Forbes: Viking Saga: The Tale of Tor Hagen And His Voyage From Ousted CEO To Cancer Survivor To Cruise Ship Billionaire

April 15, 2019 – As the sparkling blue waters and red-roofed towns of Croatia drift by, Torstein Hagen makes his way through the minimalist, Scandinavian-style lobby of the Viking Jupiter cruise ship, explaining what makes Viking’s voyages successful. The secret is in what the ships don’t have. There are no casinos, no kids, no umbrella drinks, no formal nights, no waterslides and absolutely no butlers. Hagen has been in the cruise industry long enough to know what he doesn’t like.

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Forbes: The Norwegian Billionaire Behind Viking Cruises

April 15, 2019 - Torstein Hagen, the founder and CEO of Viking Cruise Lines, shows no signs of slowing down and has embarked on his biggest endeavor yet: To make a name for himself in ocean cruises.

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Cruise Critic: Viking River Cruises Christens 7 New Ships

March 19, 2019 – With christening ceremonies that spanned Germany, Portugal and Switzerland, Viking River Cruises added seven new ships to its continuously growing river fleet. A group of Viking employees, journalists, travel agents and other invited guests gathered pierside Tuesday in Basel, Switzerland, for the event, which saw two ships christened live and an additional five christened in other countries; those namings were simulcast on large screens in Basel.

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Condé Nast Traveler: How to Choose the Right European River Cruise for You

March 13, 2019 – Virtually identical, the company's 190-passenger Longships possess a contemporary Scandinavian design, emphasizing natural wood, neutral hues, and windows. Enthusiasts praise the alikeness, preferring the same onboard experience wherever they go. With such uniformity, Viking cruises purr along like Bentleys.

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CNN: Cruisers’ choice: Best cruise ships of 2019

March 6, 2019 – Viking has conquered the small to mid-sized cruise ship market. Viking Ocean Cruises, which was established in 2015, racked up 10 first-place awards in the 9th annual Cruise Critic Cruisers' Choice Awards on Wednesday. Viking's long-established river cruise line also earned top honors, with Viking Vidar named best for river cruises in a new category.

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Forbes: From The Amazon To The Nile: Your Guide To River Cruising In 2019

March 5, 2019 - Viking River Cruises Passage to Eastern Europe itinerary aboard the Embla takes passengers from Bucharest to Budapest (or vice versa), stopping in your less-than-typical, but still completely spectacular, European cities – which is exactly what’s to love about this river cruise.

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Travel + Leisure: These Cruises for World War II Buffs Combine Travel With History Lessons

February 23, 2019 – Paris, Prague, Berlin, London, China, Japan and more are all exciting but different destinations today — perhaps because of the events of 75 years ago. Visiting these places with the added insight of historians and military experts can provide once-in-a-lifetime experiences, as well as memorable vacations. River cruises on Europe’s narrow waterways allow guests to understand the landscape of the countries as they pass, and shore excursions with expert guides bring history to life.

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Forbes: Travel That Moves You: How Award-Winning Viking River Cruises Wows

January 6, 2019 - Looking for a relaxing, yet horizon-stretching vacation that gently steers you to enchanting, enriching and entertaining destinations chock full of culture, history and nature? Add to that wish list deluxe accommodations, gourmet cuisine and attentive service by polished staff — plus no-fuss planning and booking. A best bet? River cruising. This growing travel trend is a friendly, easy way to explore the world. An industry leader, Viking River Cruises deftly navigates more than 60 Nordic-style vessels on rivers around the globe — in Europe, Russia, Egypt, Southeast Asia and China — and orchestrates passengers' trips from start to finish, including air flights.

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USA Today: Best river cruise line? Readers vote Viking River Cruises

January 5, 2019 – 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, Wi-Fi, wine and beer with meals, shore excursions in every port and Viking's signature Culture Curriculum program.

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Reader’s Digest: The 13 Best Retirement Cruises for Seniors

November 30, 2018 - The hardest part about booking a Viking River cruise is narrowing down the itineraries: From Russia to France to Austria to Egypt, each ship is intimate without feeling cramped; each of the Scandinavian-designed longships feels like a floating hotel. You won’t even have to leave your stateroom to get a scenic view of world capitals and foreign lands.

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Condé Nast Traveler: Wine Cruises Might Be the Best Way to See Wine Country

November 28, 2018 – On a recent anniversary trip to the French wine region of Bordeaux, my husband and I opted not to drive, as we usually did, and instead booked an eight-day river cruise on the Viking Forseti. Though we’re not big cruisers, the idea of seeing Bordeaux wine country—a place we’d road-tripped through many times before—via its waterways seemed awfully relaxing and romantic. Plus, not driving meant we could avoid the tricky car rentals and Google Maps mishaps of prior trips and—most importantly—drink more wine.

