Viking Announce Cruises From Bermuda
The Viking cruise line announced the “restart of limited operations” from locations including Bermuda, with the cruises “available exclusively for vaccinated guests.”
The cruise line’s website shows sailings from Bermuda in June and July of this year, and the itinerary [website screenshot below] shows the ‘Bermuda Escape’ 8-day cruise will visit all three Bermuda ports – Hamilton, Dockyard and St George’s — with prices starting at $1,799.
A statement from the company said, “Viking announced today that it will continue restarting limited operations with a collection of sailings around Bermuda and Iceland beginning in June 2021.
“All of Viking’s new Welcome Back voyages will be available exclusively for vaccinated guests, in accordance with local entry rules in many of the destinations that will welcome Viking ships—and as a complement to Viking’s new health and safety protocol enhancements, which were designed to protect guests and crew even while the Covid-19 vaccine rollout is still moving forward. Reservations for the new Bermuda, Iceland and UK voyages are now open.
“For the new Bermuda Escape itinerary, Viking Orion will homeport in Hamilton for 8-day roundtrip itineraries,” with the statement adding that “the small size of Viking’s ocean ships will allow convenient access to both small and large ports in Bermuda.”
“Viking has been working closely with officials in the UK, Bermuda and Iceland for months; these destinations were chosen specifically because of their popularity among Viking guests, as well as their commitment to welcoming Viking ships, offering enriching experiences and reviving the travel industry in their respective countries.
“We applaud the governments of the United Kingdom, Bermuda and Iceland for their collaboration and support in restarting the cruise industry safely,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking.
“No other travel company has implemented the same science-led approach that includes a vaccination requirement for all guests, plus frequent non-invasive saliva PCR testing among all guests and crew. Therefore, we believe there will be no safer way to travel the world than on a Viking voyage. We look forward to welcoming guests back on board—and welcoming them back to the world.”
The company added, “Utilizing a full-scale laboratory installed on every Viking ocean ship, all guests and crew will receive quick and easy non-invasive saliva PCR tests at embarkation and frequently throughout the itinerary. New air purification technology has also been installed on all Viking ships, which have always featured independent air handling units for all guest staterooms. And additional health checks, sanitization and physical distancing measures will provide further protection for Viking guests and crew at all points of the journey.”
This marks the second cruise line to announce cruises from the island, with Royal Caribbean cruise line having already launched bookings for the cruises set to sail from Bermuda, with the first cruise scheduled to depart on June 26th
Wow. Amazing news for Bermuda. 6 scheduled June/July cruises with 12 nights at port in each Dockyard, Hamilton and St Georges!!
Now Bermuda – all of us who are eligible let’s make sure we get our vaccines so we can offer these guests an amazing, Covid safe experience on our island this summer!!
Well done PLP and BTA for landing this contract with Viking!
At first glance, I wondered what sense it would make if the first and last days could be in St. George’s, so as to be close to the airport for incoming and outbound flights, however this is great for taxi drivers who will make good fares off of the Hamilton home port.
Interesting Itinerary… But we’ll take it.
Is this a joke? This itinerary is created for someone who doesn’t know our island is 21 miles long and connected! This is utterly disgraceful !
It was done in the past. Zenith or Horizon Celebrity ships use to come from the states then dock in St Geo then in Hamilton and back to the states. Only difference is that they fly in instead and cut out the atlantic crossing. More time in Bermuda, makes sense if you want to be here for 7 days. Some of the new larger ships just came to Bermuda for a day or 2 then back to the states so what’s the difference?
Isn’t this just direct competition to our hotels? It’s in bermuda and staying in bermuda.
This is a much better deal than Royal Caribbean taking visitors to some make up fantasy cruise island in the Bahamas. At least this ship will stay in Bermuda. Viking are a quality line also.
This will give some residents a chance “to get away from Bermuda”, Relax, Unwind, Suntan or Suntwenty, smell the Bermuda air on the water, see the Stars & hopefully no one “goes Europe”, lol.
Hope local entertainers are a part of the ship’s entertainment too.
$1799 + tax, I suppose
Fantastic deal for Bermuda.
Gets cruisers on island for 6 of 8 day cruise. Spending money in restaurants, golf courses, tours operators, taxis – all industries that need $$’s.
Most 8 day cruises visitors only on island for 1 or 2 nights. Gives the “cruiser” an opportunity to really immerse themselves in island.
So many cruise visitors always say “I wish we had more time in Bermuda”. This is a win-win!
This is good news even if my little Boston Whaler can follow the same itinerary. I’ve been Dockyard to St. George’s and back many times.
So is the ship staying on the island til the last cruise in August