Viking announces the delivery of the Viking Venus, the company's newest ocean-going vessel. The delivery ceremony took place as the ship was unveiled at the Fincantieri shipyard in Ancona, Italy. The Viking Venus will now sail to the UK, where it will be officially christened on May 17, 2021, by its godmother, Anne Diamond, the esteemed British journalist and broadcaster. The ship will then sail the spring and summer sailings of England's Scenic Shores itinerary.
“We are especially proud to welcome our newest ship to the fleet this year. Many of us have been staying close to home for months, so this is a significant milestone as we begin to venture out into the world again,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. “We look forward to celebrating the christening of Viking Venus by her esteemed godmother, Anne Diamond, and welcoming our UK guests back on board next month.”.
For over a year, Anne Diamond has been a key figure in Viking's Enrichment Channel, which launched in March 2020, in the early stages of the pandemic, and was conceived as a way to build community, stay connected, and share positive experiences while people stayed home instead of traveling. Since its launch, Anne has interviewed a wide range of significant figures associated with Viking
Today’s news follows Viking’s recent announcement that it will restart operations with a collection of new itineraries in England, Bermuda, and Iceland beginning in May 2021. All of Viking’s new Welcome Back voyages are available exclusively to vaccinated guests, in accordance with local entry regulations in many of the destinations welcoming Viking ships, and as a complement to Viking’s Health and Safety Program, which was designed to protect guests and crew even as the COVID-19 vaccine rollout continues.
The Viking Venus is the newest ship in Viking's ocean fleet, comprised of identical sister ships. Classified by Cruise Critic as "small ships," Viking's ocean-going vessels have a gross tonnage of 47,800 tons, with 465 staterooms accommodating up to 930 guests. The ships feature all veranda staterooms, Scandinavian design, airy public spaces, and ample al fresco dining options.