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Forbes: The Best Way To Visit Europe's Christmas Markets

November 21, 2018 - Some of the most popular river cruise itineraries are those that make port stops at Europe's Christmas markets. Even though the magical season for visiting these markets is quite limited—generally extending from the last week in November through Christmas—the markets draw millions of people from around the globe each year.

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Travel Channel: Christmas at Sea: 10 Fun and Festive Holiday Cruises

October 17, 2018 - Skip the holiday shopping and cruise through Christmas instead! These special sailings bring all the merriment without the holiday stress. Celebrate Old World Christmas and experience the magic of European holiday markets with Viking River Cruises.

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Condé Nast Traveler: The Best Cruise Lines in the World: 2018 Readers' Choice Awards

October 9, 2018 - River Ship Line #1: Viking River Cruise: Parent company Viking Cruises has expanded feverishly in recent years, with 64 river ships and five ocean ships in its fleet; 51 of those are considered “longships” designed with Scandinavian–style influences just for Viking. Under Viking River Cruises, the company's riverboats explore familiar waters like the Danube and Rhône in Europe, as well as faraway itineraries on the Volga in Russia, and the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar.

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Food & Wine: How to Eat Like the Real Countess of the Real Downton Abbey

September 24, 2018 - I attended Heroes at Highclere as a guest of the event's title sponsor, Viking—which has also sponsored Downton Abbey for all the years the show aired on PBS. It turns out, Viking also has a close relationship with Highclere Castle and the Carnarvon family in real life and, as a result, cruise guests electing a pre- or post-cruise "Oxford and Highclere Castle" extension on select river and ocean journeys are allowed privileged access to Highclere.

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Reader’s Digest: 7 of the Most Breathtaking River Cruises Around the World

September 19, 2018 - Hop aboard Viking River Cruises Danube Waltz itinerary for a leisurely river cruise from Passau, Germany to Budapest, Hungary. You’ll make stops along the Wachu Valley, a UNESCO world heritage site, including Vienna, Austria, while also getting a glimpse into the lesser-known Central European cities, including Krems, Austria, and Bratislava, Slovakia.

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OC Register: Bavarian cruise is a trip through German history

August 28, 2018 – For half of Viking’s 15-day “Grand European Tour,” we’re in Germany, eyeing countless hilltop fanciful castles and strolling cobbled lanes of UNESCO heritage-listed cuckoo clock-chirping storybook villages.

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Just Luxe: Viking Gets A Gold Star For Their "River of Gold" Cruise

August 22, 2018 – Since Viking River Cruises and Portugal both scored top awards at the 2018 World Travel Awards ceremony, it made perfect sense to join Viking for their 10-day “Portugal’s River of Gold” cruise. During my research I learned that the Douro, one of Europe’s most pristine, unspoiled rivers, was named the River of Gold because back in the day the Douro served as the main thoroughfare for transporting Portugal’s culinary riches, which included olives, almonds, grapes and, of course, their famous Port wine.

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The Epoch Times: Russia’s Golden Ring Cities Along the Volga River

August 16, 2018 – When I think of Russia I think music, literature, dance; horse-drawn sleds in romantic snowy landscapes; golden-domed churches; opulent palaces of the Romanovs; and borscht (beet soup). During our Viking River Cruise in Russia, we had a chance to experience all that and more.

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Upscale Living Magazine: Cruising the Rhine with Viking River Cruises

July 2018 – While traveling north on the Rhine River from Basel, Switzerland, to Amsterdam, The Netherlands, I asked guests on the Viking Ingvi, “Why did you choose a Viking River cruise?” The resounding answer was, “I don’t have to worry about anything, they take care of it all!”

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TravelAge West: What to Know About Viking's Combination Cruises

May 16, 2018 – By uniting the river and ocean experiences, Viking is offering passengers a very rich experience of regional culture. The cruises combine a 190-guest Viking Longship river cruise with a cruise on Viking’s fast-growing fleet of nearly identical 930-guest ocean ships. Agents’ main complaint is that the first two itineraries (setting sail in 2018) were already full when they heard about the product.

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Getting Stamped: Christmas Market Cruising Down The Danube River

May 11, 2018 – Christmas markets in Europe on your bucket list? Want to see the best of the best, and as many as you can in a one-week vacation? Well, you’re not alone! That was exactly what we wanted, and we were able to check European Christmas markets off our bucket list this year by taking a Christmas Market cruise with Viking River Cruises down the Danube River!

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Canada.com: By ocean or river, Viking fleets keep on growing

April 18, 2018 – It was about this time six years ago that I stood on the pier in Amsterdam, on a cold and blustery Dutch day, and watched as Viking Cruises launch its first set of Viking Longship riverboats. The 190-passenger Viking Odin and her three sisters were total game-changers; no one company had ever designed anything like them before, and passengers were immediately taken with their charming, Scandinavian-inspired decor, excellent service, and quality cuisine.

