Viking OCEAN's ship Viking Neptune was floated out today, January 13, at Fincantieri's shipyard in Ancona (Italy).
Viking Neptune, 8th of this class, was designed by renowned naval architects and engineers, including the interior design team of London-based SMC Design, as well as Los Angeles-based Rottet Studios, who gave the newbuild a modern Scandinavian design, characterized by sophisticated and functional elegance.
The vessel, just like her sisterships, is Norway-flagged, has 465 staterooms (for 930 passengers) and 10 decks (6 with cabins).
In addition to the all-veranda staterooms, the new ship also has spacious suites, 2 pools (of which one infinity off the stern), abundant al fresco dining options, and a SPA designed according to Scandinavia's wellness philosophy, with a sauna and a snow grotto.
The Viking OCEAN units are all constructed according to the latest navigation regulations as well as equipped with the most modern safety systems, such as the “safe return to port”. They boast optimized hydrodynamics, energy-efficient engines, and hull thereby reducing consumption, along with systems that minimize pollution produced by exhaust gases.
Fincantieri started its partnership with Viking back in 2012, trusting the shipowner (Viking Cruises) to enter the ocean cruise market as a start-up.
The cooperation which first started with an order for 2 ships, has reached 20 units, including the order awarded to Vard for two expedition ships (Viking Polaris and Viking Octantis) and the options. It is an all-time record, the largest number of units ordered by one sole shipowner. 9 other units, options included, are due to take to the sea from the Italian yards of the Group in the next years.