Viking Orders Two New Cruise Ships from Fincantieri Amid Industry Resurgence

Viking has placed a new order with Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri for the construction of two additional cruise ships, with options for four more. This brings the total number of ships ordered by Viking from Fincantieri to 10. The collaboration between the two companies began in 2012, resulting in the successful design and launch of the first ocean-going cruise ship, Viking Star, in 2015. The ships are known for their luxury accommodations and standardized design approach.

The original design for the Viking cruise ships was a 47,800 gross ton vessel with accommodations for 930 passengers and 465 crew members. Due to new safety regulations, the design has been modified for the new batch of sister ships, increasing the size to 54,300 gross tons with accommodations for 998 passengers. Fincantieri has classified the order as “large,” with a value between euro 500 million and euro 1 billion. The shipbuilder is currently finishing construction on the first ship of the new class, Viking Vela, set to enter service later this year.

The cruise industry is showing signs of recovery post-pandemic, with strong order books for shipbuilders like Fincantieri. In addition to Viking’s order, Fincantieri has received large orders from Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings and Carnival Corporation. The shipbuilder is also working on new cruise ship projects for Regent Seven Seas Cruises, Princess Cruises, TUI, and Four Seasons, with a total of 35 cruise ship orders scheduled for delivery until 2033. The industry’s resurgence is evident in the increasing number of cruise ship orders and construction projects worldwide.

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