Viking Launches Third Luxury Ocean Liner

The luxury ocean cruise line Viking Ocean Cruises, which was recently recognized with several 2017 Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice Awards, has launched its third ocean-going cruise ship, Viking Sky, which joins Viking Star and Viking Sea. The Sky accommodates 930 passengers in its 465 all-veranda cabins (all rooms have outdoor balconies).

The launch of the Sky is part of the company’s effort to triple its ocean cruise ships by mid-2019, with the addition of the Viking Sun later this year, the Viking Spirit in 2018, and a yet-unnamed ship in 2019. The sister line Viking River Cruises is well-known for its European fleet of more than 60 river touring ships, but the Viking Sky represents the ocean-going cruise line’s third luxury vessel.

“As we officially welcome our third ship to the fleet, it is a proud moment for the entire Viking family. We continue to see a positive response from our guests and the industry, which makes us confident in our future growth,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking Cruises. “We started in the cruise business 20 years ago, and our philosophy is still the same – we do not try to be everything to everyone. We are a destination-oriented small ship cruise line, and as we prepare to introduce a fourth ocean ship by the end of 2017, we look forward to introducing even more guests to The Viking Way of exploration.”

The Sky set forth on its maiden voyage from Rome’s Civitavecchia port to Barcelona, Spain, and will embark on several itineraries this year throughout the Western and Eastern Mediterranean before heading north into Viking territory to sail Scandinavian and Baltic itineraries in the summer. Viking Sky will cross the Atlantic this fall and will finish out the year sailing itineraries in the Americas and the Caribbean.

On Viking Ocean Cruises, every fare includes a veranda stateroom, an included shore excursion in each port of call, all onboard meals, beer and wine with lunch and dinner service, premium dining reservations, Wi-Fi internet, self-service laundry, access to the Thermal Suite in the LivNordic Spa, 24-hour room service, and all port charges and government taxes.

Viking’s fourth ship, Viking Sun, will be delivered in November and will spend her maiden season sailing the company’s first-ever World Cruise. Viking Spirit will join the fleet in 2018 and will sail itineraries in Australia, Asia and Alaska. The sixth, yet-to-be-named ship will be delivered in 2019; the arrival will mark Viking as the largest small ship ocean cruise line. Designed by experienced nautical architects and engineers, including the same interior design team responsible for the award-winning fleet of Viking Longships.

Viking markets its cruise offerings as an alternative to mainstream cruises, bringing “discerning travelers closer to the cultures of the world.” The ships are small in comparison to the those of many of the massive vessels of its competition, allowing travelers to get closer to their destination, with more time in port, more overnight stays in port, and fewer days at sea. Onboard, the ships offer serene Scandinavian spaces. With all cabins featuring balconies, guests experience every day with a new, expansive vista. Viking ships also feature regional cuisines that let guests dine in their destination, and focus on cultural enrichment, with immersive experiences onshore and onboard.

While every cruise fare includes a guided excursion in each port, Viking’s optional excursion program was designed to provide guests with enriching experiences that go beyond the iconic and the expected, for example:

The Hermitage Behind Closed Doors, St. Petersburg, Russia – Offered on the 15-day Viking Homelands itinerary, guests receive a Privileged Access view of the vaults of one of the world’s greatest art collections at the magnificent Hermitage Museum.
Vistas, Vikings & The Village Woodturner, Torshavn, Faroe Islands – Available on the 15-day In the Wake of the Vikings itinerary, guests can gain insight into daily village life and the rich Viking heritage as they explore the village of Kvivik, site of a 10^th-century Viking settlement.
A Taste of Provence, Toulon, France – Guests on the 17-day Catalonia to Greece itinerary can enjoy a private cooking lesson at a magnificent 19^th-century house in the scenic Provençal countryside from Michelin-star rated Master Chef of France, Monsieur Bérard.
Nazareth & The Sea of Galilee, Haifa, Israel – Offered on the 15-day Cities of Antiquity & the Holy Land itinerary, guests can choose to visit some of the most important places in the life of Jesus on this fascinating excursion through Canaan, Nazareth, Cana, Capernaum and Tabgha.
King Crab Safari, Honningsvåg, Norway – Available on the 15-day Into the Midnight Sun itinerary, guests can set off in a deep-sea raft into the pristine waters of Sarnesfjorden to catch their own king crab in this thrilling excursion.
Evening Concert on the Island of Our Lady of the Rocks, Kotor, Montenegro – On the 10-day Empires of the Mediterranean itinerary, guests can embark on a boat for the island of Gospa od Škrpjela, or Our Lady of the Rocks, to enjoy an exclusive and intimate guitar recital by two eminent Montenegrin musicians, Darko Nikcevic and Srdjan Bultaovic.

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