English 
Viking was founded in 1997 with the vision that travel could be more destination-focused and culturally immersive.
The company expanded into the American market in 2000, establishing a sales and marketing office in Los Angeles, California. Since then, Viking has grown to a fleet of more than 100 vessels, offering river, ocean, and expedition voyages across all seven continents, five oceans, and 21 rivers.
Beyond generous time in port, every journey features an onboard and onshore enrichment program that provides deep immersion in the destination through performances of music and art, cooking demonstrations, informative port talks, and carefully selected guest lecturers.
Designed "For The Thinking Person™," Viking does not try to be all things to all people. This distinctive approach has earned the loyalty of curious travelers around the world.
With more than 450 awards to its name, Viking is a leader in experiential travel. The company has been rated #1 for Rivers and #1 for Oceans in Condé Nast Traveler's Readers' Choice Awards for consecutive years, and has also been recognized in Travel + Leisure's "World's Best" awards. No other travel company has received such honors from both of these prestigious publications at the same time.
Viking is a publicly traded company on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).
In 2028, the Viking Neptune will be deployed on Japan-homeported voyages.
Viking launched its destination-focused ocean cruises in 2015. The company's award-winning, all-veranda ships are engineered at a size that allows direct access into most ports, so guests can easily and efficiently embark and disembark—maximizing time in each destination for a truly rewarding journey.
On board, guests are welcomed by serene spaces defined by modern Scandinavian design—elegant, understated interiors crafted with meticulous attention to detail. Every stateroom features a private veranda with views of the sea, while a choice of dining venues including al fresco options, an infinity pool, a Nordic-inspired spa, and the two-deck Explorers' Lounge with panoramic views make time on board truly special. Thoughtfully curated book collections throughout the ship offer both intellectual stimulation and quiet moments of relaxation.
Viking's ocean itineraries are designed to maximize the amount of time travelers spend in their destination. Voyages span the globe, with itineraries in Scandinavia and Northern Europe, the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, Australia and New Zealand, Asia, Alaska, the Americas, and Africa, each offering deep immersion in the culture, history, and natural beauty of the region.
Viking's ocean ships have also been designed to be environmentally considerate, with energy-efficient hull, propeller and rudder arrangements, and engines with heat recovery systems. As a result, the ships achieve the best Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI)* in their class, exceeding the International Maritime Organization (IMO) 2025 requirements by approximately 20 percent.
Additionally, Viking's new builds are the first in the world with a closed-loop exhaust cleaning system, designed so that pollutants can be removed and disposed of safely—minimizing environmental impact while delivering a more sustainable cruise experience.
Viking continues to accelerate its investment in next-generation technology. In late 2026, the company is scheduled to take delivery of the Viking Libra, the world's first hydrogen-powered cruise ship, capable of operating with zero emissions. The Viking Astrea, scheduled to debut in 2027, is also planned to be powered by hydrogen—positioning Viking at the forefront of a more sustainable cruise industry.
In November 2024, Viking launched its long-awaited Japan-homeported voyages aboard the Viking Yidun, created especially for Japanese guests. These voyages combine Viking's signature refined onboard experience with comprehensive Japanese-language service, as experienced crew and Japanese-speaking staff welcome guests with warm, attentive hospitality on comfortable and memorable journeys.
And in 2028, the Viking Neptune will newly be deployed on Japan-homeported voyages.
Sailing Europe's storied rivers, the award-winning fleet of Viking Longships® offers a variety of stateroom categories, including suites with full-size verandas, to suit every traveler. Onboard amenities include a restaurant, bar and lounge, library and expansive sun deck. The ships feature al fresco dining on the sunlit 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 the Rhine, Main, Danube, Seine, Rhône, Douro, Moselle, Elbe, Dordogne, Garonne, and Gironde rivers.
Viking also offers voyages aboard purpose-built Viking Longships on Egypt's Nile River and Southeast Asia's Mekong River, with sailings on India's Brahmaputra River scheduled to begin in 2027.
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, offering guests safe and comfortable access to some of the world's most remote destinations.
Designed by the same experienced nautical architects and engineers behind Viking's Longships and ocean ships, the vessels are optimally sized and built for expeditions, balancing safety, comfort, and onboard amenities in remote destinations. An integrated bow creates a longer waterline for superior seakeeping; state-of-the-art fin 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 signature Scandinavian design, with public areas that are favorites on Viking's ocean ships, as well as new spaces created specifically for expeditions—making the ship itself a place of learning and discovery.
Viking has also created the world's leading scientific enrichment environment in an expedition setting, partnering with prestigious research institutions including the Scott Polar Research Institute at Cambridge University. Researchers and educators join each voyage, deepening guests' understanding of the natural environment, history, and science of the destinations through lectures and expert commentary.
Viking's expedition vessels also lead the industry in environmental performance, with an energy-efficient design that exceeds the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI)* requirements by approximately 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 and reducing impact on marine ecosystems.
By bringing together advanced technology and academic expertise, Viking offers a sustainable expedition experience rich in learning and discovery—far more than a simple adventure voyage.
*The Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) is an international standard requiring a minimum energy efficiency level for new ships, made mandatory as of January 1, 2013. It was the first legally binding climate change treaty to be adopted since the Kyoto Protocol.
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