Viking Ocean Cruises contracted to build 4 more ocean cruise liners according to an announcement from Fincantieri. The ocean cruise fleet of Viking will thus reach ten sister ships.
In April 2017, Fincantieri and Viking signed a memorandum of agreement for the building of 2 cruise ships, the 7th and 8th for Viking, along with an option for 2 additional ships. According to Fincantieri, the construction contracts have become effective and the company has exercised the option for the 2 additional ships. The first of the 4 ships will be delivered in 2021, followed by 2 in 2022 and the 4th in 2023.
The news comes as Viking was celebrating the kickoff of its 141-day inaugural world cruise. It sailed from Miami December 15 aboard Viking Sun, Viking’s newest cruise ship which was delivered by Fincantieri in September as the 4th sister ship in the fleet.
Viking Orion, Viking’s 5th ocean cruise ship, is due to be introduced in summer 2018 and the 6th, as yet unnamed sister ship will be delivered in spring 2019. Dry dock work on the 6th ship began with the keel laying on October 18, 2017, at Fincantieri Ancona shipyard. When the 6th ship enters service, Viking will boast 5,580 berths, which will make it the biggest small ship cruise line.