Viking Cruises Announces World's First Hydrogen-Powered Cruise Ship
With decades of destination focused, culturally immersive travel experience behind them, over 90 ships across an ocean, river, and expedition fleet and a list of accolades as long as your arm, Viking truly is a world leader in the cruising industry—we at Panache Cruises are delighted to introduce our partnership with them.
In an exciting development for the world of sustainable travel, Fincantieri and Viking last month announced the launch of Viking Libra, the very first cruise ship to be powered primarily by hydrogen. The first-of-its-kind ship is currently under construction at the Fincantieri shipyard in Ancona, with delivery scheduled for late 2026.
The ship will boast a cutting-edge hydrogen propulsion system and progressive fuel cell technology first trialled on Viking Neptune, each producing up to six megawatts of power, and raising the bar for responsible travel across the entire cruise industry.
Accommodating up to 998 guests across 499 staterooms, Viking Libra has been designed with a seamless blend of sustainability, comfort and style at its core, enabling adventurous guests to explore the most environmentally sensitive areas with zero emissions.
“From the outset, we have designed our river and ocean ships thoughtfully to reduce their fuel consumption, and we are very proud that the Viking Libra will be even more environmentally friendly,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman and CEO of Viking. “Viking made the principled decision to invest in hydrogen, which offers a true zero-emission solution. We look forward to welcoming the world’s first hydrogen-powered cruise ship to our fleet in 2026.”
Although the world of cruising has been saturated with whispers about making the leap to hydrogen powered ships for many years, the logistics of such a thing have proved complex, and nothing significant has come to fruition until now. Viking has become the first cruise line to turn blueprints into reality with Viking Libra, artfully avoiding pitfalls surrounding the question of global supply chain delays by implementing a container-based system, in which all hydrogen is stored and accessed onboard.
“With the Viking Libra, we are not only delivering the world’s first cruise ship powered by hydrogen stored on board, but we are also reinforcing our commitment to shaping the future of sustainable maritime transportation,” said Pierroberto Folgiero, CEO and Managing Director of Fincantieri. “This milestone marks a defining moment in our journey towards net-zero, and underscores Fincantieri’s role as a catalyst for the industry’s green transition.”
They’re not stopping there, with new ship Viking Astrea also currently under construction at the Ancona shipyard. Scheduled for delivery in mid 2027, Viking Astrea will be the next addition to Viking’s hydrogen powered family.
The ships are due to become the 13th and 14th entry into Viking’s ocean fleet, following the launch of hybrid ships Viking Vesta later this year, and Viking Mira in summer 2026.
The future is bright, as Fincantieri and Viking also announced that they have signed an agreement for the construction of two new cruise ships, scheduled for a 2031 delivery, as well as an option for two additional vessels at a later date. These new ships will be built according to the most up to date environmental standards and navigation specifications and – just like their predecessors - will also be powered via onboard reserves of hydrogen.
“We are thrilled about Viking’s decision to expand its fleet with the order of two additional ships, which reaffirms the strength of our partnership, and the trust placed in our expertise,” said Torstein Hagen. “This new order is a testament to our shared vision for a more sustainable cruise industry, as together we continue to set new standards for innovation and responsible shipbuilding.”
Indeed, travellers worldwide are hopeful that Viking Libra will be a catalyst for positive change, welcoming in a new age of responsible cruising, so that the wonder and majesty of the seas can be enjoyed for many generations to come.
To find out more about Viking, give our friendly cruise connoisseurs a call on 0161 516 0649
