Viking has announced it will expand its Mediterranean presence this summer, adding a third ship to operate round-trip voyages from Malta’s capital city of Valletta, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Offered as part of Viking’s Welcome Back Collection, the Viking Star will join sister ships Viking Venus and Viking Sea, sailing a new 11-day Malta and Western Mediterranean itinerary.
With the addition of this new voyage, vaccinated guests now have three new options to experience the Mediterranean between July and early October 2021. Guests on the Malta and Western Mediterranean itinerary will spend the night in Valletta and then sail to Sicily, Italy, and Spain, stopping in Messina, Naples (Pompeii), Civitavecchia (Rome), Livorno (Florence/Pisa), Genoa, and Barcelona, before returning to Valletta.
Passengers on the Malta & Greek Isles Discovery 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 on the island of Gozo and finally back to Valletta. Guests on the 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.
“Once again, we thank the Maltese government for being such a supportive destination partner as we begin welcoming guests aboard our ocean voyages,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. “Malta’s central location in the Mediterranean, along with its historic sites and many cultural experiences, makes it an ideal destination for travelers who want to explore the Mediterranean from the comfort of a Viking ship.”
Those sailing on the new voyages will experience Viking’s 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. Using a large-scale laboratory installed on all Viking ocean-going ships, passengers and crew will undergo PCR testing upon embarkation and frequently throughout the itinerary. New air purification technology has also been installed on all Viking ships, which have always featured independent air handling units for every guest cabin. And additional health screenings, disinfection, and physical distancing measures will provide greater protection for Viking guests and crew at every point of the voyage.
