Viking looks to ocean vessels for new growth opportunities (2024)

FAQs

How many ocean going ships does Viking have? ›

Viking OCEAN's fleet consists of all 10 liners - Viking Star (2015), Viking Sea (2016), Viking Sky (2017), Viking Sun (2017), Viking Orion (2018), Viking Jupiter (2019), Venus (2021), Mars and Neptune (2022), Viking Saturn (2023).

Mission - our fundamental task. We link together the countries around the northern Baltic Sea by providing sustainable and regular ferry service for everyone. Our three basic services are cruises, passenger and cargo transport. Our unique expertise in combining these services generates customer and business benefits.

Viking was founded in 1997 with the vision that travel could be more destination focused and culturally immersive.

They were fast, maneuverable, highly-seaworthy, allowing the Vikings to carry out the rapid hit-and-run raids that characterize the early part of the Viking Age and later developing into specialized ship-types for warfare, trade and fishing. But having ships is no use to you if you don't know how to sail them.

It took the Vikings 200 years to cross the Atlantic, after discovering and settling one island at a time. The first island was found around 800 CE, but it took another 200 years to reach Newfoundland for the first time. Once a new island was found, there was much travel between it and the island(s) discovered earlier.

Meanwhile, one of the largest European operators, Viking River Cruises, has been having a bumpy ride financially. A planned funding deal this past spring to cover expenses has fallen through. But—unsurprisingly—Viking claims it is in sound financial condition, reports The Travel Insider.

Although there is a mix of ages on the Viking River ships, most passengers are 60 plus, and many are retired, especially those favoring the longer voyages.

Can children travel with Viking? All guests must be 18 years old on or before the day they are scheduled to embark on their cruise; we do not maintain facilities or services on board for younger individuals.

The company offers paid vacation time, holidays, and sick leave. Employees receive a cash referral bonus if the company hires someone you refer and that person stays on board. All employees have the opportunity to take a free and/or discounted Viking Cruise.

Who are Viking cruises aimed at? ›

Viking is aimed at an adult clientele, the aspirational thinking person's cruise, where destination is a focus, supported by a program of onboard guest lectures and port briefs.

The addition of oars and sails gave Viking boats an advantage over all other watercraft of their day in speed, shallow draft, weight, capacity, maneuverability, and seaworthiness.

Viking is not a company owned by Russia. It is owned by Torstein Hagen, who is Norwegian, while the company has its corporate headquarters in Basel, Switzerland and its marketing headquarters in LA, California.

Whilst designated as an Upper Premium brand, Viking has all the hallmarks of a Luxury Ocean Cruise Line. From the tastefully appointed, modern, beautifully designed, Scandinavian ships to the luxurious all-inclusive amenities, Viking are recognised as a Luxury Brand within the industry.

Viking Ocean Cruises are adults-only, as are its river and expedition cruises. The minimum age on all Viking ships worldwide is 18.

The ships were all the same long narrow shape, with shallow draughts. This meant that they could be used in shallow water.

Excavated in 1880, the Gokstad had been called the most beautiful ship ever built. The Viking is approximately 78 feet long, 17 feet wide, and 6.5 feet high from the bottom of the keel to the gunwale.

It was capable of sailing 75 miles (121 km) in one day, and held a crew of about 20–30. Knarrs routinely crossed the North Atlantic in the Viking Age, carrying livestock and goods to and from Greenland and the North Atlantic islands.

It was a long voyage through the dicey water of the North Atlantic—three weeks if all went well—with land rarely in sight. Their boats were sturdy, made from planks called strakes held together with iron rivets, but a swift and steady vessel was no guarantee of safe passage.

"The examination of skeletons from different localities in Scandinavia reveals that the average height of the Vikings was a little less than that of today: men were about 5 ft 7-3/4 in. tall and women 5 ft 2-1/2 in.

How did Vikings get fresh water? ›

Centuries ago, the Vikings used water from peat moss bogs because it would stay fresh during their months of sailing aboard longboats. Scandinavian freshwater fishermen traditionally used peat bogs to preserve their catches until they could pick them up on their way out of the mountains.

How much does a Steward make at Viking Cruises in the United States? The estimated average pay for Steward at this company in the United States is $19.19 per hour, which is 37% above the national average.

How much does a Director make at Viking Cruises in California? The estimated average pay for Director at this company in California is $52,011 per year, which is 47% below the national average.

The 443-foot-long versions of the ship are designed for 190 passengers, for example, whereas the 410-foot-long versions of the vessels hold 168 passengers (since they have 11 fewer cabins). While most Viking river ships are Longships, there are a few exceptions in the Viking river fleet.

Life expectancy, family structure, rights of women

Average life expectancy was something in the range of 30 years to 40 years. This means only a few people lived long enough to become a grandparent. Author points out women had far more rights in Scandinavia during the Viking Age than typical for the medieval era.

Suites and staterooms aboard Viking River Cruises' ships

Each Longship measures 135m in length and carries 190 passengers in 95 outside-facing cabins.

