CNN Quest Means Business: Viking CEO Tor Hagen On Their No-Kids Cruise Policy
October 27, 2025 — "We had a vision that we should establish a serious cruise line for serious people." Viking CEO Tor Hagen on their no-kids cruise policy.
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The Points Guy: Fast-Growing Viking Hits Major milestone with 100th Cruise Ship
October 22, 2025 — By one measure, at least, Viking now rules the cruise world. The fast-growing cruise brand officially welcomed nine new ships to its fleet on Tuesday during an upbeat naming ceremony in Basel, Switzerland, bringing its total to 103. The addition of the new vessels, all designed for river cruising, puts Viking firmly ahead of cruise giant Carnival Corporation for the title of the cruise company with the most ships.
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Travel Weekly: Viking Celebrates a Milestone Moment, Naming Its 100th Ship
October 22, 2025 — With a push of a button and a smash of Norwegian aquavit, Viking named its 100th ship. It was one of nine river vessels Viking welcomed into its fleet on Oct. 21, in ceremonies across six countries and three continents. The company now has 100-plus ships across its river, ocean and expedition categories. Viking is known for its big, multi-ship naming ceremonies. In 2014 Viking broke its own Guinness World Record when it christened 16 ships in a 24-hour period -- and then inaugurated two more in Portugal.
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CNBC: Viking Holdings CEO Torstein Hagen Goes One-On-One with Jim Cramer
October 21, 2025 — Viking Holdings CEO Torstein Hagen joins ‘Mad Money’ host Jim Cramer to discuss the milestone of naming the 100th ship, the growth of their ocean business, the strength of the consumer, and more.
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The Points Guy: Sophisticated Design, Elegant Service: Why I Love Viking Ocean Ships for Cruising Around the Globe
September 15, 2025 — It just might be the perfect cruising moment — at least for me. As I write this, I am sitting in the stylish, glass-walled lounge at the front of the Viking ocean ship Viking Saturn, my travel companion at my side. Awaiting our lips, in Schott Zwiesel crystal glasses, are martinis made with gin from Highclere Castle, a Viking partner — garnished at our server’s recommendation with orange twists to match the spirit’s citrus overtones. In the background, classy orchestral music plays. Not too softly. Not too loudly.
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The Wall Street Journal: The Luxe Cruise Company That Bans Kids, Casinos and Fancy Umbrella Drinks—and Is Thriving
September 3, 2025 — Viking executives say the company’s strictness on what its vacations will and will not be helps keep ships full in the face of new competition in the river space and a sea of larger, kid-friendly boats teeming with entertainment and rides. Guests on Viking ships attend lectures about their trip’s destinations from resident historians and listen to classical music. Rather than pool parties and waterslides, a Viking cruiser steps into quieter pools and snow grottos, small glass-enclosed rooms filled with man-made snow. “There are very successful floating entertainment palaces,” said Chief Executive Tor Hagen, referring to other cruise operators. “We are really a place where we take grown-ups to interesting places, where they can continue to educate themselves.”
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Condé Nast Traveler: Review - Viking Vela
August 29, 2025 — Viking has carved out a niche as the cruise line for the culturally curious. With no casinos, no children under 18, and no garish poolside entertainment, it’s the go-to for those who’d rather attend a lecture on Norse mythology than a limbo contest (though you might find yourself signing up for a surprisingly spirited pub quiz or a bracing polar plunge). Still primarily owned by its founder and chairman, Torstein Hagen, the company blends Nordic understatement with intellectual enrichment, delivering destination-focused itineraries and a calm, unhurried onboard atmosphere.
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Forbes: Viking Cruises Are A Calming Dose Of Vitamin Sea Where You Can Eat, Drink—And Think
August 24, 2025 — If you’re looking to sail on a stupendous big ship where there’s a casino, a Jumbotron at the pool, children on board, thousands of passengers, artwork for sale, formal nights, gold-chains-by-the-yard – and long lines everywhere (especially at the elevator) – Viking Cruises is not for you. It will not be your cup of (chamomile) tea. Instead, the world-class, award-winning, six-star ships of Viking are famous for the fact that they are really meant for sophisticated cruisers who desire a dynamic journey filled with fascinating lectures, super-interesting excursions, first-class on-board activities, and books everywhere – all augmented and complemented with gourmet cuisine, and beautiful live classical music performed live by gifted musicians throughout the day and into evenings, (especially in the beautiful atrium).
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The Points Guy: I Extended My Viking Cruise with a Multiday Land Tour — Here's Why You Should, Too
July 30, 2025 — I am here thanks to Viking, the fast-growing cruise company. This train ride, along with almost every other element of my visit to Norway, from my pickup at the airport in Oslo to hotel stays, guided tours and museum admissions in each city I am visiting, was arranged by Viking as part of a multiday precruise land tour. Viking, it turns out, isn't just one of the fastest-growing cruise lines in the world. It's a growing land tour company, too. With an ever-increasing array of multiday land tours and hotel stays designed to be seamlessly added on to one of its cruise itineraries, the line is making it easier than ever for cruise-loving travelers to custom-design the perfect extended vacation — all while only dealing with a single company that arranges everything from start to finish.
