Viking Cruises becomes ocean official
Viking Ocean Cruises has shared the news today that it took delivery of Viking Star, marking the company’s official launch into the ocean cruise industry.
The delivery ceremony took place on March 28, when the ship was presented at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard outside of Venice, Italy.
On April 11, Viking Star will set sail from Istanbul and will make her way through the Mediterranean and into the Atlantic on her way to be officially christened on May 17 in Bergen, Norway.
“This has been a remarkable journey, and I am grateful to everyone at Viking and Fincantieri who has worked tirelessly to turn our vision into reality,” Viking Cruises chairman Torstein Hagen said.
“With Viking Star’s maiden voyage and christening now within sight, we are ready to bring our destination-focused experiences to ocean cruising.”
Classified by Cruise Critic as a “small ship,” the all-veranda Viking Star has a gross tonnage of47,800 tons, boasts 465 cabins and will accommodate 930 passengers. It is engineered at a scale that allows direct access into most ports, so guests can easily hop on and off.
Viking Star is one of three ocean cruise ships on order; the remaining two ships, Viking Sea and Viking Sky, are currently under construction.
Viking Ocean Cruises guests will enjoy curated itineraries that are designed to best showcase the destinations that they visit, with a complimentary excursion in each port and an onboard cultural enrichment program that includes academic lecturers, local speakers and interactive demonstrations.
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