Viking Star Transatlantic – Day 12

Cruising the St. Lawrence Seaway

Calm seas and blue skies greeted Viking Cruises’ Viking Star as we spent a day cruising the St. Lawrence Seaway en-route to our second-last port of call on this voyage, the village of Saguenay, Quebec.
Sea days onboard Viking Star tend to be demur and relaxing, with guests preferring to take it easy and cozy up with a book in the Wintergarden or the Explorer’s Lounge, or engaged in a tense game of Scrabble down on the Deck 2 level of Viking’s striking Living Room atrium.

Kick back and relax in Viking Star’s gorgeous atrium…Photo © 2016 Aaron Saunders

…or maybe help spot wildlife on the crossing! Photo © 2016 Aaron Saunders

Curiously, our onboard internet connection has all but died out today, after having worked darn near flawlessly the entire way across the North Atlantic. On the plus side, Viking’s internet is entirely free of charge, and when it works – it works great. But, as with any shipboard internet, when it doesn’t work, it really doesn’t. At least you’re not being charged for it here!
Throughout the ship, Viking Star’s superb staff is still doing a marvelous job of serving guests as we spend another full day onboard at sea. Everyone seems to be finding their very own “happy place” onboard.

With a day at sea, taking part in Viking Star’s Martini Tasting seems like a no-brainer. Photo © 2016 Aaron Saunders

No matter what my day brings, I’ve become a bit of a creature of habit here. In the mornings, it’s up to the Explorer’s Lounge on Deck 7 for my first cup of coffee, and perhaps one of the heart-shaped waffles from Mamsen’s. Afternoons are punctuated with lunch at the Pool Grill, and maybe a Gascon Coffee (coffee and Armagnac) in the Explorer’s Lounge again. Then, I usually like to roll on down to the Coffee Bar on Deck 1 for a bit, to people-watch and write.

Mixologist Jay makes a martini atop the shoulder of bartender Ivana. Photo © 2016 Aaron Saunders

Photo © 2016 Aaron Saunders

Evenings bring forth the promise of dinner in one of Viking Star’s many dining venues. Dinners are pleasantly quick in the self-serve World Café, and relaxing and spaced-out in The Restaurant on Deck 2. I typically arrive for dinner at 7:30 pm, and have only had to wait in a very short line once to get in.
Each evening, I “retire” to the Explorer’s Lounge once again on Deck 7, for my Old Fashioned and my Split Pea Soup from Mamsen’s. Then, it’s off to bed, where I let Viking Star gently rock me to sleep.
Everything in between those “staple activities” is subject to change.

The amazing – and complimentary – thermal suite at the LivNordic Spa aboard Viking Star. Photo © 2015 Aaron Saunders

In order to fully relax today, I booked myself a massage at the LivNordic Spa on Deck 1. I chose the 50-minute “Swedish Mindful Massage”, which the brochure tells me focuses on

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