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Condé Nast Traveler: 10 Best Spas on Cruise Ships With Thermal Suites, Salt Therapy Rooms, and Snow Grottos
June 25, 2025 — The first snow grotto on the silver seas (there is even a snow-making machine) is just one example of how every aspect of Viking’s therapeutic experience ties back to the brand's Nordic roots. There’s a simplicity to the LiVNordic spa—much like a folk melody—and the trick here is to allow your body to adjust to rapid hot and cold temperature changes in the sauna and cold pool. With treatments neatly divided into categories to promote mindfulness, rest, and detox, you can customize your treatments and float, spirited and carefree like a Norse god or goddess.
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Forbes: Viking’s Panama Canal Passage Is A Luxury Cruise Through History
June 17, 2025 — This itinerary also featured fascinating lectures and presentations about the Canal, the Panama hat, the horses of the Conquistador, the rare birds of Costa Rica, the real pirates of the Caribbean and so much more. For me, sea days are synonymous with spa days and Viking’s spa is my favorite place to relax and rejuvenate. I always get at least one massage and I take advantage of the entire Nordic-inspired thermal suite (another included Viking perk), going back and forth between the sauna, steam, hot tub, snow grotto and ice bucket. I consider it self-care.
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Forbes: Viking’s Panama Canal Passage Is A Luxury Cruise Through History
June 17, 2025 — One of the best things about travel, besides getting to visit new places and experiencing different cultures, is introducing other people to your favorite finds. So, when I decided to finally plan a Panama Canal cruise with a friend who also had always wanted to sail through the famous waterway, I made sure we booked Viking’s 11-day Classic Panama Canal Passage itinerary. My husband and I have taken more than a dozen cruises on Viking and are so at home on their ships, the crew feels like family. So I felt like a proud parent as we stepped aboard the Viking Mars and I saw my friend’s wide-eyed expression. She couldn’t stop ooh-ing and ah-ing over the casually elegant Scandinavian design, our spacious staterooms with their balconies and all the thoughtful little details for which Viking is famous.
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Forbes: How This Luxury Cruise Line Is Leading The Way In Sustainable, Eco-Friendly Voyages
April 30, 2025 — Viking stands out as a leader in balancing luxury with genuine sustainability. As a frontrunner in the clean maritime travel sector, Viking has set the standard by ensuring all of its ocean liners have minimal environmental impact and expeditions that prioritize preservation.
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Condé Nast Traveler: Hot List 2025: Viking Vela
April 23, 2025 — There may be no better place to take in views of some of Europe’s most enchanting ports and coastlines than from the seventh deck of Viking Vela. The Norwegian line’s newest ocean ship has made its home continent its primary focus, and introduced a range of new itineraries to keep pace. It spent much of this winter on Viking’s new northern lights-themed sailings, whisking passengers from London to the far north of Norway in search of the aurora borealis.
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Virtuoso: This Cruise Opens the Door to Some of China’s Less-Visited Ports
April 14, 2025 — Viking’s sailings along the southeast coast go beyond the headlines. On a cloudy morning in Zhujiajiao, a familiar green-and-white logo touched a nerve during my first trip back to China since 2019. I’d joined a cruise along the southeast coast, and this shore excursion would plunge me straight into the beauty, history, and contradiction that a visit to the Middle Kingdom promises. As we arrived at the canal-laced town, 28 miles inland from Shanghai, firecrackers rattled loudly in the morning air.
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Upscale Living Magazine: Mediterranean Odyssey Cruise with Viking is the Best of All Worlds
March 17, 2025 — Viking Cruises offers first-time and repeat cruisers the Best of All Worlds with their six-country, 13-day European itinerary. Sailing a course to the ancient civilizations and visiting historic ports is a history lover’s dream. Begin in Barcelona or Chioggia (Venice) and discover the pleasures of visiting ten unique cities without unpacking. Many passengers, like us, opt for pre- or post-excursions, giving the embarkation or disembarkation destinations further review. We flew into Venice before our cruise and spent a glorious few days strolling the enchanting canal waterways and back streets lined with specialty shops.
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Condé Nast Traveler: The Best Adult-Oriented Cruise Lines to Sail this Year
March 5, 2025 — On this adults-only cruise line, choose between river, ocean, and expedition vessels. Viking ships sail all seven continents. Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris explore the poles but also sail Niagara, the Great Lakes, and Chilean fjords. While categorized as upper premium, Viking’s ocean and expedition fleet includes many amenities, such as one shore excursion per port, all dining, afternoon tea, beer and wine with lunch and dinner, spa Thermal Suite access, Wi-Fi, and 24-hour room service.
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Travel Weekly: Viking Yi Dun Sailing Steeped in Chinese Tea Traditions
February 15, 2025 — Drinking green tea has been part of my ritual most mornings for the past 20 years, but I had never given much thought to how that hot beverage had gotten from a plant to my cup. That changed, though, during an eye-opening shore excursion, a break from my recent cruise aboard the Viking Yi Dun, the cruise line's inaugural coastal China voyage for English speakers. China has been making tea for thousands of years, and here I was, standing in the birthplace of Tieguanyin tea, a type of oolong tea, and I was about to pick it myself. My fellow passengers and I had spent the past few days immersing ourselves in Chinese culture and rituals during this 10-day cruise from Shanghai to Shenzhen in September.
