By
Rebecca Gibson |
Viking Ocean Cruises has ordered three more ocean ships from Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri, which will bring its total fleet up to six by 2020.
The three yet-to-be-named ships will be delivered in late 2017, 2018 and 2020, respectively.
The news was announced at the float out ceremony for Viking’s third ocean ship Viking Sky at Fincantieri’s Ancona yard on 23 March.
Marit Barstad, sister of Viking chairman Torstein Hagen, served as madrina during the ceremony, welding commemorative coins representing three family birth years. These included 1911 (mother Ragnhild Hagen, after whom the onboard Norwegian deli Mamsen’s is named; 1943 (Barstad’s own birth year) and 1948 (Torstein Hagen’s birth year). Barstad then cut a cord to allow water to begin flowing into the ship’s building dock. Following a two-day process that will set Viking Sky afloat, she will then be moved to a nearby outfitting dock for final construction and interior build-out before her delivery in early 2017.
Viking is due to take delivery of its second ocean ship Viking Sea on 24 March 16. She will officially debut to guests next month.
“It is a special day when a new ship meets water for the first time. This is our third ship to be floated out in three years, so it is indeed a proud moment for our entire Viking family,” said Torstein Hagen, founder and chairman of Viking Cruises. “Our first ship, Viking Star, has enjoyed great success in her maiden season. I look forward to her five sister ships experiencing the same respective success as they debut over the coming years.”
All three Viking ocean ships weigh 47,800gt, boast 465 cabins and accommodate 930 passengers. Featuring modern Scandinavian designs, the vessels offer five stateroom categories – all with private verandas, king-size beds, large showers and LCD TVs – as well as 14 Explorer Suites, which have wraparound private verandas. They also have a pool with a retractable dome roof; a glass-backed infinity pool, cantilevered off the ship’s stern; a 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 a piano lounge.
Engineered to a small scale, the 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.