On September 11, 2026, at the Fincantieri shipyard in Ancona, Italy, a christening ceremony was held for the launch of a new cruise ship, Viking Astrea. This is the second Viking vessel with a hybrid power system based on liquefied hydrogen and fuel cells.
During the ceremony, a symbolic ribbon was cut, after which the construction dock began to be filled with water. The process will take about two days, and then Viking Astrea will be moved to the outfitting pier to complete the installation of equipment and finish the interiors.
The delivery of the liner to the cruise company is scheduled for May 2027. The first season of Viking Astrea will be spent on itineraries across the Mediterranean Sea and Northern Europe, and the first cruise is expected in June 2027.
Specifications of Viking Astrea
Viking Astrea belongs to the class of small ocean liners, a segment Viking specializes in. The ship will have the following features:
gross tonnage - approximately 54 300 GT;
length - 239 meters;
passenger capacity - up to 998 guests;
number of cabins - 499;
handover to the cruise company - May 2027;
regions for the first season - the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.
By size and layout, Viking Astrea will become a sister ship to other ocean liners in the Viking fleet.
How will the hydrogen system work?
The Viking Astrea power unit will partially use liquid hydrogen and fuel cells. Developed with the participation of Isotta Fraschini Motori, the system will be able to generate up to six megawatts of electricity.
This hybrid solution is intended to allow the liner, in certain modes of operation, to move and operate without direct harmful emissions. This capability is especially important when entering ports and visiting environmentally sensitive regions.
At the same time, the Viking Astrea should not be referred to as a fully hydrogen-powered vessel: the hydrogen setup is part of the ship’s combined power system.
The second hydrogen-powered liner by Viking
Viking Astrea will be the second ship in this series after Viking Libra. The transfer of Viking Libra is scheduled for November 2026, and the company calls it the world’s first cruise liner capable of operating with zero emissions thanks to the use of hydrogen.
The construction of two such ships shows that Viking is moving from a single technology experiment to the gradual rollout of hydrogen systems across its ocean fleet.
For Viking Astrea passengers, the company will offer a familiar format: a small ship focused on relaxed premium journeys, cultural programs, and itineraries with lots of ports.
Follow updates on Cruise‑Life.PRO - we’ll share itineraries, the opening of bookings, and the first Viking Astrea cruises in 2027.