Newsweek: America's Best Customer Service 2023
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.
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Travel Weekly: Exploring the Great Lakes on Viking Octantis
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.”
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AFAR: The Hottest Cruise Destination of 2022 Isn’t Where You Might Think
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.
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Cruise Critic: What It's Like Sailing the Great Lakes With Viking: Just back from Viking Octantis
June 27, 2022 — 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.
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Travel Weekly: Viking Octantis well-equipped for luxury expeditions
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.
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Travel Awaits: 6 Fascinating Facts About Viking’s New Expedition Ship Octantis
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.
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TravelPulse: What’s Special About Great Lakes Cruises?
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.
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Travel Weekly: Viking completes its first Great Lakes voyage
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.
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Condé Nast Traveler: The Best New Cruises in the World: 2022 Hot List
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.
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The Jet Set: The Thinking Persons Adventure
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.
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Cruise Critic: Viking Octantis Cruise - Ship Review
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.
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Forbes: New Viking Octantis Carves Unique Niche In Expedition Cruising
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.
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TODAY: Vacationing while protecting Earth is the new big draw for travelers
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.
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AFAR: The Best Ships for Antarctica Sailings And When to Book
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.
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The Points Guy: The types of Viking cruise ships, explained
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.
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Condé Nast Traveler: What It's Like to Sail to Antarctica on Viking's Luxe New Expedition Ship
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.
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Forbes: Celebrate World Whale Day With A Trip To One Of These Amazing Whale Watching Destinations
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.
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The Points Guy: The 7 most anticipated new cruise ships of 2022
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.
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Toronto Star: Vacation ships on Great Lakes
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.
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Forbes: Viking Takes Delivery Of Viking Octantis, Line’s First Expedition Ship
December 23, 2021 — Yearning to get away from it all? Viking just announced that it has taken delivery of the Viking Octantis, the first of two new purpose-built expedition cruise ships that will join the fleet in 2022. These additions will allow the line to transport its guests to all seven continents.
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Travel + Leisure: This New Viking Cruise Will Take You to All 5 Great Lakes in 15 Days
November 8, 2021 — If ever you’ve wanted to experience all five of North America’s Great Lakes in a single trip, here’s your chance. Viking Expeditions is launching a new 15-day Great Lakes itinerary for summer 2023 starting in Toronto and sails to Duluth, Minn. — giving passengers the chance to experience each of the five Great Lakes — the cruise company announced recently.
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Cruise Critic: Viking Cruise News: Expedition Cruise Ships To Have COVID-19 Testing Labs
August 30, 2021 — Viking's expedition ships, coming in late 2021 and 2022, will have onboard lab facilities so passengers can be tested for COVID-19, the cruise line's founder and chairman said. The move extends the health and safety practices that Viking instituted on its ocean cruise ships when cruising resumed in May. Viking is the only cruise line to have a full PCR testing labratory onboard.
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CNBC: Viking chairman on cruise demand: Bookings up 42% for 2022 over 2019
August 10, 2021 — Chairman Torstein Hagen joins ‘Squawk on the Street’ to discuss the Viking Health & Safety Program and the path forward.
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CNN: Here’s how Viking Cruises plans to welcome back vaccinated guests
April 28, 2021 — Viking Chairman Torstein Hagen talks to CNN’s Richard Quest on “Quest Means Business” to discuss our plans for welcoming vaccinated guests back on board our ocean ships in 2021.
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Forbes: Free Virtual Entertainment From Viking Cruises: Yes, You Can Enjoy Travel Fun At Home
February 21, 2021 — Applause to travel companies that have gone the extra mile during the pandemic by creatively developing free virtual entertainment. One of the best and brightest roll-outs to build community and share positive experiences comes from Viking Cruises, which launched, in April 2020, a new digital platform called Viking.TV, available online. Now approaching its one year anniversary, Viking.TV has amassed an impressive collection of engaging original cultural content and live-stream video adventures.
