Viking Mira has been floated out, marking a major construction milestone and the first time the ship has touched water.
Set to debut in spring 2026, Viking Mira will spend her inaugural season sailing itineraries in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.
The traditional float-out of the 499-stateroom ship took place at the Fincantieri shipyard in Ancona and signifies the final stage of construction.
Following a two-day process that set the ship afloat, she was then moved to a nearby outfitting dock for final construction and interior build-out.
Viking Chairman and CEO Torstein Hagen says, “In our view, together with Fincantieri we have created the world’s most elegant fleet of small ocean ships”.
“The float out marks yet another important milestone as we continue to grow our fleet.
“As we prepare to welcome her in 2026, we are proud to offer even more opportunities for curious travellers to explore the world.”
Last month, Vesta joined the cruise line’s fleet of ocean ships.
The cruise line also recently announced details of Libra, the world’s first hydrogen-powered cruise ship, capable of operating with zero emissions.
Under construction at Fincantieri’s Ancona shipyard, Libra will have a propulsion system based partially on liquefied hydrogen and fuel cells, and is scheduled for delivery in late 2026.
Viking Astrea – currently under construction and scheduled for delivery in 2027 – will also be hydrogen-powered.
The cruise line has also just opened bookings for its 2027 – 2028 ocean and expedition voyages with the addition of voyages on Viking Lyra, which is scheduled to join the fleet in 2028, and will spend her inaugural season in the Mediterranean and Scandinavia.
The itineraries include a new expedition to Antarctica, which will “offer travellers the rare opportunity to cross the 66°33′ line of latitude, which marks the Antarctic Circle, while exploring the White Continent – an honoured milestone among polar explorers”.
Hagen says, “We have always crafted journeys that are designed to bring our guests closer to history, culture and nature in each destination—and we are pleased to offer an even wider selection of itineraries and departure dates in the years to come.”
Into the Antarctic Circle is a 15-day cruise from Buenos Aires to Ushuaia where guests can kayak ice-laden waters and participate in citizen science with resident experts from the University of Cambridge’s Scott Polar Research Institute and UC San Diego’s Scripps Institution of Oceanography and J. Craig Venter Institute.
For more information, visit Viking.
