Viking Polaris Floated Out

Fincantieri floated out Viking's second expedition ship, Viking Polaris, at their VARD shipyard in Soviknes, Norway, yesterday, marking the first time the ship has touched water. 

Because the ship was designed for polar operation, it has some unique design features which can be seen in the photo below.

The complete story appeared in the July 28 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

 

Photo courtesy of Viking. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission.

A Viking Is Born

Fincantieri laid the keel for Viking Mars at their Ancona yard on February 4. It will be the eighth ship in the Viking Ocean Cruises' fleet, and the eighth sister that the Italian builder has built for the line. 

The complete story appeared in the February 8 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Photos courtesy of Fincantieri. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission. 

Fincantieri Floats Viking Venus

Fincantieri floated out Viking Venus yesterday at their Ancona yard. Viking Venus is the seventh in the series the Italian yard is building for Viking Ocean Cruises.

In today's ceremony, a cord was pulled which started the water filling the dry dock where the ship was built. At the end of the two-day filling process, the ship will be towed to the outfitting dock, and the yard will be ready to begin fitting out the interior of the ship with delivery planned for 2021.

The complete story appeared in the June 12 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Photos courtesy of Fincantieri. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission. 

Viking to Tap Chinese Market

Viking Cruises has signed an MOU with China Merchants Shekou to form a joint venture to build a cruise line with worldwide cruises for the Chinese market.

In addition, Viking will also partner with China Merchants to build oceangoing ships for the new line to operate.

Details appeared in the April 12 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

Norwegian Maritime Authority's Finding on Viking Sky

After an intense investigation, to complete its work as quickly as possible, the Norwegian Maritime Authority has determined at this point, they believe Viking Sky's engine failure during the extremely rough weather/sea conditions on Saturday was due to low oil pressure.

The Authority found that the levels of lubricating oil were within the limits set by the manufacturer, but they were at the lower end of the limit. The rolling of the ship in the heavy seas was so extreme that as the oil moved in the tanks, the oil too rolled so much that it triggered a low oil level alarm and that triggered an automatic shutdown of the engine.

The complete story appeared in the March 27 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

Viking Sky Loses Power in Rough Seas

Tragedy was averted on Saturday when Viking Ocean Cruises' Viking Sky sailed into a powerful storm off Norway's west coast and then lost power. The ship was traveling from Tromso to Stavanger at the time of the incident which occurred about 2pm local time when the ship was off the coast of Molde.

As can be seen in news footage, the ship was being tossed about badly, and passengers feared the ship would capsize. Video from inside the ship showed passengers sitting in life vests as water washed across the floor in some parts of the ship. Surprisingly, there is a lengthy piece of video that shows large pieces of furniture sliding back and forth across the room as passengers dodge it and ceiling panels fall as the ship is obviously rolling to a great degree. It's unexplained why the large furniture wasn't secured.

The complete story appeared in the March 25 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

Carbon Paper at the Ready

Fincantieri cut the first steel this week at their Ancona yard for the seventh ship in the series for Viking Ocean Cruises.

Like the other Viking ships, this one will have a gross tonnage of 47,800 tons with 465 staterooms and suites.

The complete story appeared in the March 22 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Photo courtesy of Fincantieri. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission. 

Other Things You'll Want to Know - March 4, 2019

CND subscribers also read about:

• Winter weather in the Northeast creating some scary moments for passengers aboard Norwegian Escape on Saturday night
• Say good-bye to Carnival Triumph 
• Princess sets specific dates Medallion Net will be available on next ships to get their faster internet
• Fincantieri says Viking has finalized the order for two ships which will be delivered in 2024 and 2045.
• Costa Venezia was named in Trieste on Friday, and part of the show was a flyover by the Italian Air Force's precision flight team, Frecce Tricolori. (photo below)

Details appeared in the March 4 issue of Cruise News Daily. 

Photo courtesy of Costa Crociere. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without permission. 

Viking Jupiter Delivered

Fincantieri delivered Viking Jupiter, the sixth ship in the series, to Viking Ocean Cruises, today at the company's Ancona yard.

Like its five sisters, the 47,800-ton ship will carry 930 passengers, double occupancy.

Photo courtesy of Fincantieri. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission.

