And Away She Goes, Off to Sail the World
Viking Cruises celebrated the kickoff of its first-ever World Cruise aboard the fourth and newest ocean ship, Viking Sun. The event was held in Miami and welcomed guests for the sold-out 141-day cruise.
Around the world on a westbound course, Viking Sun will visit five continents, 35 countries and 64 ports before ending its nearly five month adventure in London. The first port of call is Cuba and a handful of Caribbean ports before the ship completes a full transit of the Panama Canal.
Onto Los Angeles, the home of Viking’s U.S. headquarters and first West Coast port of call. Viking Sun will then sail into the sunset as the ship heads into the South Pacific, eventually turning south to Australia and Asia.
On March 8, the Viking Sun will be christened in Shanghai. From there, Viking Sun will continue on with ports of call in Asia and then Europe, before finishing the World Cruise in London on May 5.
“Our World Cruises are the most extensive and culturally immersive journeys available in the industry. For two decades, we have continued to expand our destination-focused itineraries to new regions of the world, so as our fleet grows it is a natural progression for us to offer grand voyages of this scope for our guests,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. “Our guests are experienced travelers who want to explore the world in comfort; our offerings allow them to be immersed be in the cultures of the world when they are onshore and when they are onboard our award-winning fleet of sister ships.”
It’s not only guests onboard but also spirits; liquid spirits in the form of Norwegian firewater. Also sailing on the World Cruise will be six casks of Viking’s own “Linje” Aquavit. In keeping with Norwegian tradition that dates back hundreds of years, the Scandinavian spirit will mature in oak barrels during the sailing, crossing the equator (linje) twice as part of the maturation process. According to the tradition, it is believed that the moving seas and frequent temperature changes cause more flavor to be extracted from the oak casks.
Missed the boat?
Most likely, if you’re reading this, you’ve missed the boat, so to speak. No worries. Viking Sun is offering the chance to sail the globe during Viking’s 2019 World Cruise. The recently announced 128-day itinerary, again from Miami to London, will visit five continents to experience the rich cultures of 21 countries from South America and the South Pacific to Australia and Africa.
As on all Viking cruises, World Cruise guests will enjoy a complimentary shore excursion in each of the 64 ports and free unlimited Wi-Fi. Also included is Business Class airfare and all gratuities and service fees, along with an extensive list of added-value inclusions in their cruise fare.
A little about Viking Sun
All Viking ocean ships have a gross tonnage of 47,800 tons, 465 staterooms and host 930 guests. Considered a small ship by industry sources, the all-veranda Viking Sun is the newest addition to Viking’s award-winning ocean fleet. Previously launched are Viking Star, Viking Sea and Viking Sky.
Read more: Combining a Viking River cruise with a Viking Ocean cruise.
On the horizon, Viking will welcome two more sister ships in the next two years, including Viking Orion in summer 2018 and a sixth ship in 2019. Once these ships are all in service, Viking will be the largest small ship ocean cruise line. Two additional ships are also on order for delivery in 2021 and 2022.
And a little more about Viking Ocean cruises
Designed for discerning travelers with interests in science, history, culture and cuisine, Chairman Torstein Hagen often says Viking offers guests “the thinking person’s cruise” as an alternative to mainstream cruises. Ships are small to get guests closer to their destination, with more time in port and more overnights. Onboard, guests find serene Scandinavian spaces, where every room is beautiful and functional, quiet and filled with light. All-veranda ships mean that guests experience every day with a new, expansive vista. With the most al fresco dining at sea, featuring regional cuisines and always-available American classics, Viking’s guests can truly dine in their destination. A focus on cultural enrichment brings immersive experiences onshore and onboard. And only The Viking Way brings guests itineraries that feature Local Life, Working World and Privileged Access experiences.
In addition, every cruise fare includes a veranda stateroom, shore excursions in each port of call, all onboard meals, and all port charges and government taxes. Guests also enjoy many complimentary amenities as part of their fare, including: beer and wine with lunch and dinner service; premium dining reservations; Wi-Fi; self-service laundry; access to the Thermal Suite in the LivNordic Spa; and 24-hour room service. No nickel and dime mentality for Viking Ocean.
