October 20, 2016 – For anything to have “personality”, logic dictates that a “person” must be involved somewhere. (Sometimes I stun myself with my own profundity. Or, some would say, I just have a born knack for stating the bleedin’ obvious.) Either way, bear with me. Where I am headed with this should be clear soon enough.
July 26, 2017 – One of the most wonderful things about Viking Ocean cruises? There are two specialty dining options available to everyone onboard at no additional charge.
July 13, 2017 – Viking Ocean Cruises is doubling down on Scandinavia with three new itineraries that focus on Norway, Sweden and Denmark. Two-year-old Viking Ocean has made Scandinavia-focused voyages one of the cornerstones of its schedule. It already operates 14-night summer sailings between Bergen, Norway and London that center on the coast of Norway. Stops in Norway as well as Sweden and Denmark also are a significant part of the line's signature, 14-night Baltic itinerary called Viking Homelands.
July 11, 2017 – There are now three 930-passenger sister ships in the Viking Ocean fleet — Viking Star, Viking Sea, and Viking Sky — and they sail to destinations like the Baltic, the Mediterranean, and the Caribbean (yes, even Cuba). But the vessels themselves are destinations in their own right: guests can lounge by the cantilevered infinity pool at the back of the ship, taste bistecca fiorentina at Manfredi’s Italian restaurant, or try the spa’s Snow Room and hydrotherapy pools.
July 10, 2017 – Why go on a cruise to the Arctic Circle in winter? To see the northern lights of course. It’s the time of year when small ships ply the Norwegian coast and points north to see brilliant displays of green and purple shards of light. Viking Cruises is jumping into the aurora borealis market with a new cruise called In Search of the Northern Lights.
June 29, 2017 – Our trip aboard Viking Cruises' Viking Sky, which started in Bergen, trawled up the northwest coast until the terminus of Honnigsvag, one of the northernmost places on the European continent. Scenically speaking, it's been absolutely the most beautiful itinerary I've ever experienced. There literally is a new wow moment every time you look outside. What you see off the ship's starboard side could be completely different – but equally craggy and mountainous, than what's on portside.
June 25, 2017 – Always wanted to see the Northern Lights? An unusual new series of winter voyages into the Arctic from Viking Cruises will offer the chance. Scheduled to debut in 2019, the 12-night In Search of the Northern Lights sailings will take place between January and March on the 930-passenger Viking Sky and focus on northern parts of Norway that are known for spectacular displays of Northern Lights in the winter.
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June 22, 2017 – River cruise giant Viking's move into ocean cruising hit another milestone on Thursday as the company christened its third ocean ship, Viking Sky, along the waterfront of Tromso, Norway. Speaking at the event in Norwegian, Chairman Torstein Hagen spoke about how pleased he was to be having the christening in Tromso.
June 12, 2017 – Even the Viking Sky corridors get the full art treatment. Fin Serck-Hanssen's black-and-whites of port cities are gorgeous, whether he's captured a tram in Lisbon (or is it Porto?), the Acropolis, or Copenhagen’s Little Mermaid statue. The prints are so crisp that it’s impossible not to stop and admire a new detail in each passing to and from your stateroom.
June 8, 2017 - In late winter, the 930-passenger Viking Sky made its maiden voyage in the western Mediterranean. The vessel is the third ocean ship for the twenty-year-old cruise line that until recently was best known for its innovative river Longships.
June 7, 2017 - Viking Cruises has been honored as “Best Cruise Line for Luxury Ocean Cruises” and “Best Luxury River Cruise Company” in Luxury Travel Advisor magazine’s 2017 “Awards of Excellence,” marking the first time the annual Awards of Excellence have recognized the same company in both ocean and river cruising categories. “It is an honor to receive these two awards from Luxury Travel Advisor readers and their clients,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking Cruises.
May 25, 2017 – Acclaimed for its innovation, distinctive modern Scandinavian design, inclusive value and immersive destination-focused offerings, for the past 20 years Viking Cruises has amassed awards from industry experts and the travel trade.
June 1, 2017 - Viking Cruises is celebrating its 20th anniversary of operation this year, and a new video showcases its chairman Torstein Hagen reminiscing about the company’s humble beginnings and great success since.
