The Number of Ships Ordered Increases to Eight

Viking Ocean Cruises has signed a memorandum of agreement with the Fincantieri shipyard for the construction of two additional cruise ships, with an option for another two.

The new builds will be sister ships to the six already ordered and will enter Viking’s fleet in 2021 and 2022, respectively. The agreement will be effective subject to financing and other customary closing conditions.

The new ships will follow the same design as the current ships ordered and in operation.

The entire fleet is comprised of all-veranda staterooms; each ship has a gross tonnage of 47,800 tons and accommodates 930 guests in 465 cabins.

The first ship built for Viking Ocean Cruises, Viking Star, was delivered at the shipyard in Marghera in spring 2015. The second and the third ships, Viking Sea and Viking Sky were launched in 2016 and 2017 respectively.

Viking will take delivery of the fourth ship, Viking Sun, in late 2017 and the fifth ship, Viking Spirit, in 2018. A sixth, yet-to-be-named ship will be delivered in 2019, marking Viking as the largest small-ship ocean cruise line.

CEO Torstein Hagen: “We set out to bring the destination back to cruising, and the cruising public has responded. These additional ships are needed to meet the demand we are experiencing.

“Once only known for being the leading river cruise line, we are now equally known for upscale, inclusive ocean cruise experiences.

“As we celebrate our 20th year of operation in 2017, we are pleased to continue innovating and to introduce even more guests to the Viking way of exploration.”