April 11, 2018 – I recently traveled on a delightful, relaxing Viking cruise from Lyon to Avignon. Our ship took us to villages, vineyards, gorges and historic sites along the Rhone River.
March 30, 2018 – When Viking Sun was christened here to great fanfare in March, the big reveal wasn’t so much the influencer Viking has become in small-ship ocean travel but its powerful connection to China. Viking — yes, that Viking — is best known for its river ships in Europe. What you probably didn’t know: This year, Viking is offering 100 sailings on the Rhine and Danube exclusively for Chinese travelers. Mandarin is the official onboard language.
April 3, 2018 – Perhaps the best known of the river cruise companies, Viking promotes their “longships,” which include large suites and inviting verandas for outdoor dining. Guests enjoy Viking’s destination-focused dining while viewing the scenery along the rivers. Viking offers a variety of staterooms and itineraries with a wide range of prices.
March 27, 2018 – Founded in 1997, Viking River Cruises plies the waterways of Europe, Russia, China, Southeast Asia and Egypt with its fleet of more than 60 vessels. While Viking has also launched an award-winning ocean cruise line, the company built its reputation in river cruising. These all-inclusive cruises feature outside staterooms, WiFi, wine and beer with meals, shore excursions in every port and Viking’s signature Culture Curriculum program.
March 12, 2018 – A warning to Oceania, Azamara, Seabourn and all the other lines that are in the business of selling upscale ocean cruises: The Vikings are coming for you. After gobbling up the lion's share of the river cruise market over the past decade, Norwegian-rooted Viking, it is now clear, is aiming to dominate the market for upscale ocean cruises, too.
February 1, 2018 – Viking — a T+L World's Best Winner in 2017 — is constantly coming out with new vessels, like the Viking Hild, which is virtually identical to the 40-plus other longships in Viking's fleet. And that is a very good thing: These are the ships, after all, that sparked America's crush on river cruising, and everything about them continues to feel fresh, vibrant, and impeccably thought out, from the generous number of cabins with balconies to the no-fog mirrors in the cabin bathrooms — a miraculous touch if you happen to be the last person in the shower in the morning.
January 15, 2018 – Take my advice, ocean liner cruise veterans and cruise neophytes alike, if you are searching for a way to see the world and sail through some of the most beautiful scenery (up close!), the way to do it is on a river cruise, and especially on a river cruise with Viking.
December 12, 2017 – Viking Cruises dominated the 10th annual Cruise Critic Editors' Picks Awards with five wins. Viking won three river cruise awards (best enrichment, best for first timers and best shore excursions) and two ocean luxury awards (best spa and best value for money). Viking also dominated the website's Cruisers' Choice Awards in February, which are chosen by reviews posted by travelers registered with the site.
December 12, 2017 – Drifting down the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers, this duo enjoyed all the sites, food, friendships — and precious time shared — the Grand European Tour had to offer.
December 8, 2017 – The company best known for its river cruise itineraries will debut seven new river ships during 2019, including six new Viking Longships®, which will sail along the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers in Europe… Sail on a Viking Longship, and you’ll see why they are so popular with global travelers.
October 31, 2017 – The cruise industry is growing by leaps and bounds, with companies regularly announcing the upcoming launch of new ships. But none can compete with the marathon efforts of Viking, which is adding two new ships to its fleet in 2018, another ship in 2019 and seven new river boats. Viking, which currently operates a fleet of 62 vessels, offers scenic cruising along the rivers and oceans of the Americas, Europe, Russia, Egypt, China and Southeast Asia.
October 26, 2017 – It's expansion time again at Viking River Cruises. The California-based line on Tuesday officially announced it had placed an order for seven new river ships to arrive in 2019. Viking said six of the vessels will sail on Europe's Rhine, Main and Danube river system. The seventh ship will debut on Portugal’s Douro River.
October 17, 2017 – Viking was voted the Best River Cruise Line by Condé Nast Traveler in the publication’s 2017 Readers’ Choice Awards. Viking has scored in the top of the list every year since the river cruise category was introduced. Also, after only two years of operating ocean cruises, Viking was again named one of the Best Ocean Cruise Lines.
October 5, 2017 – Viking Cruises CEO Torstein Hagen weighs in on cruise line business.
September 21, 2017 – We depart Budapest, aboard Vilhjalm, a Longship named for the second ruler of Normandy who followed in his father's leading footsteps. For seven nights our home is a calming, two-room Veranda Suite stocked with Freyja toiletries, as Vilhjalm glides across the more murky-green-brown-than-blue Danube depicted by composer Johann Strauss II in his eponymously named waltz.
September 2, 2017 – Few people would ever have predicted that river cruises could overtake the ocean market to become the fastest-growing segment of the industry. Yet, founded just 20 years ago with four modest riverboats and a home office consisting of two cell phones, Viking River Cruises has successfully leveraged the river market to achieve industry-leading growth. Now it is poised to become the world’s largest small-ship cruise line. Cruise Business Review traces the rapid growth of Viking Cruises.
