Milestone for Viking: The Viking Mira is Afloat for the First Time

Bild: Viking Ocean Cruises
Ancona, Italy – Viking has announced a significant step forward in the construction of its newest ocean vessel, the Viking Mira. The ship has been successfully floated out, a traditional and crucial process in a ship's construction phase that marks the transition to the final outfitting stage. The vessel is scheduled to enter service in the spring of 2026.

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The celebratory float-out ceremony took place at the renowned Fincantieri shipyard in Ancona, Italy. The process began around 11:00 AM local time on July 31st with the symbolic cutting of a cord, which initiated the controlled flooding of the construction dock. Following this two-day procedure, the now-buoyant Viking Mira will be moved to a nearby outfitting dock. There, the final assembly and complete interior construction will take place over the coming months.

Torstein Hagen, Chairman and CEO of Viking, emphasized the importance of this event: "Together with Fincantieri, we have built the world's most elegant fleet of small ocean ships. The float-out of the Viking Mira is another key milestone as we continue to expand our fleet." He added that they look forward to offering curious travelers even more opportunities to explore the world in Viking's signature comfort starting in 2026.

With a gross tonnage of 54,300 and 499 staterooms accommodating up to 998 guests, the Viking Mira is classified as a small cruise ship. In her maiden season, she will sail itineraries in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.

Viking consistently follows a strategy of creating sophisticated and profound travel experiences for an intellectually curious audience, rather than attempting to cater to a broad mass market. This focused approach resonates strongly with its guests. Recently, readers of Travel + Leisure magazine named Viking the "World's Best" for rivers, oceans, and expeditions in the 2025 "World's Best Awards." Similarly, readers of Condé Nast Traveler ranked Viking number one in all three categories. Receiving such accolades simultaneously from both leading travel publications is a unique distinction in the industry.