Viking Cinderella spent two weeks in dry dock in January 2024
Viking Line’s Viking Cinderella is scheduled to return to service after extensive refurbishment at the Turku repair yard in Naantali, Finland. The ferry is scheduled to begin plying the route between Helsinki, Finland and Stockholm, Sweden in March 2024.
The most visible change after the ferry’s 9 million euro ($9.7 million) renovation is on the side of the ship, which has been repainted bright red to match the Viking Line’s traditional colors. The interior has also been extensively renovated, with around 300 cabins, spa facilities and many of the ship’s public spaces being updated.
“[Viking] Cinderella has not been in service in Finland for nearly 20 years, but to celebrate her return, we want to make her shine as the Baltic’s own Cinderella,” says Johanna, Senior Vice President, Corporate Communications, Viking Line.・Boyer Svanström says: “In 1964, exactly 60 years ago, a shipping company was looking for a color for the Apollo hull. The color was a bold red from the Mexican Fire lipstick worn by the sister of one of the company’s founders. Since then, this unique shade of red has become our brand color.”
Viking Line has added a number of technological upgrades to the 35-year-old ship, which is unique as no sister ship has ever been built. The new Erogrid reduces water resistance during vessel operation, while the LeanMarine system optimizes engine power and propeller steering. The operator says these technological upgrades will reduce the ship’s carbon dioxide emissions by 2,500 tonnes per year.
“Renewal and maintenance throughout the lifecycle of our vessels is an important part of our sustainability efforts,” said Dani Lindberg, Sustainability Manager at Viking Line. “Once these modifications are implemented, Cinderella’s annual carbon footprint will be reduced by 5 percent, or up to 2,500 tonnes.”
This latest renovation project marks Viking Cinderella’s 14th dry docking since she was built at Perno Shipyard in Turku, Finland in 1989.