Viking says its newest ocean ship, Viking Astrea, has floated out at Fincantieri’s Ancona shipyard in Italy, marking the first time the 998-guest vessel has touched water. The ship is scheduled for delivery in May 2027 and will spend its inaugural season sailing the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.
Viking says Astrea will use a hybrid propulsion system based in part on liquefied hydrogen and fuel cells, enabling it to operate with zero emissions. The system is designed to produce up to six megawatts of power. Astrea follows Viking Libra, which Viking says will become the world’s first hydrogen-powered cruise ship capable of zero-emission operation when delivered in November 2026. The float-out moves Astrea into final construction and interior outfitting.