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The Boston Globe: Why Winter is the New Best Time For Mediterranean Cruises
February 7, 2025 — Viking introduced its first “Quiet Season Mediterranean” sailing in 2015 and remains a leader in the industry when it comes to winter sailings in Europe. It currently has 21 different itineraries for winter sailings in Spain, France, Italy, Greece, Malta, Turkey, Monaco, Portugal, Croatia, and Montenegro, typically offered from late October through mid-March. “Quiet Season Mediterranean continues to be one of our key offerings, with a variety of dates and itinerary options and a dedicated place on our website,” says Richard Marnell, Viking Executive Vice President of Marketing. “During the upcoming 2025 to 2026 fall to spring season, we’ll have five ocean ships in the Mediterranean full-time and one additional ocean ship sailing select itineraries.”
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Canada.com: Step Into A New Era of All-Inclusive Luxury On This Adults-Only Cruise Around Europe
February 5, 2025 — After busy days ashore, we are always ready to be back on board. Few ships can match the quiet sophistication of Viking’s ocean going vessels. With its neutral Scandi-chic design, Venus feels more like a home than a ship. With only 930 guests, the public spaces are never crowded.
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Travel + Leisure: This Midsize Ship Explores Lesser-visited Ports in Scandinavia, Like the Faroe Islands, Iceland's Picturesque Waterfalls, and Norway's Most Charming Towns
December 29, 2024 — But sweltering summer temperatures in Greece this year had me — and a growing number of people who are seeking “cool-cations” — looking for an escape. I found mine on a 13-day voyage through Iceland and Norway aboard Viking Saturn, the 465-cabin ship that is the newest ocean-going vessel from Viking, a favorite of Travel + Leisure readers. And while many cruise lines travel the seemingly endless coastlines of Norway, Viking is one of only a few that calls the country home, a fact that’s evident the moment you step aboard.
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Canadian Geographic: Iceland: The Must-See Nordic Island Nation
November 14, 2024 — Viking Saturn, a 745-foot, 930-passenger ship launched in 2023. For four days, we sailed around Iceland before heading east to the Faroe Islands, and then on to Norway during this 14-day journey. The small-ship’s elegant minimalist all-veranda design makes it the perfect platform to visit these remote places once trodden by the Vikings. Unlike the Vikings, however, guests can unwind and recalibrate after a long day of adventure in cozy leather armchairs with fur throws and then relax in the ship’s extensive Scandinavian spa.
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New York Times: Fewer Crowds, Bargain Prices: ‘Quiet Season’ Cruising in the Mediterranean
November 11, 2024 — With multiple routes and departures, Viking has emerged as a leader in what it calls the “quiet season” in the Mediterranean. Founded as a European river cruise line in 1997, Viking began offering winter sailings in the region when it added its first oceangoing ship, the 930-passenger Viking Star, in 2015. This winter, Viking is stationing three ships full time in the Mediterranean and will increase the fleet dedicated to the region to five in the 2025-26 winter season. “We recognized past travelers would appreciate traveling in the Mediterranean during a time period in which it was still very, very temperate,” said Richard Marnell, the executive vice president of marketing at Viking. Midwinter temperatures in Barcelona tend to run from the high 40s to the low 60s.
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AFAR: I Was on Viking’s Inaugural China Cruise—Here’s What I Loved and What I Wish I’d Known Before the Sailing
October 15, 2024 — The line’s new sailings on the 930-passenger Viking Yi Dun hug the country’s southeastern coast, from Shanghai to Shenzhen, stopping in ports that were part of the Maritime Silk Road, a series of historic trading ports. It marks the first time international passengers can explore coastal China with an English-speaking cruise line; other cruise lines drop into Shanghai as a port of call, typically on multicountry itineraries around Asia, but Viking’s new 10- to 20-day itineraries (including land-based extensions) operate fully within China.
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Canadian Geographic: Exploring 1,200 Years of History in the Faroe Islands
October 1, 2024 — But it is this combination of isolated geography and bracing weather that has preserved the peninsula of eighteen islands from the ravages of mass tourism. Our port call aboard the elegant new Norwegian-flagged and Nordic-spirited Viking Saturn – the only cruise ship to visit that day and one of only six large cruise ships that month – not only allowed us to get a measure of the islands’ isolation, but our approach and sail away gave a longboat-eye perspective of the sheer beauty of the place.
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Condé Nast Traveler: The Ultimate Guide to Cruising Alaska
September 25, 2024 — Viking’s ocean-going ships are a bit of a departure from the norm for Alaska cruises. Designed with clean Nordic lines and the aesthetic of a land-based luxury hotel, these ships are well-suited for understated exploring—you won’t find a casino onboard here. The 11-day itinerary from Vancouver calls at Alaska’s collection of “Greatest Hits” ports like Ketchikan, Sitka, and Juneau, but also overnights in Seward before passengers disembark, giving them a chance to check out rescued wildlife at the fascinating Alaska SeaLife Center or take an excursion in Kenai Fjords National Park.
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Cruise Critic: Viking Yi Dun Dining
September 21, 2024 — Food on Viking Yi Dun is excellent both in terms of quality and variety. It includes Chinese dishes and those that appeal to more Western tastes. Many passengers will end up trying a few new foods, and Viking Yi Dun makes it easy for them, holding themed events and clearly explaining what is in the items they’re trying.
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Cruise Critic: What it’s Like Sailing on a Viking Cruise in China
September 19, 2024 — The cruise line weaves in a bit of China everywhere. Lectures take a look at history and culture, classes like intro to Mahjong or beginner Tai Chi are offered, and entertainment includes things like classic shadow puppetry. Menus, too, blend Western and Eastern tastes in every venue. I loved breakfast at the main restaurant, where I could order a Chinese breakfast, and waiters wheeled around dim sum carts with items like purple sweet potato buns and shrimp shumai. Other guests did too, delighting in trying congee for the first time.
