Fincantieri has secured an order from Viking Cruises for two expedition vessels, with options for two additional ocean-going ships, in a deal valued at more than €2 billion ($2.18 billion), subject to financing and customary conditions.
The two expedition units, scheduled for delivery in 2030 and 2031 from Fincantieri's Palermo shipyard, will be sister ships to Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris.
Each will accommodate 378 guests in 189 staterooms and is certified for polar operations, including navigation in remote regions and the St. Lawrence River. Design features include straight bows, extended hulls, fin stabilizers, ice-strengthened structures, and U-tank stabilizers to reduce rolling when stationary.
The two optional ocean-going vessels, if exercised, are scheduled for delivery in 2034. They will have a gross tonnage of around 54,300 tons and capacity for 998 guests in 499 cabins, built to the same technical standards as ships already delivered or under construction at Fincantieri's yards.
The order extends a partnership between the two companies dating to 2012, bringing the total number of ships covered by the collaboration to 26.