Travel + Leisure
World’s Best Awards — 17 years of recognitionViking River Cruises has been recognized as the World’s Best by Travel + Leisure readers in the 2021 World’s Best Awards and has been recognized 17 times since 2004.
In 2015, Viking earned the highest score of all river and ocean cruise lines in the magazine’s annual World’s Best List. Viking was also named the #1 River Cruise Line on Travel + Leisure’s 2012 and 2015 World’s Best Lists.
Condé Nast Traveler
Readers’ Choice Awards — 15 years of recognitionIn 2020, Viking was once again named the #1 River Cruise Line in Condé Nast Traveler’s annual Readers’ Choice Awards, marking 15 years of recognition.
Viking is honored to have scored in the top of the list every year since the river cruise category was introduced, including also being voted the #1 River Cruise Line in 2018 and 2017. Condé Nast Traveler states, “Complimentary Wi-Fi and select shore excursions encourage passengers to share experiences both on land and on the water, and Viking’s ‘Culture Curriculum’ offers experiential learning through events like regional wine tastings and menus that change with the season.”
Cruise Critic
Cruisers’ Choice Awards — 2019In 2019, Viking was rated the #1 River Cruise Line in Cruise Critic’s Cruisers’ Choice Awards with Viking Vidar and Viking Lofn taking first and second place respectively. The Cruisers’ Choice Awards name the best cruise ships in the world, based solely on ratings submitted with member reviews published on the Cruise Critic website.
Cruise Critic
Editors’ Picks Awards — 9 years of recognitionFor nine consecutive years Viking has been honored with awards including “Best River Cruise Line,” “Best New River Ships” for the Viking Longships, “Best River Cruise Itineraries,” “Best Enrichment,” “Best Shore Excursions,” and “Best for First-Timers.” Cruise Critic states, “In an expanding river market, Viking continues to reign.”
USA Today
10Best Readers’ Choice Awards — 6 Time WinnerFor the sixth consecutive year, Viking was named “Best River Cruise Line” in USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards. Nominated by travel experts and voted on by travelers, Viking was recognized for its “all-inclusive cruises, outside staterooms, WiFi, wine and beer with meals, shore excursions in every port and signature Culture Curriculum program.”
Cruise Critic
Cruisers’ Choice Destination Awards — 2018In 2018, Viking was rated one of the top European River Cruise Lines in Cruise Critic’s Cruisers’ Choice Destination Awards. The Cruisers’ Choice Destination Awards highlight the world’s best destinations and cruise lines, based solely on member reviews published on the Cruise Critic website.
AFAR
Travelers’ Choice Awards — 2020, 2019, 2017Viking was honored once again as the #1 river cruise line in AFAR magazine’s 2020 Travelers’ Choice Awards. Travelers chose Viking for its included daily cultural enrichment and destination-focused experiences.
The Points Guys
Readers’ Choice Awards — 2020In 2020, readers of The Points Guy, a website dedicated to honoring excellence in the travel industry, named Viking “Best Small-Ship Cruise Line” highlighting the destination-focused itineraries and upscale ship design on both our River and Ocean cruises.
Town & Country
Cruise Awards — 2016In the 2016 Town & Country Cruise Awards, Viking Longships were awarded “Best for Suites” and “Best for Design.” Town & Country editor remarked, “The simple Scandinavian design of Viking’s nearly 50 newly built Longships makes the best use of space we’ve seen.”
Cruise Fever
Fan Awards — 2017, 2016, 2015Cruise Fever fans named Viking “Best River Cruise Line” for the third year in a row in the 2017 Cruise Fever Fan Awards.
Porthole
Readers’ Choice Awards — 2016, 2013, 2011, 2010, 2008Viking has been honored five times by Porthole Cruise Magazine readers, with awards including “Best River Cruise Line” and “Best River Ship.”
CruiseReport.com
Editors’ Choice Awards — 2016, 2012, 2007, 2006CruiseReport.com honored Viking River Cruises with “Best River Cruise Accommodations” in their 2016 Editors’ Choice Awards. Previously, Viking has been named “Best River Cruise Line” three times, and in 2012 was named “Best Way to See Russia.”
TravelAge West
Wave Awards — 11 Time WinnerViking has now been named “Best River Cruise Line” eleven consecutive times (2006 to 2016) by this prestigious travel industry publication in their WAVE Awards.
Travel Weekly
Readers Choice Awards — 15 Time WinnerViking has now been named “Best River Cruise Line” fifteen consecutive times (2006 to 2020) by this prestigious travel industry publication in its Readers Choice Awards. Viking Longship Tor and Viking Longship Magni were also awarded “Best River Cruise Ship” in 2015 and 2014, respectively.
