All passengers and crew onboard Viking Cruises’ Viking Sky are safe and in the process of flying home after the ship suffered from engine issues during a Norwegian itinerary.
Viking Sky, operated by Viking Ocean Cruises, was in the last stretch of a 13-night Northern Lights sailing when she started experiencing engine difficulties.
The stretch of the Norwegian Sea through which she was cruising at the time is believed to be rough for cruise ships and is known for “shallow waters dotted with reefs”.
Incredible video shows a passenger being lifted to a helicopter from the #VikingSky cruise ship off #Norway that issued a mayday on Saturday.
STORY–> https://t.co/6w03at0gq5 pic.twitter.com/rwQfYiEFXD
— ABC News 4 (@ABCNews4) March 24, 2019
Helicopters were called in to help airlift passengers while crew restarted the ship’s engines. Viking Sky eventually arrived in the port of Molde on Norway’s west coast safely with 479 passengers evacuated by air and 900 people still on board.
In an online statement, Viking Cruises assured that all passengers and crew were safe, and passengers had begun flying home.
The cruise line continued, saying that as safety is already first priority, it has decided to cancel Viking Sky’s next Scandinavia & the Kiel Canal itinerary, which was scheduled to embark on 27 March 2019.
All affected guests and their Travel Agents have been contacted directly.
The cruise line does not anticipate further cancellations.
Thank you for your concern about Viking Sky. At 4:30pm (Norwegian time) March 24, the Viking Sky docked in the port of Molde. All passengers & crew are safe, & passengers will start flying home tonight. We have posted an update with more information here: https://t.co/mcnkBGFEvP
— Viking (@VikingCruises) March 24, 2019
“We would like to thank the Norwegian Redningssentral and the Norwegian emergency services for their support and skill displayed in managing the situation in very challenging weather conditions,” the cruise line said.
“We would also like to thank the local residents who throughout the whole process have been extremely supportive and hospitable.”
Upcoming guests with questions or concerns are invited to contact the cruise line on: 1-888-889-8837.
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