Viking River Cruises welcomes two hybrid-powered newbuilds to fleet

German shipbuilder Neptun Werft handed over two new vessels to Viking River Cruises of Basel, Switzerland, on Thursday, March 25.

The vessels, which will sail under the names Viking Gymir and Viking Egdir, are each equipped with a hybrid propulsion system consisting of three diesel engines and a battery pack.

Neptun Werft said the batteries were installed on the newer vessels as alternatives to the diesel-powered emergency and auxiliary engines found on the older river cruise ships in Viking's current fleet.