By
Rebecca Gibson |
Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri has started construction work on Viking Ocean Cruises’ Viking Sea at its Marghera yard in Italy. Engineers cut the first piece of steel for Viking Sea, which is one of three Viking Ocean Cruises ships on order at the yard and is due to debut in 2016. Fincantieri is also building Viking Star, which is scheduled for delivery in Marghera in spring 2015, and Viking Sky, which will debut in Ancona in summer 2016.
Viking Sea will weigh around 47,800gt and will have 465 staterooms, accommodating 930 guests. Like her sister ships, Viking Sea was designed by various nautical architects and engineers, including London-based SMC Design and Los Angeles-based Rottet Studios.
Engineered to a small scale, the three all-veranda ships will be able to directly access most ports, providing an easy and efficient embarkation and debarkation process. They all feature energy-efficient hybrid engines, hydro-dynamically optimised streamlined hulls and bows for maximum fuel efficiency. In addition, onboard solar panels and equipment that minimises exhaust pollution will enable the vessels to meet strict environmental regulations.
Featuring modern Scandinavian designs, the new ocean ships offer five stateroom categories – all with private verandas, king-size beds, large showers and LCD TVs – as well as 14 Explorer Suites, which have wrap-around private verandas. They also have a pool with a retractable dome roof; a glass-backed infinity pool, cantilevered off the ship’s stern; two-deck Explorers’ Lounge at the bow; the Wintergarden; and a spa with a sauna and a traditional ‘snow grotto’ where snowflakes descend from the ceiling through chilled air.
Each vessel offers multiple dining venues including The Restaurant and the World Café, which serve a variety of global cuisines and regional specialties, as well as The Chef’s Table, Italian Grill and The Kitchen Table. Passengers can enjoy a range of entertainment in the three-deck atrium, enrichment lectures in the Theater, an onboard cookery school and the Viking Piano Lounge.
Viking Star, Viking Sky and Viking Sea will all sail in Scandinavia and the Baltic, as well as the Western and Eastern Mediterranean.