The new 930-guest Viking Neptune has now been “floated out,” the first time the ship has touched water. The event marks a major construction milestone for the Neptune.

“It is always a special day when a new ship meets water for the first time, and we look forward to welcoming guests on board the Viking Neptune this fall,” Torstein Hagen, Viking chairman, said in a news release.

The traditional float-out ceremony took place at Fincantieri’s Ancona shipyard and is significant because it denotes a ship moving into its final stage of construction.  For the event, a member of the Viking team cut a cord that signaled water to begin flowing into the ship’s building dock.

Following a two-day process that will set Viking Neptune afloat, she will then be moved to a nearby outfitting dock for final construction and interior build-out. Neptune will have 465 staterooms that can host 930 guests.

“Together with Fincantieri, we have built the world’s most elegant vessels, which truly allow our guests to explore the world in comfort,” Hagen said.

Set to debut in November 2022, Viking Neptune will spend her maiden season sailing itineraries in the Mediterranean before embarking on the company’s 2023-2024 Viking World Cruise. That special cruise will depart from Fort Lauderdale to London and spans 138 days, 28 countries and 57 ports, with overnight stays in 11 cities.

Founded in 1997, Viking provides destination-focused journeys on rivers, oceans and lakes around the world. Designed for experienced travelers with interests in science, history, culture and cuisine, Hagen often says Viking offers guests “The Thinking Person’s Cruise” in contrast to mainstream cruises.

“We are marking several milestones in 2022, including our 25^th anniversary and the 10^th year since starting our ocean project,” Hagen said.

“With the arrival of the Viking Neptune and her identical sister ship, the Viking Mars, this year – along with the debut of our two new expedition ships and new river ships – we are proud to firmly establish Viking as the leading small ship travel company.”

Photo courtesy of Viking

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