Five things to love about the new Viking Sea

ABOARD THE VIKING SEA -- It's time for river cruise giant Viking's new ocean division to take another bow.

After winning raves in 2015 for its first ship, Viking Star, the fast-growing cruise operator is out with a sister vessel that is every bit as alluring (not surprisingly, perhaps, as it's almost identical to its sibling).

USA TODAY is one of a handful of media outlets this week getting early access to the 930-passenger ship, Viking Sea, in advance of its christening in May, and here we highlight five things we love about it (all of which apply to the Viking Star, too):

1. Superb design. From the easy flow of its interior spaces to the understated elegance of its decor, the Viking Sea is a knockout. Unified and stylish, the look leans toward Scandinavian modern -- clean lines, light woods, woven textiles and natural elements. But there's also a smattering of high design, from the Cross Check chairs by Frank Gehry in the Wintergarden to the leather Cab chairs by Mario Bellini in the Viking Bar's cafe. Even the tucked-away Internet stations boast Eames Aluminum chairs.

2. Large, comfortable cabins. Even the smallest of Viking Sea's 465 cabins measures a generous 270 square feet, and every one comes with a balcony -- a relative rarity on cruise ships. As with the ship's public areas, the decor tilts to Scandinavian modern, with every room featuring a large king size bed (which can be split into twins), comfortable seating and a desk area. Little touches range from luxury linens to heated floors in the bathrooms.

3. A focus on destinations. As much as the ship's design stands out, it's what Viking is doing with it that may be of most significance to seasoned travelers. Sailing from Istanbul to the Baltic in its first season, the Viking Sea is spending more time in ports than the ships of many other lines, allowing passengers to get a more in-depth look at the places it goes. A diverse array of itineraries includes a large number of lengthy overnight stays and extended day visits that last well into the night.

Fast-growing Viking to have six ocean ships by 2020

4. Rich enrichment. Related to its focus on the destination, the ship takes on-board learning about the places it goes seriously -- something that is unfortunately not always case on cruise ships. Viking has lined up knowledgeable speakers for every sailing who regale passengers with tales of the history and culture of the destinations on the schedule. As Viking chairman Torstein Hagen is fond of saying, "this is a thinking man's cruise, not a drinking man's cruise."

5. No nickel-and-diming. Viking is bringing the "no nickel-and-diming" philosophy that runs through the river cruise industry to the world of ocean cruising — and in a big way. For starters, Internet access is complimentary for all, and unlimited -- an almost revolutionary idea in the ocean cruising world. Also included in the fare is a tour in every port — another hallmark of river cruising that has never caught on with ocean lines. Beer and wine also is complimentary with lunch and dinner, and even little things like movies on the interactive televisions in rooms and the ship's self-serve laundry machines are available at no extra charge.

For a deck-by-deck tour of the Viking Sea, scroll through the carousel at the top of this story. For a peek inside its one-year-old sister, Viking Star, click through the carousels below.