Viking floats out second hydrogen-powered ship

Viking has reached a major construction milestone with the Viking Astrea, its second hydrogen-powered cruise ship capable of operating with zero emissions.

The cruise line announced that the ship has officially been floated out at Fincantieri’s Ancona Shipyard in Italy, marking the first time the vessel has touched water.

Scheduled for delivery in May 2027, the Viking Astrea will spend its inaugural season sailing itineraries in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.

“The float out of the Viking Astrea represents another important milestone for Viking,” said Leah Talactac, president and CEO of Viking. “From the beginning, we have sought thoughtful ways to design more efficient ships, and the Viking Astrea is an important step forward in that ongoing effort.”

The float-out ceremony signals that the ship is moving into the final stage of construction.

The process began with the cutting of a ceremonial cord, allowing water to flow into the ship’s building dock. Following a two-day process to set the Viking Astrea afloat, the vessel will be moved to a nearby outfitting dock for final construction and interior build-out.

Classified as a small ship, like all vessels in Viking’s ocean fleet, the Viking Astrea will have a gross tonnage of approximately 54,300 tons. It will feature 499 staterooms and accommodate up to 998 guests.

The ship will use a hybrid propulsion system based partially on liquefied hydrogen and fuel cells, making it capable of navigating and operating with zero emissions.

According to Viking, the technology could allow the vessel to access some of the world’s most environmentally sensitive areas.

The propulsion system is enabled by Isotta Fraschini Motori (IFM), Fincantieri’s subsidiary specializing in advanced fuel cell technology, and will be capable of producing up to six megawatts of power.

The Viking Astrea follows the Viking Libra, which Viking says will be the world’s first hydrogen-powered cruise ship capable of operating with zero emissions.

The Viking Libra is scheduled for delivery in November 2026, six months ahead of the Viking Astrea.