Viking Cruises celebrated a milestone anniversary in a big, green way with the launch of the elegant Viking Neptune. With hundreds of awards already credited to the company, Viking sets new standards with the Viking Neptune’s hydrogen fuel system. Featuring all of the beloved Viking spaces and standards cruise travelers have come to expect, the newly launched ship is outfitted with a small hydrogen fuel system, making it the first vessel in the cruise industry to test hydrogen power for onboard operations. The system adds to the cruise line’s environmental commitments and sustainability efforts.

The Neptune marks the ninth ship featuring the same small-ship design built for Viking by Italian-based ship builder Fincantieri.

“We are especially proud to welcome this newest sister ship to our ocean fleet, as it also marks a significant advancement in testing hydrogen as a future fuel for our vessels,” said Torstein Hagen, chairman, Viking. “We look forward to welcoming guests on board the Viking Neptune next week. She is the 15^th new ship we have added to our overall fleet this year, another significant milestone as we continue the celebration of our 25^th anniversary.”

© Viking

Offering 100 kilowatts of power, the hydrogen fuel cell module serves as a prototype for future large-scale alternative low-carbon systems.

Partnering with Fincantieri, plans include additional future ships incorporating hydrogen fuel cells to be built and delivered to Viking between 2026 and 2028.

Like her sister ships, Viking Neptune accommodates a maximum of 930 guests in 465 staterooms, each featuring a private verandah. Following her inaugural Mediterranean routes, the ship plans to embark upon her 2022–2023 Viking World Cruise from Fort Lauderdale to London over a course spanning 28 countries and 57 ports, navigated over 138 days.