LOS ANGELES — Viking Ocean Cruises will expand its destination-focused cruising to North America and the Caribbean with five new itineraries launching in September 2016.

As a nod to the most famous Viking explorer, Leif Eriksson, who set foot on North American soil 500 years before Columbus, Viking Star will also cross the North Atlantic with a new itinerary that sails from Bergen to Montreal, with stops in the Shetland Islands, the Faroe Islands, Iceland and Greenland.

From Montreal, the ship will cruise the St. Lawrence River and down the coast of New England to New York, during the peak period of fall foliage in October. Viking Star will then make her way down the Eastern seaboard to San Juan, Puerto Rico, which will serve as her homeport for winter Caribbean itineraries.

The ship will return to Europe in February 2017, with a transatlantic sailing from San Juan to Barcelona.

Viking developed its ocean cruises by leveraging extensive feedback and input from Viking River Cruises passengers, and with experienced travellers in mind. Itineraries are designed to spend more time in port, with fewer days at sea and more overnight stays, so guests can have ample time to immerse themselves more fully in each destination.