The three sorts of Viking cruise ships, defined

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Viking’s 14 ocean ships fall into two distinct teams: a collection of 930- to 998-passenger conventional ocean ships that started debuting in 2015 and a collection of 378-passenger expedition ships that started debuting in 2022.

Not like most cruise strains, Viking would not use the time period “lessons” to outline completely different units of ships in its fleet. As a substitute, it refers to its collection of conventional ocean ships because the “Viking ocean ships” and its collection of expedition ships because the “Viking expedition ships.” We have adopted the identical breakdown of the road’s ocean and river fleet under.

Viking ocean ships

Ships: Viking Vesta (2025), Viking Vela (2024), Viking Saturn (2023), Viking Neptune (2022), Viking Mars (2022), Viking Venus (2021), Viking Jupiter (2019), Viking Orion (2018), Zhao Shang Yi Dun (2017), Viking Sky (2017), Viking Sea (2016) and Viking Star (2015)

Measurement: 47,800 to 53,769 tons

For years, Viking solely operated river ships, and a few cruisers nonetheless consider the model primarily as a river cruise firm. Nonetheless, since 2015, Viking has been quickly rolling out a collection of upscale ocean vessels; these new additions are more and more dominating the world of higher-end ocean cruising.

As of this summer time, Viking has 11 of those ships crusing the world’s oceans, all however two of which have a capability for 930 passengers. The exceptions are the 2 latest vessels within the collection, Viking Vesta and Viking Vela, every of which is barely larger than the primary 9 vessels within the collection and has a capability for 998 passengers.

The collection is way from completed. Ten extra of the marginally larger variations of this collection are on order from Italian shipbuilder Fincantieri for supply between 2026 and 2031, and the corporate additionally has choices with Fincantieri for 4 extra of the ships to debut in 2032 and 2033. Assuming they’re all constructed, Viking’s ocean division will quickly be larger than Oceania, Azamara, Seabourn and Silversea Cruises mixed.

The very first thing to know in regards to the ships on this collection is that they’re all just about equivalent. Even the 2 barely larger vessels aren’t all that a lot completely different from the primary 9. When crusing on any one in every of them, you’ll be hard-pressed to inform what’s completely different.

They’re additionally fairly upscale. Whereas Viking would not market itself as a luxurious line, some nonetheless think about it so. The vessels are stuffed with luxurious touches, from luxurious bedding in cabins to heated flooring in cabin loos.

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Every of the ships on this collection has a classy, Scandinavian-influenced design that could be a Viking trademark, and the cabins are giant by cruise ship requirements. Even the smallest cabins on every of the vessels have 270 sq. toes of house — a beneficiant quantity. Many cabins are considerably larger than that, with 14 two-room suites on every of the vessels ranging in measurement from 757 to 1,448 sq. toes. Many of those larger suites supply sweeping views from wraparound personal balconies.

Every of the ships’ inside areas is constructed round a sublime three-deck-high atrium full of snug seating areas which have a dwelling roomlike really feel. Every additionally has a bar and a visitor relations desk. On the high of the ships, you may discover two-deck-high, glass-walled lounges that supply beautiful views over the bow. Different inside areas embrace a health heart and a classy spa with a thermal suite space that’s open to all passengers at no additional cost (one thing that’s not frequent on cruise vessels).

A number of eating places on board every of the vessels embrace Italian eatery Manfredi’s (named after former Silversea proprietor Manfredi Lefebvre d’Ovidio, a good friend of Viking founder Torstein Hagen) and The Chef’s Desk. The latter options rotating themed menus.

The centerpiece of every ship’s high deck is the primary pool space, which contains a glass magrodome that may shut throughout inclement climate. The primary pool space on every ship sits subsequent to a stunning glass-topped lounge with snug seating known as the Wintergarden, which is residence to afternoon tea. A den of serenity, it is one in every of our favourite locations on these vessels.

A secondary pool space with an infinity pool is in the back of every of the ships.

Whereas all of the ships on this collection are primarily equivalent, you’ll find small variations on a number of of them. Most notably, two of the vessels within the collection — Viking Orion and Viking Jupiter — have a small planetarium constructed into the highest stage of the two-level lounge at their fronts (often known as the Explorers’ Lounge). Among the later ships within the collection have barely bigger health facilities and barely smaller hair salons.

Be aware that along with the 11 Viking ocean ships formally within the Viking fleet, a twelfth ship from the identical collection, Zhao Shang Yi Dun, caters largely to the China market as a part of a three way partnership between Viking and a Chinese language firm. When it debuted in 2017, the ship initially catered to the North American market and was known as Viking Solar.

Viking river ships

Ships: Viking Fjorgyn (2022), Viking Kari (2022), Viking Radgrid (2022), Viking Skaga (2022) and greater than 60 different Longships constructed since 2012, in addition to extra river vessels

Measurement: 4,000 to five,000 tons

River ships initially put Viking on the map, they usually’re nonetheless on the core of the model.

As famous above, the road has 82 river ships in its fleet as of this summer time. The overwhelming majority of them have the identical fundamental design and are often known as Longships — a reference to the historic vessels utilized by Vikings within the Center Ages.

