27 Jan 2017
MEDIA CONTACT:
Edelman for Viking Cruises
Viking Sky Will Be Christened Under the Midnight Sun in Tromsø, Norway
London (January 26, 2017) – Viking Ocean Cruises® (http://www.vikingcruises.co.uk/oceans) today announced it took delivery of Viking Sky®, the company's third ship. The delivery ceremony took place this morning when the ship was presented at Fincantieri's shipyard in Ancona, Italy. On February 25, Viking Sky will set sail from Rome's port at Civitavecchia and will make her way through the Mediterranean on her maiden voyage. After sailing spring itineraries throughout the Western and Eastern Mediterranean, Viking Sky will make her way to officially be christened under Norway's “midnight sun” on June 22 in Tromsø – a nod to Viking's Norwegian heritage. Following the christening, Viking Sky will continue her maiden season sailing itineraries in Scandinavia and the Baltic before crossing the Atlantic in September on her way to the Americas and the Caribbean.
“In the past two years, we have been encouraged by the overwhelmingly positive response our first two ocean ships have generated among our guests and travel industry partners. Today we mark an important milestone in welcoming the third ship to our fleet. By the end of 2017 – our 20th year in business – we will also welcome our fourth ship, doubling our fleet in less than a year,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking Cruises. “With our fast-growing fleet and innovative design, we look forward to introducing even more experienced travellers to The Viking Way of destination-focused itineraries in the years to come.”
Classified by Cruise Critic® as a “small ship,” the all-veranda Viking Sky is a sister ship to the award-winning Viking Star and Viking Sea, which launched in 2015 and 2016, respectively, to customer and industry acclaim.”
Viking's ocean ships have a gross tonnage of 47,800 tons, boast 465 staterooms and accommodate 930 guests. In November 2017, Viking will also welcome Viking Sun®, which will spend her maiden season sailing the company's first-ever World Cruise, which spans 141 days, five continents, 35 countries and 66 ports. Viking Spirit® will join the fleet in 2018 and will sail itineraries in Australia, Asia and Alaska. A sixth, yet-to-be-named ship will be delivered in 2019 and will mark Viking as the largest small ship ocean cruise line.
The Viking Difference
Designed for discerning travellers, Viking offers guests “the thinking person's cruise” as an alternative to mainstream cruises. The Viking Difference is providing guests with extraordinarily well-designed cruises that bring them closer to the cultures of the world. Itineraries are designed for maximum time in port, often with late evenings or overnights, so guests can experience local culture at night or evening performances. Ports include both cosmopolitan cities and “collector ports,” appealing to those with an interest in history, art, music, and cuisine. And only The Viking Way brings guests itineraries that feature Local Life, Working World and Privileged Access experiences.
While onboard, guests enjoy informative talks from local experts and carefully selected lecturers in The Theater. Dining options onboard Viking's ships elevate food as a cultural experience – the World Café features global cuisine with live cooking and open kitchens; Mamsen's features Norwegian deli-style fare, according to the recipes of Hagen's mother, Ragnhild, otherwise known as “Mamsen;” The Chef's Table celebrate cuisines from around the world with multi-course tasting menus and wine pairings; and Manfredi's Italian Restaurant embraces authentic Tuscan and Roman cuisine. With the Kitchen Table experience, guests have an immersive opportunity to shop, cook and eat with the Executive Chef.
Media Assets
For more information, contact Viking Ocean Cruises, contact vikingcruises@edelman.com.
About Viking Cruises
Viking Cruises offers culturally-enriching, destination-focused river and ocean cruises for travellers curious about the world, its rich culture and varied history. Viking Cruises takes its guests on curated, elegant voyages along some of the most iconic rivers in Europe and the Far East allowing a unique window on inspiring destinations and rewarding experiences. Featuring onboard cultural enrichment and included shore excursions, Viking's journeys are competitively priced for genuine value.
Since its 1997 inception the company has grown to become the world's leading operator with a fleet of over 60 vessels. Having christened its second ocean ship, the Viking Sea, in May Viking Cruises will build a further 4 ships by 2020 bringing their Ocean fleet to a total of 6 ships. The sophisticated state-of-the-art Viking Ocean Ships can host 930 guests on itineraries that start from the brand's homeland in Scandinavia and the Baltic through to the Western and Eastern Mediterranean. Viking has consistently won customer-voted and industry-recommended awards with 2016 being an award breaking year for the company, with accolades such as the Best River Cruise Company at the Times and Sunday Times Travel Awards and Best Overall Cruise Company at the Food and Travel Awards. In addition, the Travel Bulletin Awards named Viking Best River Cruise Company whilst at the Condé Nast Traveler Reader Awards Viking was included in the top 3 for the Small Ship Category.
For additional information on Viking's River and Ocean offering, contact Viking Cruises 020 8780 7995 or visit the company at www.vikingcruises.co.uk. Follow Viking River Cruises on Facebook www.facebook.com/VikingRiverCruisesUK and Twitter www.twitter.com/vikingriveruk.
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