Unwind, Rejuvenate, Explore Baltic Wonders

Viking Glory isn’t merely a ship—it’s a vessel of pause and release. Its design, crafted by concept, with rotating restaurants, thermal saunas, rooftop terraces, wellness pools etc.

By Abdullah Usman Morai | Sweden

Evening in Stockholm: Setting Sail

One radiant May evening in 2025, my companions—Pontus, Pernilla, Gun Britt, and Bengt—and I arrived at Stockholm’s Viking Line terminal an hour before boarding. The air was warm, kissed by the glow of disappearing sunlight, and the sky a flawless shade of azure. We approached the sleek check-in kiosks, scanned our digital room keys, and felt the thrill of anticipation. Tomorrow was a public holiday, or “röd dag,” so the terminal buzzed with energy—families, couples, retirees, multigenerational groups—all eager for their voyage aboard the modern marvel, Viking Glory.

Named and christened in 2019, launched in January 2021, and entering service on the Turku–Mariehamn–Stockholm route in March 2022, the Glory is Viking Line’s flagship of innovation, carrying up to 2,800 passengers and designed to be one of the world’s most climate-smart vessels.

Boarding commenced at exactly 8 pm. We drifted aboard deliberately, taking in each ascending deck, the scent of fresh paint, the murmur of holiday fare. By 8:05 pm, the powerful engines hummed while the ship skirted Sweden’s archipelago (Skärgård), past countless forested skerries, granite islets, and sailboats drifting in coves. A final wave to Stockholm’s skyline, and we were bound for Finland’s horizon.

Our Cabins: Comfort at Sea

Our home for the journey was on deck 8: a modern interior cabins designed for seamless comfort. Viking Glory offers a vast range of cabins—interior, windowed, balcony, and luxurious suites with private hot tubs. We opted for a standard twin window cabin: cozy, thoughtfully laid out, equipped with Hibox smart TVs that show both entertainment and a live-feed camera of the bow—our view of velvet water and dancing islands.

At first glance, the cabin is stylish yet functional. Soft, earthy tones, lighting that adjusts automatically to booking conditions, and high-quality mattresses crafted by Hilding Anders in Finland—all geared toward rest and rejuvenation.

Evening Delights: Dining & Entertainment

We descended one deck to Torget Café & Bar, a two-story atrium framed by 15 m × 10 m LED screens projecting dreamy forest, rock, and sea visuals—pure Nordic calm inspired by the archipelago. We had a lovely dinner there, with live music playing and a beautiful sea view in front of us.

Post-dinner, we explored the Viking Terrace on deck 11: the first rooftop terrace on the Baltic Sea. Glazed for warmth with infrared heating and lined with sun loungers and seating for 202, it balances breezy, casual nights with the possibility of al fresco indulgence—even under chillier skies. Beneath a dome of twinkling evening sky, we sipped a warming mocktail, content as the ship left Sweden far behind.

Late-Night Revelry

As night deepened, we drifted to the Vista Room—part lounge, part nightclub. By day, a living room with stage and floor-to-ceiling windows, but as darkness fell, it morphed: light beams became “lighthouses”, bars glowed, the music welled, led by live troubadours and a late-night DJ.  Some among us were content slipping into sleep, while others immersed themselves in this cosmopolitan spectacle.

Elsewhere onboard, families relaxed in the children’s play area; others tried their luck at the casino; some browsed the duty-free Shopping World, admiring makeup, fashion, nonalcoholic spirits, skincare, and snacks—the ship’s culture meets consumer delight.

Midnight Archipelago and After-Hours Quiet

When the decks finally waned, Pernilla and I slipped outside. The day’s heat gradually faded into a cool evening breeze, the sky reluctantly retained pastel blues. We leaned against the railings as the sun hovered on the horizon, reflecting its farewell glow across shimmery Baltic water, waves sparkling like liquid amber. The stillness was remarkable, just the ship’s soft wake and distant seabirds settling onto midnight resting spots.

Overnight Voyage

While many slept, Viking Glory sailed quietly toward Turku—its six dual-fuel Wärtsilä 31DF engines, compliant with LNG and biodiesel, running efficiently. ABB Azipod propulsion and an auto mooring system made docking smooth, quiet, and fuel efficient. The ship’s dynamic systems intelligently reduced power to cabins without occupants, and reclaimed waste heat and cold in service of onboard systems, poised to reduce emissions by up to 10 percent compared to the ship it replaced.

Morning in Turku

We awoke just before dawn and found ourselves nearing Turku, Finland. Golden light touched limestone façades as the vessel spooled into dock—auto mooring engaging vacuums with hushed precision. Through cabin windows, we glimpsed neighboring cruises and cargo ships alongside quiet harbour cranes.

Portside, commuters disembarked; new passengers queued aboard. Within the hour, the vessel turned tail, now bound for Stockholm via scenic Mariehamn.

Premium Breakfast on Deck 11

We promptly made our way to the Premium Breakfast at Kobba on deck 11. In a softly lit dining hall overlooking the sea, tables were laden with smoked fish, herring, Scandinavian breads, cured meats, cheeses, yoghurts, smoothies, fresh fruit, porridge, eggs—an array suited to every palette. The panoramic windows allowed us the dawn’s early glow, now mingling with a thickening mist of seabound fog.

