Viking

Viking, a Swiss-based cruise company founded in 1997, offers an exceptional range of river, ocean, and expedition cruises, boasting a fleet of small, meticulously designed ships that prioritize comfort, elegance, and attention to detail, while emphasizing culturally immersive travel experiences that allow guests to explore and connect with the rich history, art, and traditions of destinations across all seven continents in a deeply engaging and meaningful way.

Why Travellers Choose Them

Destination Focus: Viking prioritizes in-depth exploration over time at sea, with longer port stays and curated excursions.

Elegance & Quality: Their ships are built with Scandinavian design, offering understated luxury, all-veranda staterooms, and an adults‑only vibe in many cases.

Inclusive Enrichment: Shore excursions, lectures, and learning opportunities are often included, making the experience feel more like a cultural journey than just a cruise.

Award-Winning Reputation: Viking has won numerous awards across river, ocean, and expedition cruising.

Highly Rated Service: They maintain a high crew retention rate and guarantee warm, personalized hospitality.

Routes & Destinations

River Cruises: Iconic rivers such as the Rhine, Danube, Seine, and more.

Ocean Cruises: Smaller ocean ships that can access more ports; itineraries across Europe, Asia, and the Mediterranean.

Expedition Cruises: Remote destinations like Antarctica, the Arctic, the Great Lakes, and less-traveled regions.

Ships

River Ships: Longships with floor-to-ceiling windows, walking tracks, sun decks, and Explorer Suites with verandas.

Ocean  Expedition: All-veranda ocean ships (~930 guests), Nordic-inspired spas, theaters, planetariums (on some), and cozy lounges.

Newer Vessels: For example, the Viking Vesta has an ice-strengthened hull, 499 cabins, spa, two pools, and a theatre.

Unique Features

Resident Historian Program: Onboard lectures, roundtables, and cultural enrichment.

Wellness & Relaxation: Spa, gym, walking track, quiet lounges, no casinos or loud nightclubs.

Sustainability: Their ships have an efficient design, and the company has sustainability goals.

Dining: Regional and fine dining options, often included in the fare; no nickel‑and-diming for specialty restaurants.

Entertainment: Subtle, culturally oriented: classical music evenings, lectures, concerts, port talks.

Best For

Cultural Travelers / History Buffs: People who want more from their vacation than pool parties, they value learning, immersion, and depth.

Mature / Adult Travelers: Especially couples or solo travelers in middle to later stages of life; Viking is known for being more low-key (many ships are 18+ or more mature-focused).

Luxury Without Flash: Travelers who want high-quality, elegant experiences without overly elaborate entertainment or glitz.

River Cruise Enthusiasts: Ideal for people who want to explore Europe’s rivers in a slow, thoughtful way.

Adventure & Expedition Seekers: Those who want to go off the beaten path — to polar regions or remote lakes — with a premium, well-supported cruise provider.