Viking, which was barely a drop in the ocean cruise bucket less than ten years ago is on the verge of expanding its ocean-going fleet to more than 20 ships with a new order just placed.
The new order, placed with Italy’s Fincantieri, is for two ships to be delivered in 2030, with an option for four more to be delivered, two at a time, in 2031 and 2032. Three other ships are in the works, to be delivered this December, with the other two in 2025 and 2026.
Fincantieri and its subsidiaries have built all of the Viking ocean fleet so far, including two expedition ships built by a Finnish subsidiary of the company. All but the expedition ships have capacity for just under a thousand passengers and share the same restaurants, lounges and public spaces.
If Viking goes ahead with the option ships, its fleet will reach 22 ships, one of which is operated from China with a Chinese partner. That total would put it in a class with the largest lines for numbers of ships, although those lines operate far larger ships. Viking is already the largest operator in the small ship group.
