By
Laura Hyde |
Viking Line’s Viking XPRS will return to service on 7 February following a three-week refurbishment at Oresund Dry Docks in Landskrona, Sweden.
The interiors have been given a bright, modern style and the entrance area has been completely overhauled with new carpets. The ferry’s 736 cabins have been updated with reupholstered sofas and new curtains.
The biggest change to the 2,500-passenger ship is a floor-to-ceiling renovation of the tax-free shop, which was enlarged to create a more functional space.
“Trends have changed a lot over the past 17 years; now more space and visibility are given to cosmetics and fragrances, among other things,” said Ronny Hagelberg, intendant of Viking XPRS. “Almost every perfume house launches seasonal fragrances, and new products are presented more often than before. As for beverages, we’ve made sure that the most sought-after products, like the flavoured long drinks that are now popular, don’t sell out.”
Following the refurbishment, the vessel now has a new Bistro Coffee restaurant and a private dining room adjacent to the buffet restaurant, which caters for large groups of up to 34 people.
As well as interior refurbishments, Viking XPRS also underwent technological maintenance and upgrades, which included the installation of flow-control mechanisms. This system, supplied by Finnish engineering company Elomatic, reduces resistance as the ship moves through water which in turn reduces fuel consumption and improves travel comfort through reduced vibration. The vertical sections of the ship’s hull were also sandblasted and painted to help Viking Line achieve its aim of reducing fuel consumption on Viking XPRS’s route by five per cent.
Viking XPRS operates on Viking Line’s Helsinki in Finland to Tallinn in Estonia route, offering 15 weekly departures from the two ports. In 2024 the ship handled more than 1.6 million passengers.
“There is great demand for trips to Tallinn, and it’s easy and advantageous to make a spontaneous trip with XPRS,” said Ninna Suominen, head of marketing at Viking Line. “More than a third of passengers take their car along on the journey. There are many families that sail, especially in peak season and during the holidays. XPRS is also a popular conference vessel, and the percentage of group and conference passengers has increased in recent years.”