The Viking Sky cruise liner was in Liverpool today (July 23) as part of a 14-day voyage. The ship docked at on the ninth day of its itinerary after docking in Belfast yesterday. The cruise started in Bergen, Norway on July 15, and will end in London-Tilbury on July 29.
Passengers have already stopped in Lerwick in Shetland, Invergordon, Edinburgh, Kirkwall on the Orkney Islands and Ullapool. On route to London from Liverpool, the Viking Sky will stop in Holyhead, the Isle of Man and Dover. The Sky was built in 2017 and can accommodate 928 passengers and 465 crew members.
It has 10 decks and 464 cabins and can travel at a speed of 23 mph. She has six sister ships in operation - the Star, Sea, Sun, Orion, Jupiter and Venus - which together make up the Viking ocean fleet, after the name of the operator Viking. The Sky is described as an "all-veranda small ship", which means it can dock where larger ships cannot.
According to the Cruise Line, the luxurious ship is a popular choice with both new cruisers and seasoned travellers". Facilities include a theatre, cinema screens, an Explorer's Lounge, boutique shops and Nordic-style spa facilities. There are a variety of dining options available, including The Chef's Table offering global cuisine, Manfredi's Italian restaurant and Mamsen's Norwegian deli.
Today ECHO photographer Iain Watts went aboard the Viking Sky to allow us to take a peek inside. Here is a selection of some of our favourite images of the ship in port..