April 19, 2017 – A lifelong admirer of Einstein, Torstein Hagen, also a physicist, shares Einstein’s interest in the concept of time and often refers to time as 'the only scarce commodity.' The campaign debuts today and will roll out across additional marketing channels throughout the show’s 10-part global event series on National Geographic.
May 2, 2017 – Torstein Hagen, the line’s chairman, is Norwegian, and the Vikings were Scandinavian, Riveire said, inspiring him to create a “Scandinavian feel—clean, very modern, lighter colored, simpler. It’s deliberately not elaborately or overly decorated, not overdone.” This aesthetic is identical in all five of the fleet’s ships, with a color palette that focuses on pale blues, pure whites, and an occasional rust; light woods also predominate.
May 1, 2017 – A European river-cruise vacation last summer had brought me to this beautiful part of Austria. I was exploring the Danube, which crosses 10 countries as it snakes 1,770 miles from western Germany to its destination at the Black Sea. My weeklong trip aboard Viking Cruises' longboat Var traveled from Budapest to Nuremberg, Germany.
Viking Cruises announced it has signed on to sponsor National Geographic’s first fully scripted global anthology series, “Genius,” which in its debut season tells the story of the 20th century’s most brilliant icon, Albert Einstein. The new premier partnership with National Geographic builds on Viking’s continued commitment to supporting enriching cultural programming, with current and past partnerships including PBS’ MASTERPIECE, the Los Angeles Philharmonic at The Hollywood Bowl, the Munch Museum and more.
April 6, 2017 – Ready to be schooled in history on your next cruise? Viking Cruises has created a new resident historian program on its ocean ships that goes way beyond the usual on-board lectures. This team of historians lead refresher courses on the history of European art, music, architecture and other cultural subjects.
April 3, 2017 – Viking Ocean Cruises, a relative newcomer to the business of ocean cruising (its first ship debuted in early 2015), already has emerged as a favorite among newbies, with Viking Star winning top honors among first-timers twice. All of Viking's ocean ships are nearly identical, so if you're interested in sailing with the line, you'll have virtually the same experience no matter which of the 930-passenger vessels you choose. Viking is a perfect choice for first-time cruisers. Here are five reasons why.
March 29, 2017 – Want to see all of these cities in one trip? Check out all of these destinations and more on Viking Cruises’ new 8-day Mediterranean Getaway itinerary.
March 25, 2017 – Viking Cruises has announced a rollout of their new onboard Viking Resident Historian program. A carefully selected faculty of historians will provide an enhanced level of enrichment for guests onboard all of Viking’s ocean cruise ships (Viking Star, Viking Sea, Viking Sky).
March 23, 2017 – Beginning this month, a resident historian will join the staff of all Viking Ocean Cruises ships to lead a variety of in-depth enrichment activities on all sailings. The historian's duties will include overview lectures in The Theater, as well as in-depth roundtable discussions on more detailed topics like the Elgin Marbles or Venetian naval power, history-themed dinner talks, and office hours where passengers can go and ask questions in a one-on-one setting.
March 3, 2017 – As the executive director of culinary development for Viking Cruises since 2014, Anthony Mauboussin has been responsible for the creation of dozens of shipboard menus. The veteran French-born chef has a new showcase for some of his favorite dishes in the form of Anthony's French Bistro, a five-course tasting menu debuting this month on Viking's new ocean vessel, Viking Sky.
March 1, 2017 – Viking Ocean Cruises' just-unveiled third ship, Viking Sky, is an almost identical sister to the line's first two vessels, Viking Star and Viking Sea. But it's not an exact copy. Among the spaces on Sky that have a new look are the outdoor seating area at the back of Deck 2, the Owner's Suite and the fitness center.
February 16, 2017 – The keel for new Viking Ocean Cruises ship Viking Spirit was laid at a ceremony Wednesday at the Fincantieri shipyard in Ancona, Italy, marking the placement of the first piece of the ship's backbone. Due for delivery in June 2018, the ship is the fifth of six planned by the cruise line.
February 15, 2017 – It didn't take long for Viking Ocean Cruises to crush the competition. The company, which is already established in river cruising, launched its first ocean cruise ship in 2015 to wide acclaim. The company dominated the 2017 Cruise Critic Cruisers' Choice Awards, winning awards in 10 categories.
