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  • Condé Nast Traveler: The Best Cruise Lines in the World: 2021 Readers' Choice Awards: River Ship Line #1: Viking River Cruises

    October 5, 2021 — Viking Cruises has expanded feverishly in recent years, with more than 60 river ships and six ocean vessels in its fleet. Under Viking River Cruises, the company's riverboats explore familiar waters like the Danube and Rhône in Europe, as well as faraway itineraries on the Volga in Russia, the Nile in Egypt, and the Mekong in Southeast Asia. Viking River Cruises also includes complimentary Wi-Fi and select shore excursions in its prices, and its “Culture Curriculum” offers experiential learning through events like regional wine tastings and menus that rotate seasonally.

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  • USA Today: Portugal’s port wine country can be best explored by boat

    October 2, 2021 — For most travelers, a visit to the Douro Valley can be enhanced by sailing along the beautiful Douro River, which flows from northern Spain to the area surrounding the city of Porto. Viking Cruises, known for its upscale river and ocean cruises across the world, offers an incredible voyage along the Douro with an abundance of small-group food and wine experiences along the way.

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  • Travel + Leisure: The Top 10 River Cruise Lines

    September 8, 2021 — The iconic river ships of No. 3 Viking Cruises also fared well this year, with readers giving the stalwart high marks, moving it up three places. Viking has river ships across Europe, of course, but also sails the Mekong and the Nile. In 2022, the company plans to launch trips on the Mississippi.

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  • Travel Weekly: Viking returns to France with new river cruise ships

    August 12, 2021 — Viking Cruises marked its return to France's rivers on July 30 with the launch of four new, purpose-built Longships on the Seine: Viking Kari, Viking Radgrid, Viking Skaga, and Viking Fjorgyn. Each ship has 84 cabins and capacity for 168 passengers. The ships, which dock at an exclusive location in the heart of Paris near the Eiffel Tower, will help fulfill a pent-up demand for travel throughout France.

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  • 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.

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  • Forbes: Europe Is Reopening For Vaccinated Travelers: See It Via These Viking River Cruises

    May 20, 2021 — Following the May 19, 2021 signal that Europe will allow fully-vaccinated travelers to enter EU countries without the need to quarantine, Viking Cruises is relaunching five European river cruises beginning in July. Starting in July 2021, five of Viking’s most popular European river cruises are back. They’re in addition to the first 2021 itineraries Viking launched in Bermuda, Iceland, the UK, and Malta. 

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  • 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.

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  • 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.

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  • Travel + Leisure: Viking Cruises’ New Safety Protocols Include Daily COVID-19 Testing, New Filtration Systems, and Disinfecting Robots

    December 11, 2020 — Viking Cruises will test all guests and crew for COVID-19 with daily PCR tests when sailings resume, as part of the company’s new Viking Health & Safety Program, the cruise line recently announced.

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  • Cruise Fever: Viking.TV Hosting Astronauts This Week for Space Week Discussions

    October 5, 2020 — As Viking.TV celebrates six months of offering award-winning programming this week, four astronauts will host a special panel discussion on Friday sharing what it’s like to live and work in space.

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  • Travel + Leisure: Viking Finally Revealed the Itinerary of Its First-ever Holiday-themed Mississippi River Cruise

    October 1, 2020 — December is already known as the “most wonderful time of the year,” but it’s about to get a lot better for cruise lovers. Viking is bringing its signature Scandinavian style to the U.S., and just released details of its holiday-themed voyages along the Mississippi River. Set to launch in December 2022, highlights of the sailing include light displays, Cajun cuisine, and VIP access to Graceland.

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  • TravelPulse: Viking Announces New Mississippi Itinerary and Design Preview

    September 24, 2020 — Viking.TV will feature Mississippi sailings during the week of September 28, 2020, including the chance to join Richard Riveire as he shares the design and inspiration behind the Viking Mississippi.

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  • Hemispheres: Fill Your Bucket List with Our Readers’ Choice Awards

    September 1, 2020 — You’d be hard-pressed to find a renowned river that Viking doesn’t ply. Make like Mark Twain on the Mississippi, taste the best of Portugal’s port wines on the Douro, see the pyramids on the Nile, or go deep into the Mekong Delta—all while enjoying sleek staterooms and regional dining.

