Viking Names Ocean Newbuilds Leda and Vega for 2028, 2029
Viking Leda will open with winter Mediterranean sailings from Greece, Italy and Spain, while Viking Vega debuts before moving to the British Isles.
Viking has named its next two ocean newbuilds Viking Leda and Viking Vega, with the 998-passenger ships scheduled to enter service in December 2028 and June 2029. Both vessels are under construction at Fincantieri in Italy and will be the 17th and 18th ocean ships the shipbuilder has constructed for Viking. Viking released the names without an executive statement.
Initial deployment focuses on Europe
Viking Leda is scheduled to begin service with winter Mediterranean sailings from Greece, Italy and Spain. The published program ranges from eight to 16 days and includes Aegean and Atlantic destinations, with itineraries featuring the Greek Islands, the French Riviera and Morocco.
Viking Vega is due to debut in the Mediterranean in June 2029 before repositioning to the British Isles in mid-July. Its first-season departures include Civitavecchia, Barcelona, Bergen and ports in the United Kingdom.
The two ships continue Viking’s ocean-ship template at about 47,000 tons and 998 passengers. The design follows the platform introduced by Viking Star, the company’s first ocean newbuild, which entered service in 2015 at roughly 47,842 gross tons and capacity for up to 930 passengers.
Orderbook runs through 2031
Before Leda and Vega join the fleet, Viking is scheduled to receive Viking Libra, Viking Astrea and Viking Lyra between 2026 and 2028. Viking’s broader orderbook includes nine additional vessels due between 2026 and 2031, while the company describes its overall fleet as more than 100 vessels.
Viking Astrea and Viking Lyra, due in 2027 and 2028, are planned as the cruise industry’s first hydrogen-powered ships. They are designed to operate with zero emissions using containerized hydrogen fuel, a modular format that uses standardized containers for fuel storage or delivery.
Viking’s remaining long-dated pipeline also includes two expedition ships scheduled for 2030 and 2031. Those vessels are planned to join Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris in the expedition fleet.
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