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Viking (cruise line)

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(Redirected from Viking River Cruises)
Not to be confused with Royal Viking Line or Viking Line.

Viking
Company typePublic
NYSE: VIK
IndustryTravel and tourism
FoundedAugust 5th, 1997 (August 5th, 1997)
Headquarters
Basel, Switzerland
Key people
Products
Revenue$3 billion (2018)[1]
Number of employees
10,000+ (2023)[2]
Subsidiaries
  • Viking River Cruises
  • Viking Ocean Cruises
  • Viking Expeditions
Websitevikingcruises.com

Viking[3] (formerly Viking Cruises) is a cruise line providing river, ocean, and expedition cruises. Its operating headquarters are in Basel, Switzerland,[4] and its marketing headquarters are in Los Angeles, California.[5]

The company has three divisions, Viking River Cruises, Viking Ocean Cruises, and Viking Expeditions, offering cruises along the rivers and oceans of North and South America, the Caribbean, Antarctica, Great Lakes, Europe, Russia, Egypt, China, and Southeast Asia.[6]

History

[edit]

Development

[edit]

The company was established by Torstein Hagen in St. Petersburg, Russia as Viking River Cruises in 1997. Hagen had become involved in cruising as a McKinsey and Company consultant who helped the Holland America Line survive the 1973 oil crisis, then was CEO of the Royal Viking Line from 1980 to 1984, made money in the Russian private equity markets, then bought a controlling stake in a Dutch shipping company that failed in the mid-1990s, leaving him almost bankrupt. In 1997, Hagen helped some Russian oligarchs buy a shipping company, and in exchange, they sold him four river cruise ships cheaply, which became the founding fleet of Viking River Cruises.[7]

1997–2010: Rapid expansion

[edit]

In 2000, Viking purchased KD River Cruises of Europe, which brought Viking's fleet total to 26, making it the largest river cruising fleet in the world.[8] The company revamped the ships, aiming for its target demographic of older travelers. The lack of frills, like gyms and pools, and the fleet's standardization also maximized the number of people the ships could accommodate and consequently, Viking's profit.[7][8] Also that year, the company partnered with sales agents in the UK, and the US, and opened its own sales office in California.[8] It hired its first marketing firm the next year, focusing on English language speakers over 55, especially Americans.[8] The company expanded into China in 2004 with Yangtze River cruises.[9] By 2007, it was operating 23 ships in Europe, Russia, and China.[8] In 2009, Viking started to use ships with hybrid diesel-electric engines that the company claims use an estimated 20% less fuel than conventional engines.[10]

2011–2019: Growth and modernization

[edit]

In 2011, the company planned a new phase of growth, started sponsoring PBS's Masterpiece Theatre, and made plans to add 40 ships of a new "longship" design to its fleet over a five-year period.[8][11] The longship design maximized passenger capacity by squaring the bow and rearranging hallways.[12][13] It christened 10 ships in one day in 2013, and the 16 ships it christened over two days in 2014 made the Guinness Book of World Records.[14][15] By 2013, the company had spent around $400 million in marketing through direct mailing, television, the web, and trade marketing.[7] In May 2013, the company modified its name from Viking River Cruises to Viking Cruises as it announced the launch of Viking Ocean Cruises, a division of small, oceangoing vessels.[16]

In October 2017, Viking Cruises revealed it was working on a project to develop the world's first cruise ship powered by liquid hydrogen. Once developed, the ship would measure approximately 230 m (750 ft) long and accommodate 900 passengers and 500 crew members. The ship would share a similar design to the company's existing oceangoing vessels.[17]

By 2018, Viking Cruises had reached $3 billion in revenue and carried 440,000 passengers annually, employing more than 8,000 employees. That year, Viking Cruises announced it was working on its debut in the North American river cruising market after first suggesting the possibility in 2013.[18][19] The company targeted a possible 2021 debut on the Mississippi River, for a projection of six vessels along the river by 2027. The vessels, built and chartered by Edison Chouest, would be designed five stories tall and accommodate around 400 passengers, at $90 million to $100 million each. Cruises would travel between New Orleans and Memphis, and between St. Louis and Saint Paul.[19]

2020–present: Rebranding and new ventures

[edit]

In January 2020, the company shortened its name to Viking, citing the brand's added emphasis on destination-oriented enrichment and experiences.[3] That same year, Viking also announced the launch of Viking Expeditions with a planned January 2022 debut.[20] It would become the expeditions arm of the brand and operate small-ship trips to exotic destinations.[20] It also finalized its river cruising business' expansion plans into the United States with the announcement of the first vessel's debut in August 2022 on the Mississippi River.[21]

