Passengers aboard Viking Ocean’s Viking Vela are nonetheless docked in Ålesund after a 3-day unscheduled go to to the Norwegian metropolis situated on the Norwegian Sea.
The ship, which skilled extreme climate and subsequent propulsion issues throughout its fourth-ever voyage, was anticipated to renew crusing on January 16, 2025, at 6 p.m. native time.
Nonetheless, passengers reported that the captain had introduced further delays on account of ongoing antagonistic climate circumstances within the North Atlantic.
Cruise Hive’s ship tracker exhibits the vessel nonetheless in Ålesund after the scheduled departure time, with climate maps within the Norwegian Sea noting wind speeds as much as 45 miles per hour.
On January 17, gusts may attain speeds as much as 61 miles per hour, additional trapping Viking Vela at port.
Climate circumstances usually are not anticipated to enhance till the afternoon of January 18.
Social media has change into a sounding board for pissed off vacationers, with many feeling there are conflicting reviews and a scarcity of communication from the Viking crew.
Studies of passenger accidents and disrupted furnishings following the ship’s encounter with 100-mile-per-hour winds and 35-foot swells that originally affected the ship are adopted by questions as as to if or not the vessel has been repaired.
“Now they are saying there shall be no crusing tomorrow, on account of unhealthy climate,” one passenger advised Cruise Hive on January 16, 2025. “There’s rising suspicion that the ship shouldn’t be seaworthy.”
Nonetheless, others say the captain and crew have dealt with the emergency fairly effectively. Stated one American couple, “We got good data the entire time. Total, we now have the impression that the ship has superb routines for disaster administration.”
Regardless of rising issues, different ships crusing in Norway are additionally cancelling calls, together with Norwegian-based Hurtugruten.
Its expedition vessel, Kong Harald, made to deal with the tough seas, cancelled stops at a number of coastal cities and villages on January 16 and 17 because of the unhealthy climate.
A Rocky Begin for a Model-New Ship
The 54,300-gross-ton Viking Vela is Viking Ocean’s latest vessel, delivered to the cruise line in December 2024 from Fincantieri shipyard in Italy.
Setting off from London on January 10, 2025, for its first journey in Norway, the ship was having fun with a 12-night “In Search of the Northern Lights” itinerary and making its solution to go to Narvik, Tromso, and Alta, Norway, when its journey was marred by extreme climate.
Viking Vela was caught in a storm whereas crusing from IJmuiden, Netherlands, to Norway on January 13, 2025, with passengers reporting the captain anticipated the robust winds to remain behind them.
After experiencing steering bother, the vessel made an unscheduled cease in Ålesund to restore its propulsion system, which was broken in the course of the storm.
It was then the captain alerted passengers that they’d be staying in Ålesund for 3 days earlier than skipping Narvik, Tromso, and Alta for Flam, Eidfjord, and Stavanger.
All beforehand booked shore excursions have been cancelled, and passengers acquired refunds as onboard ship credit.
Viking Vela gifted all passengers complimentary Silver Spirits beverage packages, offering cocktails, drinks, premium wines, and champagnes by the glass, and aperitifs as much as $18 all through the day, wherever on the ship.
Moreover, passengers will obtain a credit score voucher for 60 % of their paid fare, which they’ll use on any future Viking ocean, river, or expedition voyage.
It’s unclear presently when the vessel will resume its voyage and the place it can name subsequent.
