Viking will deploy its next ocean ship to Australian waters in its debut year, the cruise line has revealed.
Viking Mars, the newest and eighth vessel in its class, was floated out for the first time last week at the Ancona shipyard of Fincantieri in Italy.
Scheduled to debut in early 2022, the ship will spend her maiden season sailing itineraries in the Mediterranean and in Northern Europe before embarking on voyages in Asia, as well as Australia.
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A range of 2022 itineraries on board the 930-passenger Viking Mars are already on sale, according to Viking’s website, including Viking’s:
- 15-day Trade Routes of the Middle Ages from Barcelona to Bergen on 28 May;
- 15-day Into the Midnight Sun from Bergen to London on 11 June 2022, and vice versa on 25 June;
- 29-day South Pacific Sojourn from Bangkok to Sydney departing on 29 November;
- 17-day Komodo and the Australian Coast from Bali (Benoa) to Sydney, departing on 11 December 2022.
Viking Mars will join sister-ship Viking Orion in Oceania waters in late 2022, the latter of which is also scheduled to operate a series of six rotations between Sydney and Auckland in early 2023.
Viking also revealed that Viking Mars will officially be named by her ceremonial godmother, Lady Fiona Carnarvon, the eighth Countess of Carnarvon.
“The day that a new ship meets water for the first time is always a special moment in time, and today is especially meaningful because for the second time, my dear friend Lady Carnarvon will honour us by serving as godmother to a new Viking ship,” said Karine Hagen, Executive Vice President of Viking.
“The last year and a half has been a period of uncertainty for all of us, and it is in those times that you know your true friends. Lady Carnarvon has done so much to help Viking, including opening her home almost weekly for our guests to experience life ‘At Home at Highclere’ on Viking.TV. She is truly a like the sister I never had. We are delighted to celebrate this important milestone, and we look forward to welcoming Viking Mars to our award-winning ocean fleet next year.”
Viking has a longstanding relationship with the Carnarvon family. Since 2013, Viking has offered guests a variety of ways to experience life at Highclere Castle, the home of the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon, and known as the filming location of Downton Abbey. For more than a year, Lady Carnarvon has welcomed viewers to Highclere Castle on Viking’s enrichment channel, Viking.TV, in an ongoing series, At Home at Highclere.