Viking Ocean Cruises has announced its second ship—the 930-passenger Viking Sea —was floated out from Fincantieri’s Ancona shipyard, marking a major construction milestone and the first time that the new ship touches water.
Viking marked the occasion with a traditional ceremony at Fincantieri’s Ancona shipyard, where the ship is under construction. Karine Hagen, Viking’s senior vice president of product and daughter of Torstein Hagen, will be godmother to Viking Sea and will officially “name” the ship during the christening ceremony in early 2016.
“The day that 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 pleased at the positive reviews she is receiving from our guests and travel industry partners. We have no doubt that her sister ship, Viking Sea, will be met with the same reception upon her debut next spring.”
Viking Sea is set to launch in early 2016. The company’s third ship on order, Viking Sky, is also currently under construction in Ancona and will debut in 2017.
Viking Sea, like its two sister ships, will be placed in the small cruise ship segment. In fact, with a gross tonnage of about 47,800 tons, it will have 465 cabins with accommodation for 930 passengers. The ship has been designed by experienced nautical architects and engineers, including an interior design team of London-based SMC Design, and Los Angeles-based Rottet Studios.