The Italian shipyard Fincantieri has floated out Viking Venus, the new cruise ship being built for Viking Ocean Cruises, marking a major construction milestone.

Viking Venus touched water for the first time amid a global pandemic that has forced the entire cruise industry to shut down for the first time in history, but with her delivery only scheduled for 2021, it’s likely she will avoid the worst of the current uncertainty.

Viking Sun at the N-Shed passenger terminal in Durban (Viking Venus will be an identical sister ship)

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The seventh cruise ship built for Viking, she is identical to her fleetmates at 47,800-gross tons and carrying 930 passengers.

A further 13 identical cruise ships are on order with Fincantieri, which only recently returned to work after it too was forced into lockdown by the pandemic.

Viking Venus was floated out at Fincantieri’s facility in Ancona, Italy, and has now been moved to the yard’s wetdock for interior outfitting.

The ship adheres to the latest navigation regulations and is equipped with the latest safety systems, according to a press release from the yard.

Viking Venus floats out of construction dock

Like her sister ships, she features energy-efficient engines, and optimized hydrodynamics and hull, reducing consumption, while her environmental systems minimise pollution produced by exhaust gases.

In terms of the cruise experience on-board, Viking Venus will offer eight dining options (four complimentary and four specialty), as well as several cafes and bars.

Her library and other public rooms will offer an expertly curated selection of books on exploration, maritime history and influential people and she will offer the same array of complimentary services as her fleet mates.

Viking will sail one week roundtrip itineraries from Iceland

The Wintergarden

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These include free beer, wine and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, complimentary Wi-Fi internet access and at least one free shore excursion in each port of call.

Viking Venus is also likely to offer free access to the sumptuous thermal suite, which features a hydrotherapy pool, thermal loungers, saunas, plunge pools and even a proper Snow Room.

Fincantieri built Viking’s first ocean-going cruise ship in 2012, part of a two-ship order that has since ballooned to ten times that size.

Viking Star was delivered by Fincantieri’s Marghera yard in 2015, and was followed by the Viking Sea, Sky, Sun and Orion in 2016, 2017 and 2018, all from the Ancona yard.

Viking Jupiter was delivered from Ancona in February 2019. The other 10 ships, options included, will take to the sea from Fincantieri’s Italian yards between 2021 and 2027.

Fincantieri’s subsidiary VARD was also given the order by Viking for two expedition cruise ships and two options.