Photo courtesy of Viking Ocean Cruises

Less than a year after its maiden voyage, Viking Star is forging new seas.The first ocean liner from the company better known for its river cruising options, Viking Star enjoyed its maiden voyage in May 2015. Now the ship is heading to North America and the Caribbean with five new itineraries scheduled to begin in September 2016.

In tribute to famed Viking explorer Leif Eriksson, Viking Star will cross the North Atlantic, sailing from Bergen to Montreal, while making stops in the Shetland Islands, the Faroe Islands, Iceland and Greenland. From Montreal, the award-winning ship will sail along the St. Lawrence River and down the Maritime coast to New England and New York, during the peak fall foliage season in October.

Viking Star will then homeport in San Juan, Puerto Rico for the winter, when she will offer Caribbean sailings. The ship will return to Europe in February 2017, with a transatlantic sailing from San Juan to Barcelona.

“We have always had a vision to reinvent ocean cruising – to bring destinations back to the forefront of the itinerary and to build ships that are designed to help our guests better explore their destinations,” said Torstein Hagen, founder and chairman of Viking Cruises. “…just as the Viking explorers before us, we are now looking across the Atlantic for new discoveries. Our new itineraries in North America and the Caribbean will offer travelers experiences that broaden their horizons both on and off the ship.”

The new journeys include:

In the Wake of the Vikings

Sept. 18, 2016; 15 days; Bergen to Montreal

Set off from the homeland of Viking Leif Eriksson. Starting at the Hanseatic trading center of Bergen, the Star makes its way to Scotland’s rustic Shetland Islands and the Faroe Islands, once home to the Viking Parliament. Enjoy the natural beauty of Iceland and Greenland before landing at Newfoundland, where L’Anse aux Meadows reveals evidence of early Norse settlements. Sail on to Quebec, where you’ll explore Saguenay and Quebec City, before arriving in Montreal.

Eastern Seaboard Explorer

Oct. 2, 2016; 13 days; Montreal to New York

Enjoy maximum leaf-peeping in Atlantic Canada and New England during this once-annual sailing. Start in Montréal, then cruise the St. Lawrence River to Quebec City. Learn about Canada’s colonial past in Saguenay and about the nation’s Scottish and Acadian heritage while visiting Prince Edward Island and Halifax. An overnight in Boston allows plenty of time to explore the historic city. Enjoy a rare crossing of the Cape Cod Canal before setting a course back to New York City.

Eastern Seaboard to the West Indies

Oct. 14, 2016; 15 days; New York to San Juan

Call on an array of vibrant capitals and lush islands. Enjoy an overnight in the city that never sleeps, New York, N.Y., before exploring Newport’s grand mansions and Baltimore’s historic offerings. Explore colonial Jamestown before exploring the lush, coastal beauty of Port Everglades. Finally, you’re your way to Turks and Caicos, Antigua and St. Thomas.

West Indies Explorer

Dates vary; 11 days; San Juan to San Juan

After exploring the colonial treasures of San Juan, Puerto Rico head to the Lesser Antilles, Tortola and Antigua, St. Lucia and Barbados. Explore the rainforest at Guadeloupe and the rich past of St. Kitts. Marvel at the French and Dutch St. Martin and enjoy the splendid vistas of St. Thomas.

West Indies to Iberia

Feb. 25, 2017; 18 days; San Juan to Barcelona

Embark in colonial San Juan and call upon the Dutch side of St. Martin before enjoying a leisurely six-day trans-Atlantic crossing. Make landfall on the Portuguese island of Madeira and then visit the Moroccan city of Casablanca before heading to Cádiz, Valencia and Barcelona. Introductory 2-for-1 pricing starts at $3,299. 

Christened in May 2015 in Bergen, Norway, the 930-guest all-veranda Viking Star was engineered to allow direct access into most ports, including many that mega-liners cannot access. Viking Star was named “Best New Ocean Ship” in the 2015 Cruise Critic Editors’ Picks Awards and was rated number one in its category in the recently released Berlitz Cruising & Cruise Ships 2016.

Follow @MonicaPoling