In the intervening days after part 1, two other things written by me have also seen the light of day on the internet: Part 2 of my english-language trip report from the Viking Grace is now up at MaritimeMatters, while for those fortunate enough to speak Finnish can read the latest issue of Ulkomatala, which includes a detailed article on the history of Viking Line's Turku-Stockholm services by yours truly.
Viking Grace
IMO 9606900
Built 2013, STX Europe Turku, Finland
Tonnage 57 700 GT
Length 218,60 m
Width 31,80 m
Draught 6,80 m
Ice class 1 A Super
2 800 passengers
2 876 berths
530 lane metres of cars
1 275 lane metres of cargo
4 Wärtsilä dual fuel (LNG/diesel) engines, combined 30 400 kW
2 fixed-pitch propellers
2 bow thrusters
1 stern thruster
Service speed 21,8 knots
Maximum speed 25,6 knots
Last time we covered decks 9 and 10, today it's turn for decks 11 and 12.
Deck 11 houses the Oscar à la carte restaurant forward. Adjacent to Oscar is the Seamore Champagne Bar, and aft of these is the Frank's casual restaurant, Wellness Spa and right aft the second level of Club Vogue.
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| The decor in Oscar is quite restive - except for the gilded ceiling. And, unlike the Sweet & Salty cafeteria downstairs, it manages to look stylish rather than boring. |
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| The restaurant continues aftward on the starboard side in a space with a slightly different styling that can be separated into a cabinet for groups. |
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| Night-time Oscar, facing forward. |
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| A more detailed look on the tables near the windows. |
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| Aft and port of Oscar is the Seamore Champagne Bar (notice the column in the middle actually reads "champance", while the sign outside the space read "champange"). |
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| Seamore also functions as an aperitive bar for people dining at Oscar, though the Turku route's schedules are not particularly conductive for such an arrangement, particularly during the evening. |
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| Oscar ceiling light detail. |
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| More ceiling light details, this time from the forward staircase. |
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| The Arcade on deck 11, facing aft from the forward staircase, towards the Atrium. |
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| The three-deck high Atrium, facing forward. |
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| The decorative fixtures of the atrium both move and change colour. |
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| Aft of Oscar and off the Atrium is Frank's casual restaurant, finished in a bewildering array of styles. This central section really reminds me of a school cafeteria. |
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| The service counters - multiple "action station" kitchens, each with it's own menu - are already slightly more adventurous. |
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| The central area near the windows sees the return of the 50s-style space dividers from Buffet Aurora and the grey palette from Sweet & Salty... |
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| ...but the two wings of the room with sea views assume a fantastic palette, combined with fantastic modernist lamps. |
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| Entrance to the Wellness Spa. Unfortunately I did not see anything else of the spa as it was fully booked when we tried to go there. |
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| The aft staircase on deck 11. The stairs are colour-coded (by lighting): the forward one is turquise, the midship one yellow and the aft one purple, as seen here. |
The sole passenger-accessible spaces on deck 12 are the extensive outer decks. Unfortunately, due there being windbreakers, the deck area is bloody cold during the wintertime.
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| To emphasise the environmental friendliness of the Viking Grace, Viking Line chose to alter their traditional funnel colours and paint the funnel all white. The result is less attractive than the original (the funnel is also quite small, probably also in an attempt to make it look more environmentally friendly). |
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| During night-time the funnel is impressively lit though. |
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| The big thing on the Grace: the LNG tanks on the aft deck. Although it whas been previously reported the ship would currently run entirely on diesel (due to the fueling infrastructure not being ready), there is always a small amount of gas carried and used, so that the LNG systems don't go "cold". |
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