The sea, sky, and clouds fused into one uniform canvas. Ship’s horn—low and resonant—echoed, signifying our near passage through an abyss of muted grey. Each bite, each sip of tea and coffee, stood in sharp contrast to the dreamlike whiteness outside, grounding us in vibrant reality.

Morning Entertainment & Surprising Wins

Breakfast complete, we stayed aboard for the karaoke, bingo lotto, and live music laid out by the Golden Stage.

One unforgettable highlight: a middle-aged gentleman secured three bingo wins—a line, two lines, full house—then took home the grand raffle prize too. His astonished grin said it all.

Later, an Arab woman claimed the karaoke music quiz crown, dazzling with her song knowledge. Each of these stories became part of the shared narrative—a sense of collective delight that only such circuses of human connection can kindle.

The Island Stop: Mariehamn & Åland Archipelago

By late morning, Viking Glory docked briefly at Mariehamn, the capital of Åland—a self-governing Finnish province in the heart of the Baltic Sea. With its dome-roofed streets, artisanal cafés, and maritime charm, the island beckoned with quiet allure. However, this stop was not intended for short visits. Passengers were not permitted to disembark just to explore and return.

Only those whose journey ended at Mariehamn, or who were transferring to another cruise, were allowed to go ashore. For the rest of us, the ship remained our moving home.

We chose to stay on board as others departed, watching the subtle rhythm of the harbor from the deck. New passengers embarked for the next leg toward Stockholm. Content and unhurried, we let Viking Glory carry us forward, along with our reflections, through the unfolding seascape of the north.

Afternoon Leisure and Renewal

With the vessel sailing once more, we indulged in some downtime:

• On the sun deck, lounging chairs invited rest under filtered sunshine—gull cries and passing ferries the only soundtrack.
• The spa and wellness center provided pools, sauna, yoga studio, and a novelty snow cave, all designed to calm both body and mind.
• Around Market food hall, we enjoyed a relaxed lunch featuring local specialties—crispy fish and chips, freshly baked artisan bread, and vibrant, garden-fresh salads—all accompanied by panoramic views of islets gently drifting past. The hearty meatballs with creamy mashed potatoes and golden chips were exceptionally flavorful, while the fish soup offered a comforting, savory depth that made it just as memorable.
• Shopping World whispered with deals on non-alcoholic, spirits, skincare, travel essentials—yet again, the digital screens throughout the ship prompted us gently toward offers and guides.

Sunset Return to Stockholm

As the afternoon gave way to twilight, Viking Glory made her journey back across the open sea, sailing past the Swedish archipelago once more. We paused for cocktails in Vista. At one point, the sky blazed in molten oranges, then sank behind distant waters.

By 7 pm, the monumental red-and-white silhouette of Stockholm’s quays came into view. Docking happened with the same composure of arrival—vacuum locks releasing, gangways swinging into place—and we disembarked feeling cleansed, uplifted, theater-rich, reset.

Reflections on a Day Well Spent

Our 24 hour escape on Viking Glory was an immersion in multifaceted joy:

• Design & atmosphere: Each public area reflects the Nordic soul—LED forests, lighthouse bars, cave saunas—plus sustainability at the core with LNG engines, Azipods, and energy recovery.
• Comfort & cuisine: Cabin technology, rotating dining, premium breakfasts, sun decks—this vessel balances luxury and simplicity elegantly.
• Entertainment & spontaneity: From heartfelt bingo triumphs to fog tinged ferry horns, shared laughter and memories were as valuable as the views.
• Geographic wonder: Sailing overnight across Sweden and Finland, through Mariehamn, and back—those landscapes, wildlife, and seascape rhythms offer both detachment and unity.

Investing in such experiences yields stories, not souvenirs. These hours, filled with sensory insight and shared joy, offer perspective: life can pause, sparkling even under fog.

As we arrived, we remarked with a smile, “This truly resets the inner compass.” And indeed, that’s the gift of a journey like this—space to pause, reflect, breathe deeply, and reconnect. You return not just to a place called home, but to yourself, restored and whole.

Viking Glory: The Essence of Escape

Viking Glory isn’t merely a ship—it’s a vessel of pause and release. Its design, crafted by concept, with rotating restaurants, thermal saunas, rooftop terraces, wellness pools, and visionary energy systems, signals a profound statement: travel can elevate life undeniably.

For 24 hours, we walked miles across decks without leaving Baltic air, parted fog , and drunk seas, and felt the tug between solitude and community. We returned to Stockholm with new conversations, new lightness, and a readiness for all that everyday life might ask of us.

Yes, the world’s most beautiful archipelago etched its landscapes in us—but it was the Glory itself, its rhythms and generosity, that let us see them clearly.

Read – Travelogue: A Royal Morning at Ulriksdal

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Abdullah Soomro, penname Abdullah Usman Morai, hailing from Moro town of Sindh, province of Pakistan, is based in Stockholm Sweden. Currently he is working as Groundwater Engineer in Stockholm Sweden. He did BE (Agriculture) from Sindh Agriculture University Tando Jam and MSc water systems technology from KTH Stockholm Sweden as well as MSc Management from Stockholm University. Beside this he also did masters in journalism and economics from Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur Mirs, Sindh. He is author of a travelogue book named ‘Musafatoon’. His second book is in process.