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CNBC: Viking Holdings CEO: We Appeal To a Totally Different Segment and Have a Different Product
August 22, 2024 — Viking Holdings Chairman and CEO Torstein Hagen joins ‘Mad Money’ host Jim Cramer to talk quarterly results, affordability and pricing, and more.
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Cruise Critic: What to Expect on a Viking Iceland Cruise
August 14, 2024 — A Viking Iceland cruise might be the ideal way to explore the Land of Fire and Ice -- and not only from a logistical point of view. The cruise line’s respect for all things Norwegian make it a perfect partner for exploring Iceland’s Norse heritage along with its remarkable landscape and modern culture. When it comes to Iceland cruises on Viking Ocean ships, you’ll be able to choose from plenty of choices. There are several Viking cruise ships to consider, all offering one- to multi-week sailings.
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The Points Guy: 10 Best Asia Cruises for a Bucket-list Trip
August 8, 2024 — For many, walking along the Great Wall is a dream. For passengers aboard Viking Yi Dun on the Classic China and the Coast cruise, it's a reality. Viking sets itself apart with a China-focused cruisetour that combines a five-night precruise land stay in Beijing and Xian with a nine-night cruise through the East and South China Seas. You can choose from multiple fall 2024 departures. In Beijing, you can visit the Forbidden City and Great Wall before flying to Xian to admire the famous Terra Cotta Warriors archeological site.
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The Points Guy: Best First-Time Cruises for All Types of Travelers
August 1, 2024 — For a first Viking river cruise in Europe, you can't go wrong with the Danube. The line operates a variety of eight-day segments along the river, allowing you to start or finish in such cities as Amsterdam, Vienna and Budapest. Immersive shore experiences include tours of historic palaces and castles, wine tastings, bike and e-bike city tours, and cooking classes. If ocean cruising appeals to you, first-time cruisers can cruise almost anywhere on the globe with Viking. A good first choice is a Mediterranean cruise that allows you to see such iconic cities as Athens, Rome, Barcelona and Venice.
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The Points Guy: 11 Best Cruises to Canada & New England
July 31, 2024 — Viking's fans love the ships' serene Scandinavian-inspired decor, complimentary spa thermal area and pricing that includes wine and beer with lunch and dinner, gratuities and one free shore excursion per port. The ships do not have an onboard casino, but two pools (one with a retractable roof) offer relaxation during sea days.
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The Points Guy: Best Mediterranean Cruises in 2024 and 2025
July 10, 2024 — True history lovers will not be satisfied with only a week in this rich landscape. Choose Viking for your Eastern Mediterranean cruise, and look for longer itineraries, such as the 15-day "Ancient Mediterranean Antiquities" sailings throughout 2024, 2025 and 2026. The one-way sailing between Rome and Istanbul hits most of the ancient civilization highlights: Naples and Sicily, Italy; Rhodes, Crete and Athens, Greece; and Ephesus, Troy and Istanbul, Turkey.
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Travel + Leisure: Readers' 10 Favorite Midsize-ship Ocean Cruise Lines of 2024
July 9, 2024 — When you get on a Viking ship, you know what to expect. There are familiar surroundings, no kids onboard, no casinos, no nickel-and-diming, just overall excellence, say T+L readers. With 10 identical 465-cabin ships and a 11th, 499-cabin ship debuting later in 2024, Viking delivers a winning formula of all-inclusive fares that combine meals, beverages, Wifi, gratuities, and a shore excursion in every port with standout itineraries, too. Those destinations include the Caribbean, Alaska, Southeast Asia, China, South America, Australia, and Scandinavia.
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The Points Guy: Our 7 Favorite Summer Cruises For All Types of Travelers
June 27, 2024 — Viking ships make seeing the incredible sights of Scandinavia not only possible but comfortable. At the end of a day ashore — sometimes spent on excursions skimming across the waters of fjords in rigid inflatable boats or exploring tiny fishing villages near, or even above, the Arctic Circle — you'll return to relax in one of the best complimentary thermal suites at sea. If that's not enough, you'll also dine on extraordinary cuisine without worrying about extra costs.
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AFAR: Don’t Want to Cruise With Kids? Sail on These Adult-Focused Cruise Ships
June 25, 2024 — Whether you cruise with Viking on one of the company’s many 190-passenger river cruise vessels in Europe, on the line’s 930-passenger ocean cruise ships that sail around the world, or on one of its two 378-passenger expedition ships, you’ll be treated to a fine-tuned cruising experience geared strictly to adults. You need to be age 18 and up to get aboard to enjoy the many perks covered in the all-inclusive fares. Those perks consist of shore excursions in every port, free wine and beer, all meals (including numerous restaurant experiences and nightly seafood buffets), engaging lectures hosted by historians and other experts, and Nordic spas complete with hot sauna, steam room, and a chilly snow grotto.
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PureWow: The 10 Best Cruise Lines for Adults, According to a Kid-Free Cruiser
June 22, 2024 — Viking currently has over 60 ships in their fleet that travel all around the world. You can take an iconic Western Mediterranean trip (Barcelona to Rome), a Grand European tour (Budapest to Amsterdam) or a Great Lakes voyage (Toronto to Minnesota). While many of the ships feature pools, restaurants, a library room and theater, most travelers go for the thrilling excursions and even participate in lectures specifically found on the expedition ships (Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris) that are great for the curious scientist or animal lover.
