Viking Ocean Cruises and Fincantieri signed an agreement 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 new ships will follow the same award-winning design as the current ships ordered and in operation. The entire fleet is composed of all-veranda staterooms; each ship has a gross tonnage of 47,800 tons and accommodates 930 guests in 465 cabins. As with the other sister ships, the new ships will equipped with the most modern safety systems, including the “Safe Return to Port” system.
The current fleet comprises:
- Viking Star, delivered in Marghera in 2015
- Viking Sea and Viking Sky, delivered in Ancona in 2016 and 2017, respectively
- Viking Sun, to arrive in late 2017, with Viking Spirit, to sail in 2018, and a sixth, yet-to-be-named ship to be delivered in 2019
When the order is completed, Viking will be the largest small ship ocean cruise line.
Viking is forecasted to have a strong market share of the luxury ocean industry in 2020 of 23.9 percent (on a per berth basis according to Cruise Industry News).
In Viking Ocean Cruises’ first year of operation it was named the “World’s Best Cruise Line” by Travel + Leisure, and wone 10 of Cruise Critic’s 2017 Cruisers’ Choice Awards, including “Best Overall” and “Best for First-Timers.”
Additionally, Viking Cruises has sponsored the National Geographic’s first fully scripted global anthology series, “Genius,” which tells the story of Albert Einstein. The partnership builds on Viking’s development of cultural programming, with previous partnerships including PBS’ MASTERPIECE, the Los Angeles Philharmonic at The Hollywood Bowl, the Munch Museum and others.
Genius will premier on April 25 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on National Geographic; at the same time Viking will launch a new brand campaign entitled “Time,” with Torstein Hagen, founder and chairman of Viking Cruises. Hagen, who is also a physicist, shares Einstein’s interest in the concept of time.
“We are pleased to have a premier partner in National Geographic, to further bring enriching offerings through art, history and exploration to audiences around the world,” said Hagen.
Through April 30, Viking is offering U.S. residents two-for-one cruise fare, plus up to free air on select 2017 and 2018 Viking river itineraries. Also on select ocean itineraries, Viking is offering two-for-one cruise fare, plus up to free air on Panama & Central America. And lastly, on Viking Homelands, guests also receive a choice of free beverage package, $400 shipboard credit, or prepaid onboard gratuities.
To book, call 1-855-884-5464 or contact a travel agent.