Viking Line launches digital keys for cabin doors

Viking Line is the first shipping company operating in the Baltic Sea to introduce the use of digital keys for its cabin doors. Starting from 27 January 2020, the members of Viking Line Club have been able to use the Viking Line application as a key to their cabin aboard VIKING XPRS. The precondition for use is that all passengers included in the booking are Viking Line Club members. The aim is to make maritime travel easier. Customers check in via the Viking Line application and use the QR code they receive to board the ship and open the cabin door. A key operated by mobile application is an environmentally friendly solution, as it reduces the need for cardboard key cards.

‘Our customers have been enthusiastic to welcome the new digital keys', says Sten Smeds, Project Manager for Viking Line.

VIKING XPRS, operating on the route between Helsinki and Tallinn, was docked for maintenance on 7–24 January 2020. In addition to the new cabin key system, some of the restaurants of the ship were renewed, as well. 'The Burgers' is a brand-new restaurant concept, where the home-made Black Angus burgers are prepared abroad from scratch.

Viking Line renews and updates its fleet continuously and ships are docked for maintenance every couple of years on average. The aim is to develop the ships to meet the wishes of the customers as well as the changing trends in cruise tourism. VIKING XPRS is the first Viking Line ship to test the digital keys. Use of the mobile key system will also be adopted on the new VIKING GLORY that will begin operation in 2021.

‘We aim at introducing the mobile keys for cabin doors on all our passenger ships in the next few years. It is, of course, still possible to travel with us using the traditional key cards, since not everyone has the opportunity to utilise smart phones', Smeds points out.

Passengers gain access to the mobile key for their own cabin door by logging in to the Viking Line application. The application can be downloaded free of charge in iOS and Android operating systems.

Feb 24 2020