39 Viking Libra The world’s first hydrogen-powered cruise ship will spend its inaugural season sailing the Mediterranean and Northern Europe Viking Libra, the world’s first hydrogen-powered cruise ship, will be delivered in November 2026, before spending its maiden season sailing itineraries in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe. “We will take delivery of Viking Libra in Ancona, Italy, and it will then sail the Mediterranean and Northern Europe, which have long been among our most popular and successful ocean cruise regions, so we are deploying more ships there to meet demand,” says Wendy Atkin-Smith, managing director of Viking UK. “The Mediterranean and Northern Europe are particularly well suited to our destination-focused itineraries, which combine rich history, culture, architecture and natural beauty with opportunities for in-depth exploration onshore.” The ship’s maiden voyage is a 10-night ‘Greek Odyssey’ itinerary, sailing roundtrip from Athens, Greece, on 3 December 2026. Guests will have the opportunity to visit the Acropolis and Parthenon in Athens; browse the Archaeological Museum and the picturesque villages of the Mount Pelion region; discover one of the world’s best-preserved ancient cities in Ephesus from Kuşadası, Turkey; walk the Street of the Knights in Rhodes, Greece; and take in views of Oia’s whitewashed, blue-domed buildings in Santorini, Greece. The itinerary also sails past the Unesco-listed Mount Athos, which is home to 20 working Eastern Orthodox monasteries. “At Viking, our focus has always been on bringing guests closer to the destinations they are exploring,” says Atkin-Smith. “Our ocean ships accommodate fewer than 1,000 guests so they can dock in smaller ports – which are out of reach for mega-liners – as well as the world’s greatest cities. We are increasingly seeing guests looking for opportunities to spend longer exploring a region and engaging more deeply with its culture and heritage. This is reflected not only in the popularity of our pre- and post-cruise extensions but also in the development of longer itineraries.” During its maiden season, Viking Libra will sail itineraries ranging from seven to 28 nights. One complimentary shore excursion per passenger is included in every port of call. Sevennight itineraries include ‘Journey to Antiquities’, which features visits to Athens, Crete (Heraklion), Naples and Rome (Civitavecchia) in Italy, and the ‘Iconic Western Mediterranean’ voyage, which calls at Rome and Florence (Livorno) in Italy, Marseille, France, and Barcelona, Spain. MAIDEN SEASON Image: Viking Viking Libra is Viking’s 14th ocean-going vessel and the world’s first hydrogen-powered cruise ship
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