River cruises

[edit]
Viking Idun at Köln in 2012

Viking River Cruises offers cruising along the rivers of Europe, Russia, China, Southeast Asia and Egypt,[22] with plans to expand into the United States of America along the Mississippi River in 2022.[23] Viking's European ships have an average capacity of 190 passengers;[15][11] its Russian ships' capacity averages just over 200[24] and its China ship carries up to 256.[25] As of 2019, Viking River Cruises operated a fleet of 76 owned and charted vessels.[26][needs update]

Fleet

[edit]
Ship IMO[27] Maiden Voyage Builder Length Gross Tonnage[27] Flag Staterooms Passengers
Viking Aegir 8339732 2012 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Alruna 8352241 2016 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Alsvin 8339938 2014 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Astrild 8352277 2015 Neptun Werft 110 m / 361 ft   Switzerland 49 98
Viking Atla 8339794 2013 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Aton 9911173 2023 Maasara Shipyard 72 m / 236 ft 210 tons  Egypt 41 82
Viking Baldur 8339809 2013 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Bestla 8339926 2014 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Beyla 8352265 2015 Neptun Werft 110 m / 361 ft   Switzerland 49 98
Viking Bragi 8339756 2013 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Buri 8338776 2014 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Delling 8338805 2014 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Egdir 9916915 2021 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Egil 8352253 2016 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Einar 8338257 2019 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Eir 8339940 2015 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Eistla 8339914 2014 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Embla 8339720 2012 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Fjorgyn 9916898 2020 Neptun Werft 125 m / 410 ft 2,800 tons   Switzerland 84 168
Viking Forseti 8338764 2013 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Freya 8339706 2012 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Gefjon 8339990 2015 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Gersemi 9916850 2020 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Gullveig 8339847 2014 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Hathor 9985576 2023 Maasara Shipyard 72 m / 236 ft 210 tons  Egypt
Viking Heimdal 8338788 2014 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Helgrim 9904900 2019 Neptun Werft 80 m / 262 ft 2,212 tons  Portugal 53 106
Viking Hemming 8352289 2014 Neptun Werft 80 m / 262 ft 2,212 tons  Portugal 53 106
Viking Herja 8338233 2016 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Hermod 8339823 2014 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Hervor 9916848 2020 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Hild 8338221 2016 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Hlin 8339885 2014 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Idi 8339861 2014 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Idun 8339691 2012 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Ingvi 8339902 2014 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Jarl 8339782 2013 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Kadlin 8338790 2016 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Kara 8339873 2014 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Kari 9916862 2020 Neptun Werft 125 m / 410 ft 2,800 tons   Switzerland 84 168
Viking Kvasir 8339859 2014 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Lif 8339835 2014 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Lofn 8339952 2015 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Magni 8339811 2013 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Mani 8339897 2015 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Mimir 8352198 2015 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Mississippi 2022 Edison Chouest 137 m / 450 ft 12,621 tons  United States 193 386
Viking Modi 8339988 2015 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Njord 8339718 2012 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Odin 8339718 2012 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Osfrid 8338049 2016 Neptun Werft 80 m / 262 ft 2,021 tons  Portugal 53 106
Viking Osiris 9869746 2020 Maasara Shipyard 72 m / 236 ft 210 tons  Egypt 41 82
Viking Prestige 2011 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 97 188
Viking Ra 2018 Maasara Shipyard 75 m / 245 ft 210 tons  Egypt 26 52
Viking Radgrid 9916874 2020 Neptun Werft 125 m / 410 ft 2,800 tons   Switzerland 84 168
Viking Rinda 8338752 2013 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Rolf 8352215 2016 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Sigrun 8338245 2019 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Sigyn 8338295 2019 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Skadi 8339744 2019 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Skaga 9916886 2020 Neptun Werft 125 m / 410 ft 2,800 tons   Switzerland 84 168
Viking Skirnir 8339976 2015 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Sobek [28] 9985588 2024 Massara shipyard 72 m / 236 ft 210 tons  Egypt 41 82
Viking Tialfi 8352239 2016 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Tir 8338269 2019 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Tor 8339768 2013 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Torgil 8339768 2014 Neptun Werft 80 m / 262 ft 2,212 tons  Portugal 53 106
Viking Ullur 8338283 2019 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Vali 8338271 2019 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Var 8339770 2013 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Ve 8340004 2015 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Vidar 8339964 2015 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Vilhjalm 8352227 2013 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190
Viking Vili 8352203 2015 Neptun Werft 135 m / 443 ft 3,138 tons   Switzerland 95 190

