Neptun Shipyard Delivers New River Ship "Viking Honir" to Viking Cruises

Von Rolf Heinrich, Köln, CC BY 3.0, Link
On October 15, 2025, the Rostock-based Neptun Shipyard handed over a new river cruise ship to the shipping company Viking River Cruises. The new vessel, the "Viking Honir," is part of the successful "Viking Longship" fleet and will be sailing on Europe's rivers. This handover is not just the successful completion of a construction project but also an important signal for the future. The collaboration between Neptun Shipyard and Viking Cruises is particularly strong, as the "Viking Honir" is already the 66th ship of this series to be delivered by the shipyard to Viking. The partnership is set to continue, with 18 more newbuilds firmly scheduled until 2028.

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For Neptun Shipyard, this ensures a secure workload and stable jobs in the region. Since the ships are all identical, the shipyard can build them with exceptional efficiency, saving time and costs, and making the cooperation highly valuable for both parties.

The delivery of the "Viking Honir" was a two-stage process. First, the ship underwent a technical inspection and was officially accepted in Arnhem, the Netherlands. Afterward, it proceeded to Switzerland, where the formal handover took place in Basel.

The choice of Basel as the location is no coincidence, as the city is a crucial starting point for many of the popular cruises on the Rhine and Danube rivers. This allows the ship to enter service immediately. Viking Cruises announced the handover of the "Viking Honir" simultaneously with another vessel, the "Viking Thoth," which will be used on the Nile in Egypt. This demonstrates how strongly the shipping company is expanding in both its European core markets and new regions.

The "Viking Honir" is 135 meters long and 11.45 meters wide from port to starboard. These dimensions allow it to easily pass through the locks on the most important waterways, such as the Rhine, Main, and Danube. On board, there is space for 190 guests in 95 cabins and a crew of 49, who ensure the well-being of the passengers. This reflects the high service standard of the shipping company.

The "Viking Honir" is equipped with an efficient diesel-electric propulsion system, which ensures good maneuverability and reduces noise and vibrations.

The Neptun Shipyard plans to take an additional step from 2027: the subsequent Longships will be equipped with a hybrid propulsion system that combines the existing drive with battery storage. These batteries help to reduce fuel consumption and prepare the ships for stricter environmental regulations. The "Viking Honir" is thus one of the last vessels of the current generation before the more environmentally friendly, but also more expensive, technologies are introduced.

The long-term contracts from Viking are a crucial pillar for Neptun Shipyard. In addition, the shipyard also builds engine room modules for ocean-going cruise ships, for example, for vessels of Disney Cruise Line, and even hulls for mega-yachts. This variety of projects makes the shipyard resilient and secures the future of its jobs.

In its inaugural season in 2026, the "Viking Honir" will be deployed on the most famous European routes. Among others, it will be on the "Rhine Getaway" from Basel to Amsterdam and will sail on the Danube Explorer route from Budapest to Bucharest. The demanding Danube route, in particular, underlines the confidence in the ship's technology.