Viking’s newest ocean liner, the Viking Saturn, has moved into the next phase of construction, as it set sail today at Fincantieri’s Ancona shipyard. The sailing process began around 11 a.m. local time when a Viking team cut a cable signaling that water was flowing into the ship’s dock.

After a two-day process that will start Viking Saturn, it will then be moved to a nearby docking station for final construction and interior construction. 

“It is always a proud day when a new Viking ship meets water for the first time and moves one step closer to joining her sister ships in our fleet,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. “Together with Fincantieri, we have built the world’s most elegant ocean vessels—and we look forward to welcoming our first guests on board the Viking Saturn when she is delivered next spring.”

Viking Saturn should debut in April 2023 and spend its inaugural season traveling the Mediterranean and northern Europe.

All Viking ocean-going ships (not counting expedition ships) have 47,800 gross tons and can accommodate 930 guests in 465 cabins - all with balconies.

Viking Saturn joins a fleet of almost identical sister ships: Viking Star, Sea, Sky, Orion, Jupiter, Venus and Mars. The eighth ship, Viking Neptune, should be launched at the end of 2022, which will make Saturn the ninth in the fleet when it welcomes its first guests next spring.

Last January, Viking's first expedition ship, the Viking Octantis, set sail on her inaugural cruise. The ship is currently spending the summer sailing the Great Lakes of North America. Another expedition ship, the Viking Polaris, is set to debut later this year.