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  • The Boston Globe: Fairy houses, deals in the Berkshires, and Viking’s new Mississippi cruises

    July 23, 2020 — Plan ahead for sailing along the mighty Mississippi with Viking. The company’s first custom vessel, Viking Mississippi, makes its debut in August 2022, though with many of its first voyages sold out, Viking has made additional 2023 sailings available for booking now.

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  • Travel + Leisure: The Top Ten River Cruise Lines

    July 8, 2020 — Often credited with popularizing river cruising globally, Viking has in recent years expanded dramatically; the company now has 63 ships sailing in Europe, with additional vessels in Asia and Egypt, and is coming soon to the United States. That growth means they’re also finding new fans, like one guest who traveled aboard the Viking Tor: “It was my Cinderella vacation,” said this reader.

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

    Forbes: Viking Launches Viking.TV, A New Travel Experience Channel

    April 5, 2020 — As with other travel entities turning to web-based content during COVID-19 related cancellations, Viking Cruises has set a new course with the launch of Viking.TV. This digital library, created by the river and ocean cruise company, will showcase experiential programming that Viking guests have access to onboard their respective cruises, on deck levels or their cabin TV. Its culturally-focused content will feature appearances by the Viking executives and crew and subjects relating to its at-sail and at port ventures, plus live video of happenings from around the world.

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  • Travel Weekly: Viking set to make a big splash in the US with the Mississippi

    April 5, 2020 — Viking’s long-awaited entry into the domestic river cruise market will bring not only a new player but also a whole new type of sailing experience. To be built in Louisiana and set to launch in August 2022, the Viking Mississippi is the company’s first U.S. river ship and will be the largest ship plying its storied namesake.

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  • Travel + Leisure: Viking Bets on the Future With New Cruise Ship Set to Sail the Mississippi River by 2022

    April 3, 2020 — Viking just announced details of the purpose-built, 386-passenger cruise ship it will bring to the Mississippi River by 2022. The new ship, aptly named Viking Mississippi, will sail between New Orleans and St. Paul, Minnesota, with the inaugural trips slated for August.

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  • Condé Nast Traveler: Portugal's Douro Is the Next Big River Cruising Destination

    January 22, 2020 — Tear into fresh-baked bread, pulled from an ancient oven fueled by wood and grapevines, in one of the last old-school bakeries in tiny Favaios. In Marialva (near the Spanish border), enjoy a picnic in the castle’s shadow of this 2,500-year-old town. Since this is Viking, where experiences are everything, you’ll learn the secrets to fine Port wine-blending at a quinta, and taste wine and popular regional delicacies, like bola de carne, an irresistible bread filled with a combination of meats and smoked sausage.

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  • USA Today: 10 best river cruise lines in the world, according to readers

    January 9, 2020 — Number 1: Founded in 1997, Viking River Cruises plies the waterways of Europe, Russia, China, Southeast Asia and Egypt with its fleet of more than 60 vessels. While Viking has also launched an award-winning ocean cruise line, the company built its reputation in river cruising.

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  • Cruise Critic: Cruise Critic’s Ultimate Danube River Cruise Guide

    December 19, 2019 — Viking River Cruises' three most popular Danube River itineraries range from a 15-day Grand European Tour from Amsterdam to Budapest to two eight-day sailings, one from Passau, Germany, to Budapest, and the other from Budapest to Nuremberg, Germany.

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  • Cruise Critic: Cruise Critic’s Ultimate Seine River Cruise Guide

    December 15, 2019 — On a Seine River cruise, it's understandable that Paris, where voyages begin and end, seems like the marquee attraction when you're booking your trip. And no question, it's a fascinating place where we heartily recommend you extend your vacation to spend additional days there if you can.

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  • Cruise Critic: Cruise Critic’s Ultimate Rhone River Cruise Guide

    December 15, 2019 — It's not the longest or the widest, but of all the rivers coursing through France, the Rhone is a marquee star, one of only three major European rivers emptying into the Mediterranean. Since the time of the Greeks and Romans, the Rhone has served as a route for trade and transportation between the Mediterranean and the French city of Lyon. Those early traders left their marks along the river, at ports like Arles, Avignon and Vienne, where ancient theaters and temples stand proudly.

