Viking yesterday named its newest ocean ship Viking Venus during her brief inaugural voyage in the English Channel.
The ceremonial godmother, journalist and broadcaster Anne Diamond, wielded a Viking axe to cut the ribbon as she offered a blessing of good fortune and safe sailing for the ship.
The maiden voyage signalled Viking’s return to service following 14 months of paused operations due to the Covid pandemic.
Guests will board the 47,800-ton Viking Venus in Portsmouth on Saturday (22 May) for the first of five roundtrip sailings of the England’s Scenic Shores itinerary.
Part of Viking’s Welcome Back collection, the eight-day voyages also call in Liverpool, the Isles of Scilly, Falmouth and Portland.
Anne Diamond will also join guests for the first three sailings and will serve as a guest lecturer with her presentation about the untold story of British radar inventors, including her father, during World War II.
Viking Venus heads out of Portsmouth for her brief inaugural sailing
Following her time in England, Viking Venus will then sail to Malta, where she will homeport for new Welcome Back voyages in the Mediterranean this summer and autumn.
“Today is one of the proudest days in Viking’s nearly 24-year history,” said Torstein Hagen, Viking’s chairman.
“When we became the first cruise line to suspend operations in March 2020, we certainly did not know it would be 14 months before guests would be welcomed back on board. Now, we are among the first to set sail again.”
Anne Diamond said: “Over my many years as a journalist I have reported and been part of many historic events, but I never dreamt I would be godmother to an ocean ship or that I would be celebrating the occasion with my family and friends on board the beautiful Viking Venus on the very first day that we are able to cruise again in the UK.”