Join Viking as they usher in a new era of ocean cruising by taking the innovative thinking behind their award-winning river cruises and bringing it to the epic setting of the sea. Immerse yourself in your destination with regional cuisine, cultural lectures, a Nordic-inspired spa and magnificent views from spacious public areas.
Owning and operating the world's largest fleet of river cruise ships-and now three new ocean vessels-has advantages for their guests. When you cruise with Viking, you benefit from a level of expertise second to none.
Whether on river or ocean cruises, Viking Cruises offers cruises that are destination-focused and carefully crafted with a mix of cosmopolitan and smaller ports of interest. Ocean itineraries are specifically designed to offer longer hours in port than competitors, including late evening stays and overnights to take advantage of night life in select ports, and river cruise itineraries are similarly planned. Cruises are priced to provide top consumer value by leveraging economies of scale and experienced management, and include such items as shore excursions and wine or beer with onboard meals. The company also ensures a focus on enrichment through shore excursions by local guides, regional foods, and privileged access for in-depth exploration of the destinations. All Viking cruises include the exclusive Viking Culture Curriculum program that brings history and culture to life through onboard enrichment lectures; language classes; hands-on cooking demonstrations and classes; and local entertainment to complement included shore excursions.
A global corporation headquartered in the United States with main operational headquarters in Basel, Switzerland, the company was established in 1997 by a Scandinavian and Dutch consortium led by Torstein Hagen.
Each of the identical ships has three options when it comes to choosing your cabin: Veranda Stateroom, Deluxe Veranda Stateroom and Penthouse Veranda Stateroom. As you can see, this means that these are all-veranda vessels on which everyone has access to their own private outside space. The décor is described as understated elegance.
Amenities will vary depending on which grade you choose, but all offer king-size Viking Explorer Beds with luxury linens & pillows; free Wi-Fi; 42" flat-screen TVs; large private bathroom with spacious glass-enclosed showers, heated bathroom floor and anti-fog mirror; and premium Freyja® toiletries. Upgrading to the highest level gets you priority access to your stateroom, priority restaurant reservations, welcome Champagne and a host of other extras.
Whatever time of day it is and whatever type of cuisine you are in the mood for, you are sure to find something to satisfy your stomach on board Viking’s ocean ships. From the fine dining offerings in the Chef’s Table to the international cuisine in the World Café buffet and from afternoon tea in the Winter Garden to traditional Norwegian dishes straight from the kitchen of Viking founder Torstein Hagen’s mum in the Mamsen deli, there is so much to delight your palate.
The public areas on all of the ships feature plenty of glass that allows the light to flood the inside space and bring the destinations closer. Nightly entertainment is provided in the theatre – a space which can also be converted to two HD cinemas showing TED talks and movies. However, you may not want to leave whichever bar it is that you have made yourself comfortable in. Jazz lounge Torshavn is the ideal place for pre and post-dinner drinks, whilst the Aquavit Terrace (a venue carried over from Viking’s river ships) allows you to make the most of every last minute of the good weather.
There is an included excursion offered in every port of call (usually a city tour), but there are also plenty of other ways to discover the destinations you will visit. ‘Local Life’ allows you to see what the people here do during their day-to-day lives, providing an authentic experience. ‘Working World’ takes you into the heart of various different industries to see how local produce is created and ‘Privileged Access’ takes you behind the scenes at major attractions to enjoy experiences not usually available to the general public.
Also included is a range of onboard enrichment activities that will help you get the most from your cruise. These include talks from resident historians and onboard lecturers, performances of local dance or music, cookery classes in The Kitchen Table and much more.