February 3, 2017 – The Kitchen Table Experience happens once or twice per cruise and is part of Viking's philosophy of "cultural immersion" – creating experiences that bring a sense of place aboard their ships. When asked about his culinary approach for Viking Cruises, Mauboussin replies: "My philosophy is simple – I hand-select only the highest quality ingredients from the best markets – ones that support local farmers. Where possible, I use organic and sustainable products ... I cook everything with passion."
January 31, 2017 – Fast-growing Viking Ocean Cruises has rolled out a wide range of new itineraries for 2018 and 2019 that include a voyage from Japan to Alaska. The 22-night sailing kicks off May 5, 2019 in Tokyo and includes visits to Sapporo, Japan and two ports in Russia -- Korsakov and Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky.
January 30, 2017 – Responding to a demand for more destination-oriented trips, Viking looked to the sea, offering itineraries to the Baltic, Mediterranean, Caribbean and North America. Just as the Norsemen ventured off into the unknown, Viking Cruises was sailing into somewhat uncharted territory with its In the Wake of the Vikings voyage, a 15-day trip first offered in the fall of 2016. The sailing will be repeated in September 2017.
January 27, 2017 – Make that three ships for fast-growing Viking Ocean Cruises. The California-based cruise operator's fleet on Thursday grew from two vessels to three with the addition of the 930-passenger Viking Sky.
January 17, 2017 – Viking Ocean Cruises has announced a series of 13 new itineraries -- set to roll out in 2017, 2018 and 2019 -- ranging from eight- to 23-day sailings departing from major ports, such as Miami, Sydney, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Vancouver.
January 16, 2017 – We are currently on a 14 night Grand Mediterranean cruise on Viking Sea, the second ocean cruise ship from Viking Ocean Cruises. After the cruise, we will showcase the highlights of this incredible Grand Mediterranean cruise, a trip that has really blown us away so far. Until then, here are 16 things (in no particular order) that we love about Viking Sea.
January 6, 2017 – Viking Ocean Cruises’ hands-on cooking classes beat the competition, hands down. The program offered by Viking Ocean Cruises is a winner, combining the full attention of one of the chefs responsible for giving Viking the highest passenger rating for food in the industry, according to Cruise Critic, the No. 1 web site for cruisers.
January 4, 2017 – Though more known for its European river itineraries, Viking Cruises and its new oceangoing vessels already excel at creating itineraries that showcase the highlights of various destinations, yet remain highly personalized and hit all the right notes.
January 4, 2017 – I joined Viking Cruises aboard the Viking Sea on an inspiring 15-day cruise through the eastern Mediterranean embarking from Athens and debarking in Rome. I was never much of a cruiser until I discovered how amazing smaller boutique ships are and the new fleet Viking ocean cruises are no exception.
January 3, 2017 – Several major cruise lines that market to North Americans are rolling out new oceangoing ships in 2017. Here, USA TODAY profiles two of the new offerings: Viking Cruises' Viking Sky and Viking Sun.
December 19, 2016 – River cruise giant Viking's move into ocean cruising hit another milestone Thursday as the line's fourth ocean-going ship took to the water for the first time.
December 9, 2016 - To say that Hagen is hands-on would be an understatement. In a recent interview, he went on at some length describing how he had developed Viking’s Freya toiletries to make them supremely easy to open in the shower. This attention to every detail is unquestionably why Viking has taken the cruise world by storm.
October 25, 2016 – Torstein Hagen, chairman of Viking Cruises, announced plans to go into the ocean cruise business in 2013. Three years later, he has plans for a half-dozen ships on three continents. He spoke with senior editor Tom Stieghorst onboard the Viking Star as it repositioned for its first season of Caribbean cruising from San Juan.
October 6, 2016 - Town & Country awarded Viking Ocean Cruises Best Overall, Contemporary Luxury and Best for Design, Contemporary Luxury in their 2016 Cruise Awards, noting: The Viking Ocean design philosophy holds that ships should be elegant and comfortable and never overwhelm the real purpose of cruising: to see the world. As a result, the ships' furnishings are custom, the colors nautically neutral, the rooms high and light-filled.
