65 REVITALISATION Moving with the times Viking Line’s cruise ferry Viking XPRS has undergone a full refurbishment to introduce a bright, modern style. Alex Smith reports Photo: Viking Line Viking XPRS entered service 17 years ago, launching as the first fast cruise ferry for Finnish operator Viking Line. With capacity for 2,500 passengers and interiors originally created by Tillberg Design of Sweden, the ship has been making four sailings a day between Helsinki, Finland, and Tallinn, Estonia, ever since. However, those 17 years have seen significant changes, both in design trends and passenger preferences. Though Viking Line’s vessels undergo regular maintenance while in service and are dry-docked twice every five years, the operator wanted to fully refresh Viking XPRS to ensure it stayed up to date with evolving customer demands. The vessel’s interiors were updated with a bright, modern style during a threeweek project at Oresund Dry Docks in Landskrona, Sweden. The ship’s entrance was completely redesigned, while carpets were replaced throughout. Viking also updated cabin interiors, reupholstering sofas and fitting new curtains. The most significant changes took place in the vessel’s duty-free shop, which was enlarged and given more functional spaces. The shop also has a new area for tastings. “We rebuilt the original shop from floor to ceiling,” says Ronny Hagelberg, intendant of Viking XPRS. “Trends have changed a lot over the past 17 years. Now more space and visibility has been given to cosmetics and fragrances, among other things. Almost every perfume house launches seasonal fragrances, and new products are presented more often than before.” Viking Line has also introduced Bistro Coffee, a new venue serving coffee products and hot dishes. Plus, it has added a private dining room for large groups of up to 34 people adjacent to the buffet restaurant. “The dry-docking and planning for a renovation like this is a major joint project that involves a large number of our shipboard and land-based staff, as well as specialists in various fields,” says Hagelberg. “During the planning phase, we listened very closely to the requests of staff members and customers. Now we get to enjoy the end result together with our passengers – an even more pleasant and more functional Viking XPRS.” The service resumed on 7 February 2025. “ During the planning phase, we listened very closely to the requests of staff members and customers” Bistro Coffee is one of several new venues that have been added to Viking XPRS during the renovation
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