Luxury Travel Advisor
Awards of Excellence — 6 Time WinnerIn 2019, Viking was recognized for the third consecutive year as the first and only cruise line to win both rivers and oceans categories in the prestigious luxury trade awards: Best Luxury River Cruise Company (for the sixth time) and Best Luxury Ocean Cruise Company (for the third time).
Recommend
Readers’ Choice Awards — 12 Time WinnerFor the twelfth time since 2006, Recommend magazine awarded Viking “Best River Cruise Line” in its Readers’ Choice Awards.
Fodor’s Travel
World’s Best Cruises — 2016, 2015Viking was honored on Fodor’s Travel 10 Best River Cruises for 2016, and in 2015 received the “World’s Best Cruises for 2015” award for its Legends of the Rhine.
Seatrade Cruise News
Cruise Awards — 2011The River Cruise Innovation Award was presented to Viking in 2011 for our innovative Viking Longships. This was the first award presented to “a company, organization or individual who has provided an exceptional service, or product or initiative in the river cruise sector.”
Money Magazine
Best in Travel — 2017In search of the “Best Cruises for Your Money,” Money magazine named Viking River Cruises the “Best River Cruise Line” for providing “the greatest choice of waterways, ports, and cruising dates…” while also offering exceptional value.
Travel + Leisure
World’s Best Awards — 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016For the sixth consecutive year, Viking was named a World’s Best Ocean Cruise Line by Travel + Leisure readers in the World’s Best Awards 2021. This award reinforces Viking’s position as a formidable industry leader.
Viking was also recognized as the #1 Ocean Cruise Line from 2016 to 2020, overtaking the spot previously held by a luxury cruise line for 20 years. Viking is immensely proud to be recognized every single year since the launch of Viking’s ocean cruises in 2015.
Cruise Critic
Cruisers’ Choice Awards — 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016In 2019, the Viking ocean fleet swept the 9th Annual Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice Awards with Viking Sky, Viking Star, Viking Sun and Viking Orion taking top honors in 10 out of 12 ocean categories.
Viking Sky received six first-place awards within the small- to mid-size ship group: Best Overall Ship, Best Cabins, Best Dining, Best for Public Rooms, Best Service and Best Value-for-Money. Viking Sky also beat ships of all sizes to receive a seventh first place award as Best for First-Timers. Viking Orion was awarded First Place as Best for Fitness & Recreation; Viking Sun was awarded First Place for Best Entertainment; and Viking Star was awarded First Place for Best Shore Excursions. The Cruisers’ Choice Awards name the best cruise ships in the world, based solely on ratings submitted with member reviews published on the Cruise Critic website.
Cruise Critic
Editors’ Picks Awards — 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015In 2019, the international team of Cruise Critic editors awarded more honors to Viking than any other cruise line. Viking once again led the luxury ocean cruise category with three prestigious awards—including “Best Luxury Value for Money,” “Best Spa,” and “Best Enrichment.” Cruise Critic notes that on top of fare inclusions, “Viking cruisers benefit from smartly designed cabins; gorgeous top-deck, all-weather hangouts; and destination-intensive itineraries.”
Cruise Critic editors have honored Viking ocean cruises every year since the debut of our first ship, Viking Star, in 2015. That year Viking Star was named the “Best New Ocean Ship,” with editors noting, “The ship is so beautifully designed—with terrific al fresco restaurants, a beautiful pool area, a superb spa and the two-level Explorers’ observation lounge—that you’ll be hard-pressed to go ashore.”
Cruise Critic
Editor Rating: 5 Stars — 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015Cruise Critic’s team of expert editors awarded Viking’s entire fleet of ocean ships—Viking Jupiter (2019), Viking Orion (2018), Viking Sun (2017), Viking Sky (2017), Viking Sea (2016) and Viking Star (2015) —with their highest rating: 5 stars. They stated that Viking Sea “is a stunning vessel that seamlessly integrates comfort and modern, Scandinavian style. The ship's small size means it rarely feels busy and is able to get into ports bigger ships can't reach.” About Viking Star they noted her to be “one of cruising's most beautiful small ships.”
Cruise Critic
Cruisers’ Choice Destination Awards — 2019, 2018For the second consecutive year, Viking was honored as the Best Baltic & Scandinavian Cruise Line as well as Best British Isles & Western Europe Cruise Line. In 2018, Viking was also honored as Best Western Caribbean & Riviera Maya Cruise Line as well as Best Western Mediterranean Cruise Line.
Time
World’s Greatest Places — 2018Viking Orion was named one of the World’s Best Places to Stay for 2018. Highlighting an “out-of-this-world experience”, TIME praises Viking Orion’s onboard planetarium (the most advanced on an ocean ship) as well as onboard lectures on astronomy and space exploration led by resident astronomer Howard Parkin.
