Viking ocean expansion

VIKING has stepped up its expansion in the ocean cruising arena, signing a deal for the construction of up to six new ships for delivery by 2027.

The agreement, with Italy’s Fincantieri ship builders, brings the company’s total ocean ship orders and options to 16, the highest level held by a shipyard for a single operator.

The new order will see ships delivered each year between 2024 and 2027, “subject to specific conditions”.

It comes ahead of tomorrow’s naming ceremony in Shanghai for Viking’s fourth ocean ship, Viking Sun, which is currently sailing a sold-out world cruise from Miami to London.

“When we launched our first ocean ship in 2015, we set out to reinvent ocean cruising,” said Viking chairman Torstein Hagen.

“We focus on the destination, and we do not cram our ships with gimmicks and waterslides.

“In our first two years of operation, we have been named the number one ocean cruise line, and this new order speaks to the positive response we have received from our guests and the industry,” he said.

Details of the new ships have not been revealed, however the line’s existing fleet involves identical sister ships of 47,800 tons, with 465 all-veranda rooms & capacity for 930 guests.

Viking Orion will join the fleet in Jun, with Viking Jupiter due 2019.