Only a month after the new cruise line was announced and detailed, Viking Ocean Cruises has begun construction on its very first cruise ship, the Viking Star. The new 47,800-ton vessel’s initial steel cutting (seen in the header image above) took place on June 18, 2013 at the Italian Fincantieri shipyard in anticipation of her launch in April 2015. Viking Star heralds the first new cruise line to be introduced in nearly a decade.
“This is a big step towards realizing our ocean cruising plans,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking Cruises (seen above right). “With our new ocean cruises, we are applying the same principles behind our award-winning river cruises—small, intimate ships with destination-focused itineraries that allow guests to experience privileged access excursions and onboard cultural experiences.”
Viking Star Rendering
(Copyright © Viking Cruises)
The Viking Star is one of two new cruise ships on order for Viking with the second scheduled for delivery in 2016. Plus, there are conditional orders and options for an additional four ships. This impressive ocean cruising development goes even beyond the 12 new river longships scheduled for launch in 2014 by Viking River Cruises – the successful sister line to Viking Ocean Cruises. For more information on the Viking Star and her maiden itineraries, visit Viking Ocean Cruises‘ website here.
Are you amazed by Viking’s future plans? Please feel free to join the discussion in the comments section below…
HEADER IMAGE SOURCE: VIKING CRUISES
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