November 21, 2016 - In just under two decades, Viking Cruises skyrocketed from a small river cruise agency to one of the best cruise companies in the world, redefining guest expectations and converting non-cruisers into repeat customers while they were at it.
November 21, 2016 - Chef Anthony Mauboussin, culinary director of Viking Cruises, has a lot on his plate, including 42 new dishes this year alone.
November 8, 2016 - The Star, built in 2015, is Viking’s first ocean liner. Just 745 feet long, this small ship still feels expansive, with plenty of dining options, elegant outside decks, and a luxurious spa and salon.
November 10, 2016 - Viking Ocean Cruises has stretched its legs beyond Europe into the Caribbean for the company’s first time, and the Viking Star is taking guests to the frequented region with renewed interest. In newfound style, Viking is currently embarking on a season of 11-day “West Indies Explorer” sailings roundtrip from San Juan, Puerto Rico.
October 27, 2016 - Viking Star came steaming up the Hudson River recently paying a visit to New York City for the very first time.
November 1, 2016 - Viking is all about full immersion, and the Caribbean experience did not only begin and end ashore. Before heading out, wonderfully detailed port talks briefed guests with cultural and historical context as well as shore excursion details, and enrichment lectures weaved a narrative tying all the islands together in a larger tapestry.
October 19, 2016 - Viking Ocean Cruises made their inaugural stop in the Caribbean this week when their award winning cruise ship, Viking Star, stopped in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Viking Star debuted in the spring of 2015 and quickly earned Viking the title of “World’s Best Ocean Cruise Line” by the readers of Travel + Leisure.
October 14, 2016 - The Viking Star might be one of the fanciest new cruise ships on the seas. Built in 2015 with an eye toward Scandinavian design, this small and sleek vessel boasts a deluxe spa with Scandinavian specialties.
October 13, 2016 - Viking Cruises is expanding well beyond its known European territories. The Viking River Cruises brand pioneered the inland waterways’ boom, and now the Viking Ocean Cruises brand has left from Norway to come across to the Americas for the first time ever.
September 26, 2016 - It’s rare to find a transatlantic crossing that sails from Bergen, Norway to Montreal, and rarer still to find one that determines its ports of call based on the historic routes of the early Viking explorers. But that’s exactly what my current voyage with Viking Cruises is all about.
August 29, 2016 - Viking prides itself on its wide variety of destinations and its focus on education and experience. There are always guest experts on board, offering talks about the history and culture of the places you’re going to see, and the chefs make sure you get a taste of those places, as well. But, as much as we’ve loved the destinations we’ve visited on our cruises, we’ve equally looked forward to our days at sea. And honestly? We would go anywhere with Viking.
August 30, 2016 - Since its christening in the spring of 2015, the Viking Star, and its sister the Viking Sea (christened this past spring), have wowed the cruise critics as the first of two ships in the new Viking Ocean Cruises line. And more importantly, legions of passengers who had already experienced their popular Viking River Cruises are instant fans.
August 31, 2016 - The Viking Star collection is so comprehensive that even as you work out in the well-equipped fitness room you’re staring at a wall-size photograph of a fjord by Polish-British photographer Henryk Hetflaisz. The water ripples slightly, the mountains are majestic, the sky is stunning.
August 25, 2016 - One of the best ways to discover Aalborg is on the Viking Star, or her sister the Viking Sea, which are the largest cruise ships that can navigate the shallow 120-mile-long Limfjord waterway that divides North Jutlandic Island from Jutland proper where Aalborg lies on the south bank. Which is to say that on the 900-passenger vessels you won’t be swamped at port by behemoth ships disgorging visitors by the thousands.
August 23, 2016 - In many ways Viking Ocean Cruises’ newest ship, Viking Sea, is a welcome return to basics — comfortable destination-based cruise travel at its heart and soul without any unnecessary bells and whistles. It’s elegant simplicity by design. And it’s something special.
July 31, 2016 - It was clear to me after only one week onboard Viking Ocean Cruises’ luxurious Viking Star that it is, first and foremost, a home to its passengers. And for good reason — the designers have found a way to combine elegance and comfort, making the vessel not only a ship, but also a residence.
August, 2016 - Just one year after launching its first oceangoing ship, Viking Cruises pulled off a surprise win, beating out the competition. What truly makes a statement on the line’s twin 930-passenger ships, Viking Star and Viking Sea, is the Scandinavian aesthetic, which translates to airy cabins (all of which have full-size balconies) and public spaces.
