Viking’s soon-to-launch ship Viking Neptune has touched water for the first time ahead of its launch later this year.
The float out ceremony on Thursday at the Fincantieri shipyard in Ancona, Italy, began when a Viking team member cut a cord that signalled water to begin flowing into the vessel’s building dock.
Once the two-day process finishes, the ship will be moved to a nearby outfitting dock for the final construction and interior build.
Neptune (pictured), scheduled to debut in November 2022, will sail in the Mediterranean before operating the line’s 2023-24 138-day World Cruise from Fort Lauderdale, in the US, to London via 28 countries and 57 ports.
Viking chairman Torstein Hagen said: “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.
“Together with Fincantieri we have built the world’s most elegant vessels, which truly allow our guests to explore the world in comfort.
“We are marking several milestones in 2022, including our 25th anniversary and the 10th year since starting our ocean project.
He added: “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.”
The line welcomed its first expedition vessel – Viking Octantis – last month. The 378-passenger vessel will be officially named in April.