Viking has held the float out ceremony for its newest ocean ship, Viking Neptune.

The 930-guest ship touched water for the first time at Fincantieri’s Ancona shipyard, ahead of its November 2022 launch.

Viking Neptune will spend its maiden season sailing itineraries in the Mediterranean before embarking on the company’s 2023-2024 World Cruise, cruising from Fort Lauderdale to London on a 138-day itinerary.

The ship will now be moved to an outfitting dock for the final construction phase.

Viking chairman Torstein Hagen said: “It is always a special day when a new ship meets water for the first time, and we look forward to welcoming guests on board the Viking Neptune this fall.

“Together with Fincantieri, we have built the world’s most elegant vessels, which truly allow our guests to explore the world in comfort.

“We are marking several milestones in 2022, including our 25^th anniversary and the 10^th year since starting our ocean project.

“With the arrival of the Viking Neptune and her identical sister ship, the Viking Mars, this year – along with the debut of our two new expedition ships and new river ships – we are proud to firmly establish Viking as the leading small ship travel company.”

In late December 2021, Viking took delivery of its first purpose-build expedition ship.

Viking Octantis – which will be joined by sister ship Polaris later this year – is scheduled to operate cruises to Antarctica.