Set to Debut in 2017, Viking Sun Meets Water for First Time
Viking Sun®—the fourth ship from Viking Ocean Cruises—touches water for the first time during its “Float Out” at the Fincantieri shipyard in Ancona. December 15, 2016, the 930-passenger Viking Sun®—the fourth ship from Viking Ocean Cruises—touches water for the first time during its “Float Out” at the Fincantieri shipyard in Ancona. Viking Ocean Cruises® have announced its fourth ship – the 930-passenger Viking Sun – was “floated out,” marking the major construction milestone, and the first time that the new ship touches water. The traditional ceremony took place on December 15 at Fincantieri’s Ancona shipyard. Viking Sun will debut in late 2017, with maiden voyages to Cuba and the Caribbean before embarking on a 141-day World Cruise that spans 5 continents, 35 countries and 66 ports.
A float out ceremony is significant because it denotes a ship moving into its final stage of construction. Viking Sun’s float out began at approximately 10:30 a.m. local time, and in keeping with maritime tradition, a madrina – a special woman of honor – assisted with the ceremony, first welding coins under the ship mast. As Viking Sun will be the company’s first ocean ship to call on China, Mrs. Yi Lou, Vice President of China Merchant Bank Financial Leasing (CMBFL), served as Viking Sun’s madrina. Mrs. Lou welded commemorative coins representing her birth year, as well as the birth years of her parents. A special coin, dated 1911, was also welded to represent mother Ragnhild “Mamsen” Hagen, the mother of Viking’s Chairman and the woman after whom the onboard Norwegian deli Mamsen’s is named. Mrs. Lou then cut a cord to allow water to begin flowing into the ship’s building dock. Following a two-day process that will set Viking Sun afloat, she will then be moved to a nearby outfitting dock for final construction and interior build-out.
“It is always a proud moment for the entire Viking family when a new ship meets water for the first time,” Viking Cruises Chairman Torstein Hagen said at the ceremony. “As the cruise industry is increasingly globalized in all aspects, including ship financing, we wanted to honor our relationship with CMBFL by naming one of their executives as madrina to our newest ship. CMBFL is an important partner, and sharing this important moment is an ideal way to celebrate our relationship.”
Viking’s ocean ships have a gross tonnage of 47,800 tons, boast 465 cabins and accommodate 930 passengers. Viking Sun is the fourth of six ocean cruise ships on order and will be delivered in late 2017. Viking will launch Viking Spirit® in 2018 and the remaining, yet-to-be-named ship in 2020. Classified by Cruise Critic as “small ships,” Viking’s ocean fleet features understated elegance and modern Scandinavian design. In its debut season Viking Star was awarded with the cruise industry’s highest honors, including being named Best New Ocean Ship and scoring a 5-star rating by the editors of Cruise Critic, as well as receiving the highest rating in the mid-size ship category in Berlitz Cruising & Cruise Ships 2016.
Watch the Viking Sun float out here:
December 15, 2016, the 930-passenger Viking Sun®—the fourth ship from Viking Ocean Cruises—touches water for the first time during its “Float Out” at the Fincantieri shipyard in Ancona.
