Viking Ocean Cruises has reached a key construction milestone with the laying of the keel for Viking Libra at Fincantieri’s Ancona shipyard in Italy. Viking Libra is designed to be the line’s first cruise ship powered by hydrogen stored onboard, producing zero emissions while navigating sensitive marine regions.
The ship is under construction with an estimated gross tonnage of about 54,300, offering 499 staterooms to accommodate roughly 998 guests. A propulsion system integrating hydrogen fuel cells—able to generate up to 6 megawatts—has been chosen with sustainability as a guiding priority.
Her maiden voyage is scheduled for December 3rd, 2026, departing from Piraeus, near Athens, on a ten-night “Greek Odyssey” cruise covering ports including Volos, Thessaloniki, Kusadasi, Rhodes, Santorini, Chania, and Nafplio. After that deployment in the Mediterranean, Viking Libra is expected to reposition for itineraries in Northern Europe beginning early 2027.
Viking’s leadership has characterised Viking Libra as a benchmark in the company’s long-term decarbonization strategy—her sister ship Viking Astrea is also planned for delivery in 2027 with comparable hydrogen propulsion features.