Viking Ocean Cruises has officially taken delivery of their 5th and newest cruise ship, Viking Orion. Viking Cruises, one of the fastest growing cruise lines in the world, will christen the ship in Italy next week.
The delivery ceremony took place this morning when the ship was presented at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Ancona, Italy. On June 14, the ship will arrive in Livorno, Italy, where she will officially be named by her ceremonial godmother, Dr. Anna Fisher, American chemist, emergency room physician and retired NASA astronaut.
The cruise ship’s name was inspired by the prominent constellation and Dr. Fisher’s work on NASA’s Orion exploration vehicle project. Viking Orion will spend her maiden season sailing the Mediterranean, before journeying to Australia, Asia and Alaska, where she will be Viking’s first ship to call on the northernmost U.S. state.
Viking Orion
Viking’s ocean ships have a gross tonnage of 47,800 tons, with 465 staterooms that can accommodate 930 guests. Viking Orion is the fifth addition to Viking’s award-winning ocean fleet, which also includes Viking Star, Viking Sea, Viking Sky and Viking Sun. With the arrival of Viking Jupiter in Spring 2019, Viking will be the largest small ship ocean cruise line. Ten additional ships are also planned for delivery starting in 2021, which could bring Viking’s ocean fleet to 16 ships by 2027.
From now through June 30, 2018, Viking is offering U.S. residents 2-for-1 cruise fares on select 2018, 2019 and 2020 ocean and river cruise itineraries, with additional savings on international air.
