Viking Cruises is a privately owned luxury cruise line founded in 1997 by Norwegian entrepreneur Torstein Hagen. Headquartered in Switzerland, Viking Cruises operates over 80 state-of-the-art vessels that offer scenic cruising along the rivers and oceans of the world. viking cruise

Viking’s rapid growth from a small start-up to one of the world’s foremost luxury cruise lines is a testament to their commitment to excellence. Their intimate, thoughtfully designed ships accommodate just 930 guests, allowing them to access destinations that ordinary cruise ships cannot. Onboard, guests enjoy beautifully appointed staterooms and suites, fine dining options that change daily, enriching cultural performances, and engaging lectures that bring each itinerary to life.

With a focus on destination-focused travel, Viking offers immersive itineraries that allow guests to fully experience each port. Their ships are built for river cruising with patented technology that allows them to dock in the heart of towns and cities along Europe’s great rivers. Their ocean ships are small and nimble enough to visit small ports and remote locations around the world that are inaccessible to large cruise ships.

Viking has received numerous honors and accolades from prestigious travel publications like Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler, cementing its reputation as the premiere river and ocean cruise line for discerning travelers.

Fleet Info

Viking Cruises has one of the most modern fleets in the industry, with a total of 79 river and ocean cruise ships.

The river cruise fleet consists of 64 Viking Longships sailing European rivers like the Rhine, Danube, and Seine. These contemporary ships carry 190 passengers each.

The ocean fleet includes 6 930-guest ocean ships and 9 expedition ships. Viking’s ocean ships are medium-sized compared to major cruise lines, featuring Scandinavian design and spacious public areas. The line’s newest ocean ships, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris, will debut in 2022. They are expedition ships capable of sailing in more remote polar regions.

With its uniform fleet, Viking delivers a consistent experience across its river and ocean itineraries while offering an intimate cruising option. The fleet’s small to midsize ships can dock at smaller ports inaccessible to mega cruise ships.

Destinations

Viking Cruises offers a variety of exciting and exotic destinations to choose from that span the globe and immerse travelers in new cultures and experiences.

The award-winning river cruise line covers the waterways of Europe, Russia, Egypt, and Asia. Popular European river cruise itineraries include the scenic Rhine, Main, and Danube rivers, taking passengers through iconic cities like Amsterdam, Vienna, Budapest, and Cologne. Viking also traverses the majestic rivers of Russia, including the Volga.

For ocean cruises, Viking visits the Mediterranean, Scandinavia and the Baltic, Canada, and New England, the Caribbean, Central and South America, Asia, Australia, and New Zealand. Immerse yourself in ancient wonders and natural beauty as you stop at ports like Athens, Capri, Sydney, Tahiti, and beyond.

Themed regional cruise collections like “Danube Waltz,” “Cities of Antiquity,” and “West Indies Explorer” make it easier for travelers to experience each destination fully. From Europe’s charming Christmas markets to Asia’s gleaming pagodas, Viking brings the world within reach.

Onboard Amenities

Viking’s ocean cruise ships feature elegant and modern Scandinavian design, with sophisticated yet functional spaces and thoroughly researched amenities to maximize comfort.

Inclusive Pricing

Viking Cruises aims to provide an all-inclusive luxury experience. The cruise fare includes many amenities and services that other cruise lines consider add-ons or upgrades.

When booking a Viking ocean cruise, the following items are included:

• Accommodations in a Veranda Stateroom
• All onboard meals with a variety of dining venues
• Beverages including wine, beer, soft drinks, specialty coffees, and more
• Complimentary shore excursions led by English-speaking guides
• Self-service laundry with soap provided
• Port taxes and fees
• 24-hour room service
• WiFi access
• Access to spa facilities like the sauna and snow room
• Cultural enrichment activities and lectures
• All port transfers on cruise start/end dates

With the inclusive pricing, there are few major expenses left for guests once on board. Additional costs may include spa treatments, shore excursions offered by third parties, crew gratuities, and souvenir or gift shop purchases. However, the majority of common cruise expenses are already handled in Viking’s upfront pricing.

This inclusive value helps simplify the decision-making process for travelers. Guests can budget accurately knowing that most items are already taken care of, rather than trying to estimate add-on costs. Viking’s pricing structure aims to provide peace of mind.

Awards and Accolades

Viking has consistently been recognized as an industry leader, earning top honors and accolades from the world’s most discerning travel experts and organizations.

Some of Viking’s most recent awards and recognitions include

• #1 Ocean Cruise Line – Voted the #1 Ocean Cruise Line by Condé Nast Traveler’s 2021 Readers’ Choice Awards. This is the 14th consecutive year that Viking has earned this prestigious honor.

• #1 River Cruise Line – Also named the #1 River Cruise Line by Condé Nast Traveler’s 2021 Readers’ Choice Awards for the 13th year in a row.

