Wednesday, July 16, 2025
Italy, Croatia, Greece, Monaco, France, and Spain shine brightly as Viking Vesta begins its grand maiden voyage—a 12-night Mediterranean journey from Venice to Barcelona that brings together eight of Southern Europe’s most iconic ports. This inaugural sailing visits Šibenik, Dubrovnik, Corfu, Salerno, Civitavecchia, Livorno, Monte Carlo, and Marseille, offering travelers an immersive blend of history, coastal beauty, and cultural treasures. As the newest ship in Viking’s fleet, the Vesta delivers refined luxury and in-depth exploration, making its debut cruise a celebration of Europe’s most celebrated destinations.
Viking’s fleet of sea vessels is growing again with the new Viking Vesta, which was delivered after being officially transferred from Italy’s Financier shipyard at the end of June 2025. Immersive exploration was the design for this stately small ship with Scandinavian-inspired comforts alongside destination-intensive voyages around Europe.
Mediterranean Sailing from Venice Prepares the Stage
The Viking Vesta embarked with passengers for the first time from Venice on 2nd July 2025, starting a 12-night cruise that took adventurers through some of Southern Europe’s most stunning cities and seacoast towns. With a capacity of 998 passengers, the ship features a small-ship cruising experience that emphasizes cultural immersion and nature diversity.
The initial program ended at Barcelona following the visit:
Šibenik, Croatia, and Dub
Corfu, Greece
Salerno, Civitavecchia (for Rome), and Livorno (port of entry for Florence
Monte Carlo, Monaco
Marseille, France
This initial cruise was specially crafted to showcase the cultural, architectural, and gastronomical riches of the Mediterranean, but align with Viking’s mandate for longer port stops and fewer sea days.
North via Atlantic Ports to Iceland
With the end of its Mediterranean introduction, the Viking Vesta changed course to embark on a repositioning cruise to Northern Europe. This 14-day cruise from Barcelona to Reykjavik provides a rare opportunity for passengers to sample a vastly different part of the continent—from Iberian warmth to northern mystique.
Planned port visits for this segment are:
Málaga and La Coruña, Spain
Lisbon, Portugal
Holyhead and Liverpool in the UK
Reposition cruise provides seamless switching between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean worlds so that passengers can savor the south’s charm and north’s legend on a singular, uninterrupted cruise.
Winter Seasonal Deployment to the Mediterranean
Having gone to the North Atlantic, the Viking Vesta returns south for a protracted programme of sailings during the Mediterranean summer and winter 2025-26. The vessel will offer a wide variety of cruises from a week long to near a month long.
These cruises will depart from conveniently located homeports, including:
Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy
Barcelona, España
Istanbul, Turkey
Piraeus (Athens), Greece
Cruise routes will encompass the Western and the Eastern Mediterranean regions, with a range of destinations spread through eight countries. Some of the destinations are:
Italy: Messina, C
France: Villefranche-sur-Mer, Sète
Turkey: Kuşadası, Çanakkale
Greece: Heraklion, Katakolon
Spain: Palam
Croatia: Split
They are selected for cultural significance, scenic beauty, and accessibility, so that the visitors can get a rich exposure to country traditions, ancient heritage sites, and regional cuisine.
Ship Design and Onboard Experience
With a gross tonnage of 54,300 tons and a guest capacity of under 1,000, the Viking Vesta is geared for small, personal cruise voyages that are all about relaxation, culture, and comfort. Like sister ships, it adheres to a similar philosophy of design that eliminates clutter and focuses on rewarding experiences.
Prominent onboard facilities are:
Veranda staterooms for every passenger
Several restaurants that serve locally inspired menus
Thermal treatments at the Nordic spa
Infinity pool and large observation lounges
Enrichment lectures and site programming
No casinos, no children, and no onboard shenanigans
Its calm, elegant ambiance is ideal for passengers preferring thoughtful exploration to shipboard distractions. It is a manifestation of Viking’s “understated luxury” philosophy which is executed on all levels—from the fabrics of the interior to service.
Continued Fleet Expansion with Additional Ships on Order
The Viking Vesta now becomes the twelfth ship for Viking’s ocean fleet, all of which have entered service since the company first launched itself into the ocean cruise market back in 2015. This consistent annual addition of near identical ships means that Viking can enjoy a consistent guest experience but appeal to a broader international audience.
In the subsequent six years, the company will be adding a further ten vessels, with which to sustain a modest expansion. Two of the new ships joining the fleet in 2026 are the Viking Mira and the Viking Libra, of the same size, layout, and focus on cultural immersion.
Italy, Croatia, Greece, Monaco, France, and Spain shine on Viking Vesta’s grand maiden voyage, a 12-night Mediterranean journey from Venice to Barcelona featuring eight iconic ports that highlight the region’s cultural and coastal treasures.
The Viking Vesta is the newest installment of Viking’s endeavor of redefining ocean cruising. Since its Venice introduction and luxury Mediterranean introduction, through expansion to the north and winter annual deployments to the Mediterranean, the ship presents a gracious way of going deep into Europe.
With award-winning design from Scandinavia, specially created itineraries, and plans for future investments, such as expansion, Viking continually builds a fleet that prioritizes cultural exploration more than mass cruise tourism—no matter which guest boards, always with intention, insight, and indulgence.