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Condé Nast Traveler: 10 Memorable Cruises for Every Occasion
February 9, 2021 — Ahhh, retirement—when you finally have enough time to embrace the good life. In 2022, Viking offers just the ticket to celebrate with its new Viking Expeditions arm, dubbed “the thinking person’s expedition.” Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris are influenced by Scandinavian design and fit up to 378 passengers per ship. Each vessel includes a working laboratory for resident scientists, plus fun expedition toys like Zodiacs, kayaks, and twin submarines.
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Cruise Critic: Viking Octantis Launches, Begins Wave of New Expedition Cruise Vessels
January 4, 2021 — Viking Cruises' foray into the exciting and growing world of expedition cruising came one step closer to reality in December, when the line successfully floated out its first purpose-built expedition vessel, Viking Octantis.
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Cruise Fever: Viking.TV Hosting Astronauts This Week for Space Week Discussions
October 5, 2020 — As Viking.TV celebrates six months of offering award-winning programming this week, four astronauts will host a special panel discussion on Friday sharing what it’s like to live and work in space.
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Forbes: Viking Launches Viking.TV, A New Travel Experience Channel
April 5, 2020 — As with other travel entities turning to web-based content during COVID-19 related cancellations, Viking Cruises has set a new course with the launch of Viking.TV. This digital library, created by the river and ocean cruise company, will showcase experiential programming that Viking guests have access to onboard their respective cruises, on deck levels or their cabin TV. Its culturally-focused content will feature appearances by the Viking executives and crew and subjects relating to its at-sail and at port ventures, plus live video of happenings from around the world.
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Frommer's: Great Lakes Cruises and Polar Expeditions with Submarines
January 17, 2020 — With sights set on both the farthest and the closest destinations on earth, cruise company Viking has announced a new fleet of two expedition ships. It will join the companies roving both the Arctic Circle and Antarctica and, most interestingly, pioneer new itineraries in the Great Lakes.
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The Star Tribune: Viking cruises will sail the Great Lakes with a stop in Duluth
January 17, 2020 — Viking, the company that got its start plying European rivers, will splash into the Great Lakes in the summer of 2022. One of the routes on the Earth’s largest body of freshwater will shine a spotlight on Minnesota. Duluth will be among its ports of call.
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Chicago Tribune: Viking Cruise Line Is Building Two Cutting-Edge Ships — And One Is Headed For The Great Lakes
January 15, 2020 — A big player in the cruise industry is diving into the Great Lakes market. Switzerland-based Viking, which built its name plying the rivers of Europe, is extending its reach into North America in 2022 with voyages exploring the largest surface of fresh water in the world.
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Forbes: Viking To Launch Innovative Expedition Cruises
January 15, 2020 — This will be the first time Viking devotees will be able to explore the Great Lakes region on the line’s modern, technologically-advanced ships. It is anticipated that these new itineraries will have a major impact on tourism and economic development in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin and in the province of Ontario in Canada.
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FORTUNE: Viking’s New Small-Ship Expedition Cruises Will Offer Close-Up Views Of A Rapidly Changing Antarctica And Arctic Circle
January 15, 2020 — Viking Cruises just announced a series of new destination-focused, expedition voyages with locales that will inevitably see rapid change over the next decade and years to come. Viking Expeditions will set sail starting in January 2022 with its first vessel, Viking Octantis, embarking on voyages to Antarctica and North America’s Great Lakes. A second expedition vessel, Viking Polaris, will debut in August 2022, sailing to Antarctica and the Arctic.
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Travel + Leisure: Viking Cruises Launches Epic New Expedition Trips
January 15, 2020 — Viking Cruises has just announced the launch of Viking Expeditions, an exciting new chapter in the company’s history. This new arm of the ever-expanding brand will focus on small-ship trips to Antarctica and the Great Lakes of North America.
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Travel Weekly: Viking Cruises launching expedition ships in 2022
January 15, 2020 — Viking Cruises has opened the books on a new product line: Viking Expeditions, an expedition cruise line that will set sail in 2022.
