October 7, 2022 — “Go big or go home” isn’t the official Viking motto, but it sure feels like the company’s mantra. Long dominant in river cruising and now a major player (and Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards winner) in midsize-ship ocean cruising, the company has recently and definitively moved into a new market: expedition cruising.
October 6, 2022 — The brand new expedition ship from Viking has set sail and is on her way to South America and then on to Antarctica, where she will join sister ship Viking Octantis for the southern hemisphere’s summer.
September 30, 2022 — With more than a hundred Viking executives, business partners, passengers and media looking on, the company officially welcomed the 378-passenger ship, Viking Polaris, with a short but upbeat naming ceremony along the waterfront of Amsterdam.
September 30, 2022 — Viking christened both its new expedition ships -- Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris -- at a joint ceremony in Amsterdam today. The line chose the first two women to cross Antarctica -- Liv Arnesen and Ann Bancroft -- as godmothers to the Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris, respectively.
September 29, 2022 — The Viking Polaris has been delivered, It is the second expedition ship to join the Viking fleet in less than a year. Vard Group delivered the ship on Sept. 27 in Soviknes, Norway. Polaris, named after the North Star, is Viking's second expedition ship, built for sailing in Antarctica and the Great Lakes. The ship joins the Viking Octantis, conversely named after the pole star in the southern hemisphere. That ship was delivered in December 2021.
August 31, 2022 — Viking ranked #1 on Newsweek’s list of America’s Best Customer Service Brands in the transportation and travel cruise category for the third consecutive year.
July 22, 2022 — The difference between expedition ships and large cruise vessels, said Torstein Hagen, founder and chairman of Viking, is that large ships are not welcome in nearly as many places. “We come here and we're welcome everywhere,” he said last month onboard the 378-passenger Octantis, then on its third Great Lakes voyage. “It's quite nice. Refreshing.”
June 28, 2022 — This new, state-of-the-art, long and narrow expedition ship was built for Southern Hemisphere summers in Antarctica and is spending Northern Hemisphere summers in the Great Lakes.
June 27, 2022 — Cruise Critic is just back from sailing on the Viking’s Octantis, the cruise lines’ first expedition ship. We sailed on one of its eight-day Great Lakes itineraries: the Milwaukee, WI to Thunder Bay in Ontario, CA itinerary. The 665-foot-long, Polar Class 6 ship carries 378 guests and 256 crewmembers and sailed its inaugural in Antarctica before heading north. It is summering in the Great Lakes region before heading back to the Antarctic and other destinations.
June 27, 2022 — As the submarine lowered itself about 50 feet below the surface, they got their first glimpse of the bottom of Lake Huron's Georgian Bay. Guests will find a series of toys like this while sailing the Octantis, Viking's first expedition ship, which will be followed by sister ship Viking Polaris, due out this fall.
June 25, 2022 — Viking recently launched the newest member of its fleet: the expedition ship Octantis. With its current itineraries focused on the Great Lakes and Antarctica, the gorgeous vessel seamlessly transitions between the serious science conducted on-board, and the high-end travel option Viking’s become recognized and lauded for during the past 25 years.
May 18, 2022 — One such cruise line to expand into the Great Lakes is Viking Cruises. Known for luxurious river cruises, the cruise line launched its first expedition ship, the Viking Octantis, in Antarctica before making its way into the Great Lakes for its inaugural Great Lakes season earlier this month.
May 9, 2022 — Viking on May 6 completed its inaugural Great Lakes voyage on the new Viking Octantis, the largest cruise ship to sail the Great Lakes. Viking is offering three Great Lakes itineraries this year on the 378-passenger expedition ship.
May 3, 2022 — This 378-passenger expedition ship, which just wrapped her first season in Antarctica, is an exciting departure from the European river cruising Viking has staked its reputation on.
April 25, 2022 — The Octantis, named for the southern star, is an extensive enrichment experience. Understated elegance and attention to detail, distinct Viking characteristics are around every corner.
