Viking has taken delivery of the company's newest ocean-going vessel, the Viking Neptune. The handover ceremony took place as the ship was unveiled at the Fincantieri shipyard in Ancona, Italy. While identical to Viking's other ocean-going vessels, the Viking Neptune is equipped with a small hydrogen fuel system, making it the first vessel in the cruise industry to test the use of hydrogen power for onboard operations. Viking is using the small system as a trial to determine how hydrogen fuel could be used on a larger scale in future new builds.
“We are especially proud to welcome this new sister ship to our ocean fleet, as it also marks a significant step forward in testing hydrogen as a future fuel for our vessels,” said Torstein Hagen, President of Viking. “We look forward to welcoming guests aboard the Viking Neptune next week. It is the fifteenth new ship we have added to our total fleet this year, another significant milestone as we continue to celebrate our 25th anniversary.”
The Viking Neptune will spend its inaugural season sailing Mediterranean itineraries before embarking on the company's Viking World Cruise 2022-2023, a 138-day, 28-country, 57-port voyage from Fort Lauderdale to London, with overnight stays in 11 cities.
The Viking Neptune:
The delivery of the Viking Neptune comes as Viking continues to celebrate its 25th anniversary this year. Viking Expeditions began its journey in January with the Viking Octantis; its sister ship, the Viking Polaris, debuted in September. Earlier this year, the company also welcomed eight new Viking Longships to the rivers of Europe, new vessels purpose-built for the Nile, Mekong, and Mississippi rivers, as well as another new ocean-going vessel, the Viking Mars.
The Viking Neptune is the newest ship in Viking's ocean fleet, which consists of identical sister ships. Viking's ocean-going vessels have a gross tonnage of 47,800 tons, with 465 cabins that can accommodate 930 guests; the ships feature all veranda cabins, Scandinavian design, light-filled public spaces, and abundant al fresco dining options.
