By Alexander Britell

FORT LAUDERDALE – Viking Ocean Cruises is planning a major expansion of its cruise fleet, the company announced.

Viking has announced a new agreement with shipbuilder Ficantieri that could mean six additional ships by 2027.

The news was revealed during the Seatrade conference in Fort Lauderdale this week.

The ships will be delivered in 2024, 2025, 2026 and 2027.

“When we launched our first ocean ship in 2015, we set out to reinvent ocean cruising. We focus on the destination, and we do not cram our ships with gimmicks and waterslides. Our understated, elegant, award-winning ships are designed to simply enable our guests to better explore their destination,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. “In our first two years of operation, we have been named the #1 Ocean Cruise Line, and this new order speaks to the positive response we have received from our guests and the industry. As we continue to expand our brand, we look forward to bringing guests to more destinations around the world and introducing them to the Viking way of exploration.”

Viking’s current fleet includes six ships, with two more ships in the next two years.

The plan is for a total of 16 ships by 2027.

Viking Ocean Cruises sails around the world, including the Caribbean.