HYGGE ON THE
HIGH SEAS
By Anthony Dennis, Editor of Traveller
The full version of this article originally
appeared in the weekly Traveller
liftout in The Sydney Morning
Herald and The Age, Melbourne.
The Viking Sun was commissioned just
a few years ago and design-wise, in fact
in almost all respects, it's the antithesis
of the prototypical cruise liner. Even the
merest hint of nautical kitsch appears
to have been ritually exorcised during
the design and construction phase.
Viking Sun, along with its fi ve other
sister ships, are all-sailing showcases
of Scandinavian style and culture. The
ship also indirectly offers a means
of connecting with the somewhat
arcane, though increasingly pervasive,
philosophy of "hygge". In essence?
The Scandinavian art of happiness.
Being a long-time devotee of everything
Scandinavian, in lieu of actually
being there, I'm more than happy to
be immersed in a kind of a fl oating
hygge heaven aboard Viking Sun.
My Deluxe Veranda stateroom is
tastefully decorated in typically
Scandinavian muted tones of blue,
grey, white and cream - a perfect
match for the ever-passing Pacifi c
beyond my small balcony - replete
with Nordic-style textiles, including
cashmere blankets and throws.
18 V I K I N G C R U I S E S