In 2023, Viking ordered another ship from Neptun Werft. The delivery is scheduled for March 2025.[29] Nine more ships are ordered at Meyer Werft for delivery in 2025 and 2026.[30][31][32][33]

Chartered ships

[edit]
Ship IMO[27] Maiden Voyage Builder Length Gross Tonnage Flag Staterooms Passengers Notes
MS Antares 2017 126 m / 413 ft  Egypt 24 52 Also sailing as Amarco II
Viking Akun 8707707 2014 VEB Elbewerften Boizenburg 129 m / 423 ft 5,475 tons  Russia 102 204 Formerly MS Koshevoy
Viking Emerald 2011 East Wind Co Ltd 110 m / 361 ft 7,100 tons  China 128 256 Leased Century Emerald
Viking Helgi 8422606 2013 VEB Elbewerften Boizenburg 129 m / 423 ft 5,344 tons  Russia 102 204 Formerly Aleksey Surkov
Viking Ingvar 8793249 2013 VEB Elbewerften Boizenburg 129 m / 423 ft 5,475 tons  Russia 102 204 Formerly Narkom Pakhomov
Viking Mekong 2002 55 m / 180 ft 900 tons  Vietnam 28 56 Also sailing as RV Bassac Pandaw
Viking Rurik 7515418 2012 RSW Rosslauer Schiffswerft 125 m / 410 ft 5,640 tons  Russia 98 196 Formerly Peterhof, Mariya Ulyanova
Viking Saigon 2021 80 m / 262 ft  Vietnam 40 80
Viking Sineus 7823994 2014 RSW Rosslauer Schiffswerft 125 m / 410 ft 5,182 tons  Ukraine 98 196 Formerly Mikhail Lomonosov
Viking Truvor 8707680 2013 VEB Elbewerften Boizenburg 129 m / 423 ft 5,414 tons  Russia 102 204 Formerly Sergey Kirov

Former Fleet

[edit]
Ship Maiden Voyage Length Staterooms Passengers Notes
Viking Britannia 110 m / 360 ft 90 180 Retired as MS Britannia
Viking Burgundy 2000 110 m / 360 ft 75 150 Sailing now as MS Crucebelle. Formerly Viking Sky.
Viking Danube 1999 110 m / 360 ft 75 150
Viking Deustchland 2001 110 m / 360 ft 90 180
Viking Douro 2011 80 m / 262 ft 65 130 Sailing now as MS Douro Spirit
Viking Eurodiamond 82 m / 269 ft 42 84 Sailing now as MS Johannes Brahms
Viking Europe 2001 114 m / 375 ft 75 150 Sailing now as MS Carmen
Viking Fontane 2010 95 m / 311 ft 56 112 Sailing now as MS Junker Jorg
Viking Helvetia 2002 132 m / 433 ft 99 198 Sailing now as MS Rhein Symphonie
Viking Lavrinenkov 2001 129 m / 423 ft 110 212 Sailing now as MS General Lavrinenkov
Viking Legend 2009 135 m / 443 ft 97 188 Now hostel Dutch Harmony
Viking Mandalay 2002 55 m / 180 ft 28 56 Sailing now as RV Katha Pandaw
Viking Neptune 2001 114 m / 375 ft 75 150 Sailing now as MS Verdi
Viking Normandie 2000 91 m / 300 ft 51 100 Sailing now as Normandie
Viking Orient 2011 55 m / 180 ft 28 56 Sailing now as RV Orient Pandaw
Viking Pride 2001 114 m / 375 ft 75 150
Viking Primadonna 1998 113 m / 372 ft 74 148 Sailing now as MS Primadonna
Viking Seine 2000 110 m / 360 ft 75 150 Sailing now as MS Crucestar. Formerly Viking Rhône.
Viking Schumann 2011 95 m / 311 ft 56 112 Sailing now as MS De Amsterdam
Viking Spirit 2001 114 m / 375 ft 75 150
Viking Star 2000 110 m / 360 ft 75 150
Viking Sun 2006 132 m / 433 ft 99 198 Sailing now as MS Rhein Melodie
Century Sky 2005 127 m / 415 ft 153 306
Century Star 2003 87 m / 285 ft 93 186
Century Sun 2006 127 m / 415 ft 153 306
MS Amadeus Elegant 2010 110 m / 361 ft 76 150
MS Esplanade 2012 77 m / 253 ft 67 150
MS Mayfair 2010 75 m / 246 ft 104 148
MS Omar El Khayam 2008 113 m / 371 ft 88 160
MS Symphony 1998 110 m / 361 ft 83 146
MS Vienna 2006 135 m / 443 ft 82 164
Prince Abbas 2007 59 m /192 ft 65 130
Road to Mandalay 2008 102 m / 335 ft 43 82
Royal Lily 1998 74 m / 244 ft 60 120
Royal Lotus 1998 74 m / 244 ft 60 120
RV Tonle Pandaw 2002 55 m / 180 ft 38 66

