Planetariums on Viking Ships

[CurlerRob]

20 minutes ago, allyg said:

We are on Orion in Alaska 2025. Does Orion have the planetarium rather than the upper area of the Explorers’ Lounge? If so, that is disappointing as the upper level of the lounge is one of our favorite spots. Does Orion have the Asian section in the rear of the WC? We are also doing the Denali extension. Any thoughts? Thanks.

 

Yes to the planetarium, although it was closed April/May while we were onboard. Yes to the Asian station - our first encounter with it and it was excellent in our view. Always good soups and noodles, along with many other Asian preparations. 🍺🥌

[OneSixtyToOne]

36 minutes ago, allyg said:

We are on Orion in Alaska 2025. Does Orion have the planetarium rather than the upper area of the Explorers’ Lounge? If so, that is disappointing as the upper level of the lounge is one of our favorite spots. Does Orion have the Asian section in the rear of the WC? We are also doing the Denali extension. Any thoughts? Thanks.

Jupiter and Orion are the only two ships with a planetarium. They both appear to be no longer in use.

 

If you read this thread you’ll find my thoughts on how they never correctly used this expensive asset. They tried to use it as an automated mini I-Max theater instead of using it as an actual planetarium. 

[allyg]

Thanks for info. 

[Insanityx4]

About half of the upper area of the Explorers Lounge is taken up with the planetarium. Be sure to bring a jacket because the Explorers Lounge is always really cold because of the Planetarium.

Edited June 25 by Insanityx4

[Mitina]

7 hours ago, allyg said:

Does Orion have the planetarium rather than the upper area of the Explorers’ Lounge

I believe Jupiter and Orion both have the planetarium. I share your disappointment. Viking no longer included this feature in subsequent builds.

[deec]

I wonder if they will take them off when the ships go into dry dock.

[OneSixtyToOne]

3 minutes ago, deec said:

I wonder if they will take them off when the ships go into dry dock.

Seems a very expensive modification. I seriously doubt it.

[Jeff 1957]

We were on the Orion during the difficult voyage (late 2022) from New Zealand to Australia where bio-foul prevented us from being allowed to stop at destinations.  Hence, there was a more than 8-day period of being stuck on the ship (unplanned).  The Planetarium was one of the distractions that made it all work.  

 

There was also a very good resident astronomer, who gave evening shows on the top deck during three nights (we could see the Southern Cross), and the captain even helped by turning all deck lights off during those shows.  We used the Planetarium four times, with two shows being narrated by the astronomer, and two having their own recorded audio track (one was about whales).

 

Guests were ignoring the Planetarium during the first 3 days (when the ship was allowed to dock), but by the end of the at-sea phase, the shows were fully booked and the Guest Services even posted a "guard" at the entrance to check that guests in line actually had reservations!

[Liz Masterson]

On 6/26/2024 at 3:08 AM, Jeff 1957 said:

We were on the Orion during the difficult voyage (late 2022) from New Zealand to Australia where bio-foul prevented us from being allowed to stop at destinations.  Hence, there was a more than 8-day period of being stuck on the ship (unplanned).  The Planetarium was one of the distractions that made it all work.

 

Guests were ignoring the Planetarium during the first 3 days (when the ship was allowed to dock), but by the end of the at-sea phase, the shows were fully booked and the Guest Services even posted a "guard" at the entrance to check that guests in line actually had reservations!

I hope we have a good astronomer on board the Viking when we sail over New Year's. The South American cruise already has an abundance of sea days. Because we will miss our first port on New Year's Day, I'm assuming many excursions were unavailable because of the holiday, etc., we will have even more! 

 

I've sailed on Jupiter from Norway to Iceland before and was unimpressed with the Planetarium. Of course, I was tired from busy days... I dozed off in the presentation. The seats in there are very comfortable! And it is dark and warm... and we were crossing the north sea and the ship was gently rocking... 

 

But I am willing to give it another shot. Now I know how to get tickets. 🙂 Still... I do miss the extra seating. I love to tuck away up there sprawled out on a sofa with a book on a sea day. 

[AstroExeter]

I have just returned from Viking Jupiter where I was the Resident Astronomer. I did many live shows in the planetarium which were all very well received. I will be back on board in November for South America.

