Viking Cruises has positioned itself as a dominant force in the travel industry, boasting over 90 vessels and a reputation for destination-focused travel. The company, founded in 1997 with a sales office in Los Angeles, now operates across all seven continents. It recently achieved a rare feat by winning three top categories in the 2024 Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards.
The recognition marks the first time a single travel company has taken back-to-back titles for rivers, oceans, and expeditions. This success relies on a business model that prioritizes cultural immersion over pure entertainment. Every voyage includes shore excursions and enrichment programs featuring music, art, and guest lecturers.
Ocean Itineraries and Ship Design
Viking’s ocean expansion began with the 930-guest Viking Star in 2015. The fleet now includes modern, all-veranda ships. The newest additions, the Viking Vela (998 guests) and Viking Vesta (2025), maintain this design philosophy. These ships offer private verandas, the most al fresco dining at sea, and an infinity pool.
A key design feature is the ship size, which ranges up to 2,500 berths. This allows most ocean vessels to access ports directly. Guests can embark and disembark more efficiently, spending more time in each destination rather than waiting for tender boats. The ships were built with a very particular sort of thought, which is arguably the whole point.
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The company emphasizes environmental responsibility. Its ocean ships exceed current International Maritime Organization requirements by about 205 percent. New builds feature closed-loop exhaust cleaning systems to prevent pollutant disposal issues. The International Maritime Organization requires new ships to meet specific energy efficiency standards known as EEDI.
Rivers, Expeditions, and New Markets
Beyond the oceans, Viking operates a fleet of identical Longships® on European rivers. These ships offer a range of itineraries on the Rhine, Danube, Seine, and Nile. In 2022, the company expanded into the Mississippi River. The Viking Mississippi carries 386 guests and sails between New Orleans and St. Paul. The itinerary covers seven states, including stops in Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Missouri, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.
The company’s expedition fleet utilizes the 378-guest Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris. These ships are built for remote locations with ice-strengthened hulls. The partnerships with the Scott Polar Research Institute and NOAA provide scientific enrichment opportunities for passengers.
The expedition fleet sets a high bar for quiet operations. Ships have the SILENT-E notation, minimizing underwater noise pollution. They also exceed EEDI requirements by nearly 38 percent. This attention to detail ensures the experience remains respectful of the fragile environments like Antarctica. The industry standard for quiet propulsion is a relatively new concept, and Viking has adopted it early in the build cycle of its polar class vessels.
