Viking Astrea

The 2027-built MS Viking Astrea cruise ship is the 15th (the 5th in the second 6-ship series) of 16 vessels built for Viking OCEAN Cruises Ltd (USA). Astrea is also the 18th Viking ship constructed by Fincantieri.

Viking Astrea is currently on order/under construction and scheduled for delivery and inauguration in June 2027. Curiously, the vessel was initially planned for completion in 2028 and delivery in May.

Astrea's sisterships (with a modified design/bigger capacity) are Viking Vela (2024), Viking Vesta (2025), Viking Mira (2026 Jun) and Viking Libra (2026 Dec).

Unlike the preceding 10-ship series (Viking Star/2015 through Viking Saturn/2023), the vessels from the second/6-ship series (starting with Viking Vela) are slightly larger (10 m longer, 2 m wider) and with more staterooms (499 vs 464) and bigger passenger capacity (998 vs 928).

Viking OCEAN's plans for a fleet of 16 sisterships were announced on March 6, 2018, when Viking entered an agreement with Fincantieri for 6x more ocean vessels, to be delivered in the period 2024-2027. In September 2022 Fincantieri and Viking entered into an agreement for 4x more vessels (based on the option in the 2018-signed contract) with total value ~EUR/USD 1,7 billion. Deliveries were scheduled for 2026 and 2027 (2x units) and 2028 (2x units).

As of 2023, Viking owned and operated 9x ocean ships, 2x expedition ships and 79x riverboats, with another 14x riverboats on order (slated to be operational by 2026) and 10x ocean ships ordered (to be operational by 2030).

The Viking Astrea vessel (IMO number 9852470) is currently Norway-flagged (MMSI tba) and registered in Bergen.

History - construction and ownership

The 1000-passenger ship Viking Astrea offers destination-oriented cruising experiences, with few at-sea days, long in-ports days and more exciting overnights in key spots. Onboard amenities include complimentary Wi-Fi, free shore excursions, wine and beer with no charge at dinner and lunch.

Each of the Viking Ocean ships offers many ticket price-inclusive / complimentary amenities and services, such as all shore excursions, transfers, Wi-Fi, wine and beer (at lunches and dinners), access to Nordic Spa (steam room, thalassotherapy pool, hot tub, snow room/grotto, sauna, cold plunge pool). The infinity pool (resistance swimming pool located aft on Deck 7 / at the ship's stern) is another unique and complimentary facility.

All Viking Ocean liners were built according to the latest maritime navigation regulations and equipped with latest marine safety systems, including "safe return to port". The ships also implement some of the maritime industry's latest technologies, including energy-saving hybrid engines (diesel generators and gas turbines), optimized hulls and bulbous bows for max fuel efficiency. Ship design also features the common for Viking River Cruises longships solar panels (installed on the Magradome pool cover) additionally minimizing the vessel's exhaust pollution.

Decks and Cabins

Viking Astrea staterooms (499 total) include 49x Suites, 96x Penthouses and 348x Veranda/Balcony cabins in 16 grades.

All passenger cabins are balconied and offer all the industry's modern amenities and services, including King-size beds ("Viking Explorer", deluxe mattresses and linens, Cashmere blankets), en suite bathroom (heated floor, heated mirror, glass-door shower, hairdryer, premium bath products and toiletries /by Freyja, bathrobes, slippers, towel warmers), seating area (sofa, coffee table, vanity desk with chair, wardrobe, full-length mirror with mini lights), satellite phone, smart HDTV (3D, Infotainment / interactive TV system for Internet access, room service ordering, movies-on-demand, live webcams views, Viking Cruises channel for news, enrichment lectures and port talks), in-room binoculars, electronic safe box, individual air-conditioning, coffee machine, mini-bar (replenished daily with bottled water, soft drinks, snacks).

The boat has 10 decks, of which 6 are with passenger cabins.

Shipboard facilities and amenities

Viking Astrea offers the following dining venues: Restaurant (dining room), buffets (Viking Deli, World Cafe), Aquavit Terrace (alfresco), specialty (Italian Grill, Chef's Table), Private Dining (2 rooms).

Viking OCEAN deals are inclusive of shore excursions, complimentary alcohol (wine and beer at lunch and dinner) and Wi-Fi.

Viking OCEAN's Astrea ship has as signature facilities two swimming pools (Main Pool and Aft Infinity Pool), a covered pool deck (with Jacuzzi, Bar & Grill), Viking Living Room (Atrium Lobby Lounge), two Cinemas, a modern wellness complex (Spa & Fitness Center, Beauty Salon), Wintergarden (poolside area), Aquavit Terrace (aft outdoor bar lounge with Infinity Pool and Hot Tub), Piano Bar Lounge (Torshavn), dedicated sports deck (deck 9/with a Walking Track and Outdoor Gym/Yoga area), Theatre Lounge & Bar, Lobby Bar, various shops and brand boutiques.

The walk-around Lanai/Promenade Deck fully encircles the boat (deck 2). The two-deck Explorer's Lounge has a huge bow-facing observation area which is a unique feature that lots of modern cruise vessels lack. Many of the ship's features reflect a boutique hotel feel.

