Viking Star Coming to America
Viking Ocean Cruises is coming to North America.
Starting next September, the cruise line will add five new itineraries in North America and the Caribbean.
Viking Star will also cross the North Atlantic with a new itinerary that sails from Bergen to Montreal, with stops in the Shetland Islands, the Faroe Islands, Iceland and Greenland. From Montreal, the ship will cruise the St. Lawrence River and down the coast of New England to New York, during the peak period of fall foliage in October.
Viking Star will then make its way down the Eastern seaboard to San Juan, Puerto Rico, which will serve as its homeport for winter Caribbean itineraries. The ship will return to Europe in February 2017, with a transatlantic sailing from San Juan to Barcelona.
“We have always had a vision to reinvent ocean cruising – to bring destinations back to the forefront of the itinerary and to build ships that are designed to help our guests better explore their destinations,” said Torstein Hagen, founder and chairman of Viking Cruises. “We launched our ocean cruises in Europe earlier this year, and just as the Viking explorers before us, we are now looking across the Atlantic for new discoveries. Our new itineraries in North America and the Caribbean will offer travellers experiences that broaden their horizons both on and off the ship.”
Created in part to honour early Viking trade routes beyond Scandinavia, Viking’s new North American itineraries will allow guests to sail the North Atlantic and visit original Norse settlement sites that date back more than 1,000 years. Viking’s Caribbean itineraries will provide an alternative to the cruises typically offered in the region – with more time in port and experiences that go beyond the iconic and expected.
For example, new for 2016 is an Eastern Seaboard to the West Indies itinerary, 15 days, New York to San Juan. Ports of call include Newport, Baltimore, Norfolk and Port Everglades. Guest can then explore the Caribbean islands of Turks and Caicos, Antigua and St. Thomas. Introductory two-for-one pricing starts at US$4,999 per person. Sailing date: Oct. 14, 2016.
Also new for 2016/2017 is a West Indies Explorer journey, 11 days, San Juan to San Juan. Stops include Tortola and Antigua, St. Lucia, Barbados, Guadeloupe, St. Kitts, St. Martin and St. Thomas. Introductory two-for-one pricing starts at US$2,999 per person. Sailing dates: Oct. 28, Nov. 7, Dec. 17 and Dec. 27, 2016; Jan. 6, Jan. 16, Jan. 26, Feb. 5 and Feb. 15, 2017.
Christened in May 2015, Viking Star is a 930-passenger all-veranda ship.
Viking Ocean Cruises’ “Inclusive Cruising” provides shore excursions in each port of call, all onboard meals and all port charges and government taxes. Guests also enjoy many complimentary amenities such as beer and wine with lunch and dinner service, premium dining reservations, Wi-Fi, self-service laundry, access to the Thermal Suite in the LivNordic Spa and 24-hour room service.