July 18, 2016 - Viking launched their first ocean cruise ship, Viking Star in May 2015, and currently has a fleet of two cruise ships (Viking Star, Viking Sea) with four more either under construction or on order. Viking Cruises has not only created a vision to reinvent ocean cruising in seven different areas, but exceeded on every one of them.
June 21, 2016 – While traveling aboard Viking Ocean Cruises’ new Viking Sea along the line’s equally new itinerary – Into the Midnight Sun – I had the privilege to exclusively interview the company’s chairman, Torstein Hagen, and senior vice president, Karine Hagen. These two are father and daughter, respectively.
June 21, 2016 – Viking Ocean Cruises announced that its chairman, Torstein Hagen, has commemorated the arrival of the company's new ship, Viking Sea, in five new Norwegian ports of call. A Norwegian native, Hagen celebrated his family's heritage during the traditional maritime plaque ceremonies attended by local officials, harbor masters, directors of tourism, and mayors.
May 19, 2016 - Since last year's launch of its first ocean cruise liner, the Viking Star, Viking Cruise Line has stunned passengers and cruise critics alike with its gleaming ship and emphasis on learning and discovery through travel.
May 5, 2016 – Surrounded by family, passengers, media and invited guests, the ship's godmother, Karine Hagen, daughter of Viking Chairman Torstein Hagen and also Viking's Senior Vice President, named Viking Sea and then cut the rope attached to the Aquavit bottle, which successfully smashed on the ship's bow. (Aquavit, a flavored Scandinavian spirit, is a favorite of Chairman Hagen's and was used for the ceremony rather than Champagne, which is traditionally used for ship christening ceremonies.)
June 26, 2016 - With its Norwegian roots and Norwegian-flagged ships, Viking says no other company does Scandinavia cruises better.
June, 2016 - Viking Sea, the second oceangoing ship from longtime river cruise stalwart Viking, is a stunning vessel that seamlessly integrates comfort and modern, Scandinavian style. The ship's small size means it rarely feels busy and is able to get into ports bigger ships can't reach.
May 9, 2016 - The ultra stylish Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, may not have been the most fashionable lady on the London scene last week. Stiff competition came from the new Viking Sea, which turned heads as she sailed along the Thames on May 5.
May, 2016 - You will not find a casino on this cruise ship. I repeat: You will not find a casino on this cruise ship. For some folks, that might be a turn off. But for many, it’s an enticement, and it is certainly an indication of the kind of tone the Viking Sea is trying to set. Quiet. Restrained. Calming.
May 6, 2016 - When it comes to modern cruising, increasingly massive ships dominate the high seas. But Viking Cruises is bucking that trend with its new destination-focused Viking Sea – a 930-guest sister ship to last year’s Viking Star, the company's first vessel designed for the ocean.
May 6, 2016 - Under a sky blanketed with fireworks, the 930-passenger Viking Sea was officially welcomed into service by her godmother, Karine Hagen – Viking’s vice president and daughter of company chairman Torstein Hagen.
May 6, 2016 - Viking Ocean Cruises has officially welcomed its second ship, Viking Sea, during a celebration on the Thames River in Greenwich. Viking Sea's debut follows the launch of the cruise company's first ship Viking Star, less than a year ago and signals the growth of Viking Ocean Cruises, which last year became the travel industry's first entirely new cruise line in a decade.
May 5, 2016 - Viking Sea, the newest ocean-going ship from Viking Cruises, debuted in April 2016 and will be christened today in Greenwich by godmother Karine Hagen on Thursday. Cruise Critic is onboard now, checking out the features of the 930-passenger ship, the second of what will be six nearly identical ocean ships from Viking.
May 3, 2016 - Cross 35 countries and 66 cities off your bucket list in a single cruise. Since launching the first new ocean cruise line in a decade, Viking Cruises is making good on its promise to shift the cruise industry's focus to cultural experiences over, say, Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville.
February 19, 2016 - It’s hard to tell which is larger: the ship, the amount of dining options, or the value. For the past five years, Viking River Cruises has consistently topped numerous “World’s Best” travel lists.