Ocean cruises

[edit]

The Viking Ocean Cruises division was formed in 2013.[12] It began operating its first vessel, Viking Star, in 2015, with itineraries in Scandinavia, the British Isles, the Baltic and Mediterranean Sea.[34] Viking Sea joined the fleet in 2016;[4] and its third and fourth ships, Viking Sky and Viking Sun, were added in 2017.[35][36] Each of Viking Ocean Cruises first four vessels were named after the first four vessels of Royal Viking Line, whom Viking Cruises founder Torstein Hagen was CEO of from 1980 to 1985.[37]

In June 2018, Viking's fifth ocean vessel, Viking Orion, was added to the fleet.[38][39] Being one-third the size of many cruise ships being built by major cruise lines, this allows the Viking Star-class to enter into smaller ports.[40] Its overall length is 745.4 ft. (227.2 m); its beam is 94.5 ft. (28.8 m); the draft is 20.7 ft. (6.3 m); with a gross tonnage of 47,800 GT.[41] The nine ships were built by Fincantieri shipyard in Ancona, Italy, and the Scandinavian influenced, modernist interior design was developed by London-based SMC Design and Los Angeles–based Rottet Studio.[41]

Viking's itineraries feature travel in Northern Europe, the Baltic, the Americas, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, Asia, Australia and New Zealand.[35] Their ships spend more time in port than is common at other ocean lines, emphasizing a focus on the culture of their destinations.[4][34] Viking Ocean Cruises' vessels carry up to 930 passengers and 550 crew.[4][34][42]

In 2017-2018, Viking Sun made the company's first round-the-world cruise, which departed from Miami, and sailed south to head through the Panama Canal, and planned to visit five continents, 35 countries and 64 ports before ending its 141-day journey in London.[43] In May 2018, Viking Cruises announced its intention to launch a new package called Ultimate World Cruise, which it claimed to be the longest continuous world cruise itinerary in history. Its most expensive package would cover 245 days on Viking Sun and stop at 59 countries and 113 ports.[44][45]

Fleet

[edit]
Ship year built Builder Length Gross Tonnage Flag Staterooms Passengers Christened by Photo
Viking Star 2015 Fincantieri 227 m / 745 ft 47,842 tons[46]  Norway 465 930 Trude Drevland

(Norwegian Politician)[47]

Viking Sea 2016 Fincantieri 227 m / 745 ft 47,842 tons[48]  Norway 465 930 Karine Hagen

(Chairman's Daughter[49])

Viking Sky 2017 Fincantieri 227 m / 745 ft 47,842 tons[50]  Norway 465 930 Marit Barstad

(Chairman's Sister)[51]

Viking Orion 2018 Fincantieri 227 m / 745 ft 47,861 tons [52]  Norway 465 930 Anna Fisher

(Astronaut)[53]

Viking Jupiter 2019 Fincantieri 227 m / 745 ft 47,842 tons  Norway 465 930 Sissel Kyrkjebø (Norwegian Singer)[54]
Viking Venus[55] 2021[56][57] Fincantieri 227 m / 745 ft 47,842 tons  Norway 465 930 Anne Diamond

(British Journalist)

Viking Mars 2022[58] Fincantieri, Ancona[59] 227 m 47,842 tons  Norway 465 930 Lady Fiona Carnarvon, (Countess of Carnarvon)[60]
Viking Neptune 2022[61] Fincantieri, Ancona 227 m 47,842 tons  Norway 465 930 Nicole Stott

(Astronaut)[62]

Viking Saturn 2023[63] Fincantieri, Ancona 227 m 47,842 tons  Norway 465 930 Ann Ziff

