First look: Inside Viking's new ocean ship, Viking Sky
TRAPANI, Sicily — Eager for a glimpse of Viking Sky, the new ship from Viking Ocean Cruises? Scroll through the carousel above, which offers some of the first shots of the 930-passenger vessel.
USA TODAY this week is getting an early look at Sky as it begins its first voyage with paying passengers, and we're posting photos here and at our Twitter page and Facebook page.
Scheduled to be christened in June, Sky is a sister to fast-growing Viking's first two ships, Viking Star and Viking Sea, though not an exact copy. As can be seen in the photos above, several spaces on Sky have a new look including the outdoor seating area at the back of Deck 2, the Owner's Suite and the salon.
Like Star and Sea, Sky is relatively small at 47,800 tons. That's less than a third the size of the latest megaships from the likes of Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line.
Like the earlier vessels, Sky also boasts a stylish Scandinavian design, and its cabins are large by cruise ship standards. As can be seen in photos above, even the smallest rooms offer 270 square feet of space. In addition, every cabin comes with a balcony.
Since debuting in 2015, Viking has made a mark in the cruise industry by focusing on itineraries that feature more time in ports than is common at many other lines. The company also is setting itself apart from many cruise operators with a "no nickel-and-diming" philosophy. In a relatively rare twist, Viking offers a shore excursion in every port that is included in the price. Also included in the price is beer and wine with lunch and dinner and even WiFi access — something that can cost up to 75 cents a minute at other lines.
Sky's seven-night inaugural voyage includes several stops in Italy and Spain as well as a day visit to Tunis, Tunisia. Sky then will operate a diverse range of sailings in Europe before being christened on June 22 in Tromsø, Norway — a nod to the Norwegian heritage of Viking's founding family. At the end of the summer, it'll cross the Atlantic to the Caribbean.
Sky is just one of two ships that Viking is launching in 2017 as it continues a rapid expansion. Another sister ship, Viking Sun, arrives in November. Two more Viking ships are coming in 2018 and 2019, respectively.
