With the new order from Viking Ocean Cruises, STX France may have secured enough work to keep busy until 2014, while it is actively negotiating new contracts. Under construction for delivery next year is the 140,000-ton, 3,500-passenger MSC Divina and the 39,500-ton, 516-passenger Europa 2 for delivery to Hapag-Lloyd in 2013.
In addition, according to French press reports, STX is in negotiations with MSC to take over hull X32, the former Libyan ship built to MSC’s Fantasia class. That ship is only half built.
The yard is also said to be in discussions with MSC for a new class of large cruise ships, referred to as the Vista class, with four ships to be delivered from 2014 through 2018.
The Viking order is for two 888-passenger vessels for deliveries in spring of 2013 and spring of 2014, plus an option for a third vessel.