Viking Ocean Cruises to Expand Fleet to 10 Ships By 2023
by Daniel McCarthy
Immediately following the christening, Viking Sky set sail from Tromsø with a convoy of small boats and fishing vessels to spend the longest day of the year in Nordkapp (North Cape), Norway.
Viking Ocean Cruises has exercised options on two more ships on a previous order with Italy’s Fincantieri shipyard, bringing the brand’s fleet to 10 ocean ships by 2023.
Viking announced the news last week, the first step in officially hitting the goal that Viking chairman Torstein Hagen laid out before the brand’s first ship hit the water in 2015—to build a fleet of 10 ocean ships that would complement the 100 river-cruise ships that its sister brand sports.
Both of the new ships will mirror the design of the other Viking ships already in operation—Viking Sea, Viking Star, Viking Sky, and Viking Sun. The ships all carry 930 passengers in 465 cabins with similar designs.
The rest of its ships on order are expected to be delivered each year between now and 2023—one in 2018, one in 2019, one in 2021, two in 2022, and one in 2023.
The brand was launched in 2013 and its first ocean ship, Viking Star, entered service in 2015. The ships feature all-veranda staterooms, a covered pool and an infinity pool, Viking’s LivNordic Spa and multiple dining choices, including The Restaurant, the World Café and the Chef’s Table.
Guests receive complimentary beer and wine, WiFi, self-service laundry and 24-hour room service.
The all-inclusive pricing means travel agents make commission on every product Viking offers aside from gratuities—from government taxes and spa service to port charges and airfare.
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