The first ship for Viking Ocean Cruises arrived home to Bergen, Norway, in a citywide celebration for Norwegian Constitution Day this month, representing a significant milestone in the arrival of the travel industry’s first entirely new cruise line in a decade.

“We believe the arrival of Viking Star signals a new era in destination-focused cruising, and I could not be more proud that she will call my favorite city in the world ‘home,’” said Torstein Hagen, chairman, Viking Cruises. “This is a ship that was built for exploration and designed with our Scandinavian heritage in mind, and our guests will experience it from the moment they step on board.”

The christening of the 930-passenger Viking Star was the culmination of a maiden voyage that launched April 11 when the ship set sail from İstanbul. Over the last month, the ship stopped in what will be regular ports across the Mediterranean and Western Europe, including Athens, Santoríni, Kotor, Dubrovnik, Venice, Barcelona, Seville, Gibraltar, Lisbon, Paris and London.

Guests of future voyages will have plenty of time to explore and enjoy each destination, as the ship is engineered at a scale that allows direct access to most ports. In addition to their own veranda in each stateroom, passengers will also have access to a glass-backed infinity pool off the stern offering unobstructed views, alfresco dining and a wrap-around promenade deck. Curated itineraries provide a complimentary excursion in each port and an onboard cultural enrichment program including academic lectures, local speakers and interactive demonstrations.