Source: World Maritime News
October 14th 2016
Viking Ocean Cruises, part of Viking Cruises, has welcomed its first cruise ship, Viking Star, into the New York harbor as part of its inaugural North American voyage.
The 930-passenger ship docked at Manhattan Cruise Terminal on October 13, 2016, after sailing past the Statue of Liberty with a reception by New York Fireboats.
Built at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard, the 47,800 gross ton Viking Star was delivered in March 2015.
Featuring a length of 228.2 meters and a width of 28.8 meters, the Viking Star is the first of six ocean-going ships ordered by Viking Cruises.
The second cruise ship, the Viking Sea, was christened in May this year. Viking Ocean Cruises said it will launch four additional ocean sister ships in the coming years, including the Viking Sky and Viking Sun in 2017, Viking Spirit in 2018 and the remaining, yet-to-be-named ship in 2020.
On October 11, 2016, Viking officially commemorated its first US port of call in Boston, holding a maritime plaque ceremony. This is the first time Viking has sailed into North American ports, which are part of the company’s new itineraries exploring the Americas and the Caribbean.