Viking announces departure of the world’s first hydrogen cruise ship | News
Viking® today announced that the Viking Libra®, the world’s first zero-emission hydrogen cruise ship, has “floated,” marking a major construction milestone and the first time the ship has touched water. Scheduled for delivery in November 2026, Viking Libra will spend her first season sailing itineraries in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.
“The sailing of the Viking Libra represents another milestone for Viking and our continued partnership with Fincantieri,” said Torstein Hagen, chairman and CEO of Viking. “From the start, our approach to ship design has focused on reducing fuel consumption, and Viking Libra is our most environmentally friendly ship yet. Investing in hydrogen was a principled choice for Viking, offering a truly zero-emissions solution, and we look forward to welcoming the world’s first hydrogen cruise ship to our fleet.”
The funeral ceremony took place at the Ancona shipyard of Fincantieri and is important because it marks a ship that is in the final stages of construction. The exorcism of the Viking Libra began when a ceremonial cord was cut, signaling for water to flow into the ship’s building dock. After a two-day process that will make the Viking Libra afloat, she will then be moved to a nearby equipment dock for final construction and interior build-out. The ceremony was attended by Gilberto Tobaldi of Fincantieri, Director of the Ancona Shipyard, as well as members of the Viking team, including Karine Hagen, Executive Vice President of Product, and Enrico Prunotto, Senior Vice President of Ocean Passenger Operations, who thanked the shipyard on behalf of Viking.
The Viking Libra is classified as a small ship, like all Viking ocean ships, and has a gross tonnage of approximately 54,300 tons, with 499 staterooms accommodating 998 guests. Although considered a sister ship in Viking’s award-winning ocean fleet, the Viking Libra will feature a propulsion system based in part on liquid hydrogen and fuel cells. This hybrid propulsion system will allow her to navigate and operate without emissions, which would allow her to reach even the most environmentally sensitive areas. Powered by Isotta Fraschini Motori (IFM), Fincantieri’s subsidiary specialized in advanced fuel cell technology, the ship’s state-of-the-art propulsion system will be able to produce up to six megawatts of power. The company’s next ocean vessel, the Viking Astrea®, which is also under construction and will be delivered in 2027, will also run on hydrogen and operate emission-free.
With a clear focus on creating experiences for The Thinking Person™, Viking doesn’t try to be all things to all people. This approach has resonated with guests, and Viking was recently again named Best Luxury Ocean Cruise Operator and Best River Cruise Operator at The Times and The Sunday Times Travel Awards, as well as being named River Cruise Line of the Year at the Food and Travel Awards 2025. Viking was rated #1 for Oceans and #1 for Rivers by Condé Nast Traveler at the Readers’ Choice Awards 2025. Viking was also named Best Boutique Ocean Cruise Line at the Telegraph Travel Awards 2025 – as voted by Telegraph readers. Viking was awarded Favorite River Cruise Line at the 2025 Wave Awards, and Cruise Critic UK honored Viking with eight awards in Cruise Critic’s 2025 Best in Cruise Awards.
Booking details
To make a booking or for more information call 0800 458 69 00 or visit www.viking.com
