Viking’s newest ocean ship, Viking Jupiter, arrived in Newhaven, Edinburgh this morning during her first visit to Scotland. Launched in February this year, Viking Jupiter is the sixth ship in Viking’s ocean fleet.

Viking’s ocean ships will be visiting Scotland more frequently in 2019 than ever before, testament to the popularity of the country as a destination for cruising and the increasing importance of cruise to its tourism industry. On 3 July Edinburgh will be welcoming two Viking ships on the same day – Viking Jupiter and Viking Sun.

With capacity for 930 guests, the ship features two swimming pools, a spa, eight dining options, a planetarium and an extensive collection of original artworks, including pieces by the celebrated Norwegian artist, Edvard Munch. The ship, which has already stopped in Lerwick and Kirkwall, will dock in Newhaven for the day, before departing for Greenwich, London. Known for its destination focus and for offering culturally enriching experiences both on board and on shore, the itineraries include a number of historical highlights including Holyrood Palace and Edinburgh Castle.

Viking’s increased frequency is in line with the overall growth in Scotland. According to port provider Capital Cruising, 2018 was a record breaking year for the cruise industry in Scotland with 825 ships calling into Scottish ports carrying approximately 795,000 passengers. Overall the cruise industry contributes £126.5 million to the local economy and Capital Cruising estimates that it will grow by a further 16% in 2019.

Wendy Atkin-Smith, Managing Director Viking UK says, “Viking Jupiter and all our guests received a warm welcome from the people of Edinburgh this morning – our maiden call to any city is always exciting but the arrival into Newhaven is particularly special because of the incredible location in close proximity to Edinburgh. As well as featuring on many of our itineraries including Into the Midnight Sun and British Isles Explorer, Scotland is an important market for us for outbound travellers. Flights are included in our fares and guests from Scotland can fly directly from Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Glasgow to join our cruises anywhere around the world.”

Rob Mason, Head of Cruise for Capital Cruising in Scotland said: “We are excited to welcome Viking Jupiter for her maiden visit into Newhaven today. Our cruise business is thriving and our passenger numbers are growing each year. We are the only operator to offer the closest cruise connection to the beautiful city of Edinburgh and we have invested significantly over the past few years to provide the most direct access for liners of all sizes, including the larger cruise ships, to Scotland’s Capital. In Edinburgh we work with our partners to ensure the best possible offering and service for cruise lines.”