By
Laura Hyde |
Portsmouth International Port’s 2025 cruise season has kicked off with a maiden call by Viking Cruises’ newest vessel, Viking Vela, which visited the port on the penultimate stop of a seven-day sailing from Barcelona, Spain.
In keeping with maritime tradition, the ship’s captain Rune Loekling exchanged commemorative plaques with Ian Diaper, deputy port director, onboard the 998-passenger ship on 9 January 2025.
“Viking Vela marks the first inaugural call of 2025 for Portsmouth, as the port begins its busiest year yet for cruise,” said Steve Pitt, leader of Portsmouth City Council. “It’s amazing to think how many Portsmouth plaques are now navigating the world aboard the thousands of ships that have visited us over the years, with many, many more to come.”
Read more: Fincantieri delivers Viking Vela at Ancona shipyard
Viking Vela’s call coincided with the first day of the port’s Shaping Portsmouth’s 2025 cruise passenger programme, with volunteers on hand to meet and greet guests and help guide their time in the city. “The Viking brand has become a regular caller and perfectly fits the mould of small-to-medium-sized luxury cruising that the port specialises in,” said Pitt. “Guests are guaranteed exclusive treatment when they come to Portsmouth and a warm welcome from our local cruise ambassadors who share the best ways to make the most of their visit to the city.”
Portsmouth port welcomes several of ships from the Viking Cruises fleet, and in 2021 was the host for the Viking Venus naming ceremony.
“With its rich history which dates back to the Roman Empire, Portsmouth features on several of our itineraries and is a very popular destination with our culturally curious guests,” said Wendy Atkin-Smith, managing director of Viking UK.
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