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  • Cruise Critic: Two Longtime Pals Make Discoveries About Europe and Friendship

    December 15, 2019 — When I floated the idea of sharing a week-long Viking cruise down the Danube River with my longtime pal Jayne, we conjured similar takeaways: tantalizing glimpses of fairytale castles from a sun deck lounger, the chance to visit three capital cities and five separate countries in the heart of Europe, and plenty of pastries and pretzels - both on and off the ship.

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  • Cruise Critic: Paris Is Just One of Many Standouts on This Solo Cruise

    December 11, 2019 — Paris, the eternal City of Light, is a cosmopolitan superstar. And, it's natural to assume that a Seine River cruise is strongly focused on la capitale. Whether you've traveled to Paris before or this is your first visit, the big surprise, I promise you, is what a marvelous voyage it is beyond the city limits, with its focus on culinary arts, impressionist masters, World War II history, Gothic cathedrals and the pastoral countryside of Normandy.

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  • Cruise Critic: Experience the Famed Waterway, from the Alps to Amsterdam

    December 9, 2019 — The storied waters of the Rhine River offer visitors the best of Europe. From cathedrals to castles to authentic cuisine, you can find it all along its shores. A Viking river cruise is the best way to explore this legendary landscape, letting travelers see the terrain from the river that has driven its history. The trip provides an easy jumping-off point to scenic vineyards, bustling cities and ancient lore.

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  • Cruise Critic: Mother and Son Take Their First River Cruise Together

    December 9, 2019 — Come along with us on this seven-night Lyon & Provence journey (it’s also offered by Viking in the reverse direction), as I share my day-by-day report on a trip with mom. The itinerary explores some of France’s most beloved territory — from Lyon, the culinary capital of France, through cherished wine regions of Beaujolais and Côte Rôtie, with stops to discover 2,000-year-old architectural treasures along the way.

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  • Cruise Critic: Floating through the heart of Europe. Join a Rhine adventure on the Viking Tialfi

    December 9, 2019 — Lined by castles and cathedrals, the Rhine area is best visited by river cruise because the waterway brought life, trade and culture to the region, and remains the source of much its history today. Viking’s eight-day journey between Basel and Amsterdam dazzles visitors with medieval scenery and regional cuisine.

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  • CNN: Cruise Critic picks world's best cruise ships for 2019

    December 4, 2019 — Viking Cruises dominated the 12th annual Cruise Critic Editors' Picks Awards for the third year in a row with five wins in 2019.

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  • USA Today: Are you too young to take a river cruise? Here's why the under-50 crowd is getting onboard

    November 19, 2019 — Viking touts that central docking locations in Europe get guests closer to their destinations, often docking right in the heart of a city. This makes it easy for independent exploration, which younger guests might prefer.

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  • Redbook: The 12 Best Cruises To Take This Holiday

    November 19, 2019 — If you're a guest of Viking, you’ll be able to explore the Christmas markets of Europe while on port and visit some of the most beautiful locations. This Viking fleet also provides exceptional luxury and top tier service.

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  • Condé Nast Traveler: Spend the Holidays on a Cruise This Year—Trust Us

    October 30, 2019 — Viking is seeing an increased interest from travelers with adult children throughout the year, but especially during the holiday season. Its European Christmas market itineraries are a big hit with these types of families.

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  • Travel + Leisure: Visit Real-life Sites From ‘Downton Abbey’ With an Exclusive Look at Highclere Castle on Viking's New Cruise Extensions

    October 21, 2019 — Thanks to a sponsorship with Viking, fans of the show, movie, and those fabulous costumes can head to the UK for privileged, private access to Highclere Castle, the real Downton Abbey — home to the fictitious Crawley family on screen, and the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon in real life.

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  • USA Today: How to visit the real star of “Downton Abbey”

    September 25, 2019 — To "Downton Abbey" fans, Highclere Castle – the fictional home of the beloved Crawleys and their staff, and the real-life home of the equally-beloved Earl and Countess of Carnarvon and their staff – is like sacred, holy land. Since the show premiered in 2010, hundreds of thousands of viewers have made the pilgrimage to England to see the grand house that’s as familiar to them as their own.