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Travel + Leisure: 10 Best Cruises to Hawaii – From Luxury Sailings to Expedition Ships
June 7, 2024 — This 17-day voyage from Los Angeles takes place aboard the Viking Neptune, an all-veranda small ship that carries a maximum of 928 guests. After five days at sea, the first stop is the Big Island, where guests can view Kilauea by helicopter, visit waterfalls, or explore Hilo Bay by kayak. The next port is Oahu, where guests can tour by helicopter, hike Diamond Head, attend a luau, or more. On Kauai, excursions range from an ATV tour of the island to snorkeling along the South Shore. On day 10 in Maui, highlights include Haleakala National Park, snorkeling, and a visit to Maui Ocean Center. The ship then sails to Ensenada, Mexico, where passengers can indulge in wine tastings, e-bike tours, and ATV adventures in the Guadalupe Valley. The Viking Neptune returns to Los Angeles the next day.
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Cruise Critic: A 7-Day Iceland Cruise: The Shore Excursions You Shouldn't Miss
June 5, 2024 — The Golden Circle is a circular road trip from Reykjavik that can be done in a day. Viking seven-day Iceland cruises include an overnight in Reykjavik, allowing time for an eight-hour excursion on the Golden Circle. The tour includes examples of Iceland’s top geological wonders, including its most famous waterfall, Gullfoss and the Strokkur geyser.
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Porthole: The Five Best Cruise Lunches
June 1, 2024 — Mmmmmm…Mamsen’s! Sure, aboard Viking Ocean ships, you can grab lunch at the buffet, the grill or in the dining room but sometimes you just crave the wholesome and healthy—yet undeniably delicious—Norwegian dishes available at Mamsen’s. Tucked into the corner of The Explorer’s Lounge, this serene space is the perfect setting to indulge in fragrant pea soup (with or without ham), and open-faced sandwiches like shrimp/tomato/cucumber, gravlox and red onion, roast beef and more, each served with its own delectable dipping sauce. Warm dishes like fish cake on rye are also available. But don’t feel too virtuous! Mamsen’s serves its heart-shaped waffles all day long along with an eye-popping assortment of cakes, tarts and pastries.
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All Things Cruise: Review: Viking Mars: Transatlantic... and Terrific!
April 28, 2024 — The smoky sweetness of Manfredi’s Viking Bistecca. The delectable soft shell crab sushi which, along with other sushi varieties and a vast hot and cold buffet, is available nightly at World Café. The rich split pea soup and delightful Scandinavian open-faced sandwiches of Mamsen’s. The Chef’s Table’s delicate seared halibut in a pool of California olive and herb vinaigrette resting atop crumbled roasted cauliflower and buttered panko. The tender and cheesy oysters Rockefeller and crispy wiener schnitzel at The Restaurant. Afternoon tea, each table bearing a tiered tray heavy with the sweet and the savory, and The Pool Grill’s salads, grilled selections and those heavenly chicken wings. Viking Mars may not have over 40 restaurants like one newly launched megaship boasts, but with choices as outstanding and varied as Viking Mars’, who cares?
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Food & Wine: 10 Top Cruises for Food and Drinks, According to the Experts
April 2, 2024 — Viking commands attention on all waters, with riverboats, ocean liners, and expedition ships plying every continent. So many touches sum up Viking’s willingness for menus to reflect itineraries, and regional dishes and wines are a given. Flourishing herb gardens allow riverboat chefs to pluck the freshest herbs to grace dishes daily. On ocean-going vessels, specialty restaurant Manfredi’s excels in Italian cuisine (bistecca alla Fiorentina is legendary), and Mamsen’s triumphs the line’s Nordic heritage — all bow to the signature waffles.
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Fodor’s Travel: This Might Be the Best Way to Travel With Your Mom
March 15, 2024 — Eating well is one of the best parts of travel. With multiple dining options onboard the Viking Venus, sure to satisfy the pickiest of palates, dining on the cruise was another ideal feature. My mom and I tried all the different restaurants throughout the 11-day excursion. We especially loved the Italian favorites at Manfredi’s (epic bread basket) and the Nordic brunch at Mamsen’s (still dreaming of the waffles). The Chef’s Table was another specialty eatery with elegant plating for a five-course tasting menu.
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U.S. News & World Report: 6 Top Luxury Alaska Cruises for 2024 & Beyond
March 7, 2024 — Viking's destination-focused itineraries are curated for travelers who are interested in history, science, culture and cuisine, as they feature onboard enrichment like lectures by Viking's resident historians. You'll also find regionally inspired dishes in The Restaurant and special access to unique tours and excursions ashore.
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USA Today: All aboard! 10 bucket-list cruise vacations to take this year
February 29, 2024 — Board Viking Sky to circumnavigate the globe — the ultimate cruise. A Dec. 19 departure from Fort Lauderdale ends up in New York City three months later. In between, you’ll visit 37 countries with the possibility of 83 guided, culturally immersive tours, from Panama and Los Angeles to Tahiti, New Zealand, Vietnam, and Turkey. Although more commonly aligned with river cruises, Viking boasts ocean liners with the same small-ship (930 guests max) nimbleness and sleek, Scandinavian design. Viking Sky’s staterooms garner praise for their private verandas and understated elegance.
