• Condé Nast Traveler: Experience the Most Extraordinary Voyages in the World With Viking

    October 3, 2023 — A Viking cruise puts the magic of your destination at center stage, while ensuring your comfort and enrichment at every turn. It’s no surprise that Condé Nast Traveler readers voted Viking to the top of the River, Ocean, and Expedition cruise categories in the 2023 Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards—the first time a travel company has been voted number one across these three categories simultaneously.

    Read the full article >

  • Condé Nast Traveler: The Best Cruise Lines in the World: 2023 Readers' Choice Awards

    October 3, 2023 — When Viking was founded in 1997, it focused solely on river cruising in Europe. It soon expanded its operations to other rivers around the world, followed by the oceans in 2013. The expedition branch of the company, however, was only launched in 2020—the first ship, Viking Octantis, is a 378-passenger vessel that made her debut in early 2022. Her sister, Viking Polaris, made her inaugural voyage later in the year.

    Read the full article >

  • Virtuoso: Testing the Waters – A Brand-New Cruiser Takes on Antarctica

    October 1, 2023 — I boarded the 378-passenger Viking Polaris a skeptical but game cruiser. I've always loved planning my own activities when I travel, and here I'd have less control over my day-to-day. Fortunately, I found I enjoyed the freedom to sip Baileys in the outdoor hot tub or swing by the spa's steam room, cold bucket shower, and sauna.

    Read the full article >

  • Artful Living: Aboard Viking Polaris' High Seas Excursion to Antarctica

    September 13, 2023 — Despite my travels, I’ve never considered myself a cruiser but more of a rugged sailing type who would rather spend a week barefoot on a boat. This sentiment changed in short order upon experiencing the Polaris, which feels like a luxury boutique hotel on water. The decor gives off Scandinavian chic vibes, the food rivals a Michelin-starred restaurant and the service is absolutely extraordinary.

    Read the full article >

  • Lavender: A Fall Getaway on the Great Lakes with Viking

    September 7, 2023 — The allure of the Great Lakes in autumn is undeniable. As the leaves begin to shift from green to shades of gold and red, the lakes stand as vast, tranquil mirrors reflecting the changing season. This year, I decided to immerse myself in this spectacle, choosing Viking’s Expedition ship, the Polaris, as my vessel of discovery. With the promise of exploring three iconic lakes on the itinerary, I was eager to delve into the unique character and offerings of each.

    Read the full article >

  • Porthole: A Voyage of Love: The Best Cruise Lines for Honeymooners

    August 10, 2023 — On this adult-only cruise line, every passenger is treated like a VIP guest. Each stateroom has a private veranda, providing the perfect setting for you and your partner to savor a glass of wine and gaze upon the tranquil waters of the open ocean. Viking Cruises offers some of the most romantic all-inclusive getaways offered at sea. With captivating itineraries like the Mediterranean and Polynesia, any couple is sure to have a dream honeymoon. Regardless of your itinerary, every Viking Cruises vessel has six complimentary restaurants onboard, all with a captivating ocean view.

    Read the full article >

  • National Post: Great Lakes Cruise Reveals Wonders In Own Backyard

    August 9, 2023 — Sailing on lakes Superior, Huron and Michigan aboard Viking Octantis is a kaleidoscope of rugged landscapes defined by rock, water and trees. Craggy shorelines, dense forests of black spruce, poplar and jack pine, plus a smattering of sleepy lakeside communities stir memories of carefree summers spent in northern Ontario. Add seemingly endless expanses of water, where no shorelines are visible, and it becomes clear what makes the Great Lakes Explorer itinerary an expedition and not simply a cruise.

    Read the full article >

  • Mashed: Viking Provides The Bougiest Cruise Food

    August 8, 2023 — According to Food & Wine readers, the cruise line that offers the best culinary experience overall is Viking. A ticket for a Viking cruise does include all restaurant meals as well as snacks and drinks from an in-suite mini-bar, and the dining options — similar to Vikings themselves — span the globe from Italian to sushi. The ships do, however, feature certain Scandinavian specialties, some said to be based on recipes from the cruise line founder's mother.

    Read the full article >

  • Forbes: The Best Cruises For Adults

    August 1, 2023 — When asked to envision a cruise, chances are you might summon images of kids wailing down waterslides, dripping in ice cream and building sandcastles, typically what you see in the many candy-colored ads from mega cruise ships. But those are far from the only cruise options out there for grown-ups who want to get away from it all. The best cruises for adults cater to adult guests with high-brow luxuries or dedicated spaces—and some even don’t allow kids on board, period.

