Viking Mars | Penthouse Veranda Stateroom Review

Welcome to my Viking Mars Penthouse Veranda Stateroom. Comfortable, spacious, well-equipped and contemporary are words I’d used to describe it. In this blog post, I share with you an overview of the room, together with images and details of the bed, bathroom, seating, desk area, outside space and amenities.

As background, I’ve recently returned from a Press Trip to Norway, sailing a section of Viking’s 15-day ‘Into the Midnight Sun’ itinerary on-board Viking Mars. It was my first time travelling on a cruise. And I can safely say, I’m a convert!

Overview

If you’re also new to cruising, rooms on a cruise ship are called staterooms. They’re similar to hotel rooms and there were a range of different categories available.⁠ I was staying in a Penthouse Veranda Stateroom. All the staterooms on Viking ships have a sea view with a floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door opening onto a spacious veranda⁠. Below was my view when I first walked into the room.

Bed

The bed was king-size with luxury linens and ample pillows. And it was so comfortable! There was also under-bed suitcase storage space.

Little Touches

I loved the night lights you could switch on from the bed. Very useful for if you may need to go to the bathroom during the night.

Bathroom

On the right when I entered the stateroom, there was a private bathroom with a spacious glass-enclosed shower. I just have to mention that the water was so soft. I couldn’t get over how much more glossy and moisturised my hair felt after washing it compared to back in the UK, where we have hard water.

As well as luxurious soft towels and flannels, there were complimentary Freyja® toiletries including body wash, shampoo, conditioner and body lotion, which were regularly restocked. There was also a shower cap and vanity set, which included cotton wool pads and buds. And let’s not forget the plush dressing gown and comfy slippers.

Little Touches

The heated floor made the room very cosy. And the added warmth especially came in useful on the last day when I was drying out my trainers and jeans after getting caught in the heavy rain in Bergen. An anti-fog mirror was a bonus too.

Seating & Desk Areas

In the seating area, there was a sofa and armchair. Opposite them was a large desk with several plug points, perfect for when I was working. And beneath the desk, there was a mini bar / fridge which was replenished once a day. It was filled with alcoholic beverages and soft drinks, together with nuts and delicious chocolate. I also used it to keep my jug of milk in there for my morning cuppa.

Outside Space

It was such a delight pulling back the curtains daily to an ever-changing beautiful sea view. ⁠The veranda was also one of my favourite places to sit, not only during the day watching the world go by, but also if I got up in the night. As the trip started off in the Arctic Circle, we were in the land of the midnight sun. And I couldn’t resist capturing it…

On a couple of mornings, I ordered breakfast from room service. Such a special way to start the day!

Amenities

There were so many different amenities available in my Penthouse Veranda Stateroom. Viking really had thought of everything.

• Steward and twice-daily housekeeping
• 24-hour room service
• Free wi-fi
• Turn-down service
• Purified water refilled daily
• Hairdryer
• Security safe
• Coffee machine
• Kettle, available on request
• 42″ flat-screen TV
• Umbrella
• Binoculars
• 110/220 volt outlets and USB ports
• Direct-dial satellite phone service
• Individual climate control
• Welcome bottle of champagne
• Complimentary pressing and shoe shine services
• Spacious drawers
• Wardrobe with motion-activated lights and wooden hangers
• Thick curtains to darken the room

I absolutely loved spending time in my stateroom, with its cosiness, spacious feel and Scandi-cool decor. And I hope you’ve enjoyed this look around. Head over to the Viking website to see a 360 degree tour and details about the ‘Into the Midnight Sun‘ itinerary.

(Images | Rona Wheeldon)