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Condé Nast Traveler: The 11 Best Cruise Lines for Adults
February 28, 2024 — On this adults-only cruise line, choose between river, ocean, and expedition vessels. Viking ships sail all seven continents. Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris explore the poles but also sail Niagara, the Great Lakes, and Chilean fjords. While categorized as upper premium, Viking’s ocean and expedition fleet includes many amenities, such as one shore excursion per port, all dining, afternoon tea, beer and wine with lunch and dinner, spa Thermal Suite access, WiFi, and 24-hour room service.
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Cruise Critic: 6 Reasons to Take a Northern Lights Cruise to Norway in Winter
February 23, 2024 — Once you’ve gone outside and frozen yourself stiff, there’s nothing like returning to the warm lights (and warmer service) of your ship. In every port, Viking Venus shone like a beacon in the darkness. Crew put out electric lights to illuminate a path to the ship, creating what Scandinavians call “hygge” – a feeling of coziness – before passengers even step back aboard. And when you brave the polar winds that swirl around the steel gangway and finally step into the warmth of the ship’s interior, Viking’s crew were waiting with hot chocolate and hot toddies to warm passengers up.
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Cruise Critic: I Cruise with My Mom on Viking. I Wasn't Alone.
February 21, 2024 — There’s the old adage that says you get what you pay for. Viking slays that by consistently delivering more than you’d expect – more amenities, better quality and graceful service, the latter being harder to come by these days in the travel industry.
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Forbes: Forbes Travel Guide’s 2024 Star Award Winners
February 7, 2024 — Viking Neptune: A floating home-away-from-home has never been as luxurious as the stalwart digs found aboard the recently debuted Viking Neptune. In keeping with the luxury cruise line’s ever-popular small-ship formula, the 930-passenger Viking Neptune ticks all the sumptuous seafaring boxes with its all-veranda makeup and sleek Scandinavian style. Viking Sky: Exploring the world is an endeavor worth undertaking on the luxurious Viking Sky — especially when sumptuous staterooms come standard with king-sized beds and private ocean-view verandas. Like the vessels crewed by its namesake explorers, the intimate Viking Sky was built to navigate smaller rivers and fjords rather than just vast open seas. A voyage on this 930-passenger ship affords access to more exclusive ports that don’t permit larger liners.
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Condé Nast Traveler: These 7 Transoceanic Cruises Revive the Splendor of the Oceanliner Era
February 5, 2024 — Traverse the Pacific and tour some of the most interesting ports in Asia on this 37-day journey with Viking. Passengers depart Hong Kong in September 2024 on an epic voyage through 20 ports in Taiwan, Japan, Alaska, and Canada. The ports offer immersive activities like exploring temples and shrines in Kyoto and bear watching on Alaska’s Kodiak Island. But it’s the sea days that could prove to be the most scenic. The itinerary takes travelers through some of the most breathtaking stretches of the Pacific, including Japan’s Tsugaru Straits, as well as the glacier-laden Yakutat Bay and Glacier Bay in Alaska before navigating the Inside Passage. Onboard, you’ll also enjoy free access to the ship’s Nordic spa and complimentary 24-hour room service.
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Travel + Leisure: This Popular Cruise Line Is Dedicating a Ship to China for the First Time — With 3 New Itineraries in 2024
January 19, 2024 — Viking is launching three new cruise and land tours in China this year, just as the country is making it easier for American travelers to visit. The cruise company announced it will launch a series of 10- to 20-day trips with stops built in for some of China’s most popular cities like Beijing, Shanghai, and Hong Kong.
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The Points Guy: 5 best luxury Alaska cruises for 2024
December 25, 2023 — The Spa offers complimentary access to its Thermal Suite, where guests can rejuvenate by alternating between a steamy sauna and a frigid Snow Grotto. Daily afternoon tea service is a treat in the gorgeous Wintergarden. It's complimentary, as are the ship's primo specialty restaurants. Viking Orion's 10-night cruise between Vancouver and Seward includes scenic sailing of the Inside Passage and Yakutat Bay and a stop at rarely visited Valdez. There, enticing shore excursions include kayaking by Valdez Glacier; flying over glaciers, searching for wildlife in a helicopter; and a UTV (utility terrain vehicle, larger than an ATV) adventure through the Chugach Mountains to the Mineral Creek Canyon.
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The Telegraph: The adults-only cruise line with none of the glitz but all of the glamour
December 9, 2023 — Viking has come a long way since it began sailing on the waterways of Russia in 1997. Today the adults-only Norwegian-owned line operates ships of varying sizes on rivers, lakes and oceans around the world and owns the largest fleet of river ships in Europe. Nordic-inspired décor and serene, light-filled spaces are a hallmark of Viking ships and have given it one of the strongest brand identities in the business.
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Fox Business: Affordable vacation ideas in the year ahead include four cruise options: Here's what to know
November 13, 2023 — Viking’s ocean ships are truly spectacular vessels, and they sail some phenomenal itineraries – from the Mediterranean to Norway’s fjords. The ships themselves are beautiful and they’re all pretty much exactly the same.
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Porthole: Viking Cruises Honored with Six Awards
November 2, 2023 — Viking received numerous awards from U.S. News & World Report and Silver Travel Advisor for Best Luxury Line, Best Line for Couples, and Best Line in the Mediterranean. Viking.TV also won Silver Standout for Innovation, marking its third consecutive win since launch. Silver Travel Advisor named Viking #1 for Rivers and Oceans in the Best Premium or Luxury Cruise Line category.
