Viking Vela

The 2024-built MS Viking Vela cruise ship is the 11th (the 1st in the second 6-ship series) of 16 vessels built for Viking OCEAN Cruises Ltd (USA).

Viking Vela is currently scheduled for delivery and inauguration in December 2024 (postponed). Vela's sisterships are Viking Vesta (2025) and Viking Mira (2026).

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 Vela vessel (IMO number 9852432) is currently Norway-flagged (MMSI 257526000) and registered in Bergen.

History - construction and ownership

The 1000-passenger ship Viking Vela 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 Vela 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 Vela 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 Vela 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 has also 1 hot tub, sauna room, heated ceramic loungers, therapeutic showers, salt-water thermal pool. Snow Grotto access is complimentary to all passengers.

Itineraries

Viking Vela itinerary program was announced in June 2023. The Maiden Voyage was initially planned for June 2024 out of London (England UK) with the entire inaugural season to be based on deployment in Northern Europe.

However, the inaugural cruise was later postponed to January 10, 2025 (12-night/13-day "In Search of the Northern Lights" itinerary from London-Tilbury to Bergen) visiting Ijmuiden Holland, and Norway's ports Narvik, Tromso, Alta, Bergen.

Eventually, Viking Vela's first voyage was rescheduled for December 12th, 2024 (7-day Mediterranean itinerary from Civitavecchia-Rome to Barcelona).

The following itineraries were themed "Malta, Morocco and the Mediterranean" (15-night roundtrip Barcelona/Dec 19th), "Iberian Explorer" (7-night Barcelona to Tilbury-London/Jan 3, 2025), "In Search of Northern Lights" (12-night itineraries between Tilbury and Bergen/Jan-Mar 2025), "British Isles Explorer" (14-night itineraries between Tilbury and Bergen/March-September 2025).

The ship's canceled inaugural season included the following itineraries:

• 14-night/15-day "British Isles Explorer" between London-Greenwich and Bergen, visits 6 countries and includes 12 complimentary tours)
• 14-night/15-day "Viking Homelands" between Stockholm Sweden and Bergen/6 countries, 11 tours
• 12-night/13-day "Iceland’s Majestic Landscapes" between Bergen and Reykjavík Iceland/3 countries, 9 tours
• 12-night/13-day "In Search of the Northern Lights" between London-Tilbury and Bergen, 3 countries, 5 tours
• 28-night/29-day "Scandinavia and the British Isles" between Greenwich-London and Stockholm/13 countries, 22 tours
• 26-night/27-day "Viking Homelands and Majestic Iceland" North Atlantic crossing from Stockholm to Reykjavík/8 countries, 19 tours

Viking Vela's maiden season also included the new "British Isles and Iceland Explorer" itinerary (26-night/27-day from Reykjavík to London-Greenwich/departure June 13, 2025), visiting 8 countries and offering 20 land tours.

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 6316) 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 XI, while the registered manager is VIKING OCEAN CRUISES LTD.

The ship is named after the Vela constellation (with the Vela Supercluster in its center) whose brightest star system is Gamma Velorum.

Viking Vela was launched/floated out from drydock at Fincantieri's yard in Ancona on November 30, 2023. The ceremony was attended by Torstein Hagen (Viking's CEO and Chairman) and Gilberto Tobaldi (Fincantieri Ancona's Director).

Among the vessel's innovative marine technologies are its energy-saving hybrid 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 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 (2024)

Announced in June 2023, Viking Vela's itinerary program was planned to start with the Maiden Voyage in June 2024 (out of London) with the entire inaugural season based on Northern European deployment.

However, the inaugural cruise was later postponed to January 10, 2025 (12-night/13-day "In Search of the Northern Lights" itinerary from London-Tilbury to Bergen) with call ports Ijmuiden Holland, and Norway's ports Narvik, Tromso, Alta, Bergen.

Eventually, Viking Vela's first voyage was scheduled for December 12, 2024 (7-day Mediterranean itinerary from Civitavecchia-Rome to Barcelona).

Godspeed!