The Port of Suva welcomed a wave of American and Canadian tourists yesterday when passenger ship, MS Viking Sun made her maiden voyage to Fiji.

The 228m-long cruise liner which carried 930 passengers, arrived at around 7am giving visitors the day to explore the region before its scheduled 2.30pm departure.

As part of the tradition for any cruise liner visiting our shore for the first time, an exchange of commemorative plaques was done on board between the cruise liner and the local port owner.

MS Viking Sun captain Atle Knutsen officiated at the event with Fiji Ports Corporation Limited’s chief financial officer Roshan Abeyesundere.

Captain Knutsen said the MS Viking Sun was Viking Ocean’s fourth vessels and six more vessels would be added to their fleets taking the number to ten.

He said they were excited to be touring the Pacific for the first time and definitely this was not going to be their last visit to the country.

“We had to find a way to sail across the Pacific and to show our guests just how beautiful the Fiji Islands are,” he said. We started in 2015, our first ship was the Viking Star and then we had the Viking Sea, the Viking Sky and now the Viking Sun.

“Because our ships are now seemingly popular, we will definitely be back here to Suva. You should make room for ten plaques,” Captain Knutsen said while handing over the plaque to Mr Abeyesundere.

Mr Abeyesundere said Fiji was honoured to welcome the MS Viking Sun.

“On behalf of Fiji Ports Corporation and the people of Fiji, we are honoured to welcome your guests and crew for the first time to the Kings Wharf here in Suva,” he said.

Meanwhile, there has been an increase in the number of cruise liners visiting our shore in the past years.

Around 140 vessels are expected to call in this year compared to 92 last year.  In 2017,  there were  53 for Suva, 38 for Lautoka and one for Levuka.