A little more than a month after christening its first ship, Viking Ocean Cruises marked another major construction milestone for its second vessel. The 930-passenger Viking Sea was floated out of Fincantieri’s Ancona shipyard earlier this month, a key step that signals the ship has entered the final phase of construction. Viking Sea is scheduled to debut in early 2016. Viking’s third ship, Viking Sky, is also being built in Ancona and is expected to enter service in 2017.
“The day that a new ship first touches water is always a special day, and today is indeed a proud one for our Viking family,” said Torstein Hagen, founder and chairman of Viking Cruises. “Having just celebrated the launch of our first ocean cruise ship, we are encouraged by the positive feedback from guests and travel industry partners. We expect that her sister ship, Viking Sea, will receive the same warm reception when she debuts next spring.”
All three ships in the class will operate popular routes across Scandinavia and the Baltic, as well as both the Western and Eastern Mediterranean. Designed for mid-size passenger capacity, these vessels aim to combine modern amenities with destination-focused itineraries, offering travelers a comfortable and immersive way to explore northern Europe and Mediterranean ports.
Floating out is a traditional and symbolic milestone in shipbuilding. It typically follows the completion of the hull and superstructure and precedes final outfitting, systems installation and sea trials. For Viking Ocean Cruises, reaching this stage with Viking Sea confirms steady progress on the company’s ocean expansion program and keeps the delivery timeline on track for the planned 2016 launch.
Viking’s ocean ships are part of a broader strategic move by the company to expand beyond river cruising while maintaining its focus on culturally rich itineraries and smaller ships designed for port access and relaxed onboard experiences. Guests can expect the same attention to detail in public spaces and staterooms that Viking has emphasized across its fleet, as well as programming and excursions tailored to the destinations visited along Scandinavian, Baltic and Mediterranean routes.
With the next two vessels advancing through construction, Viking strengthens its ability to offer more departures and varied itineraries across peak travel seasons. The shipyard partnership with Fincantieri in Ancona continues to play a central role in delivering these mid-size, destination-focused ships to market on schedule.