Viking Cruises christened its newest ocean-going vessel, the Viking Venus, with a celebration in the English Channel as the ship set sail on its maiden voyage. As part of the event, the ship's godmother, British journalist and broadcaster Anne Diamond, offered a blessing of good fortune and safe passage for the vessel, a naval tradition dating back thousands of years.
The Viking Venus is the company's newest ocean-going vessel, and the event also marked a significant milestone as the Viking returns to service after a 14-month operational hiatus. On May 22, passengers will embark in Portsmouth for the first of five Viking Venus round-trip sailings on its England's Scenic Shores itinerary, running throughout May and June. The eight-day voyages, part of Viking's Welcome Back collection, also call at Liverpool, the Isles of Scilly, Falmouth, and Portland. Anne Diamond will join passengers on the first three sailings and will serve as a guest speaker, presenting on the history of British radar inventors, including her father, during World War II. Anne's presentation will also be featured on Viking.TV in the future. Following its stop in England, the Viking Venus will sail to Malta, where it will call for further Mediterranean voyages this summer and autumn.
Delivered in April 2021 from Fincantieri's shipyard in Ancona, Italy, the Viking Venus is the newest vessel to join Viking's ocean-going fleet, which also includes the Viking Star, Viking Sea, Viking Sky, Viking Orion, and Viking Jupiter. Viking's ocean-going ships have a gross tonnage of 47,800 and feature 465 veranda staterooms accommodating 930 guests. The ships boast a clean, minimalist Scandinavian design, airy public spaces filled with natural light, and ample al fresco dining options.
“Today is one of the proudest days in Viking’s nearly 24-year history. When we became the first cruise line to suspend operations in March 2020, we certainly didn’t know it would be 14 months before guests were welcomed back on board. Now, we are among the first to set sail again, and with our industry-leading health and safety protocols, we believe there is no safer way to travel the world than on a Viking voyage,” said Torstein Hagen, Viking’s president. “On behalf of the entire Viking family, we are delighted to celebrate the naming of our newest ship in England. We are also grateful to its godmother, Anne Diamond, for her many journalistic contributions, as well as her tireless efforts to foster a community on Viking.TV each week for over a year.”
“It is a great honor to be chosen as godmother of Viking Venus and to officially become part of the Viking family. Throughout my many years as a journalist, I have reported on and been a part of many historic events, but I never dreamed that I would be godmother to an ocean-going vessel or that I would be celebrating the occasion with my family and friends aboard the beautiful Viking Venus on the first day we can cruise again in the UK,” said Anne Diamond. “It is an unforgettable experience, especially as it marks Viking’s global restart.” Anne continued: “It is reassuring and inspiring to see how far Viking has gone to ensure we can all safely explore the world again.”.
During the christening ceremony, the group of guests aboard the Viking Venus enjoyed a scenic cruise along the coast of England and concerts recorded exclusively by artists such as Sissel Kyrkjebø, one of the world's leading sopranos and godmother of the Viking Jupiter; violinist Tor Jaran Apold; and the acclaimed English male choir LIBERA.
The event also commemorated May 17, Norwegian Constitution Day, and paid tribute to the Nordic spirit of exploration. Following speeches by President Hagen and Anne, guests were treated to the unveiling of an "Air Fountain" by artist Daniel Wurtzel, designed and installed specifically in the ship's atrium for the occasion.
Viking Cruises has announced the resumption of operations with its Welcome Back ocean voyages exclusively for vaccinated guests in England, Iceland, Bermuda, and Malta. The company is actively developing additional Welcome Back itineraries in other destinations, with the aim of announcing new sailings in 2021 as soon as government approvals are granted.