(Metropolitan Opera Chairman)[64]

Viking Vela[65] December 2024[66][67] Fincantieri 238 m 53,769[68]  Norway 499 998 in service[69][70]

China Merchants Viking Cruises

[edit]
Ship Built Entered Service Builder Length Gross Tonnage Flag Staterooms Passengers Photo
Zhao Shang Yi Dun "招商伊敦"
(built as Viking Sun)		 2017 2021 Fincantieri 227 m 47,842 tons  China 465 930

Future Ocean ships[71][72]

[edit]

The future Viking Ocean fleet will be slightly enlarged versions of the same class to accommodate new fuel cell technology[73]

Ship Maiden Voyage Builder Length Gross Tonnage Planned Flag Planned Staterooms Planned Passengers
Enlarged Hydrogen-Fuel Cell Ocean Ships (beginning 2024)[74][73]
Viking Vesta[75] July 2025 Fincantieri 238 m 54,300[76]  Norway 490 998
Viking Mira[77] June 2026 Fincantieri 238 m 54,300[78]  Norway 490 998
TBA November 2026 Fincantieri 238 m TBD  Norway 490 TBD
TBA November 2027 Fincantieri 238 m TBD  Norway 490 TBD
TBA November 2028 Fincantieri 238 m TBD  Norway 490 TBD
TBA May 2029 Fincantieri 238 m TBD  Norway 490 TBD
TBA November 2029 Fincantieri 238 m TBD  Norway 490 TBD
TBA May 2030 Fincantieri 238 m TBD  Norway 490 TBD
TBA November 2030 Fincantieri 238 m TBD  Norway 490 TBD

[79][80][81]


In October 2024 Viking ordered two more ships for delivery in 2030 and options for four additional ships for delivery in 2031 and 2032[82][83] [1] [2] [3] [4]

Expedition cruises

[edit]

In April 2018, Viking Cruises and VARD announced Viking had signed a contract to order two "special" cruise ships from VARD that are expected to enter service in 2021 and 2022, with an option for two more.[84] Planned to be built in Romania and Norway, the value of the contract was estimated to be worth around 5 billion Norwegian krone (about $611 million). The ships were expected to be expedition vessels.[85]

In October 2019, it was first reported that Viking Cruises was planning to launch Viking Expeditions, the expeditions arm to the business, in early 2020, with initial itineraries focusing on the polar regions of the Arctic Circle and Antarctica.[86] In January 2020, Viking officially announced the launch of Viking Expeditions. Expedition trips would be performed on smaller vessels designed to navigate through smaller waterways while also being capable of travelling through sea, and reach destinations such as polar regions and North America’s Great Lakes. Scheduled to begin operating its first vessel in January 2022, named Viking Octantis, and its second in August, named Viking Polaris, Viking Expeditions will also partner with scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to conduct research along with its own expedition team.[20]

Fleet

[edit]
Ship Maiden Voyage Builder Length Gross Tonnage Flag Staterooms Passengers Christened by Photo
Viking Octantis[87] 2022 VARD 203 m / 665 ft 30,150 tons  Norway 189 378 Liv Arnsen

(Norwegian Explorer and skier)[88]

Viking Polaris[87] 2022 VARD 203 m / 665 ft 30,150 tons  Norway 189 378 Ann Bancroft

(Arctic Explorer & Author)[88]

Sponsorships

[edit]

Since 2011, Viking has sponsored programming on PBS's Masterpiece Theatre, including Downton Abbey, Sherlock and Poldark,[4][8][89] and is a sponsor of National Geographic's Genius, a scripted series about the life of Albert Einstein.[90] Viking has also sponsored the Los Angeles Philharmonic at The Hollywood Bowl, Metropolitan Opera, BBC, Munch Museum in Oslo, Norway, and Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia.[89]

Accidents and incidents

[edit]

On 11 September 2016, Viking Freya collided with a bridge near to Erlangen, Germany, crushing the wheelhouse and killing two crew members.[91]

On 23 March 2019, Viking Sky put out a mayday call after she suffered an engine failure off the coast of Norway. Six of Norway’s fourteen rescue helicopters were sent to the scene, and 460 passengers were evacuated before the ship travelled to Molde under her own power. The vessel was attached to a tugboat as the anchors were inoperable. On 27 March, Viking Sky arrived at a shipyard in Kristiansund for repairs. The next scheduled cruise was cancelled.

