Cruise on Viking Glory
On Christmas Eve 2024, Viking Glory followed a special schedule, and the route was also different from the usual. The ship departed from the port of Turku at noon towards Långnäs and from there to Kapellskär. From Kapellskär, the ship returned for Christmas morning to Mariehamn. It docked there for several hours. It was possible to disembark from the ship. In the evening, the ship sailed back to Turku. This practical special route allowed for a more relaxed cruise, slightly longer than usual.
In the following paragraphs, we will share our experiences of the ship.
Driving onto the Ferry and First Impression
We drove onto the ship by car. Viking Line charged only 15 euros for car parking on the ship's car deck, which was cheaper than parking at the port. Public transport would have been difficult on Christmas Eve anyway, so driving the car directly onto the ship was particularly convenient. Parking on the ship is probably not possible on normal cruises.
Motorists checked in while waiting in the well-organised car queue at the port. In total, we only had to queue for 10 minutes. After receiving the tickets, we drove the car onto the car deck, which was spacious and neat. The ascent from the car deck to the passenger areas was only a short elevator ride away.
Viking Glory's decks 3-5 are for cars.
Cabin
Viking Glory's cabins are on decks 5-8. Our cabin was on deck 8.
We had booked a Class A cabin. Our expectations were high due to the ship's young age. We assumed the cabin would be in excellent condition, with design updates reflecting modern trends. We were disappointed, as the cabin was very traditional, and no upgrades were noticeable. There were impact marks on the bathroom door, screws were missing from the door handle, and the shower's temperature control limiter did not work. Such significant deficiencies in a new ship's cabin were an unpleasant surprise.
Less critically, the cabin was conventionally functional. It contained four beds, one of which was a folding sofa. The cabin also had a small table, a television, and the previously mentioned private bathroom. The cabin was not spacious, which is typical for Finland-Sweden ferries. Of course, the ship offers higher-level accommodation, but its price is surprisingly high.
Torget - the Ship's Meeting Place
The ship's public areas were considerably more stylish than the cabin and were in immaculate condition. Deck 9's Torget was perhaps the ship's central meeting place with a small stage, a large screen, and a versatile café-bar. Torget's ceiling was open, so the Market restaurant world was visible upstairs. The openness of the space with mirror surfaces and well-designed lighting made Torget and the Market above it feel spacious and cosy. Although these were two separate spaces, we experienced Torget and Market as one large entity, which was probably the intention of the design.
In the evening, there were performers on the Torget stage.
Restaurants
Viking Glory has several restaurants at different price points. The Market above Torget followed a familiar concept: various foods were available from several sales points. This model works well when the group has different tastes. The location of the Market above Torget allowed for enjoying the Torget program while dining.
At the rear of deck 9 was the traditional Buffet restaurant, and next to it, Mimmi's a la carte restaurant. Mimmi's was closed around Christmas, but from our understanding, it would have served unpretentious food from the menu. Our cruise price included a dinner buffet and the following morning's brunch, so we dined mainly at the Buffet restaurant.
The Buffet's food was good, including plenty of salads, hot dishes, and desserts. Drinks, including basic alcoholic beverages, were included in the price. At Christmas, the food was slightly Christmas-themed, but fortunately, there was also quite ordinary food in the selection, as Christmas food is not to everyone's liking. The Buffet performed well considering the large number of customers, although not without its imperfections. Inadequate signage and suboptimal locations of the serving tables hindered the smooth movement of the crowds.
On deck 11, there would have been the ship's most stylish a la carte restaurant, Kobba. We only went to the door, but the restaurant looked peaceful and offered stunning sea views. Kobba is probably the best place for a fine dining experience on Viking Glory.
Entertainment and Nightclubs
The ship's rear Vista Room Club was the ship's largest entertainment centre. It was a nightclub with several bars and a large stage. High glass windows crowned the space, creating an excellent sea view. In December, enjoying the scenery was not easy as darkness fell early, but we can imagine how magnificent the Vista Room is in the summer.
Vista Room had plenty of programs suitable for all ages during the day.
Hidden slightly behind Vista Room was the ship's "speakeasy," Algoth's. The bar was small but stylish. For those unimpressed by the Vista Room’s program, Algoth’s offered a more peaceful alternative.
At the very rear of the ship, behind Vista Room and Algoth’s, was an outdoor area called Vista Deck. Due to the cold weather, it was closed in December. Vista Deck is likely a sheltered spot to enjoy the sea air in summer.
Between Vista Room and Vista Deck was the event venue, Vista Lounge.
Outdoor Decks
Finland’s climate is not ideal for a ship’s outdoor areas, yet Viking Glory had plenty of them. The previously mentioned Vista Deck was at the rear of Deck 11. On deck 12 was the ship’s large Sundeck, which included many sheltered outdoor spaces. On a sunny summer day, Sundeck is the place to be. Only a few people were there during our cruise; naturally, no services were available in the winter.
Other Facilities
Viking Glory featured a large duty-free shop called Shopping World. It followed Viking Line’s familiar concept: the shop mainly sold sweets, tobacco, alcohol, and selected clothing brands. It was practical but did not differ from similar shipboard stores. Prices were reasonable but not particularly low.
The ship’s conference rooms were converted into a children’s play area during Christmas. The facilities seemed comfortable, making Viking Glory a stylish venue for meetings.
For those seeking relaxation, the ship had an affordable spa, Archipelago Spa & Wellness, which we did not try. Located on deck 12, it offers excellent sea views. According to Viking Line, the spa includes various saunas and hot tubs. Treatments are available at an additional cost.
Services
The ship had a free, well-functioning Wi-Fi network. Connecting was easy, with no complicated authentication required. The network worked everywhere we tested it.
The 24-hour reception desk assisted passengers. Lockers were available for storing belongings, though this was likely not a widely used service, as most cruise passengers have a cabin. Lockers are probably most useful for those travelling during the day without a cabin.
The Viking Line mobile app has improved, making it easy to follow the journey and event schedule. Unlocking the cabin door via the app was a handy feature, as keys are sometimes forgotten inside or may occasionally not work.
Our Rating of the Ship
We rate Viking Glory as a four-star car ferry. The public areas were exceptionally stylish and offered high-quality services. However, our cabin was disappointing, as its standard did not match the rest of the ship. While the ship was impressive in many ways, it did not deliver the "wow" factor needed for a five-star rating.
Is It Worth Travelling to Turku for a Cruise?
Yes, it is. We believe Viking Glory is a summer ship, so we recommend heading to Turku for a cruise in the summer season. Due to the schedule, staying overnight in a hotel the night before is advisable. It is worth noting that a newer ship, M/S Finncanopus, operates from nearby Naantali. Although slightly smaller than Viking Glory, Finncanopus is at least on the same quality level.
Bottom Line
Spending Christmas aboard Viking Glory was an enjoyable experience. The ship provided stylish and functional surroundings for relaxation and friendly service. Although the winter season limited access to the outdoor areas, we believe the boat offers much more in summer. We are likely to return to Viking Glory.
The ship’s greatest strength is its well-designed public areas. The restaurant selection is diverse, so everyone should find something suitable to eat. As an experienced shipping company, Viking Line knows how to bring high-quality entertainment to its ships.
Have you cruised on Viking Glory? What did you think of the ship? Leave a comment below!
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