Unveiled in 2012 and designed particularly to suit into the locks used throughout a lot of Europe’s rivers, the Longships broke new floor in river ship design in a number of methods.

For starters, they’ve a configuration that features among the largest suites ever for river ships in Europe. In addition they have a big variety of cabins with balconies, which is made attainable by an revolutionary cabin space format that offsets essential corridors. (In different phrases, the corridors do not run down the center of the ship, making a wider aspect with house for balconies and a narrower aspect with cabins turned sideways to additionally create room for verandas.)

Different improvements embrace a squared-off bow that permits for eight extra cabins than equally sized ships operated by opponents. Additionally, quieter engines permit for extra cabins on the rear. An unlimited quantity of groundbreaking engineering went into redesigning the bow areas of the ships, particularly, to allow additional cabins whereas nonetheless leaving room for wanted equipment.

Because of such improvements, the Viking Longships can carry extra passengers than equally sized ships operated by opponents. This has allowed Viking to supply decrease costs than different river cruise strains and nonetheless usher in an identical quantity of income per ship, a undeniable fact that has contributed tremendously to the corporate’s fast progress.

Like many river ships, every of the Viking Longships has one essential restaurant the place most passengers eat their meals, in addition to one essential inside lounge with a bar. There’s additionally a secondary, informal eating space on the entrance of every vessel with indoor and out of doors seating. (The out of doors portion, known as the Aquavit Terrace, additionally serves as a forward-facing out of doors lounge throughout off hours.) Not like many river ships, the vessels don’t have any spas or health facilities.

As is typical for river ships, the highest of each Viking Longship is roofed with an expansive lounge space. There are additionally a strolling observe and an herb backyard — the latter utilized by the kitchen employees to develop herbs used throughout the preparation of onboard meals.

Most Viking Longships are 443 toes lengthy — the right size to suit into the locks on a lot of Europe’s rivers. Viking additionally constructed barely smaller variations of the Longships, measuring 361 toes or 410 toes in size, particularly to sail on rivers the place lock sizes or different navigational components require smaller vessels. The 410-foot-long variations of the vessels, for example, had been particularly constructed to sail into the guts of Paris on the Seine.

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Whereas the Longships are available a number of completely different lengths, they’re primarily equivalent of their choices and decor. The one notable distinction is that the smaller variations of the ships have fewer cabins and thus maintain fewer individuals. The 443-foot-long variations of the ship are designed for 190 passengers, for instance, whereas the 410-foot-long variations of the vessels maintain 168 passengers (since they’ve 11 fewer cabins).

Whereas most Viking river ships are Longships, there are a number of exceptions within the Viking river fleet. Viking operates a number of smaller, purpose-built vessels on the Nile in Egypt. It additionally has a number of older river vessels that predate the Longships and historically have operated on rivers in Russia and Ukraine. (For now, river cruise itineraries in each nations are on maintain as a result of conflict in Ukraine.)

Viking additionally not too long ago started sailings on the Mississippi River with a brand new ship particularly designed for the river and its tributaries.

Along with its current fleet of river ships, Viking has fairly a number of extra new river vessels on order for supply later this 12 months into 2028. Six new river ships are on the best way for 2026, for example, and there are one other 12 river vessels on order for supply in 2028 and 2029.

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Viking expedition ships

Ships: Viking Polaris (2022) and Viking Octantis (2022)

Measurement: 30,150 tons

Designed to carry simply 378 passengers, the Viking expedition ships are particularly designed to take vacationers to probably the most off-the-beaten-path components of the world, together with Antarctica and the Arctic.

As is typical for expedition ships, these are robust vessels with bolstered bows that permit them bump by way of ice in polar areas; the ships even have additional tanks for gas and meals.

Every of those vessels has its personal touchdown craft on board to carry individuals ashore in distant areas, in addition to kayaks and even submarines for exploring. (The latter is the new new factor for expedition ships — upscale cruise manufacturers Scenic Luxurious Cruises & Excursions and Seabourn have been including submarines to expedition ships, too.)

Like different expedition ships, each Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris are designed to function with a big and seasoned “expedition group” that features biologists, botanists, geologists, glaciologists and ornithologists who lecture repeatedly.

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Every of the vessels has a number of new and strange options, too. Most notable is The Hangar: an enclosed marina that permits passengers to switch to a 12-seat tour craft whereas nonetheless within the protected inside of the ship. It is a first for an expedition cruise ship.

In one other first for a polar expedition cruise vessel, each cabin has floor-to-ceiling glass partitions that slide partially open from the highest to create a balconylike really feel.

Each Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris are designed to be upscale. Like all Viking vessels, they’ve elegant Scandinavian designs. The eating places on each vessels embrace a model of Viking’s signature Italian spot, Manfredi’s, and the Scandinavian-inspired Mamsen’s outlet.

One other function of each ships that might be acquainted to common Viking prospects is a top-of-the-ship, glass-walled Explorers’ Lounge providing beautiful views of passing surroundings.

In case you are curious, Viking Octantis is known as after Sigma Octantis, the present South Star that hovers over the South Pole (often known as Polaris Australis). Polaris is known as after the present North Star that hovers over the North Pole. The names are a nod to the polar areas the place these expedition ships will seemingly spend a lot of their time.