Viking

Story

Viking begins its journey in 1997 with the vision of making travel more destination-focused and culturally immersive. In 2000, the company expands into the North American market by opening a sales and marketing office in Los Angeles. Today, Viking operates a fleet of more than 100 vessels, offering river, ocean, and expedition voyages across 21 rivers, five oceans, and all seven continents. Every journey focuses on authentic destination experiences, combining included shore excursions in every port with onboard and onshore enrichment programs featuring music, art, cooking demonstrations, informative port talks, and expert guest lecturers. Guided by the philosophy of For The Thinking Person™, Viking creates meaningful travel experiences rather than trying to appeal to everyone. This approach earns more than 450 awards, including consistent recognition as #1 for Rivers and #1 for Oceans by Condé Nast Traveler and World's Best honors from Travel + Leisure. You explore Europe's legendary rivers aboard award-winning Viking Longships®, sail the Nile, Mekong, and beginning in 2027, the Brahmaputra River, discover the Mississippi River aboard Viking Mississippi, and enjoy elegant ocean voyages designed to maximize time in every destination. In 2015, Viking introduces destination-focused ocean cruising with all-veranda ships featuring Scandinavian design, exceptional dining, and environmentally considerate technology. In 2022, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris launch a new era of expedition cruising, combining scientific research partnerships, Polar Class technology, and responsible exploration in Antarctica, the Arctic, and North America's Great Lakes. Looking ahead, Viking Libra, scheduled for delivery in late 2026, becomes the world's first hydrogen-powered cruise ship capable of operating with zero emissions, followed by Viking Astrea in 2027, continuing Viking's commitment to innovation and sustainable travel.

Mission

Experience destination-focused travel with Viking, where every voyage combines immersive cultural exploration, included shore excursions, enriching onboard programs, elegant Scandinavian design, exceptional comfort, and thoughtfully crafted itineraries that help you connect more deeply with every destination. Every journey encourages curiosity through expert lectures, local culture, history, music, cuisine, and meaningful experiences designed For The Thinking Person™.

Vision

Continue leading experiential travel by delivering innovative river, ocean, and expedition voyages that deepen cultural understanding, expand responsible exploration, advance sustainable ship design, support scientific discovery, and inspire you to explore the world's rivers, oceans, and remote destinations through enriching and unforgettable travel experiences.

When you travel with Viking, you experience destination-focused journeys that combine cultural immersion with environmentally considerate travel. Since its founding in 1997, Viking has remained committed to creating meaningful travel experiences while continuously advancing responsible practices across its river, ocean, and expedition fleets.

Destination-Focused Travel

• Explore immersive itineraries designed to connect you with local culture, history, and traditions.
• Enjoy included shore excursions in every port, along with onboard and onshore enrichment programs featuring music, art, cooking demonstrations, informative port talks, and expert guest lecturers.
• Experience meaningful travel designed for curious travelers through the For The Thinking Person™ philosophy.

Environmentally Considerate Fleet

• Travel aboard river ships equipped with environmentally considerate features, including solar panels, onboard organic herb gardens, and energy-efficient hybrid engines.
• Sail on ocean ships designed with energy-efficient hulls, propellers, rudders, and engines with heat recovery systems that exceed the International Maritime Organization's 2025 Energy Efficiency Design Index (EEDI) requirements by nearly 20%.
• Cruise on ships featuring one of the world's first closed-loop exhaust cleaning systems, allowing pollutants to be safely removed and disposed of.
• Support the future of sustainable cruising with Viking Libra, the world's first hydrogen-powered cruise ship capable of operating with zero emissions, followed by the hydrogen-powered Viking Astrea.

Responsible Expedition Travel

• Explore remote destinations aboard expedition ships designed for safety, comfort, and environmental responsibility.
• Travel on vessels with energy-efficient designs that exceed current EEDI requirements by nearly 38%, setting a new standard for responsible expedition travel.
• Help minimize underwater noise pollution aboard Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris, which receive one of the industry's first SILENT-E certifications for quiet ship propulsion.
• Experience scientific enrichment through partnerships with the Scott Polar Research Institute at Cambridge University and other leading scientific institutions, connecting you with researchers and educators throughout your expedition.

Sustainable Innovation

• Support continuous innovation that improves energy efficiency, reduces emissions, and advances environmentally responsible ship design.
• Travel with a company that invests in cleaner propulsion technologies, efficient engineering, and sustainable operations while preserving the destinations you explore for future generations.