    Read the full article >

  • Falstaff: Adventures On Thin Ice: Notes On A Mother Daughter Trip To Antarctica

    July 28, 2023 — When I first signed on for the Antarctic Explorer expedition aboard the Viking Polaris, there was no doubt in my mind about who I would bring as my guest. She cried upon receiving the news — and later, upon seeing the icy continent for the very first time. It’s rare to be able to give someone such a powerful gift, and if you have the opportunity, may I say: Always bring your mother.

    Read the full article >

  • Forbes: Viking Founder Torstein Hagen Checks Off A 65 Year Old Bucket List Item

    July 25, 2023 — Every once in a while, work and play come together in an unexpected, magical moment. And that’s why Viking Founder/Chairman, Torstein Hagen, recently found himself in a post office in Ushuaia, Argentina – the world’s southernmost city, nicknamed the “End of the World” – fulfilling a childhood wish from 65 years ago.

    Read the full article >

  • Travel + Leisure: Readers’ 5 Favorite Small-Ship Ocean Cruise Lines of 2023

    July 11, 2023 — Typically thought of as a midsize-ship line, Viking took top honors in this category, too, thanks to its twin ships Viking Polaris and Viking Octantis. The expedition vessels, both of which have 189 cabins, are built for out-there adventures, whether on the waters of the Great Lakes or in the Southern Ocean on the way to Antarctica.

    Read the full article >

  • Eye On Travel: Onboard the Viking Octantis

    June 17, 2023 — This week’s broadcast of Eye on Travel is from the Viking Octantis as it sails the Great Lakes from Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Lake Michigan), into Lake Huron and Lake Superior into Thunder Bay, Canada. Peter has all the latest news updates. Plus the Mayor of Milwaukee Cavalier Johnson discusses the evolution of his city into an arts and food capital, not to mention the gateway to the Great Lakes. And why Milwaukee’s Mitchell Field is really Chicago’s third airport. We’ll talk history and fudge on Mackinac Island, and Peter submerges in Fraser Bay — a UNESCO world heritage biosphere — on one of the Octantis submarines to the bottom of Lake Huron.

    Read the full article >

  • CNBC: Viking chairman: We appeal to the 'thinking person' which has been very favorable for us

    June 16, 2023 — Torstein Hagen, Viking chairman and founder, joins ‘The Exchange’ to discuss a rebound in travel following the pandemic, pricing packages for Viking Cruises, and opportunities for older consumers looking to travel.

    Read the full article >

  • TravelPulse: The Rise And Fall And Rise Again Of Viking’s Torstein Hagen

    June 14, 2023 — The 25-year ascent of Viking to become one of the world’s most consequential cruise lines is quite a story. Especially when it is told by the company’s forthright founder Torstein Hagen.

    Read the full article >

  • News 5 Cleveland: Cleveland welcomes new Viking cruise ship Polaris for first of 8 visits this season

    June 13, 2023 — Long, tall and majestic, the brand new Viking Cruise Ship Polaris made its way into the Port of Cleveland Tuesday. The six-story, 665-foot-long ship is the two-week home for 378 guests making their way from Toronto to Duluth, Minnesota, across all five Great Lakes—the major selling point for Jim and Jane from South Carolina.

    Read the full article >

  • Forbes: The Viking Cruise Vision: Steadfast And Unflappable

    June 12, 2023 — Viking guests remain fiercely loyal to the line because it offers what they want both on the rivers and oceans. They appreciate the modern ships, attentive service and broad choices of itineraries.

    Read the full article >

  • Fox News: Viking on Cruise Industry Resurgence

    June 8, 2023 — Viking Chairman Torstein Hagen discusses the cruise industry’s resurgence after the pandemic on ‘Your World’ as they are 93% booked for 2023.

    Read the full article >

  • Reader’s Digest: I've Been on 25 Cruises, but a Trip to Antarctica Changed Me in Ways I Never Expected

    June 7, 2023 — After 25 cruises on the best cruise lines, I was convinced I knew everything about cruising and that, yes, it really was all about the journey rather than the destination. And then I sailed on Viking Polaris to Antarctica last December, and the destination was impossible to consider secondary.

