History

Viking was founded in 1997 with the vision that travel could be more destination-focused and culturally immersive.

The company expanded into the North American market in 2000, establishing a sales and marketing office in Los Angeles. Since then, Viking has grown to a fleet of more than 100 vessels, offering river, ocean and expedition voyages exploring 21 rivers, five oceans and all seven continents.

Viking provides destination-focused itineraries for curious travelers, with each journey including a shore excursion in every port and an onboard and onshore enrichment program that provides deep immersion in the destination through musical performances, art, cooking demonstrations, informative port talks and carefully selected guest lecturers.

With a clear focus on creating experiences For The Thinking Person™, Viking does not try to be all things to all people. This contrarian approach resonates with guests. With more than 450 awards to its name, Viking is a leader in experiential travel including being consistently rated #1 for Rivers and #1 for Oceans by Condé Nast Traveler in its Readers’ Choice Awards. Viking is also rated a “World’s Best” by Travel + Leisure – no other travel company has simultaneously received such honors by both publications.

River Ships and Itineraries

Sailing Europe’s storied rivers, the award-winning fleet of identical Viking Longships® offer a variety of stateroom categories and true two-room suites with full-size verandas. Onboard amenities include a restaurant, bar and lounge, library and expansive sun deck. The ships feature al fresco dining on the revolutionary indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace, elegant Scandinavian design and environmentally considerate features, such as solar panels, an onboard organic herb garden and energy-efficient hybrid engines for a remarkably smooth ride.

Europe river voyages range from 8 to 23 days, with itineraries featuring Europe’s Rhine, Main, Danube, Seine, Rhône, Douro, Moselle, Elbe, Dordogne, Garonne and Gironde rivers.

Viking also offers voyages on its growing fleet of vessels specifically designed to navigate Egypt’s Nile River and Southeast Asia’s Mekong River. In 2027, Viking will also begin sailing the Brahmaputra River in India.

Mississippi River Ship and Itineraries

Viking launched destination-focused travel experiences on the Mississippi River in 2022, with sailings ranging from 8 to 22 days between New Orleans, Louisiana and St. Paul, Minnesota. During the journey, guests experience ports of call in Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Tennessee, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

The Viking Mississippi hosts 386 guests and features some of the largest staterooms across the cruise industry, offering all guests a sweeping view of the river and landscape beyond.

Ocean Ships and Itineraries

Viking introduced its destination-focused ocean voyages in 2015. The award-winning fleet is comprised of small, all-veranda sister ships that are engineered at a size allowing direct access to most ports. Guests can easily and efficiently embark and disembark—allowing for more time in port. Viking’s ocean fleet features an elegant Scandinavian design with abundant public space and attention to detail. Each ship boasts a private veranda in every stateroom, a choice of restaurants offering a variety of fine dining options and the most al fresco dining at sea—as well as an infinity pool, Nordic-inspired spa, two-deck Explorers’ Lounge, thoughtfully curated book collections throughout the ship and more.

Ocean itineraries are designed to maximize the amount of time travelers spend in their destination. These enriching itineraries include voyages around the world—with particular focus in Scandinavia and Northern Europe, the Mediterranean during the “quiet season,” the Caribbean, Australia and New Zealand, Asia, Alaska, North and South America and Africa.

Viking’s ocean ships have been designed to be environmentally considerate, with an energy-efficient hull, propeller and rudder arrangements and engines with heat recovery systems. This allows ships to reach the best Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI)* in its class, exceeding the 2025 International Maritime Organization (IMO) requirements by almost 20 percent. Additionally, Viking ships were the first newbuilds in the world with a closed-loop exhaust cleaning system designed so that pollutants can be removed and disposed of safely.

In late 2026, Viking plans to take delivery of the Viking Libra, the world's first hydrogen-powered cruise ship, capable of operating with zero emissions. Viking’s subsequent ocean ship, the Viking Astrea, which is scheduled for delivery in 2027, will also be hydrogen powered.

Expedition Ships and Itineraries

In 2022, Viking launched expedition voyages with the arrival of the 378-guest Polar Class Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris. Both ships sail expedition voyages in Antarctica, the Arctic and North America’s Great Lakes.

Designed by the same experienced nautical architects and engineers that designed Viking’s Longships and ocean ships, the ships are optimally sized and built for expeditions, at an ideal size for safety, comfort and onboard amenities in remote destinations. An integrated bow creates a longer waterline for the ships; state-of-the-art stabilizers allow the ships to glide over the waves for the calmest possible journey; ice-strengthened Polar Class hulls provide the safest way to explore; and U-tank stabilizers significantly decrease rolling by up to 50 percent when the ships are stationary. The ships feature the company’s elegant Scandinavian design, with public areas that are favorites on Viking’s ocean ships, as well as new spaces created specifically for expeditions.

Viking has also created the world’s leading scientific enrichment environment in an expedition setting. Partnerships with the Scott Polar Research Institute at Cambridge University—as well as other prestigious scientific institutions—match leading researchers and educators with each expedition.

Viking’s expedition vessels have set a new standard for responsible travel, with an energy-efficient design that exceeds the current EEDI* requirements by nearly 38 percent—more than any other expedition ship. In addition to an integrated bow, engines with heat recovery systems and Azipod® Electric Propulsion, the Viking Octantis and the Viking Polaris have received one of the industry’s first SILENT-E notations—the highest-level certification for quiet ship propulsion, minimizing underwater noise pollution.

*Since January 1, 2013, the Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) was made mandatory for new ships, requiring a minimum energy efficiency level per capacity mile. This was the first legally binding climate change treaty to be adopted since the Kyoto Protocol.