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Forbes: Surprising Detour Off A Viking Cruise: The French Village That Saved Thousands Of Jews During WW II

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.

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Chicago Tribune: Viking doubles down on ocean cruises, Chinese market

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.

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Travel + Leisure: The Best River Cruises for Exploring Europe This Summer

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.

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USA Today 10 Best: This is the best of cruising for 2018

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.

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USA Today: River cruise giant Viking soon could dominate upscale ocean cruising, too

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.

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Travel + Leisure: The Viking Hild Is One of the Sleekest River Cruise Ships in Europe

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.

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Huffington Post: 6 Reasons to Take a River Cruise in 2018

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.

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Forbes: Viking Saga: The Tale of Tor Hagen And His Voyage From Ousted CEO To Cancer Survivor To Cruise Ship Billionaire

April 15, 2019 – As the sparkling blue waters and red-roofed towns of Croatia drift by, Torstein Hagen makes his way through the minimalist, Scandinavian-style lobby of the Viking Jupiter cruise ship, explaining what makes Viking’s voyages successful. The secret is in what the ships don’t have. There are no casinos, no kids, no umbrella drinks, no formal nights, no waterslides and absolutely no butlers. Hagen has been in the cruise industry long enough to know what he doesn’t like.

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Forbes: The Norwegian Billionaire Behind Viking Cruises

April 15, 2019 - Torstein Hagen, the founder and CEO of Viking Cruise Lines, shows no signs of slowing down and has embarked on his biggest endeavor yet: To make a name for himself in ocean cruises.

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CNN: Cruisers’ choice: Best cruise ships of 2019

March 6, 2019 – Viking has conquered the small to mid-sized cruise ship market. Viking Ocean Cruises, which was established in 2015, racked up 10 first-place awards in the 9th annual Cruise Critic Cruisers' Choice Awards on Wednesday. Viking's long-established river cruise line also earned top honors, with Viking Vidar named best for river cruises in a new category.

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Cruise Critic: A Viking Northern Lights Cruise: Just Back From Norway

March 4, 2019 - We're just back from a Northern Lights cruise on Viking Ocean Cruises' Viking Sky, which visited various ports along Norway's coast, heading into the Arctic Circle. Visiting a cold-weather destination in the heart of winter isn't everyone's cup of tea, but for those willing to brave the sometimes-frigid temperatures, the payoff could very well be a big check off your bucket list. That is: spotting the rare and beautiful natural phenomena of the northern lights, also known as the aurora borealis.

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Forbes: The Art of Travel: Viking Cruises Continues To Champion Culture

February 25, 2019 – As well as its innovative sea and river voyages around the world, Viking Cruises is also renowned for its continual support of the arts. Following on from last year’s sponsorship of the V&A’s major Ocean Liners: Speed & Style exhibition, this year, the cruise line is working alongside the British Museum on the anticipated Edvard Munch: Love and Angst exhibition, which will run from 11 April – 21 July 2019.

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New York Times: Viewing the Northern Lights: ‘It’s Almost Like Heavenly Visual Music’

February 11, 2019 - Viking Cruises inaugurated a new 13-day sailing to northern Norway, called “In Search of the Northern Lights,” which bills itself as the first full-length winter itinerary in the arctic from an American cruise line.

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Cruise Critic: Exotic Norway: Why a Cruise is the Best Way to Travel

February 4, 2019 - On our cruise aboard Viking Ocean’s Viking Sea, our “Into the Midnight Sun” itinerary visited some of Norway’s better-known destinations. But what really caught my eye, both in planning the trip and then again in experiencing it, was the smaller, more remote and off-beat places that the ship also visits.

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Forbes: The 20 Best Cruises To Take In 2019

January 31, 2019 - I never saw myself as a cruiser, i.e., somehow who loves cruises. In fact, I studiously avoided them. But my experience on the Norwegian-owned Viking completely changed my mind. My journey up the coast of Norway on the Viking Sky was luxurious and comfortable, full of hygge, the Nordic concept that translates, loosely, into “enjoying life’s simple pleasures.” Floor-to-ceiling windows in the ship’s public areas bring the outside in and make you feel close to nature.

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AFAR: Want an Alaskan Adventure? Book One of These New Cruises

January 25, 2019 - The cruise line (one of AFAR readers’ favorites) enters Alaskan waters for the first time in the company’s 22-year history. In May 2019, the 930-passenger Viking Orion, sets sail. Ten-night summertime itineraries between Vancouver and Seward highlight Viking’s entertaining excursion options such as dogsled rides with Iditarod huskies in Seward and gold panning in Juneau.

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Yahoo Lifestyle: The sleek Scandi-styled cruise that is an adults only haven

January 23, 2019 - While taking port in Sydney, during its new Australia and New Zealand route, Yahoo Lifestyle was welcomed aboard the ocean cruiser to truly uncover what is this so-called ‘Viking difference’ – and we have to say, we walked away feeling pretty impressed.

