Viking Cruises has become the latest cruise line to extend its suspension of sailings until 31 December 2020.

Affected passengers are being offered a 125 per cent future cruise voucher or a full cash refund, which needs to be applied for by 24 August.

In a statement, Viking chairman Torstein Hagen said: “On March 11, when we became the first cruise line to temporarily suspend operations at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic, I would not have imagined that in August we would still not be sailing and that I would be writing this letter to you.

“Every day I am encouraged by the scientific advancements toward Covid-19 therapeutics and a vaccine. But as you well know, recent events have shown us that the recovery from this pandemic will be sporadic, and the ability to travel freely across borders remains some time away. As keen as we may be to get back to exploring, for now, international travel must wait.

“Just last week, on August 5, we celebrated our 23rd anniversary. Viking is a very different company today from when we started in 1997 with four river ships.

“But one thing has not changed in the last two decades. Since Viking’s very first day, our commitment to the safety and welfare of all those on board our vessels and to our mission—to deliver experiences that focus on the destination, allowing you to explore the world in comfort—has never wavered.

“I have said before that we will only sail again when it is safe to do so. We are a private, closely-held company, which means we do not have to rush the decision to return to service.

“It is in that spirit that we are extending our temporary suspension of operations through December 31, 2020—at which time we believe the world will be in a better position, and international travel will be less complicated.”

Looking to the future, Hagen added: “At Viking, we remain focused on the future. We are committed to maintaining the safest and healthiest fleet in the industry. We are fortunate to have a fleet of small, Norwegian-registered ocean ships with only 930 guests, and Switzerland-registered river ships with only 190 guests.

“We believe that our smaller ships—which feature spacious public areas and staterooms—provide a much safer environment than mega liners.

“We have always had the highest standards for health and cleanliness—and we are currently finalising additional protocols to make Viking safer, in cooperation with leading international experts. We will be sharing more information about this very soon.

“Also, we continue planning the expansion of our fleet. Next year, we will launch our seventh ocean ship, Viking Venus, as well as a new vessel on the Mekong, Viking Saigon, which will set a new standard for modern river cruising in Southeast Asia.

“In 2022, we will welcome our new expedition vessels, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris, which will explore Antarctica, the Arctic and North America’s Great Lakes. Also in 2022, we will welcome our eighth ocean ship, Viking Mars, and launch our first ship on an American river, Viking Mississippi.”

Visit vikingcruises.co.uk for more information.