New Viking Cruises’ ship Viking Venus will set sail from Portsmouth today (Monday) on its maiden voyage and naming ceremony.
The ship will be christened by journalist and broadcaster Anne Diamond as godmother.
The first passenger sailings will start on May 22 as Portsmouth becomes the homeport for Viking Venus’ initial five UK sailings.
The return after months of travel restrictions follows major preparation by the port at Portsmouth plans to keep up to date with new health protocols.
The completion of a cruise berth extension has resulted in Viking Cruises, Virgin Voyages and Noble Caledonia announcing summer UK sailings from the port.
Brittany Ferries is ready to carry passengers once the UK’s traffic light system changes regarding travelling to France and Spain.
Passengers travelling through Portsmouth can expect the latest technology including a non-intrusive temperature scanner, contactless touch points and frequent sanitation using the most effective cleaning equipment.
The new protocols have all been outlined in the port’s new passenger journey video, created to reassure passengers ahead of their embarkation.
Portsmouth International Port passenger operations manager Andrew Williamson said: “We can’t wait to welcome passengers back to Portsmouth, and want to reassure our customers of the new measures we have put in place to keep everybody safe. The safety of our passengers and staff remains a priority and we want journeys through our port to be as comfortable and easy as possible.
“While the way people travel may have changed, our main focus is still ensuring that passengers have the best start to their journey from Portsmouth.
“Holidays are now more anticipated than ever, and we want customers to feel that excitement and reassurance from the moment they arrive at the port.
“The layout of our terminal has been changed to allow customers to travel with ease, and teams from security to bus drivers are working hard to keep everybody safe.”