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USA Today: Viking Sea wins Best Small Ship title

January 5, 2019 - The 930-guest Viking Sea was built in 2016 as the second oceangoing vessel in the Viking fleet. Itineraries are destination focused, but onboard, passengers enjoy an inclusive experience with all-veranda staterooms, plenty of public spaces to spread out, excellent alternative dining options and top-notch service.

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Cruise Critic: Love Scandinavian Design? You’ll Adore these Ships

December 28, 2018 - Nordic design is as popular and timeless as ever. Home furnishing stores across the globe are adopting the aesthetic made mainstream by brands like Marimekko, Finland’s legendary purveyor of graphic patterns; Denmark’s Hay, known for clean-lined housewares and fixtures; and Oslo-based Northern, which recently branched out from its specialty, lighting, to offer furniture crafted with pale woods native to Norway. One place you may not have expected to find this minimalist style is on cruise ships, often celebrated for their over-the-top, opulent decor. But lovers of this spare, streamlined style will feel right at home on Viking Cruises’ fleet of ocean ships, models of Scandinavian chic with clean lines, light woods and nature-inspired elements.

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Robb Report: The Top 7 Trips Robb Report Readers Added to their Bucket Lists in 2018

December 26, 2018 - This year, you added everything from a round-the-world cruise to a road trip through China to your bucket lists. Though definitely not for landlubbers, Viking certainly made a splash when it opened the world’s longest-ever continuous cruise for reservations earlier this year. Taking off late next summer, the trip will see nearly 1,000 sailors settle in for the journey, which will tackle 59 countries and 113 ports of call as it makes its way west around the globe from London.

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Toronto Sun: Cruise with Viking for a taste of Russia

December 8, 2018 - Unless you want to explore Russia in depth, visiting on a cruise is an easy way to go. Canadians, who normally require a visa to enter Russia, don’t need one if they visit on an ocean cruise and take shore excursions from the ship. (You still need a visa if you want to explore on your own.) While this type of visit only provides a taste of the country, it’s enough for most travellers. This cruise was part of the Viking Homelands itinerary, which samples the best of Scandinavia and its capitals, plus Russia, Estonia, Poland and Germany in one fairy-tale voyage on the Baltic Sea.

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CNN: Cruise Critic picks world’s best cruise ships for 2018

December 5, 2018 - Viking Cruises dominated the 11th annual Cruise Critic Editors' Picks Awards for the second year in a row with five wins in 2018. Viking won three luxury awards (best new luxury ship for the Viking Orion, best spa, best value for money) and two river cruise awards (best for first timers and best itineraries).

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New York Times: On Your Next Cruise, Put Down That Cocktail and Head to Class

November 24, 2018 - Supplementing the cooking classes, yoga sessions and naturalist briefings common on most cruise ships, a new wave of shipboard stimuli are focusing on more intellectual fare. Professorial lectures, book clubs and TED Talk screenings aim to add scholarly diversions to sailings on the high seas. Viking Ocean Cruises recently added resident historians to the crews of each of its six ships. The historians offer lectures on the history of the cruise destination, but also hold round-table discussions on a variety of themes, from women explorers to Venetian naval power.

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Cruise Critic: Rock Star Ports of Northern Europe: Where to Visit from Berlin to St. Petersburg

November 21, 2018 – Cruise itineraries that focus on Northern Europe and Scandinavia offer a tremendous variety of cultures, languages and lifestyles. Want to dive into one of the world's great art collections? St. Petersburg's Hermitage ranks as the second-largest museum in the world, stuffed with masterpieces by Rembrandt, Picasso, da Vinci and van Gogh. How about reveling in the world's greatest horde of fjords? That would be Norway, where more than a thousand of these glacier-carved inlets are said to lace a stunning coastline. And the Viking stories of trade routes and conquest? Trace their history through Scandinavia, as far as the Scottish Isles, Greenland and Russia.

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U.S. News & World Report: Best Cruise Lines for Couples

November 13, 2018 – Viking Ocean Cruises #1: What is it about sailing the high seas that inspires romance? That serene setting, certainly, but also intimate dinners, relaxing spa treatments, enriching cultural programs and spectacular sunsets. Whatever the draw, these cruise lines ranked by U.S. News know how to set the mood for an amorous escape. Based on a methodology that factors in health ratings, expert reviews and approval among couples, here are the most romantic cruise lines.

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Cruise Critic: Viking Ocean Cruises to Return to Turkey in 2021, Introduce 3 New Greek Ports

November 9, 2018 – Viking’s "Greek Odyssey" will explore the Aegean Sea sailing round trip from Athens and calling on three new ports for the line: Volos, Greece; Thessaloniki, Greece; and Nafpilo, Greece. All feature a combination of ancient and modern life, including the remains of the Macedonian kingdom of Alexander the Great in Thessaloniki, and the ancient religious center of Dion, located at the foothills of Mt. Olympus in Volos.

