Viking reached a significant milestone as its newest ocean ship, the Viking Vela, was successfully "floated out" at Fincantieri's shipyard in Ancona. This ceremony marked a major step in the ship's construction process as the ship touched water for the first time. Scheduled to make its debut in December 2024, the Viking Vela is set to embark on its inaugural season with voyages in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.
Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking, expressed his pride in the collaboration with Fincantieri, stating, "Together with Fincantieri, we have built the world's most elegant ocean vessels, and it is always a proud day when our newest ship meets water for the first time." Viking's commitment to providing a unique cruise experience is reflected in its small, elegant ocean ships, which have earned top rankings from both Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler.
Viking's approach stands out in the cruise industry due to its distinct features—no children, no casinos, and no nickel and diming. Hagen highlighted this difference, emphasizing, "We are different than other lines because of all that we do, but Viking also stands apart for all that we do not do." With the Viking Vela joining the award-winning fleet next year, the cruise line looks forward to introducing more travelers to the Viking way of exploration.
The float-out ceremony is a tradition that signifies a ship moving into its final stage of construction. At Fincantieri's Ancona shipyard, the Viking team initiated the process at approximately 11:00 a.m. local time by cutting a cord, allowing water to flow into the ship's building dock. Following a two-day process, during which the Viking Vela will be set afloat, the ship will be moved to a nearby outfitting dock for final construction and interior build-out.
Classified as a small ship, the Viking Vela boasts a gross tonnage of 54,300 tons and features 499 staterooms capable of hosting 998 guests. This new addition to the Viking fleet promises to offer an intimate and luxurious cruising experience, further solidifying Viking's reputation as a leader in the industry.
