Cruise line Viking has unveiled its first schedule of European voyages since the start of the coronavirus crisis.
Viking has announced it will expand its presence in the Mediterranean this summer, adding a third ship to sail round-trip voyages from the Maltese capital city of Valletta.
Offered as part of Viking’s Welcome Back collection, Viking Star will now join sister ships Viking Venus and Viking Sea and will sail a new 11-day itinerary, Malta & the Western Mediterranean.
Viking Venus will also sail a new 12-night itinerary, Iberia, the Mediterranean & Malta, departing on July 3. These are already proving popular with holidaymakers.
With the addition of this new voyage, vaccinated guests now have four new options for experiencing the Mediterranean between July and early October 2021.
Guests on the Malta & the Western Mediterranean itinerary will overnight in Valletta and then sail to Sicily, Italy and Spain, calling in Messina, Naples (Pompeii), Civitavecchia (Rome), Livorno (Florence/Pisa), Genoa and Barcelona, before returning to Valletta.
Those on the Malta & Adriatic Jewels itinerary will overnight in Valletta and then sail to Montenegro and Croatia, calling in Kotor, Dubrovnik, Split, Zadar and Šibenik, before returning to the Maltese archipelago, with a stop on Gozo Island and finally back to Valletta.
And guests on the Malta & Greek Isles Discovery itinerary will also overnight in Valletta and then sail to Greece, calling in Kalamata, Athens, Santorini, Rhodes and Souda Bay, before returning to Valletta.
While those booked on the Iberia, the Mediterranean & Malta itinerary will depart Portsmouth and sail to Porto (Lexiodes), Gibraltar, and Gozo Island before overnighting in Valletta.
Torstein Hagen, chairman of Viking, said: "Once again we thank the government of Malta for being such a supportive destination partner as we begin welcoming guests back on board for ocean voyages.
“Malta’s central position in the Mediterranean, as well as its historic sites and many cultural experiences, make it an ideal destination for travellers who want to explore the Mediterranean from the comfort of a Viking vessel."
The news follows Viking’s recent announcements of initial Welcome Back ocean voyages in England, as well as the restart of European river operations beginning in July 2021.