April 25, 2022 — With the introduction of Viking Octantis, Viking Cruises has firmly planted its flag in the expedition cruising world. Octantis is the cruise line's first ship dedicated to adventure cruising, and it is simply excellent. Viking has built a reputation on its river and ocean cruise ships for considering every detail, and on Viking Octantis, the company has taken this to the next level.
April 21, 2022 — This new Polar Class 6 expedition vessel is a product of Hagen’s visionary leadership as well as a testament to his moxie. Although the occasion was low-key, the excitement of the first guests, visitors, and crew on board was palpable.
April 19, 2022 — A growing number of tourists are looking for ways to travel sustainably, looking to see the sights and protect them—and that’s making cruise liners, car companies and the tourism agency readjust. NBC’s Jessie Kirsch reports for TODAY.
April 7, 2022 — Viking Expeditions (part of the larger Viking cruise company that also operates a river and ocean line) is new in Antarctica with the 378-passenger, polar-class Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris, ships that combine the comforts of traditional cruising with expedition adventures.
April 3, 2022 — Viking is unusual among major cruise lines in that it operates both ocean ships and river ships. But despite this, it has one of the easiest-to-understand fleets.
March 16, 2022 — Just last week I sat in a Norwegian hot tub known as a badestamp, the steam rising to meet the crisp air of Antarctica that flushed my cheeks. As our ship sailed at a leisurely pace past brilliant blue icebergs, I kept an eye out for the occasional crabeater seal—usually perched on ice floes, they’d lazily lift their heads to glance over at us. I lived like that—in this delicate sweet spot where great adventure and comfort meet—for a full eleven days on board the brand-new Viking Octantis.
February 17, 2022 — There’s a brand new way to spot whales in Antarctica: Officially launched February 16, 2022, Viking Cruises will visit Antarctica with its two new 378-passenger Viking Expeditions ships, Viking Octantis and, later this year, Viking Polaris.
February 15, 2022 — Fast-growing Viking has rolled out more than 70 new river cruise ships and oceangoing vessels since its founding in 1997. But there’s never been one like this. Designed to hold just 378 passengers, Viking Octantis is the line’s first “expedition” cruise ship — a type of cruise ship specifically designed to take travelers to the most off-the-beaten-path parts of the world, including Antarctica and the Arctic.
February 10, 2022 — Beginning in late May, the Thunder Bay cruise ship port will be bustling with travellers arriving on the Viking Expeditions’ Viking Octantis.
December 22, 2022 — It was almost a year ago now, but I still daydream about ringing in the start of 2022 in Rome. Rather than spend the holidays at home, my wife and I hopped aboard the Viking Venus in Athens and spent Christmas in the middle of the Mediterranean.
November 15, 2022 — Whether you're in the infinity pool, by the common area's fireplace or on your stateroom's veranda, Viking Ocean Cruises' adults-only ships offer ample ways to cuddle up with your loved one while taking in your surroundings.
October 4, 2022 — Originally a river cruise line, Viking has launched seven ocean-going vessels since 2015 (not including expedition ships), the most recent being the Viking Mars, whose maiden voyage took place in May 2022.
September 7, 2022 — Viking Cruises’ 930-passenger Viking Neptune sets sail on December 22, 2022, on an epic 137-night world cruise from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to Greenwich, United Kingdom, with explorations of Central America, the California coast, Hawai‘i, French Polynesia, New Zealand, Australia, Asia, the Arabian Peninsula, and the Mediterranean.
August 31, 2022 — Viking ranked #1 on Newsweek’s list of America’s Best Customer Service Brands in the transportation and travel cruise category for the third consecutive year.
August 26, 2022 — Which company offers the best cruises for couples? Thanks to its small ships, impeccable service and adults-only policy, Viking earns that title, offering amazing cruises for lovebirds of all ages.
July 22, 2022 — Viking Cruises earned its reputation through its affordable, destination-focused river cruises, and after expanding into sea voyages, the line now has six ocean vessels too. All cabins come with balconies and are notably larger than the industry average, and while the ships lack a casino and kids' club, they offer the same destination-intensive programming that made river cruising so popular.