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  • Food & Wine: Where to Eat, Drink and Shop Along a Rhône River Cruise

    September 20, 2019 — When you travel north by boat up the wide, calm Rhône River, you are following the route of the ancient Romans and so tracing the lifeline of French wine. Julius Caesar’s army brought wine with them, lots of it, because who wants to subdue barbarians without a little liquid courage? Then the conquerors settled and began making their own. Their vines arrived via the Rhône, too, albeit at a time when the river had no dams—those vines would have had a much wetter and bumpier ride than my own glide from Avignon to Lyon aboard the Viking Buri on the eight-day Lyon & Provence itinerary. Unlike the Romans, I had the good fortune of sleeping in a cleverly constructed stateroom, complete with a balcony from which to admire the changing landscape and time-bleached cities along the banks.

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  • Architectural Digest: Visit Downton Abbey’s Most Beautiful Filming Locations

    September 16, 2019 — No filming location, of course, is more heavily associated with the series than the estate that became Downton itself: Highclere Castle. And as it's the central filming location, themed tours here abound. Viking Cruises offers special access tours for its river cruise guests.

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  • Condé Nast Traveler: 5 Downton Abbey Filming Locations You Can Actually Visit

    September 12, 2019 — As we get closer to the movie's long-anticipated September 20 release date, a number of tour packages have been announced to get travelers to the filming sites. Viking recently announced that cruise guests can get access to Highclere Castle as part of a special Great Homes, Gardens & Gin excursion.

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  • Vanity Fair: “It Felt Like We Never Left”

    September 10, 2019 — When the lights finally went down in the theater, in typical film-premiere style, the audience clapped just as loud for the film’s production companies and for Viking Cruises, the series’ longtime sponsor, as they did for the Dowager Countess’s cutting zingers.

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  • Smithsonian Magazine: From Nazi Prisons to Cat Sanctuaries, Explore the Many Lives of These Russian Palaces

    August 19, 2019 — The Romanovs left behind a legacy of palaces and residences throughout Russia that in the following years continued to live storied and unusual lives. Take your own self-guided tour to these famous former czar residences that you can still visit in Russia today.

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  • Town & Country: How to Visit Highclere Castle, the Real-Life Downton Abbey

    August 8, 2019 — Consider booking one of Viking River Cruises' excursions. Viking was a sponsor of Masterpiece, when Downton Abbey was on the air, and now, Viking has taken that partnership one step further, offering trips to Highclere Castle as an add-on to a number of their existing itineraries

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  • The Epoch Times: Cruising the Elbe River

    July 22, 2019 — European river cruising seems to increase in popularity every year, and trips along the Danube, Rhine, and Seine are apparently the most popular; however, I’ve just discovered a fantastic cruise, run by Viking, between Prague and Berlin, along the Elbe River. And it’s definitely worthwhile.

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  • Travel + Leisure: Top 10 River Cruise Lines

    July 10, 2019 — Many companies on the list operate on major rivers in South Asia and Southeast Asia, and a few are also expanding into China with new ships. “If you want to see China, the Viking cruise is the way to go — great value, service, food, everything,” wrote one respondent, of this year’s fourth place cruise line.

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  • Condé Nast Traveler: The 2021 Cruise Itineraries We’re Most Excited About

    July 8, 2019 — This 12-day Nile tour sails on the Viking Ra, a ship launched in 2018 that was specifically built for the longest river in the world. You won't spend all of your time on the ship; instead, you'll start with three days in Cairo before flying to Luxor to disembark officially. With room for just 52 travelers, this cruise offers an intimate look at Egyptian history—and plenty of face time with the on-board Egyptologists as you stop in Luxor, Edfu, Aswan, and more.

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  • Business Insider: 10 of The Best Cruises To Take if You’re Retired

    May 23, 2019 — Viking River cruises are an excellent option for retirees who want an intimate journey to smaller ports throughout the world. Guests can choose from itineraries that include exclusive destinations larger cruise ships typically cannot access, such as UNESCO world heritage sites and smaller, riverside towns throughout France, Russia, Austria, Portugal, Germany, Spain, Asia, and Egypt.

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  • Elite Traveler: The 5 Best Cruises in Remote Locations

    May 21, 2019 — Aboard Viking’s new luxury River ship, Viking Osiris, you will see some of the remaining wonders of the world sailing the Nile River. Though the river is beautiful, the real exploration happens when you disembark the ship.