[formernuke]

That’s good to hear. Love a good live planetarium show. Unfortunately when we were on Jupiter a couple of years ago (and apparently frequently) there are only lame canned video presentations 

[OneSixtyToOne]

5 minutes ago, AstroExeter said:

I have just returned from Viking Jupiter where I was the Resident Astronomer. I did many live shows in the planetarium which were all very well received. I will be back on board in November for South America.

Glad to hear that it’s being used as intended. We were on the 2nd sailing of the Jupiter in 2019 and they were only showing movies. After a lecture I asked the astronomer if he could do a presentation in the planetarium. He looked into it and at the next lecture he had created tickets and handed them out.  It was an excellent show.

[LindaS272]

2 hours ago, AstroExeter said:

I have just returned from Viking Jupiter where I was the Resident Astronomer. I did many live shows in the planetarium which were all very well received. I will be back on board in November for South America.

We’re on Jupiter in Oct/Nov. from Barcelona to Buenos Aires. Sorry to miss you on your break! Will we still get some good shows in the planetarium?

[AstroExeter]

3 minutes ago, LindaS272 said:

We’re on Jupiter in Oct/Nov. from Barcelona to Buenos Aires. Sorry to miss you on your break! Will we still get some good shows in the planetarium?

Hopefully!

[FoggyEthan]

On 6/24/2024 at 7:48 PM, Insanityx4 said:

About half of the upper area of the Explorers Lounge is taken up with the planetarium. Be sure to bring a jacket because the Explorers Lounge is always really cold because of the Planetarium.

I was on the first post-quarantine sailing of Jupiter in 2021. I remember enjoying the quiet ambience of the upper deck of the Explorers' Lounge, but it was always really HOT. I assumed it was a "heat rises" issue, and trying to keep the lower deck warm meant overheating the upper deck.

 

We were in Iceland, so perhaps during warm-weather cruises they over-cool it, cold-weather cruises over-heat it?

 

Re Asian Station -- I'll be on the Star very soon. Since it doesn't have the Asian Station, does that mean that the buffet does not have any hot Asian options? It'll be like my experience on the Jupiter except minus the asian station? I really hope not. I like strong flavors, and the asian station gave me a little variety from the very mild cuisine that makes up most of the options on Viking.

[Liz Masterson]

13 hours ago, AstroExeter said:

I have just returned from Viking Jupiter where I was the Resident Astronomer. I did many live shows in the planetarium which were all very well received. I will be back on board in November for South America.

All you be celebrating the New Year on board? Maybe I’ll see you there! I promise to try not to doze off! 😉

[AstroExeter]

On 7/11/2024 at 4:30 AM, Liz Masterson said:

All you be celebrating the New Year on board? Maybe I’ll see you there! I promise to try not to doze off! 😉

Ha ha! It's easy to do! Yes, I am onboard from November until mid-January.

[Liz Masterson]

49 minutes ago, AstroExeter said:

I am onboard from November until mid-January.

Terrific!
 

Do you have any recommendations for YouTube videos that might give us a jump on learning about the South American itinerary and maybe some of the celestial highlights? 

 

 

[AstroExeter]

9 minutes ago, Liz Masterson said:

Terrific!
 

Do you have any recommendations for YouTube videos that might give us a jump on learning about the South American itinerary and maybe some of the celestial highlights? 

 

 

I'm afraid not but if the weather permits we will be looking at the Southern Cross, Orion, Summer Hexagon, Milky Way, Pleiades and planets to name a few!

[new2cruise]

Will there be an astronomer on the Orion?

[millybess]

On 7/13/2024 at 9:51 PM, new2cruise said:

Will there be an astronomer on the Orion?

When we were on Orion in April/May, the planetarium was closed.  But maybe there was an astronomer.  I will check the dailies and get back to you.

 

We are hoping there will be an astronomer on Venus when we are in Australia in January.

[millybess]

Yes, on our particular cruise -- Hong Kong to Vancouver -- there was an astronomer.

 

An astronomer was on board in Hong Kong, and disembarked in Tokyo.  We had a new astronomer in Tokyo who travelled with us to Vancouver.