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AFAR: 7 Rules for Surviving a Cruise with Your Mother

November 6, 2018 - Taking a cruise would give us precious days to catch up, bond, and make new memories in strange lands, just as we had done in the past, but without the stressors of cramped flights or unpacking and repacking suitcases every other day.

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Thrillist: The 11 Coolest New Cruise Ships in the World

October 25, 2018 - Gone are the days when ice sculptures and blackjack tables were considered cutting-edge draws. Today, every new floating city that launches raises the bar in terms of size, amenities, and crazy onboard activities (think: skydiving, "snow" rooms, and waterslides). Which is why we thought it'd be fun to take a closer look at some of the coolest new ships currently on the water.

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Travel Weekly: Study says Viking has best WiFi at sea

October 22, 2018 - Viking Ocean Cruises topped a ranking of the best cruise ship WiFi service. The ranking was assembled by telecom provider Frontier Communications, which asked 20 cruise lines to provide information about data transmission speeds and costs.

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Condé Nast Traveler: The Best Cruise Lines in the World: 2018 Readers' Choice Awards

October 9, 2018 - Medium Ship Line #2: Viking Ocean Cruises: A cantilevered swimming pool with a view over the rear of the ship is hardly the only striking feature of these new ships, which debuted in 2015 as an expansion of Viking River Cruises. The five ships, Viking Star, Sea, Sky, Sun, and Orion, each accommodate just under 1,000 guests, and all exclusively in balcony cabins.

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U.S. News & World Report: The 30 Top Couples Vacations

October 8, 2018 - This 15-day voyage stops in some of the most romantic and iconic destinations in northern Europe. The "Viking Homelands" itinerary is incredible, sailing through the fjords in Eidfjord, Norway, and stopping at ports of call in cities like Copenhagen, Denmark, Stockholm and Helsinki.

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Cruise Critic: In Search of Norway's Midnight Sun: Join Us on Viking Sea

October 3, 2018 - With its rugged, handsome coastline and innumerable remote hamlets, and land costs that can make a sailor reach for smelling salts, Norway is one place that is perhaps best, most easily seen on a cruise. And a 14-day itinerary aboard Viking Sea may well be the best route to experience this magnificent country.

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Food & Wine: How to Eat Like the Real Countess of the Real Downton Abbey

September 24, 2018 - I attended Heroes at Highclere as a guest of the event's title sponsor, Viking—which has also sponsored Downton Abbey for all the years the show aired on PBS. It turns out, Viking also has a close relationship with Highclere Castle and the Carnarvon family in real life and, as a result, cruise guests electing a pre- or post-cruise "Oxford and Highclere Castle" extension on select river and ocean journeys are allowed privileged access to Highclere.

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TravelAge West: What It’s Like to Go on a King Crab Safari in Norway

September 16, 2018 - Rain and ocean spray pelted my face as the deep-sea rafting boat sped through the choppy waters of Sarnesfjorden. The coast of Honningsvag — the northernmost city in Norway, and one of the country’s smallest — quickly became a dot in the distance as we zoomed toward our goal: catching and eating red king crabs.

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New York Times: Your Next Trip? It’s Written in the Stars

September 3, 2018 - Like watching the sunset, seeking out the Big Dipper in the night sky is a vacation ritual. But in the past five years, according to experts, the term astrotourism has evolved to describe more intentional travel to places with dark skies and more visible stars.

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Los Angeles Times: Got 245 days of vacation time? Viking’s record setting world cruise may be perfect for you

August 30, 2018 - Luxury cruise line Viking claims the title of longest continuous world cruise with a 2019 itinerary it calls the Ultimate World Cruise. Indeed, the trip features a full circumnavigation of the globe, traveling to six continents, 59 countries and 113 ports, including Los Angeles.

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USA Today: 10 reasons you need to cruise in Norway

August 20, 2018 - Norway is gorgeous any time of the year, but cruising through the country in the summer, when the Land of the Midnight Sun boasts 24 hours of daylight, gives you endless opportunities to take advantage of its natural beauty. With its home port in Bergen, Viking Ocean Cruises knows a thing or two about Norway, and its "Into the Midnight Sun" itinerary is one of its best, offering unparalleled views and shore excursions that let you experience the country's culture, history and scenery 24/7.

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CNN: 10 Unusual Cruise Ship Amenities

August 2, 2018 - Cruise industry folks know that vacationers have literal boatloads of sailing options to choose from these days, inspiring the trend to outfit ships with the most whiz-bang attractions and amenities at sea.

