Viking Cruises to operate UK round-trip voyages from May aboard new ship

Cruises will resume from the UK this May when Viking Cruises offers three sailings along the coast of England.

New ship Viking Venus will operate on the voyages from Portsmouth on May 22, 29 and June 5. More details about the new eight-day England’s Scenic Shores itinerary will be released closer to embarkation.

On board, all passengers and crew will receive daily non-invasive saliva PCR tests and additional health checks, sanitisation and physical distancing measures will also be in operation.

Viking was the first cruise operator to suspend operations at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Viking chairman Torstein Hagen said: “We welcome the UK government’s support for the return of safe domestic cruises as an important component in the travel industry’s recovery.

“In recognition of this support, and to celebrate the fact we have a British godmother – the esteemed broadcaster and journalist Anne Diamond – we have chosen to name our new ship, Viking Venus, in the UK on 17 May.

“We are in a position to restart operations quickly and to start sailing again in May because we have kept our ships crewed during warm lay-up throughout the past 12 months.

“We have been implementing our additional protocols, including daily quick and easy non-invasive saliva PCR tests for our crew, for almost six months now.

“With our new protocol enhancements in place, we believe there will be no safer way to travel the world than on a Viking voyage and we look forward to welcoming UK guests back on board very soon.”

Pre-registration for England’s Scenic Shores is currently open only to Viking’s past guests and reservations will be available to all UK residents in due course.

All other previously scheduled Viking sailings until May 31 remain cancelled.