Viking has floated out its second hydrogen-powered cruise ship, capable of operating without emitting carbon from its exhaust.
Viking Astrea took to the water for the first time at Fincantieri’s Ancona Shipyard last week.
The float out of the Viking Astrea began with a ceremonial cord-cutting, before water flowed into the dock.
It has now been moved to a nearby outfitting dock for the final construction and interior build-out.
Scheduled for delivery in May 2027, Astrea will join sister ship Viking Libra, which is set to become the world’s first hydrogen-powered cruise ship upon its November launch.
Viking Astrea, which has capacity for 998 guests, will spend its inaugural season sailing itineraries in the Mediterranean and northern Europe. Prices start from £1,995 per person.
Similar to Viking Libra, the vessel has a hybrid propulsion system designed by Isotta Fraschini Motori (IFM), Fincantieri’s subsidiary specialising in advanced fuel cell technology.
It uses liquified hydrogen to power a polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell system, or PEM.
This provides the capacity to produce up to six megawatts of power and to sail with zero exhaust emissions during parts of a voyage.
There won’t be enough hydrogen to power a whole route but it will help the ship access more environmentally sensitive areas such as the Norwegian fjords.
Similar to the other ocean ships in the fleet,Viking Astrea has Nordic and Scandinavian design features throughout. Its staircases feature large replicas of the Bayeux Tapestry.
Leah Talactac, president and chief executive of Viking, said: “The float out of the Viking Astrea represents another important milestone for Viking,
“From the beginning, we have sought thoughtful ways to design more efficient ships, and the Viking Astrea is an important step forward in that ongoing effort.”
Other cruise lines are taking steps to operate with more lower emissions.
Hurtigruten completed a climate-neutral sailing in Norway using biodiesel in October 2025, and Havila Voyages sailed using biogas the following month in the region.
Havila Voyages’ ships also have battery packs that provide power for up to four hours.
Read more: The best cruise deals for 2026
