Following the christening of its first ship, the 930-passenger Viking Star, Viking Ocean Cruises announced new itineraries and additional 2017 departures for Viking Star, Viking Sea and Viking Sky.
“We are encouraged by the overwhelmingly positive response Viking Star has generated among our guests and travel industry partners,” said Torstein Hagen, chairman of Viking Cruises. “We made a commitment to reinvent ocean cruising, and we are well on our way. By 2017 we will have two more ships designed to help our guests better experience their destinations. We will also offer four new itineraries that provide more time in port and culturally rich experiences at a compelling value compared with competitors.”
The 2017 program highlights sailings on some of Viking’s most requested routes across the Mediterranean, Western Europe, Scandinavia and the Baltic. In addition to those regular sailings, Viking is expanding destination-focused cruises in both 2016 and 2017 to place greater emphasis on cultural immersion and time ashore. Featured ports and cities include Rome, Istanbul, Bergen, Barcelona and Stockholm, among other historic and scenic ports that allow for deeper exploration and authentic local experiences.
These itinerary changes reflect Viking’s approach to small-ship ocean cruising: longer port stays, carefully curated shore excursions, and an onboard experience that complements time spent exploring each destination. The new sailings aim to balance days at sea with extended visits to landmarks, museums and neighborhoods, giving travelers the opportunity to connect more meaningfully with the places they visit.
As Viking grows its ocean fleet, the focus remains on providing an itinerary portfolio that matches guest interest in culture, history and regional discovery. The expanded schedule for 2017 offers travelers additional choices for timing and routing while maintaining Viking’s emphasis on comfort, service and destination-centric programming.