Viking Orion Christened and Contains a Difference

Viking Ocean Cruises' fifth ship, Viking Orion, was christened yesterday in the Italian port of Livorno by its godmother, former NASA astronaut Dr. Anna Fisher.

The 47,800-ton ship was named Orion in recognition of her work on the NASA's Orion exploration vehicle project. There was also a surprise onboard in connection with her work in space.

The complete story appeared in the June 15 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Fincantieri Does It a Fifth Time

Fincantieri has delivered Viking Orion, the fifth ship to Viking Ocean Cruises at the builder's Ancona yard.

Like its sisters, it is 47,800 gross tons and has 465 staterooms and suites.

Details appeared in the June 7 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Photo courtesy of Fincantieri. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission. 

Other Things You'll Want to Know - May 11, 2018

CND subscribers also read about:

• For the first time, Royal Caribbean has chosen a "godfamily" to name their next ship, Symphony of the Seas. 
• Fincantieri floated up Viking's sixth ship, Viking Jupiter. 

Details appeared in the May 11 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Longer Is Better

Viking Ocean Cruises has scheduled something of a record-breaking world cruise in 2019. On August 31, 2019, Viking Sun will depart London on an eight-month world cruise that will end up back in London 245 days later. The itinerary will take a westward direction around the world.

The complete story appeared in the May 2 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Viking Signs LOI for New Type of Ship

Fincantieri says Viking has signed a letter of intent for Fincantieri's Vard subsidiary to build two of a new type of ship for them. Included in the contract will be options for two additional ships.

Fincantieri is referring to the ships as “special cruise vessels,” but Viking is not commenting about what will make them “special” or how they will be different from their other oceangoing ships. Fincantieri says they will be designed by Vard in close cooperation with Viking.

The complete story appeared in the April 4 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Other Things You'll Want to Know - March 8, 2018

CND subscribers also read about:

• A passenger going overboard from Norwegian Epic and living to tell about it 
• Viking Sun being christened in Shanghai
• MV Werften beginning construction of their 204,000-ton Global-class and Genting saying they will transfer it to their Dream brand which will use it to expand globally. 

Details appeared in the March 8 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Construction has begun on the 204,000-ton Global-class which Dream Cruises will be used to expand globally 

Rendering courtesy of MV Werften. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission.

They're Cheaper by the Half Dozen

Fincantieri announced today they have entered into an agreement with Viking Ocean Cruises to build an additional six ships.

Details appeared in the March 6 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Other Things You'll Want to Know - January 12, 2018

CND subscribers also read about:

• The NGV fetty Fantastic allided with Viking Cruises' Viking Star at Barcelona on Friday. 
• Norwegian Bliss will homeport at New York for the 2019/2020 winter season.
• 21 more passengers were arrested on drug-related charges while boarding Wednesday's sailing of Norwegian Epic.

Details appeared in the January 12 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Viking Picks Name and Launches Ad Campaign

Viking Ocean Cruises' Viking Sun arrived in Los Angeles today, three weeks into its 141-day World Cruise from Miami to London via the Pacific. It was also the new ship's maiden visit to the city, and Los Angeles is also the line's US headquarters, so Viking used the occasion for a press conference in which they made a couple of announcements.

The complete story appeared in the January 5 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Two More, Please - They're Small

Fincantieri says that Viking Ocean Cruises has finalized the contracts for the seventh and eighth ships in the series they are building for the line. These two ships will be delivered in 2019 and 2021.

At the same time the line took the opportunity to exercise the options they held for two more of the 47,800-ton ships. These will be the ninth and tenth in the series.

Details appeared in the December 18 edition of Cruise News Daily. 

Other Things You'll Want to Know - December 15, 2017

CND subscribers also read about:

• The DeHoop yard laying the keel for Celebrity Flora. The ship will be used for the line's cruises in the Galapagos beginning in May, 2019. A photo is below. 
• Carnival Breeze failing its latest US Public Health inspection
• Viking Sun setting off on Viking's first world cruise
• A family finding a hidden video camera in their cabin aboard Carnival Fantasy. 

Details can be found in the December 15 edition of Cruise News Daily.

Executives from Celebrity and DeHoop gathered at the yard for the keel laying of Celebiry Flora. The 49-ton block
can be seen behind the executives. 

Photo courtesy of Royal Caribbean Cruise Ltd. All rights reserved. May not be copied or used without express permission.