REVITALISATION 86 Photos: Viking Line Viking Line prides itself on designing and operating ferries that are made to last, so it only needed to carry out minimal interior upgrades when it completed a three-week renovation project on the 10-year-old Viking Grace in February 2023. “In general, no new design concepts were brought onto Viking Grace,” says Johan Nordberg, senior architect at Viking Line, discussing the project, which was carried out in Odense, Denmark. “However, we have introduced a new self-service payment system in the tax-free shopping area and a new service counter in the Oscar restaurant to help improve the onboard buffet service for passengers.” The new service counter in Oscar allows kitchen and bar staff to easily display seasonal food and drinks, which reflect the destinations that Viking Grace travels to and from. “The modification also means the process for ordering and paying for food is smoother,” says Nordberg. “All this added benefit, and the look of the area is still the same as before, with the general colour scheme and feel of the restaurant reflected in the new service counter. “As most of the work carried out onboard Viking Grace has been relatively small, I think the new service counter in Oscar will deliver the biggest wow.” Modified bar counters from Scan Marine have also been added to the other onboard restaurant, Frank’s, which is an open-kitchen dining concept. “The new play equipment in the children’s playrooms will improve the experience for our young guests, too,” adds Nordberg. “After all, happy kids mean happy parents!” The modified playroom equipment, supplied by Lappset and Toygroup, allows children to climb, swing and take part in sport activities like hula hooping during long sailings. “The bright colours and new door from the deck 11 arcade makes the playroom much more inviting and accessible,” says Nordberg. According to Nordberg, Viking Line decided which elements of the ship to refit after seeking feedback from customers. Johan Nordberg speaks with Alice Chambers about the recent renovations that were carried out onboard Viking Line’s Viking Grace Ten years young Modified playroom equipment, supplied by Lappset and Tygroup, will improve the experience for young guests onboard Viking Grace
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