Viking reveals names of next 2 cruise ships as fleet expansion continues

Viking has named its next two ocean cruise ships Viking Leda and Viking Vega as the company continues one of the industry’s largest newbuild programmes.

Currently under construction at Fincantieri in Italy, the two 998-passenger vessels are scheduled to enter service in December 2028 and June 2029, respectively.

They will become the 17th and 18th ocean ships built for Viking by Fincantieri and will follow a series of previously announced deliveries between 2026 and 2028.

Viking Leda is due to debut in December 2028 with an inaugural winter season in the Mediterranean.

According to published deployment schedules, the ship will offer itineraries ranging from eight to 16 days, departing from ports in Greece, Italy and Spain.

The programme will include cruises across the Aegean and wider Mediterranean, as well as voyages extending into the Atlantic. Destinations featured during the ship’s first season include the Greek Islands, French Riviera and Morocco.

Viking Vega is scheduled to enter service in June 2029, initially operating in Southern Europe.

After its first Mediterranean voyages, the vessel is expected to reposition to the British Isles in mid-July 2029.

Its inaugural season will include departures from ports in Italy, Spain, Norway, and the United Kingdom, with Civitavecchia, Barcelona, and Bergen among the planned embarkation points.

Both ships will measure approximately 47,000 tonnes and accommodate 998 passengers.

Their design will remain broadly consistent with Viking Star, the company’s first purpose-built ocean ship, which entered service in 2015.

Viking has largely maintained the same ship size and onboard layout across its ocean fleet, allowing the company to offer a standardised product while expanding into new markets and increasing deployment capacity.

Before the arrival of Viking Leda and Viking Vega, the cruise line is scheduled to take delivery of Viking Libra, Viking Astrea, and Viking Lyra between 2026 and 2028.

The latter two vessels are expected to become the cruise industry’s first hydrogen-powered ocean ships.

The ships form part of a wider orderbook that includes nine additional vessels scheduled for delivery through 2031.

Viking is also planning to expand its expedition fleet with two new ships in 2030 and 2031.

Viking’s upcoming ocean ships

• Viking Libra: scheduled for delivery in 2026
• Viking Astrea: scheduled for delivery in 2027
• Viking Lyra: scheduled for delivery in 2028
• Viking Leda: scheduled to debut in December 2028
• Viking Vega: scheduled to debut in June 2029
• 2 additional expedition ships scheduled for 2030 and 2031
• 9 vessels currently included in Viking’s wider orderbook through 2031