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CNBC: This space-themed cruise comes with its own high-tech planetarium — take a look inside

July 25, 2018 – An ocean cruise is a great way to stargaze, but one ship is offering guests a closer look at our galaxy with its own high-tech planetarium on board. Viking Cruises' Orion, which debuted in June, features a high-tech planetarium dubbed The Explorer's Dome. It's the highest definition planetarium to ever sail the seas (Cunard's Queen Mary 2 has a smaller, less high-tech planetarium).

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Travel + Leisure: T+L Readers Chose This Cruise Line as Their Favorite for the 3rd Year in a Row

July 10, 2018 – If you want to head out to sea, consider doing so on a Viking ship. For the World’s Best Awards for 2018, Travel + Leisure readers chose Viking as the World’s Best large-ship ocean cruise line. Every year for our World’s Best Awards survey, T+L asks readers to weigh in on travel experiences around the globe — to share their opinions on the top hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. Readers rated individual cruise ships on their cabins/facilities, food, service, itineraries/destinations, excursions/activities, and value.

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Space.com: NASA Astronaut Anna Fisher Talks About Being 'Godmother' to Viking Orion Cruise Ship

June 28, 2018 – Retired NASA astronaut Anna Fisher, the first mother in space, has taken to the sea to become the "godmother" to Viking's newest ocean ship, Orion. To be the godmother of Viking Orion "is an incredible honor," Fisher told Space.com. "Not everyone gets to be a godmother of a ship."

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The Province: Viking aims for stars with newest ship

June 24, 2018 – I recently sailed aboard Viking Cruises fifth ocean-going cruise ship, the 930-guest Viking Orion, on her maiden voyage from Rome to Barcelona. She was christened in a spectacular ceremony in Livorno, Italy by Dr. Anna Fisher, a chemist, emergency room physician and former NASA astronaut who became the first mother in space during a 1984 mission aboard the Space Shuttle Discovery.

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USA Today: 19 things that set Viking Cruises ships apart

June 20, 2018 – Viking seems to have hit a home run with the size, style and focus of its ocean-going vessels. The ships are relatively small and upscale, and the experience revolves heavily around the destinations they visit. The line also has grabbed the love and loyalty of customers with its "no nickel-and-diming" philosophy. A lot is included in the fare. But it's more than just that. Here, USA TODAY highlights 19 things that cruise fans and travel agents say are setting Viking ships apart.

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Condé Nast Traveler: Viking Orion: The Newest Ship from One of the World’s Top Cruise Lines

June 19, 2018 – The Orion is a near copy of Viking’s four other ships—the Star, Sea, Sky, and Sun—with room for 930 guests (in 465 balcony staterooms), eight restaurants, two pools, and a massive Nordic-inspired spa (with sauna, steam room, and even a snow grotto, ideal for chilling out between hot tub dips). It does have a few space-themed extras, though, in a nod to both the ship’s name and its godmother, the astronaut Dr. Anna Fisher, who was on hand for the christening in Livorno, on the coast of Italy near Pisa, last week.

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Forbes: Viking Ocean Cruises: What’s Its Recipe for Success?

June 19, 2018 - Over the last six years, Viking has made a big splash on Europe’s rivers launching more than 40 riverboats. On the heels of that robust success, the cruise line is also making waves on the ocean.

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USA Today: Why Viking Cruises may have the most ambitious culinary program at sea

June 17, 2018 – When Viking Cruises' first ocean-going ship, Viking Star, debuted in 2015, it featured something unusual for a cruise vessel: A restaurant that changed its cuisine every few days. Dubbed The Chef's Table, the eatery offered a rotation of four tasting menus that focused on everything from Italian to Caribbean dishes. It was just the beginning of what may be the most ambitious undertaking in cruise ship cuisine ever.

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Forbes: "First Mother In Space" Takes To The Sea To Become Godmother To Viking Orion

June 18, 2018 – Viking’s latest ocean ship, Orion, is currently sailing from Rome to Barcelona on its maiden voyage after a spectacular naming celebration in Livorno, Italy last week. Named after one of the brightest and most recognizable constellations in the night sky, Viking Orion becomes the fifth ship in the company’s award-winning ocean fleet. It seems fitting that Dr. Anna Fisher, the retired NASA astronaut known for her work on NASA’s Orion exploration vehicle project, was named Godmother of the new ship, which features an exclusive “Explorations in Space” photo collection, a Resident Astronomer who will lead lectures and stargazing sessions and a high-tech planetarium-like theater showing panoramic films about space exploration.

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Cruise Critic – Live From Viking Orion: A Look at the New Cruise Ship's Planetarium

June 18, 2018 – Viking Orion, the fifth ship in Viking Ocean Cruises' growing fleet, debuted this week with one big, wow-worthy surprise: a planetarium. The Explorers' Dome, located on the second level of the ship's Explorers' Lounge, is a brilliantly high-tech planetarium that features a dome with 7K resolution, five laser-beam projectors, studio speakers and 2-D and 3-D options. While it's not the first cruise ship to offer a planetarium, it's the most advanced; Viking executives say Orion has the highest definition dome around.

