For most ocean cruise lines, previewing upcoming ships is a matter of plotting less than a handful of vessels, but in Viking’s case, it’s at least a dozen.
Viking’s seagoing fleet is scheduled to consist of 22 main ships (if you still count the former Viking Sun) and four expedition ships by 2031. To make sense of it all, it’s best to map out the growing line’s newbuild phases, which includes about 14 upcoming ships.
Ocean Phase One (The First Ten)
Viking Star was the very first ocean ship from the brand previously known only for riverboats. The 2015-launched, 48,000-ton and 930-passenger Star was then followed by nine nearly matching sisters: Viking Sea, Viking Sky, Viking Sun (later reregistered to Shenzhen, China, as Zhao Shang Yi Dun), Viking Orion, Viking Jupiter, Viking Venus, Viking Mars, Viking Neptune and Viking Saturn, finishing the series in 2023.
For advisors tracking Zhao Shang Yi Dun’s whereabouts, even though the ship is still not listed in the main Viking fleet, it is making moves. It has since reverted back to its original Norwegian registry and been renamed Viking Yidun, shifting from Chinese destinations and their regional source market to European ports with primarily the same demographic.
Ocean Phase Two (The New Dozen)
After the initial 10, Viking’s next generation went a little bigger but with consistent amenities. Viking Vela was the first to measure at 54,300 gross tons in order to carry 998 passengers, be propelled by rotating azipods and facilitate hybrid hydrogen-ready power. Vela came online in 2024 followed by Viking Vesta in 2025, and later this year, the cruising world will welcome Viking Mira and Viking Libra.
What makes Libra special is that it will be the first to run on liquefied hydrogen. Shipbuilder Fincantieri’s subsidiary, Isotta Fraschini Motori, will outfit the vessel with the means to produce up to six megawatts of power from fuel cell technology.
“From the beginning, our approach to ship design has focused on reducing fuel consumption, and the Viking Libra is our most environmentally friendly vessel yet,” said Torstein Hagen, chairman and CEO of Viking. “Investing in hydrogen was a principled choice for Viking, offering a true zero emission solution, and we look forward to welcoming the world’s first hydrogen-powered cruise ship to our fleet.”
The upcoming Viking Astrea and Viking Lyra have been named, though another half dozen are to be revealed. Plus, there is an option for an additional two through 2034.
Expedition Phase
Also seagoing but more specialized are Viking’s existing Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris expedition ships. The smaller pair navigates between the Arctic and Antarctica with unique Great Lakes cruises in the polar offseason.
As recently announced, there will be another two expedition sisters to join by 2030 and 2031. Like Octantis and Polaris, the new PC6 (polar class) vessels will accommodate 378 guests.
