Viking Mars - the newest Viking OCEAN ship that Fincantieri is building was delivered on Thursday, May 12, at the shipyard in Ancona (Italy).
The newbuild will be positioned in the small cruise ship segment. Like her sisterships, Viking Mars is ~47,800 GT and has 465 cabins with accommodation for a total of 930 guests.
Among the vessel's innovative marine technologies are its energy-saving hybrid engines, top-deck solar panels, and pollution-minimizing exhaust system. This ship also uses seawater as a lubricant for its propeller shaft bearings. This technology lowers the vessel's maintenance costs and also the risk of pollution. Replacing the biodegradable oils, the water is being directly discharged into the ocean.
Viking OCEAN vessels represent a "smaller ship" concept. The relatively shallow draft (21 ft / 6,3 m), design (hull and superstructure), and technology allow the ship to directly access even small ports. The ship's smaller size also guarantees an easy and faster passenger embarkation/debarkation process. Another unique feature of the "affordable luxury" ocean cruising market is that regardless of cabin categories, all Viking Ocean deals are price-inclusive of the shore excursions in all ports in the cruise ship itinerary.
All passenger cabins are with private step-out verandas and are about 1/5th larger than average standard staterooms on the ocean cruising market. An interesting feature of the ship is the dining room. This venue could be transformed into an outdoor casual dining place thanks to its floor-to-ceiling sliding windows. For Viking Ocean ships' interiors were contracted SMC Design (London-based interior design company) and Rottet Studios (LA-based hotel design company).