Viking Sun Named in Shanghai

Cruise liner company Viking has officially named its fourth ocean ship, Viking Sun, during a ceremony held on March 8, in Shanghai, China.

The ship was delivered by Fincantieri on September 25, 2017 at the Ancona shipyard. Like its sister ships, Viking Sun is placed in the small cruise ship segment.

The 930-guest, 47,800-ton Viking Sun is currently sailing on a 141-day World Cruise from Miami to London, and its stop in Shanghai marks the first time one of Viking’s ocean ships has called in China.

“I am very pleased to officially name our newest ship in Shanghai. We care deeply about tourism in China, and we have been bringing river cruise guests here since 2004,” Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking, said.

“China is the home of Viking Sun’s Godmother, Mrs. Yi Lou, and in the coming year, Shanghai will also welcome our fifth ship, Viking Orion.”

On March 9, Viking Sun set sail from Shanghai for Southeast Asia and India, before making its way through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal into the Mediterranean – essentially following the route of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road or “One Belt One Road” Initiative.

When the ship arrives in London on May 5, it will have visited five continents, 35 countries and 64 ports during its first World Cruise.

Viking will welcome two more sister ships in the next two years, Viking Orion in June 2018 and Viking Jupiter in 2019. Ten additional ships are also planned for delivery starting in 2021, which could bring Viking’s ocean fleet to 16 ships by 2027.

Namely, last week the company announced an agreement with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri on the construction of six additional ships.