• Best New River Ships – Viking received top honors for Best New River Ships in the 2021 Cruise Critic Editors’ Picks Awards for the Viking Mississippi.

• World’s Best Awards 2021 – Voted one of the Top 3 Midsize-Ship Ocean Cruise Lines in Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Awards 2021.

• Trustpilot’s Most Trusted Cruise Line – Earned Trustpilot’s Most Trusted Cruise Line badge for consistently receiving high customer ratings on the review platform.

• Gold Award Eco-Friendly Cruise Line – Awarded a Gold Award in the Eco-Friendly Cruise Line category of Cruise Critic’s second annual Cruisers’ Choice Environment Awards in 2021.

• Travel Weekly’s Top Ocean Cruise Lines – Named in the top three in Travel Weekly’s 2021 Readers Choice Awards for Top Ocean Cruise Lines.

These recent recognitions speak to Viking’s continuous commitment to delivering a truly all-inclusive, culturally enriching travel experience.

Sustainability

Viking takes sustainability seriously and has implemented numerous environmental initiatives. Their new ships are energy efficient with hybrid engines and equipped with technologies like shore power connection. This allows the ships to connect to onshore electrical power while docked, reducing fuel consumption and air emissions.

Viking also has a stated commitment to reduce single-use plastics. They provide reusable water bottles to passengers and have installed water stations onboard. In terms of food waste, they implement reduction strategies and safely discharge the remaining waste at sea to minimize environmental impact.

The Viking Culture of Care program trains crew members on sustainability practices. They follow protocols to reduce water use, recycle materials, and purchase local and sustainable food when possible. Viking publishes annual sustainability reports tracking their progress.

With its ocean fleet expansion, Viking aims to lead the industry in sustainability. They partner with organizations like Friends of Ocean Action, a group of global leaders advocating for ocean health. Overall, Viking takes a comprehensive approach to minimizing its environmental footprint.

New Ships

Viking is continually expanding and enhancing its fleet. Over the next few years, they have plans to launch several new state-of-the-art ships.

The first of their new ships slated for launch is the Viking Octantis in early 2022. This ship will be purpose-built for expeditions and feature new amenities like The Aula, a stunning auditorium inspired by the University of Oslo’s famed ceremonial hall. There will be 189 spacious staterooms and an outdoor infinity pool cantilevered off the stern.

Viking Polaris, the second expedition ship, will debut a few months later in summer 2022. It will be a sister ship to Octantis with the same cutting-edge design and scientific focus.

In 2023, Viking is planning to launch two identical expedition ships, Viking Tuuli and Viking Ilma. These ships will also be optimized for exploration while providing excellent onboard accommodations.

The launch of Viking Neptune has been set for late 2022 to grow the highly successful ocean fleet. This intimate ship will only have 930 guests and include the popular residential-style layout.

2023 will also see the debut of two new identical ocean ships, Viking Mars and Viking Triton. They will continue expanding the award-winning ocean fleet with Scandinavian design and thoughtful details.

Viking continues developing innovative new ships across its product lines. With these upcoming launches, guests will soon have even more Viking cruise options to explore the world in comfort.

Sample Itineraries viking cruise

Viking offers a wide range of fascinating cruise itineraries to choose from. Here are some examples of popular 7-14 day cruises:

Grand European Tour – 14 days from €3300 per person

• Amsterdam
• Cologne
• Rhine Gorge
• Rüdesheim
• Miltenberg
• Würzburg
• Bamberg
• Nuremberg
• Regensburg
• Passau
• Melk
• Vienna
• Budapest

See the best of Europe on this all-encompassing, two-week cruise. Follow the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers through stunning scenery and fascinating cities and towns in the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, and Hungary. viking cruise

Booking Info viking cruise

Booking a Viking cruise is easy and can be done directly through the Viking website or with the help of a travel agent. Here are some booking tips:

• Book early for the best cabin selection and prices. Viking offers discounts on selected departures up to 2 years in advance.

• Consider travel insurance, which can protect your trip investment. Viking offers comprehensive travel insurance through TripMate.

• Pay a deposit to reserve your cabin and pay the balance 90 days before departure.

• Receive onboard credits if you book air travel through Viking.

• Take advantage of special offers like 2-for-1 cruise fares, free airfare, or included excursions. Check the Viking website for current deals.

• If you need to change your plans, Viking offers a risk-free cancellation policy on most cruises.

• Extend your trip by booking pre- or post-cruise land extensions through Viking. The land tours are designed to match seamlessly with your cruise.

Booking directly through Viking gives you access to the best offers, prices, and perks. Their website makes it easy to find the perfect cruise and complete your reservation. With Viking’s flexible booking policies, you can book with confidence, knowing your investment is protected.