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AFAR: 7 Caribbean Cruises We Love
October 27, 2023 — For those seeking more than just a beach scene, Viking Cruises offers a broad selection of daily tours focused on cultural and natural attractions in its all-inclusive pricing. Onboard the 930-passenger Viking Sea, sailing from San Juan on a 10-night West Indies Explorer itinerary, passengers visit nine countries with the opportunity to deeply immerse themselves in the Caribbean’s British, French, Dutch, and African history.
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U.S. News & World Report: The Best New Cruise Ships for 2024
October 25, 2023 — The 930-passenger Viking Saturn is the ninth ship in the Viking Ocean Cruises fleet and identical in design to its eight sister ships. The all-veranda vessel offers six categories of accommodations ranging from the 270-square-foot Veranda Stateroom to the spacious 1,448-square-foot Owner's Suite. On board, guests will enjoy the sleek, elegant Scandinavian-inspired public spaces and lounges. The line's enrichment program includes lectures with resident historians, TED Talks and sessions with world-renowned guest speakers. There are eight dining venues featuring destination-focused cuisine, the Nordic Spa with its snow grotto, two pools and hot tubs, and a sports deck.
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Explore: This Stunning Cruise Itinerary Allows You To See The Best Of Northern Europe
October 10, 2023 — Viking is a good fit as a cruise company for passengers who are looking for an itinerary that infuses rich culture and history into the sailing experience. Viking Ocean Cruises has a fleet of nine passenger ships that each carry upward of 930 passengers. The smaller stature of these ships allows the company to operate within more exclusive ports worldwide, including those that adorn the coast of Northern Europe.
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Cruise Fever: 6 Best Cruise Lines for a Quiet and Relaxing Vacation
October 6, 2023 — The simple elegance and decidedly Norwegian design of a Viking ocean ship is calming and relaxing in itself. From the heated and covered pools to the amazing thermal suites (which are free to all guests) to the quiet but refreshing Wintergarden at teatime, Viking ships have so many quiet and comfy places to enjoy the views I cannot list them all here.
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Condé Nast Traveler: Experience the Most Extraordinary Voyages in the World With Viking
October 3, 2023 — A Viking cruise puts the magic of your destination at center stage, while ensuring your comfort and enrichment at every turn. It’s no surprise that Condé Nast Traveler readers voted Viking to the top of the River, Ocean, and Expedition cruise categories in the 2023 Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards—the first time a travel company has been voted number one across these three categories simultaneously.
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Condé Nast Traveler: The Best Cruise Lines in the World: 2023 Readers' Choice Awards
October 3, 2023 — Originally a river cruise line, Viking has launched nine ocean-going vessels since 2015 (not including expedition ships), the most recent being the Viking Saturn, whose maiden voyage took place in May 2023. The ships are nearly identical, carrying 930 passengers each, housed in balcony staterooms. Though not all-inclusive, Viking Ocean offers guests one free excursion in each port (the ships primarily sail Northern Europe, though there are some Mediterranean itineraries, too), beer and wine with lunch and dinner, and an unlimited Wi-Fi connection.
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Cruise Critic: Expert Review of the Viking Mars Cruise Ship
August 25, 2023 — Introduced in 2022 as Viking's seventh ocean ship, Viking Mars follows the exact blueprint of its sister ships. And therein lies its appeal: repeat cruisers appreciate the sense of familiarity aboard the 930-passenger ship, while newcomers are charmed by its stylish design and intuitive layout.
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OC Register: Travel: Norway’s Far North is a Land of Trolls, Midnight Sun and Polar Bears
August 16, 2023 — Eccentric Longyearbyen was the next-to-last stop on our 14-night strikingly scenic “Iceland & Norway’s Arctic Explorer” cruise aboard the Viking Saturn. Passengers are actually only in Iceland one full day which was enough to visit bird bonanza Vigur Island, home to just three humans, 7,000 breeding eider ducks and more than 100,000 cartoonish puffins. Indeed, this entire Viking sailing was far, far north and at times far-out.
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Porthole: A Voyage of Love: The Best Cruise Lines for Honeymooners
August 10, 2023 — On this adult-only cruise line, every passenger is treated like a VIP guest. Each stateroom has a private veranda, providing the perfect setting for you and your partner to savor a glass of wine and gaze upon the tranquil waters of the open ocean. Viking Cruises offers some of the most romantic all-inclusive getaways offered at sea. With captivating itineraries like the Mediterranean and Polynesia, any couple is sure to have a dream honeymoon. Regardless of your itinerary, every Viking Cruises vessel has six complimentary restaurants onboard, all with a captivating ocean view.
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Mashed: Viking Provides The Bougiest Cruise Food
August 8, 2023 — According to Food & Wine readers, the cruise line that offers the best culinary experience overall is Viking. A ticket for a Viking cruise does include all restaurant meals as well as snacks and drinks from an in-suite mini-bar, and the dining options — similar to Vikings themselves — span the globe from Italian to sushi. The ships do, however, feature certain Scandinavian specialties, some said to be based on recipes from the cruise line founder's mother.
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Tasting Table: 13 Best Cruise Line Restaurants
August 7, 2023 — Considering its Norse name, and the fact that the fleet sails to Norway, it's only fitting that Viking cruise line features a Scandinavian restaurant rooted in Norwegian tradition. So named for the mother of Viking chairman and CEO Torstein Hagen (mamsen means "mum" in Norwegian), the cute and sunny eatery serves up atypical cruise fare like traditional heart-shaped waffles from the Explorer's Lounge of Viking's ocean ships.
