The arrival of the VIKING STAR: Norwegian giant launches beautiful first cruise ship

VIKING Ocean Cruises is to christen its first ship, Viking Star, in historic Bergen on May 17 – Norway’s Constitution Day.

Cruise norwegianViking

The new ship marks the Norwegian-owned company's arrival

The new ship marks the Norwegian-owned company’s arrival into the ocean cruise industry, after years of success with Viking River Cruises.

It was handed over at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard outside Venice, in Italy.

The ship’s maiden cruise takes place on April 11 when it sails from Istanbul through the Mediterranean into the Atlantic on her way to be officially christened in Norway.

Two more ships are to join Viking Star in 2016 and Torstein Hagen, chairman of Viking Cruises, said: “This has been a remarkable journey, and I am grateful to everyone at Viking and Fincantieri, who has worked tirelessly to turn our vision into reality.

“With Viking Star’s maiden voyage and christening now within sight, we are ready to bring our destination-focused experiences to ocean cruising.”

The all-veranda Viking Star is small enough to dock at most ports and has 465 cabins to accommodate up to 930 passengers.

Viking cruise shipViking

The Viking cruises could include free excursions

It has modern Scandinavian décor and some of the more popular elements of its river ships, the award-winning Viking Longships.

These include free excursions, free WiFi and complimentary wine and beer at lunch and dinner.

Highlights of the new ship also include several alfresco dining opportunities and regional menus to reflect the itinerary.

There is a glass-backed Infinity Pool with a retractable roof, where there will be outdoor movies at night and outdoor dining in the Aquavit Terrace.

The Spa, a Nordic wellness sanctuary, has a Snow Grotto where snowflakes stimulate your circulation, as well as a sauna and treatment rooms.

There will be live entertainment in the theatre, as well as new-release films and some old favourites, plus port talks and lectures from the on-board cultural enrichment programmes on art, history and culture.

The dining area on the new cruise shipVIKING

The dining area on the new cruise ship

This programme will also include academic lecturers, local speakers and interactive demonstrations.

The Viking Sea and Viking Sky are also being built at the Fincantieri shipyard.

For more information go to www.vikingcruises.co.uk or call 0800 298 9700.

The cabin on the cruise shipVIKING

The cabin on the cruise ship
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