On the back of an agreement announced in March last year to build six cruise ships, Fincantieri and Viking have signed the contracts for the first two units.
They will be delivered in 2024 and 2025, respectively.
In partnership with the shipowner, Fincantieri said it will develop a project based on the successful design of the previous ships, but upgraded and revisited in line with the latest available technologies.
Viking’s current deepsea fleet includes ships fitted with veranda staterooms, a gt of about 47,800 and accommodation for 930 pax in 465 cabins.
Fincantieri started its partnership with Viking in 2012, when the shipowner was entering the ocean cruise market as a start-up.
Today, the co-operation between the two has reached a total of 20 units, including the order awarded to Vard for two special cruise ships and options. This represents the largest number of units built by a shipbuilder for one sole shipowner, Fincantieri claimed.
The first of the series, ‘Viking Star’, was built at the shipyard in Marghera and delivered in 2015. The other units, ‘Viking Sea’, ‘Viking Sky’, ‘Viking Sun’, and ‘Viking Orion’, handed over in 2016, 2017 and 2018, were all built at the Ancona yard, as was the ‘Viking Jupiter’, which joined the fleet in February.
Another 10 cruise ships, options included, for Viking Cruises will be delivered from the Group’s Italian yards between 2021 and 2027.
In addition, Fincantieri subsidiary Vard, has an order from Viking for two specialised cruise ships, with an option for two more vessels.