July 12, 2022 — T+L readers rave about the consistency of Viking's vessels and their Scandinavian design. The ships have plenty of nooks and crannies that encourage socializing. Guests can indulge in afternoon tea in the Wintergarden or listen to a lecture by a historian in the theater.
June 23, 2022 — Viking’s newest ocean ship, the 930-guest Viking Saturn, has touched water for the first time, with its ‘floating out’ marking a major construction milestone.
June 17, 2022 — Australia and New Zealand were closed to visitors for two years, and this new 31-day voyage aboard the Viking Orion is your chance to see them both. With six stops in New Zealand, there’s time for vineyard tours and tastings, viewing craggy coastlines, and exploring Art Deco Napier and Victorian Dunedin.
May 20, 2022 — Here’s a guide to everything you need to know about planning a visit to Bergen, whether you’re arriving for just a day on a cruise ship or flying in for a multi-day visit.
May 19, 2022 — The 930-passenger Viking Mars is the seventh ship in Viking’s near identical ocean fleet which began with Viking Star exactly seven years ago. This year also marks the 25th anniversary of Viking, which is the world’s largest river cruise line.
May 3, 2022 — Viking Venus is the newest addition to the brand’s collection of ocean liners—and with her launch in May 2021 came exciting new itineraries like Malta & Adriatic Jewels, marking the brand’s first time home porting in the UNESCO World Heritage city of Valletta.
April 3, 2022 — Viking is unusual among major cruise lines in that it operates both ocean ships and river ships. But despite this, it has one of the easiest-to-understand fleets.
March 20, 2022 — “Iceland’s Natural Beauty,” an 8-day cruise that sails round-trip from Reykjavik, gives you an up-close-and-personal look at some of the country’s most remote and beautiful coastal villages.
March 14, 2022 — The Northern Lights are what lured me and, from my nonscientific chat-and-listen survey, the other 600-plus guests onboard Viking Venus' 13-day aptly named "In Search of the Northern Lights" voyage wrapping up this weekend in Bergen, Norway. This, along with the promise of learning more about the Sami people of Norway, a chance to try out sled-dog racing and opportunities to view the gorgeous landscape.
February 15, 2022 — To explore these storied waters, Viking Cruises offers voyages that stop in Malta, with excursions that allow guests to sail through and swim at various spots around Comino.
January 14, 2022 — Viking's newest ocean ship—the 930-guest Viking Neptune—“floated out,” marking a significant construction milestone and the first time the ship touched water. Set to debut in November 2022, Viking Neptune will spend its inaugural season sailing itineraries in the Mediterranean before embarking on the "2023-2024 Viking World Cruise" from Fort Lauderdale to London, spanning 138 days, 28 countries and 57 ports—with overnight stays in 11 cities.
January 3, 2022 — See 28 countries on the 138-day Viking World Cruise from Fort Lauderdale to London. After departing from Florida, the Viking Neptune will sail the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean Sea, stopping in sunny destinations before crossing the Panama Canal to reach the Pacific.
December 30, 2022 — My homework began before I’d even packed my suitcase. Viking provided all passengers taking the Longship Forseti’s “Châteaux, Rivers & Wine” cruise with a list of suggested reading that spanned French literature, history, art, wine, and food. A few weeks later, collapsing onto the bed of my modern, Nordic-style stateroom, I paged through an introduction to Bordeaux’s wine regions while surveying the selection of in-room wine education videos.
November 8, 2022 — Viking River Cruises’ Viking Osiris, launched in 2022, is the most luxurious new ship sailing the Nile, geared toward curious travelers who value educational excursions with talented Egyptologists.
November 8, 2022 — For seven days and nights, we cruised along the Rhine: stopping in both tiny villages and cosmopolitan cities; enjoying the views from the floor-to-ceiling windows in our staterooms and the lounge; spotting vineyards and castles along the river all the way from the Black Forest to the canals of the Netherlands.
October 4, 2022 — Parent company Viking Cruises has expanded feverishly in recent years, with more than 60 river ships and seven ocean vessels in its fleet.
