Viking floated out its latest ship, the Viking Vesta, last Thursday marking a major construction milestone and the first time the ship has touched water. Viking Vesta has a gross tonnage of 54,300 tonnes, with 499 staterooms that can host 998 guests. The ship is scheduled to debut in July 2025 and will spend her inaugural season sailing itineraries in the Mediterranean and in Northern Europe.

“It is always a good day when a new ship meets water for the first time,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman and CEO of Viking. “Over the last decade, we have built the world’s most elegant small ocean ships together with Fincantieri. As we prepare to welcome the Viking Vesta next summer, as well as her identical sister ship, the Viking Vela this fall, we look forward to introducing even more curious travellers to the Viking way of exploration.”