On 1 April 2019, Viking Idun collided with the oil tanker Chemical Marketer (IMO 9304291) in Terneuzen, in the Netherlands, not far from Antwerp. Five passengers were slightly injured; one crew member was taken to hospital. The Marine Insurance report indicates that the Idun "suffered considerable damage to her bow" while the tanker "suffered several breaches to her hull".[92]

On 29 May 2019, Viking Sigyn, during a sightseeing tour on the Danube, collided with a small tour boat, the Hableány, in Budapest, Hungary. Hableány sank with 35 people on board of whom 28 died.[93] On 11 June 2019, the boat was recovered from the riverbed and deposited on a barge by a floating crane.[94] The captain of the Viking Sigyn, identified as Yuriy C. and later as Yuriy Chaplinsky from Odesa, Ukraine,[95][96][97][98] was arrested and held in custody on suspicion of endangering water transport and causing a mass-casualty incident. He was released on bail on 11 June 2019.[99] According to Viking Cruises, Chaplinsky was also aboard the Viking Idun at the time of 1 April 2019 incident but was not acting as captain of that vessel at the time it collided with the oil tanker. Other reports stated that, according to Hungarian prosecutors he was, in fact, the captain of the Idun during the incident near Terneuzen.[93][100] The Dutch Safety Board would not reveal the identity of captain of the ship during 1 April incident to the news media.[101] A report from Hungary in mid October stated that the captain of the Sigyn, Yuriy Chaplinsky, was not impaired at the time of the crash and was on the bridge in control of the vessel. The Captain had stated that he "simply did not notice" the tour boat. Although news reports stated that he was not to "blame" for the crash, Captain Chaplinsky remained under pre-trial arrest as a suspect in "endangering water transport resulting in a fatal mass catastrophe and of failing to offer aid at the time of the crash", according to CBS News.[102]

On the evening of 5 June 2019, a Viking ship, initially said to be the Viking Var,[103] damaged the lock of Riedenburg, in the Rhine–Main–Danube Canal. After the impact, the lock could not be properly closed. No one was injured in the accident. The repair was expected to take two to three weeks to complete.[104][105] Witnesses later indicated the vessel involved in that incident was actually Viking Tir. [106]

On 29 November 2022, the Viking Polaris was hit by a rogue wave during a storm off the coast of Argentina. A glass screen was shattered and a female passenger was killed by flying glass. Four other people were injured.[107]

On 18 August 2023, a crew member on Viking Mars died after falling overboard in the port of Cromarty Firth in Invergordon.[108]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Viking has plans for at least 24 more river cruise ships". USA Today.
  2. ^ "Viking's 26th Anniversary | Videos | Viking Cruises".
  3. ^ a b Gray Faust, Chris (20 January 2020). "Citing Growth snd Destination Focus, Viking Drops 'Cruise' from Name". Cruise Critic.
  4. ^ a b c d e Adam H. Graham, "The Rising Tide: How Viking Changed Cruising", Departures, 21 November 2016.
  5. ^ Fran Golden, "Perfect Examples", Porthole Cruise Magazine, 21 August 2017.
  6. ^ "Cruise Destinations Overview | Viking Ocean Cruises®". www.vikingcruises.com. Retrieved 6 January 2024.
  7. ^ a b c Weissmann, Arnie (2 April 2013). "Rolling on the rivers". Travel Weekly.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g Allan E. Jordan, "Viking Cruises goes from upstart to leader in 20 years", Cruise Business Review, February 2017, pp. 36-39.
  9. ^ "Viking River Cruises". Sealetter Cruise News. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  10. ^ "A Viking Ship to Launch with a Green Accent," The Avid Cruiser, 29 May 2009.
  11. ^ a b Elaine Glusac, "Interest in European River Cruises Soars," New York Times, 29 June 2012.
  12. ^ a b Tom Stieghorst, "Viking Cruises' Torstein Hagen," Travel Weekly, 25 October 2016.
  13. ^ "Viking Longship Series, Viking River Cruises," Ship-Technology.com, March 2011.
  14. ^ "Six new river ships in a day? Rapid Viking expansion continues," USA Today, 1 March 2016.
  15. ^ a b Gene Sloan, "Viking River Cruises to add seven new ships in 2019," USA Today, 26 October 2017.
  16. ^ "Viking Cruises Will Begin Ocean Cruises on Viking Star in 2015," Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2013.
  17. ^ "Viking Cruise To Make World's First Hydrogen-Powered Cruise Ship". Marine Insight. 2 October 2017.
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