Viking to Build Six More Ocean Ships

Viking Cruises has a new agreement with Fincantieri.

The agreement, announced Tuesday at Seatrade Cruise Global, envisions an additional six ocean ships by 2027, raising the line's total ship order and options to 16.

The six additional ships have delivery dates of 2024, 2025, 2026 and 2027, subject to certain conditions.

"In our first two years of operation, we have been named the number-one ocean cruise line, and this new order speaks to the positive response we have received from our guests and the industry," said Viking Chairman Torstein Hagen. "As we continue to expand our brand, we look forward to bringing guests to more destinations around the world and introducing them to the Viking way of exploration."

The naming ceremony for Viking's fourth ocean ship, Viking Sun, takes place on March 8 in Shanghai. The ship is sailing a sold-out 141-day World Cruise from Miami to London. Its stop in Shanghai marks the first China call for Viking. The Viking Sun is also the first cruise ship to be named in Shanghai.

Viking's all-veranda, virtually identical ocean ships feature 465 staterooms and host 930 guests. The fleet currently consists of Viking Star, Viking Sea and Viking Sky and Viking Sun. Two new vessels, Viking Orion and Viking Jupiter, come online in 2018 and 2019, respectively. With today's new order, the line's fleet will number 16 ships by 2027.