- Viking Sea will become the largest ever cruise ship to be christened in the UK's capital at Enderby Wharf terminal
- Cruise ship is set to spend her maiden season sailing around Scandinavia, the Baltic and across the Mediterranean
- With capacity for 930 passengers the all-balcony ship has three pools and a spa with a snow grotto on board
Thousands of people gathered along the Thames today as London welcomed a 930-passenger luxury cruise ship that boasts a snow grotto and is set to become the largest ocean-going vessel to be christened on the famous river.
Once it entered the Thames Estuary, the Viking Sea, which measures more than two football pitches in length, passed Gravesend, Kent, and squeezed through the Thames Barrier in Woolwich before it was photographed in London with sights such as the O2, Canary Wharf, the Shard and the City in the background.
Before arriving in the capital, the 745.4-ft long ship, owned and operated by Viking Cruises, had sailed from Venice via the English Channel and Atlantic and the Mediterranean and Adriatic seas.
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Viking Ocean Cruises' newest ship, the Viking Sea, approaches London's Enderby Wharf, with Canary Wharf pictured in the background
The 930-passenger Viking Sea, classified as a small cruise ship, is the largest ocean ship to be christened on the Thames
As it sailed along the Thames the brand new cruise ship passed London's O2 Arena and appeared to rival its height
Passengers gather at the front of the ship to take in London sights such as Canary Wharf, Greenwich, the Shard and the City
Viking Sea is the second sea-going cruise ship from Viking, with passengers being promised chic Scandinavian decor in staterooms
After passing through the Thames Barrier (pictured) in East London the cruise ship sailed to Enderby Wharf in Greenwich
These aerial shots reveal the scale of the Viking Sea, which measures more than two football pitches in length at nearly 750ft
A crowd gathers near Enderby Wharf in East London to watch the Viking Sea cruise ship dock after sailing to London from Venice
Viking Sea's on-board luxury spa features a 'snow grotto' where artificial snowflakes fall from the ceiling through chilled air
Viking Sea completed its inaugural voyage from Istanbul to Venice last month, and following her christening in London tonight the vessel will spend her maiden season sailing around Scandinavia and the Baltics as well as the Mediterranean.
It is the second ocean-going ship from Viking, which is known more for its smaller vessels that sail the rivers of Europe and Asia.
The all-balcony ship has a luxury spa with a snow grotto where artificial snowflakes fall from the ceiling through chilled air, and three pools, including an infinity pool on the aft deck and one that is protected by a retractable roof.
Holidaymakers can choose from five different room classes, with staterooms ranging from 270 square feet to more than 1,100 square feet.
With sights such as the Shard and Canary Wharf visible in the distance, the Viking Sea approaches its dock in East London
London skyscrapers, including the Walkie-Talkie, Cheesegrater and Gherkin, provide a stunning backdrop for the Viking Sea
Holidaymakers can choose from five different room classes, with staterooms ranging from 270 square feet to more than 1,100 square feet
The Viking Sea cruise ship passes the skyscrapers of Canary Wharf and the O2 Arena en route to a dock at Greenwich, London
The Viking Sea, which has multiple restaurants, a spa, live theatre and three pools on board, enters the Thames Barrier in East London
Spanning 1,706ft across the river, the Thames Barrier, near Woolwich, is one of the largest movable flood barriers in the world
People look out from a restaurant roof terrace as the Viking Sea cruise ship docks at Greenwich in London
The Viking Sea cruise ship is guided by tug boats along the River Thames towards Greenwich in East London
The Viking Sea cruise ship passes along the Thames, near Gravesend in Kent, on her way up the river to Greenwich ahead of her official naming ceremony this evening
Passengers have a choice of three pools to relax in, including an infinity pool and one that is protected by a retractable roof
On board, guests will have plenty of space to unwind. There are three pools, multiple lounges with amazing views and several restaurants
On board, they have plenty of options to pass the time – from a lounge with stunning views at the front of the ship to a theatre where they can watch live performances. Multiple restaurants serve everything from American classics to heart-healthy options.
With a gross tonnage of 47,800 tons, Viking Sea is the first ship in nearly a decade to hold a naming ceremony in Greenwich and heralds a wave of impressive new arrivals to the cruise terminal at Enderby Wharf.
It passed through the Thames Barrier shortly after 11am and moored at Greenwich at around 12:15pm, when 48 sailors saluted the ship as they stood on the Cutty Sark's yardarms in a traditional naval custom to welcome her.
