Viking announced today that it will resume operations in the Mediterranean with new sailings for vaccinated guests starting this summer. Offered as part of Viking’s Welcome Back collection, the Viking Venus and Viking Sea will depart from Maltese capital Valletta—a UNESCO World Heritage cultural site—and sail two different 11-day round-trip Mediterranean itineraries. Due to strong demand, Viking also announced today that it will add more sailing dates this summer for its Welcome Back voyages to Iceland and Bermuda.
Passengers on the new Malta & Adriatic Jewels itinerary will spend the night in Valletta and then sail to Montenegro and Croatia, stopping in Kotor, Dubrovnik, Split, Zadar and Šibenik, before returning to the Maltese archipelago, with a stop in Gozo and finally back to Valletta.
Passengers on the new Malta & Greek Isles Discovery itinerary will also spend the night in Valletta and then sail to Greece, stopping in Kalamata, Athens, Santorini, Rhodes and Souda Bay, before returning to Valletta.
The Viking Venus and Viking Sea will operate these itineraries between July and early October 2021. Delivered in April 2021, the Viking Venus is Viking's newest ocean-going vessel and will be christened in England on May 17, 2021, by ceremonial godmother and iconic British broadcaster Anne Diamond.
“We thank the Maltese government for its support and enthusiasm as we continue to restart operations,” said Torstein Hagen, Viking’s president. “Malta is a fantastic destination with an ancient history, a rich culture, and a central location in the Mediterranean. We began calling at Malta in 2016 and look forward to welcoming guests back to some of the most historically significant and naturally beautiful areas of the Mediterranean, both in the Maltese archipelago, along the Croatian coast, and around the Greek islands this summer.”
The news follows Viking's recent announcements of Welcome Back ocean voyages to England, Iceland, and Bermuda, beginning in May 2021. The company is actively working on developing additional Welcome Back itineraries to other destinations, with the aim of announcing more sailings in 2021 as soon as the relevant government approvals are obtained.
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. Utilizing a large-scale laboratory installed on all Viking ships, all passengers and crew will undergo daily PCR testing. New air purification technology has also been installed on all Viking ships, which have always featured separate air handling units for every passenger cabin. Additional health screenings, sanitization, and physical distancing measures will provide enhanced protection for Viking passengers and crew at every point of their journey.
