Viking announces the resumption of its operations in May 2021 with three special sailings along the coast of England. Available exclusively to UK residents, the new eight-day England's Scenic Shores itinerary will sail round-trip from Portsmouth, departing on May 22, May 29, and June 5, 2021. Passengers on this itinerary will be the first to sail aboard Viking's newest ocean-going ship, the Viking Venus, due for delivery in April. Sales for the England's Scenic Shores itinerary are currently open exclusively to Viking loyal customers; further details about the voyages will be released later, and bookings will also be available to all UK residents.
Viking was the first cruise line to suspend operations at the start of the pandemic, and its resumption of operations is due to the UK government's announcement that it will allow domestic cruises to resume from May 2021. All other Viking sailings previously scheduled until May 31, 2021, remain canceled.
“We welcome the UK Government’s support for the safe return of domestic cruising as an important component of the travel industry’s recovery. In recognition of this support, and to celebrate having a British godmother – broadcaster and journalist Anne Diamond – we have decided to christen our newest ship, Viking Venus, in the UK on May 17,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. “We are ready to resume operations quickly and return to sailing in May because we have kept our ships crewed throughout the shutdown for the past 12 months. We have been implementing our additional protocols for almost six months, including daily PCR testing for our crew. With further enhancements to the protocol, we are confident that there is no safer way to travel the world than on a Viking voyage, and we look forward to welcoming UK guests back on board very soon.”.
Those sailing on these new voyages will also experience Viking’s industry-leading health and safety program. Based on scientific research, Viking’s health and safety program was developed in collaboration with an international team of medical advisors, including Dr. Raquel C. Bono, Viking’s Chief Health Officer. Dr. Bono is a trauma surgeon and retired U.S. Navy Vice Admiral who recently led Washington State’s medical and healthcare systems response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Utilizing a full-scale laboratory installed on every Viking ship, all passengers and crew will undergo daily PCR testing. New air purification technology has also been installed on every Viking ship, with individual air handling units for every passenger stateroom. And additional health screenings, sanitization, and physical distancing measures will provide enhanced protection for Viking passengers and crew at every point of the voyage.