    Read the full article >

  • Food & Wine: This Is the Best Cruise for Food, As Voted on by Our Readers

    April 18, 2023 — While one strategy rolled out by many lines has been focusing on quantity with a dizzying variety of ho-hum options, that’s never been part of the plan for Viking Cruises, which our readers voted the overall best cruise for food in the world.

    Read the full article >

  • Smithsonian Magazine: How Vacationers on Arctic Cruises Are Filling in Scientific Gaps

    March 7, 2023 — Cocooned inside a submarine, I held my breath in anticipation as the vessel slowly descended beneath the surface of the Southern Ocean off the coast of Antarctica. Looking out the bubble-shaped acrylic window of the small, seven-person submersible, I watched the water go from bright aquamarine to inky black as we dove deeper and deeper, leaving behind the bright white snow and the last rays of sunlight.

    Read the full article >

  • MSN: Extremely rare phantom jellyfish caught on camera

    February 10, 2023 — In the ethereal blue glow of the water, a huge shape swept toward them. Around 30 feet long, with four billowing arms and a domed head, the creature was larger than the tourists’ personal submersible. This startling sight occurred hundreds of feet underwater off the coast of Antarctica’s Rongé Island. When they returned to their Viking Expeditions cruise ship and showed photos to Daniel M. Moore, a marine biologist with Exeter University in the U.K., he knew they’d seen “something incredibly rare.”

    Read the full article >

  • Travel + Leisure: These New Viking Expedition Ships Will Sail Longitudinal World Cruises and to the Great Lakes — Submarine Excursions Included

    October 7, 2022 — “Go big or go home” isn’t the official Viking motto, but it sure feels like the company’s mantra. Long dominant in river cruising and now a major player (and Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards winner) in midsize-ship ocean cruising, the company has recently and definitively moved into a new market: expedition cruising. 

    Read the full article >

  • Forbes: Viking’s Second Expedition Ship Sets Sail: Meet The Viking Polaris

    October 6, 2022 — The brand new expedition ship from Viking has set sail and is on her way to South America and then on to Antarctica, where she will join sister ship Viking Octantis for the southern hemisphere’s summer. 

    Read the full article >

  • The Points Guy: Fast-growing Viking doubles down on adventure cruising with a second expedition cruise ship

    September 30, 2022 — With more than a hundred Viking executives, business partners, passengers and media looking on, the company officially welcomed the 378-passenger ship, Viking Polaris, with a short but upbeat naming ceremony along the waterfront of Amsterdam.

    Read the full article >

  • Cruise Critic: Viking Christens Two New Expedition Ships at Ceremony in Amsterdam As Part of 25th Anniversary Celebrations

    September 30, 2022 — Viking christened both its new expedition ships -- Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris -- at a joint ceremony in Amsterdam today. The line chose the first two women to cross Antarctica -- Liv Arnesen and Ann Bancroft -- as godmothers to the Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris, respectively. 

    Read the full article >

  • Travel Weekly: Viking takes delivery of Polaris, its second expedition ship

    September 29, 2022 — The Viking Polaris has been delivered, It is the second expedition ship to join the Viking fleet in less than a year.  Vard Group delivered the ship on Sept. 27 in Soviknes, Norway. Polaris, named after the North Star, is Viking's second expedition ship, built for sailing in Antarctica and the Great Lakes. The ship joins the Viking Octantis, conversely named after the pole star in the southern hemisphere. That ship was delivered in December 2021. 

    Read the full article >

  • 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.
     

    Read the full article >

  • 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.”

    Read the full article >

  • 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.

    Read the full article >

  • 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.

    Read the full article >

  • 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.

    Read the full article >

  • 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.

    Read the full article >

  • 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.

    Read the full article >

  • 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.

    Read the full article >

  • 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.

    Read the full article >

  • 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.

    Read the full article >

  • 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.

    Read the full article >

  • 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.

    Read the full article >

  • 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.

    Read the full article >

  • 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.

    Read the full article >

  • 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.

    Read the full article >

  • 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.

    Read the full article >

  • 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.

    Read the full article >

  • 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.

    Read the full article >

  • 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.

    Read the full article >

  • 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.

    Read the full article >

  • 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.

    Read the full article >

  • 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.

    Read the full article >

  • 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.

    Read the full article >

  • 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.

    Read the full article >

  • Viking.TV: Exploring the world in comfort…from home

    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.

    Read the full article >

  • 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.

    Read the full article >

  • 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.

    Read the full article >