Viking takes delivery of ocean cruise ship it could retrofit to run on hydrogen

Fincantieri’s Ancona shipyard has delivered yet another ship for Viking Cruises, this time a 998-passenger vessel that the cruise line says is part of its fleet of "small ships".

At approximately 54,300 gross tonnes (gt), Viking Mira has 499 staterooms and will initially sail in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe. 

Fincantieri has built all of Viking’s oceangoing cruise ships in a partnership that began in 2012. Between the vessels on order, the options available, and the vessels already delivered, the shipbuilding partnership includes 26 vessels to date.

Viking called the delivery of Viking Mira "another milestone" it its fleet expansion and pointed to an impending shift to new, fossil-free propulsion technologies with its next ocean ship, Viking Libra, touted by the line as "the world’s first hydrogen-powered cruise ship capable of operating with zero emissions".

As Passenger Ship Technology previously reported,Viking Libra is scheduled for delivery in November 2026, with construction underway at Fincantieri’s Ancona shipyard, and will feature a propulsion system based partially on liquefied hydrogen and fuel cells.

Viking’s subsequent ocean ship, Viking Astrea is scheduled for delivery in 2027, with the line saying the vessel "will also be hydrogen-powered".

The most recent addition, Viking Mira is similarly described as being ready to be retrofitted to match Viking’s forthcoming vessels that will be capable of running on hydrogen and fuel cells.

"Viking Mira has been designed with the future in mind, ensuring [it] can be retrofitted to incorporate these new technologies as they become available," Viking said.

"Viking remains focused on its well-defined, long-term growth plans and committed to its strategy, continuing to be a global leader in experiential travel. Based on Viking’s committed orderbook, the company expects to take delivery of 24 additional river ships by 2028, nine additional ocean ships by 2031, and two additional expedition ships by 2031. With these orders, Viking will have 114 river ships in 2028 and 26 ocean and expedition ships in 2031."