Maybe one, two or even three new cruise ships, we didn’t expect six! Viking Ocean Cruises is just about to finalize the order of six additional new ocean cruise ships from Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri. The will be the highest amount of new ships ever ordered from a single owner from one shipyard. No pressure on Fincantieri to deliver then!
New Ocean Cruise Ships Details
Viking Cruises is also known for river cruises but the cruise line is venturing into ocean cruising and now they are about to sign an agreement with Fincantieri for another six new luxury vessels. The order will expand and grow the fleet to a new total of 16 ocean cruise ships and the new ordered ships will arrive in 2024, 2025, 2026 and 2027 so that means we’ll see two new ships in at least two of those years.
Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking, said:
“When we launched our first ocean ship in 2015, we set out to reinvent ocean cruising. We focus on the destination, and we do not cram our ships with gimmicks and waterslides. Our understated, elegant, award-winning ships are designed to simply enable our guests to better explore their destination.”
“In our first two years of operation, we have been named the #1 Ocean Cruise Line, and this new order speaks to the positive response we have received from our guests and the industry. As we continue to expand our brand, we look forward to bringing guests to more destinations around the world and introducing them to the Viking way of exploration.”
This announcement comes just prior to the naming of Viking’s fourth ocean ship, Viking Sun, on March 8 in Shanghai. The ship is currently sailing Viking’s sold-out 141-day World Cruise from Miami to London, and its stop in Shanghai will mark the first time one of Viking’s ocean ships has called in China. Viking Sun will also be the first-ever cruise ship to be named in Shanghai.
Also Read:Â New Viking Cruise Ship Arrives in Los Angeles as Part of 141-Day World Cruise
Viking’s all-veranda ocean ships have a gross tonnage of 47,800 tons, have 465 staterooms and host 930 guests. Viking Sun is the newest addition to Viking’s award-winning ocean fleet, which also includes Viking Star, Viking Sea, and Viking Sky. Viking will welcome two more sister ships in the next two years, including Viking Orion in June 2018. With the arrival of Viking Jupiter in 2019, Viking will be the largest small ship ocean cruise line. Ten additional ships are now on order for delivery starting in 2021, which will bring Viking’s ocean fleet to 16 ships by 2027.