September 10, 2022 — Viking has brought American travelers to destinations around the world on its cruises, but until now has not had a river ship based in North America. The company operates close to 100 river and ocean vessels, and 82% of its guests come from America, Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking, told USA TODAY.
August 31, 2022 — Viking ranked #1 on Newsweek’s list of America’s Best Customer Service Brands in the transportation and travel cruise category for the third consecutive year.
August 23, 2022 — Egypt’s ancient hieroglyphics are all about symbols and Viking Osiris is likely to become the symbol of how to explore the country in style.
August 23, 2022 — Viking is no stranger to sailing the Nile: The cruise line long has chartered ships from other companies to sail Egypt's famed river, and in 2018, it launched Viking Ra, a ship it took down to its studs and refurbished to match the line's trademark Scandinavian style. But with the August 2022 debut of Viking Osiris, the company has created its first purpose-built ship for the region.
August 20, 2022 — River cruise giant Viking is calling its new river ship the most upscale cruise vessel on the Nile, and from what we’ve seen of it so far, it’s a boast that’s hard to dispute. Designed to hold just 82 passengers, Viking Osiris features an entire deck of sprawling suites with two full-size rooms apiece; two suites even have stunning glass walls that wrap around the front of the vessel.
August 19, 2022 — Founded in 1997, Viking is one of the most well-known river cruise lines sailing today. Viking's 60-plus ships − known as longships − carry roughly 75 to 250 people (depending on the vessel) and traverse major rivers across Europe, including the Danube, the Rhine, the Douro and more. Other popular routes sail to destinations in Asia, Egypt and the Mississippi River.
August 2, 2022 — Viking offers a wide itinerary of Paris tours from its ships, so if it's your first time in this “City of Light,” a tour of Paris in the comfort of your luxurious Viking bus, with stops at every destination along the way, is definitely the way to go! Your ship is docked within easy walking distance to many of the famous Parisian sites, so don't be hesitant to stretch your legs and explore this city's beauty on your own.
July 30, 2022 — The Viking Hlinout of Amsterdam cruises the Rhine in style. Built in 2014 with accommodations for 190 passengers, the ship features an open-air cafe on the bow, as well as a top deck that runs the ship's entire length with plenty of lounging options and the chef's herb garden.
July 12, 2022 — With its fleet of more than 50 contemporary “longships” on rivers such as the Rhine, the Danube, and the Seine, plus additional ships in Europe, Egypt, and Vietnam, T+L's top-ranked river cruise line for 2022 is often praised for its steadiness. “Having traveled on seven Viking longships that are virtually indistinguishable from one another, I believe it's the consistency that makes Viking one of our favorite ways to travel,” said one reader.
June 13, 2022 — Viking River Cruises is a newcomer to U.S. rivers, and its custom-built ship – the 386-passenger Viking Mississippi – will mark that milestone when it sails its inaugural Mississippi River cruise in June 2022.
June 4, 2022 — It's not every day that a cruise line launches four ships at the same time on the same river, but that's just what Viking Cruises did earlier this spring. The Viking Fjorgyn, Viking Kari, Viking Radgrid and Viking Skaga all joined the fleet to sail Seine and Rhone itineraries visiting delightful ports in Normandy and central and southern France.
April 3, 2022 — Viking is unusual among major cruise lines in that it operates both ocean ships and river ships. But despite this, it has one of the easiest-to-understand fleets.
March 18, 2022 — In a special naming ceremony that took place in Paris and live-streamed from Amsterdam, Viking christened 8 new river ships that had been in the pipeline since 2020.
March 9, 2022 — A Swiss company’s plan to offer tourists cruises along the length of the Mississippi River drew a step closer to reality this week as its new 386-passenger ship was floated out of a south Louisiana shipyard.
January 27, 2022 — Viking has announced that its newest Nile River ship, the Viking Osiris, has marked a key construction milestone on January 26, touching water for the first time as it was “floated out” at the Massara shipyard in Cairo, Egypt.
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