A spokeswoman for Los Angeles-based Viking Cruises said the company chose London for its christening because it is a special city for founder and chaiman Torstein Hagen and for its impressive scenery and history.
London will be a stop on future itineraries for Viking’s fleet of ocean ships. In 2018, London will be the final destination on the soon-to-be-built Viking Sun’s round-the-world journey.
Viking Sea will be the first ship to be named in Greenwich for nearly a decade and heralds a wave of impressive new arrivals to the cruise terminal at Enderby Wharf
The ship is the second ocean-going ship from Viking Cruises, which is known more for its smaller vessels that sail the rivers of Europe and Asia
Starting in this month, Viking Sea will cruise around the Mediterranean and Scandinavia with up to 930 passengers on board
With some of the best views, Viking Sea's Explorer Suites are the largest staterooms on the ship, measuring up to 1,100 square feet
Later this evening, the ship's christening will be followed by a celebratory fireworks display.
Hagen said he aimed to buck the trend of bigger cruise liners by creating smaller ships that can easily access historic destinations.
Ahead of the maiden voyage and christening, Hagen said: 'Too often in recent years the most talked about ships have been the biggest ships.
'It is our view that some cruise lines have focused too much on building bigger ships and not enough on helping guests connect with the destination.'
The all-balcony ship has a spa with a snow grotto where artificial snowflakes fall from the ceiling, and three pools, including an infinity pool on the aft deck and one that is protected by a retractable roof
Viking Sea passed through the Thames Barrier shortly after 11:00am and moored at Greenwich at around 12:15pm where 48 sailors met the yard-arm of the Cutty Sark in a traditional naval custom to welcome her
Later this evening, the 930-passenger cruise ship will be christened followed by a celebratory fireworks display in London
Torstein Hagen, chairman of Viking Cruises, said he aimed to buck the trend of bigger cruise liners by creating smaller ships that can easily access historic destinations
Last year Viking Cruises' first ever ocean-going cruise ship, Viking Star, sailed up the Thames on its maiden voyage (pictured: Viking Sea)
Hagen added: ''We have created ocean cruises that put the destination at the centre of the experience, with smaller ships that are smarter in design.
'As our second ship sets sail with her first guests we look forward to introducing more travellers to the unique way that Viking does ocean cruising – a style of cruising that was inspired by our experience and success on the rivers.'
Last year Viking's first-ever ocean-going cruise ship, Viking Star, sailed up the Thames to Greenwich on its maiden voyage.
The nine-deck passenger ship, which left Istanbul in April 2015 on the first stage of its journey to Norway, sailed past London landmarks including Canary Wharf, the O2 Arena, and Greenwich's Royal Naval College.
It was anchored overnight at Greenwich before it continued its journey to the Norwegian city of Bergen, where it was christened during the country's Constitution Day Celebrations.
AROUND THE WORLD IN 141 DAYS: NEW VIKING CRUISE SHIP WILL SAIL FROM MIAMI TO LONDON
This map shows the route that the Viking Sun, a sister ship to the Viking Sea, will take on its round-the-world cruise in 2017 and 2018
The Viking Sun, asoon-to-be-built sister ship of the Viking Sea, will sail from Miami to London on the company's first round-the-world cruise in 2017 and 2018, it was revealed this week.
Setting sail in December 2017, the ship will stop at 66 destinations on five continents, including places such as Cuba, Tahiti and Malta, in 141 days – at a cost of more than £30,000 per person.
Viking's fourth ocean-going ship will stop at 66 ports and stay overnight at 12 of them.
With prices starting from nearly £31,000 a person, every guest will receive a complimentary shore excursion in each of the 66 ports, free Wi-Fi throughout the journey, business class flights and other incentives.
Not long into the journey, guests will spend two days in Havana, where they will watch a local jazz ensemble and explore the city’s neoclassical, Baroque and colonial architecture.
Viking Sun will sail through the 48-mile Panama Canal and enter the Pacific Ocean before heading to places such as Los Angeles, Tahiti, New Zealand, Australia, Indonesia and Shanghai.
The itinerary includes Bangkok, Singapore, India, Oman, Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, and the Mediterranean before the ship makes its final stop in Greenwich, London a few months into 2018.
Classified as a small cruise ship, Viking Sun will have a gross tonnage of 47,800 tons and 465 all-balcony cabins, which can accommodate 930 passengers.
For pampering, the LivNordic Spa will feature the same snow grotto found on Viking's other ocean ships.
Viking Cruises will add its fifth and sixth ocean-going ships in 2018 and 2020, respectively.
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