Viking Ocean Cruises' newest ship Viking Sun arrives for the first time in Australia

Viking Sun, the newest cruise ship in the Viking Ocean Cruises fleet, has arrived in Australia for the first time.

Unveiled in November, Viking Sun made its maiden voyage Down Under arriving in Australia on Thursday from New Zealand, on a 141-day around-the-world journey which started in Miami in December and will conclude in London.

The 930-guest small class ship – a sister ship of Viking Star, Viking Sea and Viking Sky – made its first Australia port call in Melbourne and arrived in Sydney on Saturday, docking at White Bay Cruise Terminal in Rozelle. The ship made its way north from Sydney on Sunday to Brisbane, Cairns and Darwin, before sailing to Indonesia.

The nine-deck, Scandi-inspired luxury cruise ship is kids free and casino free. It features an infinity pool and hot tub in addition to the main pool, a spa, 10 dining venues (indoor and alfresco), two cinemas, a 400-seat theatre, a terrace area and a sports deck – a contrast to the mega cruise giants that have sailed into Sydney for the first time in the past year. All rooms on board Viking Sun are verandah, ocean-facing rooms, the biggest being the 338-square feet Penthouse Verandah. As an adults-only ship there are design aesthetics including leather railings and pillars, wood finishes and art installations, that would be a rare feature on the mega, family-friendly ships.

Viking Cruises will start home-porting its fleet in Australia from December 2018 with Viking Orion, the next ship the company will launch later this year.

It will launch Jupiter in 2019, bringing its fleet size to six. With its six 930-guest ships, Viking Cruises will become the world's largest small ship ocean cruise line.

Viking Cruises launched as river cruising company in 1997, adding its ocean cruising arm in 2013. The company launched it first ocean cruising ship, Viking Star, in 2015. It added Viking Sea in 2016, and Viking Sky and Viking Sun in 2017.

It is the first time a Viking Ocean Cruises ship has arrived in Australia. On her 141-day journey, Viking Sun will visit five continents, 35 countries and 64 ports before concluding in London.

The cruise line has opened its Australia and New Zealand 2019/2020 season for booking.