All Viking OCEAN ships have an onboard "snow room". Viking's "Snow Grotto" is a spa retreat with powdery snow falling down from the ceiling. The experience (touted as beneficial to the body's blood circulation) includes heating in a sauna (steam bath), then walking into this small room fitted with benches and with dark stone walls illuminated by blue light. The snow on the floor is kept at sub-freezing temperatures. This Arctic-themed facility is part of the ship's thermal suite (within the spa complex). This relaxation area also has 1 hot tub, sauna room, heated ceramic loungers, therapeutic showers, salt-water thermal pool. Snow Grotto access is complimentary to all passengers.

Itineraries

Viking Astrea itinerary program starts with the Maiden Voyage on June 1, 2027.

The 6-night/7-day inaugural cruise ("Italian Sojourn"/around Italy itinerary) departs from Venice and ends in Rome.

Follow a redeployment from the Mediterranean to Northern Europe where the new ship visits popular port cities in the UK (British Isles, England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland), and the Baltic Sea/Scandinavia (Norway, Denmark, Germany, Belgium, Holland).

The inaugural itineraries (2026) are themed as "Amalfi Coast, Africa and Iberia" (Rome to Barcelona), "Trade Routes Of The Middle Ages" (repositioning from Barcelona to Bergen), "British Isles Explorer" (Bergen to London-Greenwich), "British Isles & Ireland" (London to Belfast, and the reverse Belfast to London).

All Viking OCEAN ships offer destination-rich itineraries featuring the brand's new "small ship cruise" tour and onboard experience. Compared to similar class vessels operated by other companies, Viking OCEAN's itineraries feature fewer sea days and longer port days, with a lot of overnight port stays.

The vessel (Fincantieri Ancona yard/hull number 6352) has volume 54300 GT-tons, DWT-deadweight tonnage 5100 tons, max draught 6,7 m. The powerplant is based on MAN marine diesel engines (model 12V32/9L32/44) with combined output 23,52 MW (22000 hp). The registered shipowner is VIKING OCEAN CRUISES SHIP XIII, while the registered manager is VIKING OCEAN CRUISES LTD.

Viking Astrea is under construction at Fincantieri's yard in Ancona Italy.

Among the vessel's innovative marine technologies are its energy-saving engines, top-deck solar panels, and pollution-minimizing exhaust system. This ship also uses seawater as a lubricant for its propeller shaft bearings. This technology lowers the vessel's maintenance costs and also the risk of pollution. Replacing the biodegradable oils, the water is directly discharged into the ocean.

Viking Astrea is a hydrogen-powered cruise vessel which hybrid propulsion system incorporates liquefied hydrogen (onboard-stored) and fuel cells. The technology was introduced on Viking Libra and developed in cooperation with Fincantieri's subsidiary Isotta Fraschini Motori (1900-founded company now specializing in designing, building and selling energy generation and advanced propulsion systems). Viking Astrea's powerplant generates up to 6 MW/megawatts of electricity, enabling emissions-free operations.

Viking OCEAN represents a "smaller ship" travel concept. Their relatively shallow draft (21 ft / 6,3 m), design (hull and superstructure) and technology allow direct access even to small ports and harbors. The ship's smaller size also guarantees an easy and faster passenger embarkation/debarkation process. Another unique feature for the "affordable luxury" ocean cruising market is that regardless of cabin categories, all Viking Ocean deals are price-inclusive of the shore excursions in all ports in the cruise ship itinerary.

All passenger cabins are with a private veranda and ~1/5th larger than average standard staterooms on the ocean cruising market. An interesting feature of the ship is the dining room. This venue could be transformed into an outdoor casual dining place thanks to its floor-to-ceiling sliding windows. For Viking Ocean ships' interiors were contracted SMC Design (London-based interior design company) and Rottet Studios (LA-based hotel design company).

Viking Cruises deals (on all river and ocean liners) are inclusive of shore excursions (land tours), onboard entertainment and dining (including at specialty restaurants), drinks and alcohol (beer, wine /at lunch and dinner), 24-hour room service, Wi-Fi.

In April 2018, Fincantieri contracted the Norwegian marine company Scanship to supply all the liner's cleaning systems - food waste processing, waste incineration, garbage handling, wastewater treatment plants. Scanship's wastewater purification system treats both greywater (sullage/sinks, showers, baths) and blackwater (toilets).

In February 2019, Fincantieri contracted the Canadian company Thordon Bearings Inc to provide newbuild's bearings for the propeller shaft. The ship's propeller shaft system (Thordon COMPAC) is seawater-lubricated and based on 100% grease-oil-free bearings. The innovative propeller shaft system was also ordered for all the following Viking OCEAN units (on order or under construction) with scheduled deliveries between 2021-2027. These systems are supplied and installed by Pedrotec (Thordon's authorized distributor in Italy).

Inaugural cruise (2026)

The next table shows Viking Astrea's Maiden Voyage.

The 6-night/7-day itinerary is themed "Italian Sojourn", and is around Italy, following the vessel's delivery at Ancona.

Godspeed!