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Viking River orders ten more Longships at Neptun Werft

Written by Nick Blenkey

Viking-Schiffe-am-KaiDECEMBER 6, 2012 — Viking River Cruises has placed an order for ten new river cruise vessels of the Viking Longship class with Meyer’s Neptun Werft shipyard in Rostock-Warnemünde, Germany. The order closely follows the news that sister company Viking Ocean Cruises has signed a Memorandum of Agreement with Fincantieri for the construction of two more 48,000 grt cruise ships, with an option for another two, in addition to the two already under construction at the Italian shipbuilder (see earlier story).

The order at Neptun Werft brings the total number of new river cruise vessels to be delivered to Viking to ten in 2013 and eight in 2014. In addition, options have been signed for a further eight, for delivery in the Spring 2015.

“The river cruise segment is rapidly growing, as more travelers are inspired to experience old destinations in a new way,” says Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking River Cruises. “Because of the overwhelmingly positive response we have seen from our passengers in the first season of our revolutionary new Viking Longships, we are pleased to continue our expansion to meet that demand.” 

“We are very happy to continue our excellent partnership with Viking River Cruises and look forward to a long-lasting relationship in building these luxurious river cruise vessels,” said Manfred Müller-Fahrenholz, managing director of Neptun Werft.

These new river cruise vessels are designed to operate on the various European inland waterways such as the Rhine, the Main, the Moselle and the Danube, and also for  navigation in Dutch waters. Four of the vessels to be delivered in 2014 will operate on the Rhône.

The vessels will have a length of 135 m, a beam of 11.45 m and a draft of 1.60 m and will be hybrid diesel-electric powered.

The vessels will each accommodate 190 passengers in 95 cabins which are divided in various categories: with two explorer-suites, seven veranda-suites, 39 veranda-cabins, 22 cabins with French balcony and 25 staterooms. The crew will be accommodated in 31 cabins.

In the fore part of the vessel the “Aquavit Terrace” with a novel inside/outside area that comprises an open-air terrace and a Wintergarden which are joined to the lounge by large sliding glass elements. The ship also offers a spacious restaurant, a library, a boutique, a café as well as a lift. In the sundeck a large glass element is integrated above the entrance area to provide daylight.

The Longships are powered by a hybrid diesel-electric installation.

Further features are a herb garden and solar panels that generate electricity for the ship’s power supply. Viking has applied for a number of patents for various aspects of the Longship design.

The crew will be accommodated in 31 cabins.

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