August 24, 2017 – Of course, we knew this would be the trip of a lifetime as we sailed down the Blue Danube, what we hadn’t counted on was having our own 5-star restaurant on board the ship. Being on a small ship makes all the difference in the world. Viking River Cruises hold about 180 passengers which means a more intimate atmosphere and make life much easier for the staff to get to know you.
August 9, 2017 – Viking Cruises has announced new partnerships that will continue the cruise line’s focus on cultural enrichment. Viking has signed on to sponsor the United States tour of the acclaimed English boys choir, LIBERA, and the Ballet Sun Valley international festival this summer. The company has also extended its sponsorship of the Los Angeles Philharmonic at The Hollywood Bowl for the fifth consecutive season.
August 2, 2017 – If you are looking for and expect that big cruise ship feel, don’t book your ticket on Viking because that is not what a cruise like this is about. What it is about is that feeling of being ‘home’, it is small without all the distractions, guests will mingle with each other more and the staff is pretty entertaining. They spend time with you and do the little things that you don’t get on a huge cruise ship.
July 21, 2017 – The award-winning Viking Cruises has always put an emphasis on discovery. To encourage exploration on shore, there is an included excursion -- usually a guided walking tour -- in every port its longships visit. Recently they have expanded their lineup of optional shore trips with some delightful -- and in many cases exclusive -- experiences for an extra fee.
June 21, 2017 – As river cruising grows and grows in popularity, Viking River Cruises, the giant of the industry and its most award-winning cruise line, has added something new. Its world-wide itineraries now feature culinary tours, wine tastings, and multiple opportunities to sample local cuisine on board and ashore, at virtually every port.
May 25, 2017 – Acclaimed for its innovation, distinctive modern Scandinavian design, inclusive value and immersive destination-focused offerings, for the past 20 years Viking Cruises has amassed awards from industry experts and the travel trade.
April 19, 2017 – A lifelong admirer of Einstein, Torstein Hagen, also a physicist, shares Einstein’s interest in the concept of time and often refers to time as 'the only scarce commodity.' The campaign debuts today and will roll out across additional marketing channels throughout the show’s 10-part global event series on National Geographic.
May 24, 2017 – In May 2017, we sailed up the Rhine River exploring Switzerland, Germany, France and The Netherlands on a Viking river cruise. The entire trip was calm and relaxing and we felt like it struck the perfect balance of sightseeing and leisure.
May 12, 2017 – Viking River Cruises on Tuesday revealed the design of a ship that will sail the Nile River on a 12-day cruise-tour of Egypt that will begin next year. The Viking Ra, named for Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl’s primitive boats, will carry 48 guests on the all-suite ship.
May 11, 2017 – Travels throughout Europe have given my wife Shelley and me some magnificent memories, but we took great care in selecting our latest European destination because of security concerns. We carefully researched possibilities and opted for Portugal and a peaceful Viking River Cruise on its picturesque Douro, also known as the River of Gold.
May 7, 2017 – To borrow a phrase from Viking chairman and CEO Torstein Hagen, who was aboard for the first few days of the sailing, we were "exploring the world in comfort." Much of that comfort is down to Hagen and his team, who have worked hard to refine the Viking experience during the company's 20-year history.
May 9, 2017 – Viking River Cruises on Tuesday revealed details of an intimate new ship it's developing for the Nile River in Egypt. Scheduled to debut in March, the Viking Ra will feature spacious public areas and just 24 cabins — all suites with premium amenities.
May 1, 2017 – A European river-cruise vacation last summer had brought me to this beautiful part of Austria. I was exploring the Danube, which crosses 10 countries as it snakes 1,770 miles from western Germany to its destination at the Black Sea. My weeklong trip aboard Viking Cruises' longboat Var traveled from Budapest to Nuremberg, Germany.
Viking Cruises announced it has signed on to sponsor National Geographic’s first fully scripted global anthology series, “Genius,” which in its debut season tells the story of the 20th century’s most brilliant icon, Albert Einstein. The new premier partnership with National Geographic builds on Viking’s continued commitment to supporting enriching cultural programming, with current and past partnerships including PBS’ MASTERPIECE, the Los Angeles Philharmonic at The Hollywood Bowl, the Munch Museum and more.
March 21, 2017 – Recommend jetted over to Germany to take a first-hand look at two of Viking River Cruises’ latest Longships to join the fleet: Viking Hild and Viking Herja. After a celebratory start during the christening ceremony in Koblenz, Germany (which included Champagne-filled gondola rides to a fortress and fireworks over town), we set off on a 4-day mini cruise along the Rhine on board Viking Hild.