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  • Forbes: The Tale of Tor Hagen And His Voyage From Ousted CEO To Cancer Survivor To Cruise Ship Billionaire

    April 15, 2019 — As the sparkling blue waters and red-roofed towns of Croatia drift by, Torstein Hagen makes his way through the minimalist, Scandinavian-style lobby of the Viking Jupiter cruise ship, explaining what makes Viking’s voyages successful. The secret is in what the ships don’t have. There are no casinos, no kids, no umbrella drinks, no formal nights, no waterslides and absolutely no butlers. Hagen has been in the cruise industry long enough to know what he doesn’t like.

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  • Forbes: The Norwegian Billionaire Behind Viking Cruises

    April 15, 2019 — Torstein Hagen, the founder and CEO of Viking Cruise Lines, shows no signs of slowing down and has embarked on his biggest endeavor yet: To make a name for himself in ocean cruises.

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  • Cruise Critic: Viking River Cruises Christens 7 New Ships

    March 19, 2019 — With christening ceremonies that spanned Germany, Portugal and Switzerland, Viking River Cruises added seven new ships to its continuously growing river fleet. A group of Viking employees, journalists, travel agents and other invited guests gathered pierside Tuesday in Basel, Switzerland, for the event, which saw two ships christened live and an additional five christened in other countries; those namings were simulcast on large screens in Basel.

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  • Condé Nast Traveler: How to Choose the Right European River Cruise for You

    March 13, 2019 — Virtually identical, the company's 190-passenger Longships possess a contemporary Scandinavian design, emphasizing natural wood, neutral hues, and windows. Enthusiasts praise the alikeness, preferring the same onboard experience wherever they go. With such uniformity, Viking cruises purr along like Bentleys.

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  • CNN: Best cruise ships of 2019

    March 6, 2019 — Viking has conquered the small to mid-sized cruise ship market. Viking Ocean Cruises, which was established in 2015, racked up 10 first-place awards in the 9th annual Cruise Critic Cruisers' Choice Awards on Wednesday. Viking's long-established river cruise line also earned top honors, with Viking Vidar named best for river cruises in a new category.

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  • Forbes: Your Guide To River Cruising In 2019

    March 5, 2019 — Viking River Cruises Passage to Eastern Europe itinerary aboard the Viking Embla takes passengers from Bucharest to Budapest (or vice versa), stopping in your less-than-typical, but still completely spectacular, European cities – which is exactly what’s to love about this river cruise.

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  • Travel + Leisure: These Cruises for World War II Buffs Combine Travel With History Lessons

    February 23, 2019 — Paris, Prague, Berlin, London, China, Japan and more are all exciting but different destinations today — perhaps because of the events of 75 years ago. Visiting these places with the added insight of historians and military experts can provide once-in-a-lifetime experiences, as well as memorable vacations. River cruises on Europe’s narrow waterways allow guests to understand the landscape of the countries as they pass, and shore excursions with expert guides bring history to life.

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  • Forbes: How Award-Winning Viking River Cruises Wows

    January 6, 2019 — Looking for a relaxing, yet horizon-stretching vacation that gently steers you to enchanting, enriching and entertaining destinations chock full of culture, history and nature? Add to that wish list deluxe accommodations, gourmet cuisine and attentive service by polished staff — plus no-fuss planning and booking. A best bet? River cruising. This growing travel trend is a friendly, easy way to explore the world. An industry leader, Viking River Cruises deftly navigates more than 60 Nordic-style vessels on rivers around the globe — in Europe, Russia, Egypt, Southeast Asia and China — and orchestrates passengers' trips from start to finish, including air flights

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  • USA Today: Best river cruise line? Readers vote Viking River Cruises

    January 5, 2019 — Founded in 1997, Viking River Cruises plies the waterways of Europe, Russia, China, Southeast Asia and Egypt with its fleet of more than 60 vessels. While Viking has also launched an award-winning ocean cruise line, the company built its reputation in river cruising. These all-inclusive cruises feature outside staterooms, Wi-Fi, wine and beer with meals, shore excursions in every port and Viking's signature Culture Curriculum program.

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