Video: Viking welcomes Venus as UK fleets prepare to sail from May 17

Viking has taken delivery of its newest fleet member:  Viking Venus was handed over at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Ancona, Italy.

Viking Venus , which has 465 all-veranda staterooms and room for 930 guests will now make her way to the United Kingdom, where she will be officially named on May 17, 2021 by her ceremonial godmother, British broadcaster Anne Diamond.

“We are especially proud to welcome our newest ship to the fleet this year. Many of us have stayed close to home for months, so this is an especially important milestone as we begin to get back out into the world again,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking.

“We look forward to celebrating the naming of Viking Venus by her esteemed godmother, Anne Diamond—and to welcoming our UK guests back on board next month.”

Viking has already announced it is restarting operations next month in England, Bermuda and Iceland.

All of Viking’s new Welcome Back voyages are available exclusively for vaccinated guests only, in accordance with local entry rules in many of the destinations.

that will welcome Viking ships—and as a complement to the Viking Health & Safety Program, which was designed to protect guests and crew even while the COVID-19 vaccine rollout is still moving forward.

A number of lines are planning a major restart in the UK next month, including:

• Disney Magic – offering two-four night cruises from Liverpool and Southampton
• Celebrity Silhouette – sailing out of Southampton from July
• Saga’s Spirit of Discovery – sailing coastal and Norwegian itineraries
• MSC Virtuosa – seven night sailings from Southampton
• Anthem of the Seas – short cruises from Southampton
• Virgin’s Scarlet Lady – sailing from Portsmouth on her maiden voyages
• P&O’s Brittania and Iona both sailing from Southampton
• Princess will sail and Regal and Sky Princesses Portsmouth and Southampton on coastal cruises in the UK