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Forbes: The Best Cruises For Adults
August 1, 2023 — When asked to envision a cruise, chances are you might summon images of kids wailing down waterslides, dripping in ice cream and building sandcastles, typically what you see in the many candy-colored ads from mega cruise ships. But those are far from the only cruise options out there for grown-ups who want to get away from it all. The best cruises for adults cater to adult guests with high-brow luxuries or dedicated spaces—and some even don’t allow kids on board, period.
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Forbes: Viking Founder Torstein Hagen Checks Off A 65 Year Old Bucket List Item
July 25, 2023 — Every once in a while, work and play come together in an unexpected, magical moment. And that’s why Viking Founder/Chairman, Torstein Hagen, recently found himself in a post office in Ushuaia, Argentina – the world’s southernmost city, nicknamed the “End of the World” – fulfilling a childhood wish from 65 years ago.
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Travel + Leisure: Readers’ 5 Favorite Midsize-Ship Ocean Cruise Lines of 2023
July 11, 2023 — Viking took the No. 1 spot in this category for the second year in a row, thanks to its consistent excellence. It starts with the brand’s many identical ocean-going ships, of which Viking now has 10, including the newest, Viking Saturn.
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Joe's Daily: Viking Ocean Cruises Review: Luxury Cruising At Its Finest
July 8, 2023 — Viking Ocean Cruises offers a unique and personal experience that distinguishes it from other cruise lines. This isn’t your typical cruise where the ship is merely a vessel to move you from one place to the next. Instead, Viking Ocean Cruises invites you on a journey that feels deeply personal and thoughtfully curated.
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CNBC: Viking chairman: We appeal to the 'thinking person' which has been very favorable for us
June 16, 2023 — Torstein Hagen, Viking chairman and founder, joins ‘The Exchange’ to discuss a rebound in travel following the pandemic, pricing packages for Viking Cruises, and opportunities for older consumers looking to travel.
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TravelPulse: The Rise And Fall And Rise Again Of Viking’s Torstein Hagen
June 14, 2023 — The 25-year ascent of Viking to become one of the world’s most consequential cruise lines is quite a story. Especially when it is told by the company’s forthright founder Torstein Hagen.
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Travel Weekly: What You'll Find on The Viking Saturn (and Other Viking Ships)
June 13, 2023 — As a cruise company, Viking is well known for doing things a little differently. As chairman Torstein Hagen says: “We're quite different from the big guys. We're very proud of what we are.” One of the ways Viking differentiates itself is to make all of its oceangoing ships exactly the same in size, layout and design.
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Forbes: The Viking Cruise Vision: Steadfast And Unflappable
June 12, 2023 — Viking guests remain fiercely loyal to the line because it offers what they want both on the rivers and oceans. They appreciate the modern ships, attentive service and broad choices of itineraries.
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Fox News: Viking on Cruise Industry Resurgence
June 8, 2023 — Viking Chairman Torstein Hagen discusses the cruise industry’s resurgence after the pandemic on ‘Your World’ as they are 93% booked for 2023.
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Travel Weekly: Viking introduces its 10th ocean ship, the Saturn, in New York
June 7, 2023 — Viking named its 10th oceangoing ship, the Viking Saturn, in an event on June 6 that included performances by Metropolitan Opera singers and a blessing by godmother Ann Ziff, chairwoman of the Met Opera. The ship was docked in New York for the ceremony and the naming took place on the Saturn's bow, facing the Hudson River. Ziff used a sword from the Met's production of "Il Trovatore" to cut a ribbon that released a bottle of aquavit into the Saturn's hull.
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Daily Beast: The Unique Cruise Beloved by Cruise Fanatics
May 12, 2023 — Crossing an ocean, on the water, is still a big deal—even when you do it on a cushy cruise liner. Day after day, just surrounded by liquid horizons on every side. Steaming between continents, like explorers did way back when they navigated the seven seas in creaky wooden vessels moved by the power of the wind.
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Food & Wine: This Is the Best Cruise for Food, As Voted on by Our Readers
April 18, 2023 — While one strategy rolled out by many lines has been focusing on quantity with a dizzying variety of ho-hum options, that’s never been part of the plan for Viking Cruises, which our readers voted the overall best cruise for food in the world.
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Travel + Leisure: 7 of the Best Northern Lights Cruises
March 4, 2023 — Over the course of 13 days, a luxurious Viking ocean ship transports guests from London to Amsterdam, then all the way up the coast of Norway and north of the Arctic Circle, before returning back south to the Norwegian city of Bergen. (Although some sailings operate in reverse.) The Norwegian fjords themselves are a sight to behold — and if they're paired with the northern lights, that's all the better!
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Travel + Leisure: The Newest Viking Ship Was Named by an Aquanaut — and Just Set Sail on a 138-day World Cruise
January 10, 2023 — In a naming ceremony over the weekend, Viking officially welcomed its newest ship, Viking Neptune, into its ever-growing fleet. The 930-passenger vessel, a sibling to seven other ocean ships — soon to be eight, with the launch of Viking Saturn later this year — all of which have celestial namesakes. It was only appropriate, then, to have a retired NASA astronaut serve as Viking Neptune's godmother. And not just an astronaut, but an aquanaut, too.
