VIKING CRUISE LINE

Viking Cruise Line was established by Torstein Hagen in St. Petersburg, Russia in 1997.  He had helped some Russian oligarchs buy a shipping company, and they sold him four river cruise ships cheaply, which became the founding fleet of Viking River Cruises.

Must have done well, for in 2000, Viking purchased KD River Cruises of Europe, bringing Viking's fleet up to 26 ships, the largest in the world.

• Revamped their ships, aiming for older travelers.
• No gyms and pools, maximizing passenger load.
• Expanded into China in 2004 with Yangtze River cruises.
• In 2007 had 23 ships in Europe, Russia and China.
• In 2011 entered a new phase of growth by sponsoring PBS's Masterpiece Theatre, with plans to ad 40 ships of "longship" design over a five-year period.
• In 2013, modified name to Viking Cruises to launch oceangoing vessels.
• Christened two new ships in on back-to-back days in 2014, a Guinness world record.
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  First ocean ship was the Viking Star in 2015, holding 930 passengers and 602 crew.
• By 2018, reached $3 billion in annual revenue, carrying 440,000 passengers with 8,000 employees.

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  Also that year announced their intent to expand to the Mississippi River, debuting in 2022.
• Also by 2018 had five ocean vessels, and being smaller than competing cruise ships, could enter smaller ports.
• Also in 2018 indicated that the company would have smaller ships to enter the expedition market.  
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  First circumnavigation in 2017/8 with the Viking Sun, and announced an intent to have that this ship in the future would have an Ultimate World  Cruise, 245 days, stopping in 59 countries and 113 ports.
• In 2019 operated 76 river vessels.  European ships accommodated 190 passengers, with the Mississippi ships holding 386.
• In 2020, shortened name to Viking.
• Began Viking Expeditions journeys in 2022.
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  Torstein Hagen, now 81, is still Chairman and CEO.
• How has Viking suddenly become #1 in almost all areas of cruising? Cruise Critic gives five reasons for first-timers.
• Is fairly inclusive.  One fare covers beer, wine, soda at every meal, at least one shore excursion for each port, all meals, thermal spa facilities, WiFi and entertainment.
• Has in-depth tours.
• While ships are pretty, practicality reigns.  Close to where you sit will be an outlet.
• You've got a choice, but not too much choice.  No casino, no children under 18 and big cabins.
• Food is excellent with variety aplenty.
• Manfredi is their Italian restaurant.
• Chef's Table has five course menus.
• Buffet has a lot, even sushi.

I recall being on a Tauck European river cruise a decade or so ago, and Viking was just a mediocre river cruise competitor.  Well, Viking just earned top honors in U.S. News and World Report's 2025 Best Cruise Line Rankings.

• This was the fourth consecutive year Viking was named the Best Luxury Line, Best Line for Couples and Best Line in the Mediterranean.
• Viking was in 2024 also rated by Condé Nast Travelers as the World's Best for Rivers, Oceans and Expeditions.  Second year in a row.
• Additionally, Travel+Leisure's 2024 ranking has Viking as the best for all three types of ships.  Also second year in row.

Well, after I post this blog, we catch a taxi for the Viking Tir 2-week European Christmas River Cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest.

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