March 9, 2017 – From the rivers to the oceans and back again, what we're learning after a few days on a brand-new Longship from Viking River Cruises is that the most recognizable river cruise line to North Americans keeps on improving.
March 7, 2017 – At the confluence of the Rhine and Mosel rivers in Germany, near the French border, Viking River Cruises on Tuesday debuted its latest river cruise ships, Viking Herja and Viking Hild, just below an imposing fortress dating to the 12th century.
February 18, 2017 – My new tasty talk spotlights Karine Hagen, senior vice-president of Viking Cruises, which navigates a fleet of 59 river vessels in Europe, Russia, Egypt, China, and Southeast Asia as well as two ocean ships (with another vessel to launch later this month and three more planned in the near future).
January 13, 2017 – Long a hub of French culture, architecture and cuisine, Paris is undeniably one of the most romantic destinations in the world. After checking into the luxurious Paris Pullman Hotel (steps away from the Eiffel Tower), Viking River Cruise guests enjoy a comfortable afternoon bus tour with a knowledgeable local guide. The famed avenue Champs-Élysées and the Arc de Triomphe, commissioned by Napoleon in 1806, are the first of many highlights on this city tour.
September 2, 2017 – Few people would ever have predicted that river cruises could overtake the ocean market to become the fastest-growing segment of the industry. Yet, founded just 20 years ago with four modest riverboats and a home office consisting of two cell phones, Viking River Cruises has successfully leveraged the river market to achieve industry-leading growth. Now it is poised to become the world’s largest small-ship cruise line. Cruise Business Review traces the rapid growth of Viking Cruises.
August 7, 2016 - Look, I know the ship's captain is steering us westwards, my housekeeper doing a sterling job, and the engineers keeping the engines ticking down below. But really, I can't help thinking that the chefs are the most important staff on Viking Sea. They're the people keeping everybody satisfied, and I wonder at the enormity of their task on this ship of 930 passengers.
August 4, 2016 - I’m on board the new build Viking Sea for one of her first cruises, Barcelona to London, with stops in Spain and Portugal, before heading up to Normandy in France, then crossing over to London for Viking Sea’s christening on the Thames, where this ship became the largest vessel to be christened on that historic river.
July 31, 2016 - Only last year, Viking Ocean Cruises became the first new cruise line in a decade to launch a purpose-built ship, the 930-passenger Viking Star. Its identical sister Viking Sea was christened in May this year and four more ships will set sail in 2017, 2018 and 2020. Now the company is winning some of the world's most prestigious awards – most recently it was named the No. 1 Ocean Cruise Line by Travel + Leisure magazine readers in the 2016 World's Best Awards.
July 29, 2016 - Once again the Vikings are taking to the seas, and while their latest luxury liner is a far cry from traditional open-air longboats, don’t be surprised if you find yourself stuck in the snow.
July 22, 2016 - I've just spent 48 hours tramping through Barcelona: hard to resist a dawn-to-dusk round of sightseeing in this quirky and utterly beautiful city. My ship Viking Sea has lingered in port for two nights, as if reluctant to depart. Now I'm happy with a day at sea to let my sore feet unknot. I sit in Viking Sea's gorgeous Wintergarden in the sun, forking up scones with clotted cream and dithering over the two-page tea menu.
July 22, 2016 - There are few better moments in cruising than when you swipe your ship card through security and disembark into a new port of call. It's early morning, and I've hurried through breakfast aboard Viking Sea, ready for a day's exploration. A coach transfer makes the first part easy, hauling us upwards above Malaga to Gibralfaro fortress, the city's crumbling crown of Moorish walls. Viking Sea lies below in the harbour, a toy ship in a blue Mediterranean bathtub.
July 13, 2016 - Fiona Carruthers sailed on one of the ship's first voyages, Barcelona to London, for her grand christening on the Thames – the largest ship ever to be christened there. She highly enjoyed the onboard Spa facilities including the Snow Grotto.
July 10, 2016 - Cadiz may be such a place which he discovered at a three-hour included shore excursion in the morning with a Viking guide to orient and educate him, followed by the whole afternoon to explore at leisure.
June 23, 2016 - The see-food-and-eat-it diet is alive and well at sea, discovers Patricia Greig which joint Viking Sea's maiden voyage from Barcelona to London for the ship's christening.
May 24, 2016 - "I name you Viking Sea. May God bless you and all who sail on you!" declared Godmother Karine Hagen.
May 20, 2016 - Viking Sea is the second of Viking Cruises ocean vessels; the first, Viking Star, set sail in early 2015. Nearly identical to its predecessor, Viking Sea is a mid-sized ship carrying 930 passengers and recalls Viking's Longship river ships in its decor and friendly informality.
August 6, 2015 - Two cruising novices discover that bigger is not better when it comes to ocean liners, writes Michael Visontay.
