Viking has floated out its second hydrogen-powered cruise ship, Viking Astrea, which is designed to operate without emitting carbon from its exhaust. The vessel took to the water at Fincantieri’s Ancona Shipyard last week.
The Viking Astrea has now been moved to an outfitting dock for final construction and interior build-out. It is scheduled for delivery in May 2027 and will join its sister ship, Viking Libra, which is set to launch in November as the world’s first hydrogen-powered cruise ship.
With a capacity for 998 guests, Viking Astrea will sail itineraries in the Mediterranean and northern Europe during its inaugural season, with prices starting from £1,995 per person. The ship's hybrid propulsion system, designed by Isotta Fraschini Motori (IFM), uses liquified hydrogen to power a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell system (PEM), capable of producing up to six megawatts of power.
This technology will allow the ship to sail with zero exhaust emissions in environmentally sensitive areas, such as the Norwegian fjords, though it will not power an entire route. Leah Talactac, president and chief executive of Viking, stated that Viking Astrea represents an important step forward in designing more efficient ships.