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Space.com: From Space to Sea: Cruise Ship 'Viking Orion' Honors Retired Astronaut Anna Fisher

June 15, 2018 – Combining Nordic culture and space travel, Viking Cruises officially welcomed its fifth ocean ship, Viking Orion — named after the prominent constellation and in honor of retired NASA astronaut Anna Fisher. The official naming ceremony of Viking Orion took place yesterday (June 14) in Livorno, Italy.

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Cruise Critic: Viking Ocean Cruises Takes Delivery of Viking Orion

June 7, 2018 – Viking Ocean Cruises took delivery of its fifth cruise ship today at the Fincantieri shipyard in Alcona, Italy. The 930-passenger ship is identical to its fleetmates, Viking Star, Sea, Sky and Sun. Viking Orion, like the rest of the Viking Ocean fleet, has all-balcony staterooms, multiple dining venues included in the cruise fare, two pools, and a spa with a free thermal suite that features a sauna and snow grotto. It will sail to a wide range of destinations including the Mediterranean, Australia & New Zealand, Alaska, Asia and South Pacific.

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Munch Museum Magazine: Interview with Karine Hagen – Tourism and Culture Go Hand in Hand

June, 1, 2018 – When traveling with Viking Cruises, crowned the best cruise company in the world for the second year running, tourism, culture and art experiences go hand in hand. We spoke with Karine Hagen, the company’s knowledgeable Senior Vice President, to talk about her relationship with both Edvard Munch and art in general and about what travelling means to her.

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JustLuxe: A Luxury Nomad Among the Ruins: Journeying to Olympia and Delphi, Greece

May 29, 2018 – For those of us who prefer traveling in a kind of nomadic luxury, where access to a great spa, options for great food and wine, and exceptional off ship tours or exploring in a nomadic way, a high-end ocean cruise – one without thousands of people -- is the perfect answer. Recently, I traveled on the Viking Star, considered a small ship, as it accommodates only 930 passengers and 465 staterooms, each with its own balcony. It was the Empires Of The Mediterranean cruise, where we experienced the cuisine, history, and culture of Venice, the Dalmatian Coast and Greece.

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TravelAge West: What to Know About Viking's Combination Cruises

May 16, 2018 – By uniting the river and ocean experiences, Viking is offering passengers a very rich experience of regional culture. The cruises combine a 190-guest Viking Longship river cruise with a cruise on Viking’s fast-growing fleet of nearly identical 930-guest ocean ships. Agents’ main complaint is that the first two itineraries (setting sail in 2018) were already full when they heard about the product.

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Delish: This Epic Around-the-World Cruise Goes To 59 Countries And Lasts 245 Days

May 11, 2018 – If you've ever wished you could take a year off and travel the world, Viking Cruises may have just created the best way to achieve that dream. Viking's Ultimate World Cruise, which departs London on August 31, 2019, will take you to 59 countries and 113 ports across six continents and will last 245 days, making it the world's longest continuous cruise.

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Travel + Leisure: Spend 8 Months at Sea Onboard the Record-breaking World’s Longest Cruise

May 2, 2018 – If seven days on a cruise doesn’t feel like enough time to get your sea legs, Viking Cruises is now offering a 245-day Ultimate World Cruise. The eight-month cruise will visit six continents, 59 countries and 113 ports, starting at $92,990. Fares go up to $269,990 for the Owner’s Suite. The itinerary will set a record as the world’s longest continuous cruise when it takes off from London on August 31, 2019.

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USA Today: A world cruise that lasts 245 days? That's the plan at Viking

May 2, 2018 – Call it the most epic cruise ever. Fast-growing Viking on Tuesday unveiled plans for an around-the-world sailing lasting 245 days — a new record for a continuous world voyage, according the line. Kicking off in London on Aug. 31, 2019, the trip will take place on the 930-passenger Viking Sun and include stops at 113 ports in 59 countries. The ship will visit every continent except Antarctica.

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Canada.com: By ocean or river, Viking fleets keep on growing

April 18, 2018 – It was about this time six years ago that I stood on the pier in Amsterdam, on a cold and blustery Dutch day, and watched as Viking Cruises launch its first set of Viking Longship riverboats. The 190-passenger Viking Odin and her three sisters were total game-changers; no one company had ever designed anything like them before, and passengers were immediately taken with their charming, Scandinavian-inspired decor, excellent service, and quality cuisine.

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Chicago Tribune: Viking doubles down on ocean cruises, Chinese market

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.

