Viking’s Newest Ship is Here! Viking Vela Joins Award-Winning Fleet of Sister Ships
Viking took delivery of its newest ocean ship, the Viking Vela®. The vessel, classified as a small ship, was presented at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Ancona, Italy. The Vela has 499 staterooms that accommodate 998 guests.
The newest Viking ocean-going vessel joins the company’s fleet of award-winning ships and will spend her inaugural season sailing itineraries in the Mediterranean and in Northern Europe.
Torstein Hagen is the Chairman and CEO of Viking
Torstein Hagen is the Chairman and CEO of Viking and he announced “We are proud to welcome the newest sister ship to our award-winning ocean fleet. Together with Fincantieri we have built the world’s most elegant small ocean ships.”
“With the arrival of our newest vessel, we look forward to introducing even more curious travelers to the Viking way of exploration.”
The Viking Vela operates on a traditional propulsion platform, but she is considered hydrogen-ready and can be retrofitted in the future. Viking is currently working on a project for a partial hybrid propulsion system for its ocean ships, based on liquid hydrogen and fuel cells. Such an operating system would permit Viking to run zero-emission cruises in the Norwegian Fjords and other sensitive environments.
The Viking Vela Will Sail the Mediterranean
The delivery of the Viking Vela comes on the heels of splendid year for Viking. The company has received multiple accolades across the travel industry, some of them record-making.
For example, Viking was rated #1 for Oceans, #1 for Rivers, and #1 for Expeditions by Condé Nast Traveler in the 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards–for the second year in a row. This achievement represents the first time that a travel company has won these three categories in back-to-back years.
Additionally, Viking was also named Best Luxury Line, Best Line for Couples, and Best Line in the Mediterranean in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best Cruise Lines ranking. This milestone represents the fourth consecutive year that Viking has come out on top in these categories.
Viking’s fleet was also rated and “Recommended” as part of the Forbes Travel Guide 2024 Star Awards. The Forbes Travel Guide 2024 Star Awards is an annual, independent valuation of luxury travel brands.
Finally, Viking received seven awards at the 2023 Cruise Critic Editors’ Picks Awards. This bonanza represents the most awards for any cruise line, throughout the luxury, river, and expedition travel categories.
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Photo credit: Viking