Viking has officially added a new ship to its ocean fleet: the Viking Vela. The delivery ceremony took place on December 3 at the Fincantieri shipyard in Ancona, Italy.

Vela is classified as a small ship, with 499 staterooms that can accommodate 998 guests. It will sail exciting itineraries in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe during its first season.

“We are proud to welcome our newest sister ship,” said Torstein Hagen, chairman and CEO of Viking. “With Fincantieri, we have created the world’s most elegant small ocean ships. We look forward to giving more travelers a chance to explore the world the Viking way.”

Viking is also working on future projects to create eco-friendly ships with hybrid propulsion systems that use liquid hydrogen and fuel cells. These ships could sail in sensitive areas, like the Norwegian Fjords, with zero emissions.

Although Viking Vela uses a traditional propulsion system, it is “hydrogen-ready” and can be updated in the future to meet eco-friendly standards.

To see Viking Vela itineraries and where she intersects with other cruise ships visit Crew Center Ships page