Viking River Cruises News

Viking Aton to join fleet in Egypt next year
Inspired by the design of the award-winning Viking Longships and built specifically to navigate the Nile River, Viking Aton is currently under construction and is scheduled to debut in late 2022.

Viking suspends all cruises until May
The announcement was made in a video by Viking chairman Torstein Hagen. Addressing guests, he said the safety of 10,000 staff and half a million annual passengers was the top priority.

Viking Cruises to present garden at RHS Chelsea Flower Show
Viking Cruises has partnered with garden designer Sarah Eberle to create a travel-inspired garden for the RHS Chelsea Flower Show 2017. The Viking Cruises Garden of Inspiration will reflect the colours, art and culture of Barcelona, a source of inspiration for Sarah following her previous travel experiences and also a Viking Cruises destination.

Viking Sky floats out for first time
Viking Ocean Cruises has seen its third ship - the 930-passenger Viking Sky - “floated out,” marking a major construction milestone and the first time that the new ship touches water. The traditional ceremony took place today at Fincantieri’s Ancona shipyard just one day before the company will take delivery of its second ship, Viking Sea, which will officially debut to guests next month.

Viking Star to be christened on Norwegian Constitution Day
Viking Ocean Cruises has today announced it has taken delivery of Viking Star, marking the company’s official arrival into the ocean cruise industry. The delivery ceremony saw the ship presented at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard outside of Venice, Italy. On April 11th, Viking Star will set sail from Istanbul making her way through the Mediterranean into the Atlantic on her way to be officially christened in Bergen, Norway on May 17th.

Viking Cruises puts Viking Star through sea trials ahead of launch
Viking Cruises has released a new online video documenting the recent successful sea trials of its first ship – the 930-passenger Viking Star – set to debut in April. The trials, which took place in the Aegean Sea in mid-December, represented the vessel’s first voyage in open water. During nearly a week of intense diagnostics, maritime experts executed more than 80 different tests designed to evaluate everything from Viking Star’s engine and propulsion performance to her navigation systems and cabin acoustics.

Viking Cruises floats out Viking Star ahead of launch
Viking Cruises has revealed its inaugural Ocean class – the 930-passenger Viking Star – has been floated out, the first time the new ship has touched water. The traditional ceremony, which marks the first new cruise line in nearly a decade, took place at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard outside Venice.

Viking Ocean Cruises to triple size of new fleet
As a result of strong customer demand, Viking Ocean Cruises today announced it will launch two additional ocean ships, bringing the total number of ships in its new fleet to three. Viking Sea and Viking Sky will both debut in 2016 and will be sister ships to the 930-passenger Viking Star, which is currently under construction and will set sail in early 2015.

More ships & new itineraries coming for Viking River Cruises in 2015
Demonstrating no slowdown in the European river cruise boom, Viking River Cruises® today confirmed official plans for the company’s expansion in 2015.

Viking Cruises set a new world record
Viking Cruises today announced it has set a new world record with the inauguration of its newest Viking Longships™. In a multi-phased event taking place over 24 hours, the company christened 16 of its award-winning Viking Longships – nine were christened in Amsterdam; four were christened in Rostock, Germany; and three were christened in Avignon, France.

Viking announces six new land extensions in European destinations
Viking Cruises today announced the availability of six additional Explore More™ land extensions for 2014 that enable Viking guests to extend their stay and enhance their time abroad. The new extensions allow Viking guests to explore some of Europe’s finest cities before or after their cruise, and to customise a unique itinerary to fit their interests through the services of Viking’s on-site Concierges.

Viking Cruises orders more river ships for 2014
Amid record levels of consumer interest in river cruising, Viking Cruises has announced it has increased its order for additional Viking Longships, bringing the total number of new ships launching in 2014 from 12 to 14 vessels. The increased order reflects the popularity of river cruising as the fastest growing-segment of the travel industry and the leadership position of Viking, the world’s leading river cruise line.