Viking celebrated the kickoff of its inaugural World Cruise on its fourth and newest ocean ship. Viking Sun will spend the next 141 days on a voyage which spans five continents, 35 countries and 64 ports.
During the – nearly five-months long – journey from Miami to London, guests will first explore Cuba and the Caribbean, before sailing the Panama Canal to call on Los Angeles. Viking Sun will then sail to the South Pacific, Australia and Asia, where the ship will be christened in Shanghai on March 8, 2018. From there she will continue on with ports of call in Asia and then Europe, before finishing the World Cruise in London on May 5, 2018.
“Our World Cruises are the most extensive and culturally immersive journeys available in the industry. For two decades, we have continued to expand our destination-focused itineraries to new regions of the world, so as our fleet grows it is a natural progression for us to offer grand voyages of this scope for our guests.” – Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking
In addition to the guests, six casks of Viking’s own “Linje” Aquavit will also be sailing on this cruise around the world. In keeping with a Norwegian tradition that dates back hundreds of years, the Scandinavian spirit will mature in oak barrels during the sailing, crossing the equator (linje) twice as part of the maturation process. According to the tradition, it is believed that the moving seas and frequent temperature changes cause more flavor to be extracted from the casks.
Viking Sun will continue to sail the globe during Viking’s 2019 World Cruise.The 128-day itinerary from Miami to London, will visit five continents and immerse guests in the rich cultures of 21 countries from South America and the South Pacific to Australia and Africa. Like on all Viking itineraries, World Cruise guests will enjoy a complimentary shore excursion in each of the ports and free unlimited Wi-Fi. They will also receive Business Class airfare and all gratuities and service fees, along with an extensive list of added-value inclusions in their cruise fare.