AFAR
Travelers’ Choice Awards — 2020, 2018Viking received two first place honors in the 2020 AFAR Travelers’ Choice Awards. Named “Best Mediterranean Cruise Line” and “Best Caribbean Cruise Line,” Viking was chosen for its elegant, small-ship design, culturally rich experiences and picturesque itineraries.
Berlitz Cruising and Cruise Ships
#1 Ship — 2017, 2016In its Cruising & Cruise Ships 2017 edition, Berlitz rated Viking Sea first in her category, noting her “many elegant touches” and “excellent inclusive value.” This year, Viking Star, which was rated highest in her category in 2016, earned second place behind her sister ship Viking Sea.
USA Today
10Best Readers’ Choice Awards — 6 years of recognitionFor the third year in a row, Viking was named “Best Small Ship” in USA Today’s Readers’ Choice Awards with Viking Orion taking the #1 position in 2021 and Viking Sky and Viking Sea following suit respectively for 2020 and 2019. In 2020, Viking was also named “Best Ocean Cruise Line”, beating ships of all sizes, and earned first and second placements for “Best Dining”. Nominated by a panel of travel experts and voted on by travelers, Viking was recognized for its “destination-focused itineraries,” “top-notch service,” and well-appointed, all-veranda staterooms.
The Points Guys
Readers’ Choice Awards — 2020In 2020, readers of The Points Guy, a website dedicated to honoring excellence in the travel industry, named Viking “Best Small-Ship Cruise Line” highlighting the destination-focused itineraries and upscale ship design on both our Ocean and River cruises.
Town & Country
Cruise Awards — 2017, 2016Viking received two honors in the 2017 Town & Country Cruise Awards. Viking Star, Viking Sea, Viking Sky and Viking Sun were recognized in the “Best Aboard” category stating “the spas on all four ships are the most beautiful at sea”. Viking was also recognized in “Best Sports Marinas” for its destinations.
In the 2016 Town & Country Cruise Awards, Viking Star and Viking Sea were awarded “Best Overall Contemporary Luxury Cruise Line” and “Best for Design Contemporary Luxury Cruise Line.” Town & Country comments, “The Viking ocean design philosophy holds that ships should be elegant and comfortable and never overwhelm the real purpose of cruising: to see the world.”
Luxury Travel Advisor
Awards of Excellence — 2019, 2018, 2017In 2019, Viking was recognized for the third consecutive year as the first and only cruise line to win both rivers and oceans categories in the prestigious luxury trade awards: Best Luxury Ocean Cruise Company (for the third time) and Best Luxury River Cruise Company (for the sixth time).
Recommend
Readers’ Choice Awards — 2020, 2019, 2018For the third consecutive
year, Recommend magazine awarded Viking “Best Luxury Ocean Cruise Line” as well as “Best Mid-Size Ship” in its annual Readers’ Choice Awards.
Money Magazine
Best In Travel — 2017Viking was named “Best Ocean Cruise Line” in its class by Money magazine for exceeding expectations in cost, cleanliness, customer satisfaction and overall value.
Cruise Fever
Fan Awards — 2017Cruise Fever fans named Viking “Best Luxury Cruise Line” in the 2017 Cruise Fever Fan Awards.
Fodor’s Travel
World’s Best Cruises — 2016Viking was honored to be named one of Fodor’s Travel “World’s Best Cruises for 2016.”
Fodor’s Travel recognized Viking Star and Viking Sea for the “infinity pool off the stern, Snow Grotto spa room, luminous Wintergarden tearoom and all-balcony staterooms.”
Porthole
Editor-In-Chief Awards — 2016Viking Star was named for the first time as “Best New Breakout Ship” in the annual Porthole Cruise Editor-in-Chief Awards.
Porthole
Readers’ Choice Awards — 2015Viking Star was honored for the first time as “Best Medium-Sized Ship” (500-2,000 guests) in the 17th annual Porthole Cruise Magazine Readers’ Choice Awards.
Interior Design
Best Of The Year Awards — 2015The preeminent design competition – hosted by the industry-leading publication – celebrates superior interior design projects and products. Viking Star was honored in the 2015 edition, with the Living Room, Wintergarden and Explorers’ Lounge receiving special nods for their unique and stunning design.
Architectural Digest
Best New Luxury Cruises — 2015In a roundup of the most luxurious and design-forward vessels sailing today, Viking Star took top billing.
Travel Channel
Best Mediterranean Cruise — 2015Rated among its best cruises of 2015, the Travel Channel honored Viking with “Best Mediterranean Cruise.” The cable network also recognized Viking for “living up to the reputation of its acclaimed sister line while offering perks all its own.”