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Los Angeles Times: River or ocean cruise? Now Viking lets you do both in a single journey

April 5, 2018 – Viking is combining river and ocean cruises in a single journey for trips that begin this summer. The luxury cruise line rolled out new sailings that explore Europe's rivers and then set sail along the North Sea coast. On the trips, passengers transfer from river Longships, as Viking calls its river fleet, to ocean-going ships.

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AFAR: This Cruise Is Making Traditional Nordic Liquor on Its Maiden Voyage

March 27, 2018 – The 930 passengers aboard the Viking Sun aren’t the only ones taking Viking Ocean’s first around-the-world trip: Six 500-liter barrels of Scandinavian linje aquavit also left Miami on December 15 on a five-month voyage circumnavigating the planet, too. When the ship sails into London on May 5 after the sold-out, 141-day world cruise, they’ll have completed their journey.

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USA Today 10 Best: This is the best of cruising for 2018

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.

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USA Today: River cruise giant Viking soon could dominate upscale ocean cruising, too

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.

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USA Today: Fast-growing Viking names fourth ocean ship, Viking Sun, in Shanghai

March 8, 2018 – River cruise giant Viking's move into ocean cruising hit another milestone on Thursday as the company officially named its fourth ocean ship, Viking Sun, along the riverfront area of Shanghai known as the Bund.

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Cruise Critic: Cruise Critic's 2018 Cruisers' Choice Award Winners Revealed

February 13, 2018 – Viking Ocean Cruises swept the Small-Mid category, winning every category but one, for a total of nine awards. Viking Sea was named Best Overall, Best Cabins, Best for Fitness & Recreation, Best Shore Excursions and Best for Value; while Viking Sky was named Best Entertainment and Best Public Rooms; and Viking Star was named Best Dining and Best Service. Viking Sea was also named Best for First Timers.

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Cruise Critic: Viking Ocean Cruises Makes Debut in Australia with its Newest Ship, Viking Sun

February 10, 2018 – Viking Ocean Cruises' newest ship, Viking Sun, arrived in Sydney for the first time today, marking the brand's debut down under and its maiden voyage around the world. The 930-passenger Viking Sun set off from Miami on December 15, 2017, on a 141-day cruise to London, around five continents, 35 countries and 66 ports. Melbourne was the first port of call for the ship's foray into Australian waters on February 8, followed by Sydney this morning, with Brisbane, the Whitsunday Islands, Cairns, Thursday Island and Darwin to follow.

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Travel + Leisure: This Cruise Explores the Stunning Landscapes Where Viking Culture Was Born

February 1, 2018 – For two weeks, beginning in Stockholm and making my way to Finland, Estonia, Russia, Poland, Germany, and Denmark before finally ending in the charming coastal towns of Norway, I would explore the stunning landscapes where Viking culture was born or had a presence.

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Miami Herald: This cruise ship has no casino, no water slides, no karaoke and no kids. We like it.

February 1, 2018 – I’ve been trying to decide what I liked best about Viking Sun and I’ve narrowed it down to these three points: the heated bathroom floors; the variety of dining choices with no extra fee; and the peace that comes with having no children on board.

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Huffington Post: My Viking Adventure: A Different Type of Cruise

January 11, 2018 – For those of you who have not experienced a cruise other than the megaships, let me bring you into the world of Viking. If you are looking for a constant hustle and bustle, casinos and loud music, read no further. But, if you are looking for a more intimate ship, personalized service, cultural enrichment and total relaxation then read on.

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USA Today: Photo tour: Inside Viking Ocean Cruises' newest ship, Viking Sun

January 16, 2018 – Unveiled in November, Sun is two-year-old Viking Ocean's fourth vessel. Like the line's first three ships — Viking Star, Viking Sea and Viking Sky — its less than a third the size of the latest megaships from the likes of Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line, and it has been designed to mix on-board elegance with a focus on destinations that executives say has been lost across much of the cruise industry in recent years.

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Travel Weekly: Nordic heritage shines onboard the Viking Sun

January 11, 2018 – Subtle reminders of Viking heritage are everywhere on the 930-passenger ship, from the reindeer pelts and wool blankets draped across the backs of upholstered chairs in the Explorer's Lounge to the snow grotto in the LivNordic Spa.

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Los Angeles Times: World cruise brought Viking's newest ship to the Port of Los Angeles

January 8, 2018 – The ship's visit marked a number of firsts: It was Viking Cruises' first world cruise, its first West Coast port of call, and the first opportunity for the line’s U.S.-based employees, who work in Woodland Hills, to see one of the ships they help to market and create.

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Cruise Critic: Viking Ocean Cruises Announces Name of Sixth Ship

January 5, 2018 – Viking Ocean Cruises today announced the line's sixth cruise ship, launching in February 2019, will be named Viking Jupiter. Torstein Hagen, the cruise line's chairman and founder, announced the ship's name at Port Los Angeles, where Viking Sun became the first ship in the fleet to visit the U.S. West Coast.

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