There were no public schools. All education was given at home, with a parent, nurse, or visitor acting as teacher. Children were often sent to the home of a rich man, sometimes a relative, to be educated. Both girls and boys learned to sing, to recite and compose poetry, and to tell sagas.

For evening wear, the dress code is simply ”'elegant casual.” Think dresses, skirts, or slacks with a sweater or blouse for women, and for men, think trousers and a collared shirt. Ties and jackets are optional, but remember that shorts, jeans, and casual wear are not permitted.

There are no formal nights on Viking so there's no need for long dresses for women or dinner jackets for men (even neckties are discretionary). Instead, the dress code is “elegant casual,” meaning anything from a sundress in the Caribbean—to slacks and a blouse for women cruising in colder climates.

A 15% tip is automatically added to bar, beverage and deck service tabs. The cruise line suggests you may also wish to give your local guides a cash tip at the end of each tour. Details: See under What is the tipping policy? on Viking Cruises' website.

How much do Viking Cruises housekeepers make? ›

How much does a Hotel Housekeeper make at Viking Cruises in the United States? The estimated average pay for Hotel Housekeeper at this company in the United States is $18.63 per hour, which is 45% above the national average.

The average Viking Cruises salary ranges from approximately $36,000 per year for Technician to $170,000 per year for Senior Compliance Officer. Average Viking Cruises hourly pay ranges from approximately $14.40 per hour for Sales to $24.00 per hour for Call Center Representative.

Are Viking Ocean Cruises all-inclusive? Viking Ocean cruises are about as all-inclusive as you can get on a cruise. You won't find any additional charges for the alternative restaurants, Wi-Fi, or even wine, beer, and soft drinks at lunch and dinner.

Development. The company was established by Torstein Hagen in St. Petersburg, Russia as Viking River Cruises in 1997.

Viking Ocean Cruises serves complimentary beer, wine and soft drinks with lunch and dinner; and a complimentary glass of sparkling wine is offered on embarkation day.

Specialty cruise lines like Disney Cruise Line, Paul Gauguin and most expedition cruise ships do not have casinos. Premium cruise lines Oceania Cruises and Cunard have casinos, while Viking, Azamara and Windstar Cruises do not.

Many Vikings were good sailors because they lived close to rivers and fjords (sea inlets). They grew up learning how to use ships for fishing and travelling. The Vikings built fast ships for raiding and war. In a raid, a ship could be hauled up on a beach and the men would jump out to fight.

The vikings were skilled sailors

The men at sea were very skilled and knew how to navigate when crossing the seas. They were also quite good at teamwork which was needed in order to keep their big ships sailing. In this section you can read about how they managed to navigate and who was aboard.

Across the Channel, Vikings were able to sail their ships as far inland as Repton in Derbyshire, about as far from the sea as it is possible to get in Britain. They could do this because their ships were light and fast, with a shallow draft (the distance between the waterline and bottom of the hull).

The longest cruise is the new Viking World Voyage I, departing on Dec. 19, 2024 from Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It will sail for 180 days visiting 85 ports of call across 37 countries on five continents.

How many ocean cruises does Viking have? ›

With 42 cruise itineraries lined up around the world, each of her 930 passengers will experience understated elegance, modern Scandinavian... One of Viking's two new expedition ships - the Viking Polaris, is setting off on her maiden voyage in 2022.

Viking Cruises ceases operations in Russia for 2022.

Cruise Critic

For every Viking ship they have reviewed —Viking Venus(2021), Viking Jupiter (2019), Viking Orion(2018), Viking Sky(2017), Viking Sea(2016) and Viking Star(2015)—Cruise Critic's team of expert editors has awarded their highest rating: 5 stars.

Dining experience on Viking overall definitely surpasses NCL (with a great margin or small margin - depending on the ships), while the Haven easily wins in accommodation. The atmosphere on Viking is more intimate and romantic, while entertainment on NCL giant ships is a different planet.

The onboard staff is dedicated to providing you with the best cruise experience possible, and it is customary to give gratuities in recognition of their service.

The standard Suite is designed to accommodate up to 2-3 guests. There is a private bedroom in this suite which features a hotel-style queen-size bed and access to a French balcony.

Viking River Cruises– There are some single cabins available at rates that are 150 percent to 200 percent of the double occupancy rate.

Viking River Cruises boasts the most extensive fleet of river cruises vessels, and we are proud to offer you the best ships in each region where we travel. Viking ships are specially designed to navigate the world's great rivers and provide convenient daily access to a plethora of destinations and experiences.

Viking ships were built using the clinker system; other ships were not. Viking ships did not have deep keels like other ships. Viking ships were more advanced than other ships at the time.

What were the key features of a Viking ship? ›

They had a sail and a mast, but also had oars for rowing in case the wind disappeared. To steer the boat, they just had one oar at the back of the ship. Another fantastic feature was that the longboat was double-ended. This meant that the Vikings could reverse without having to turn the boat around.

Dress is casual on-board Viking River, with shorts, slacks or jeans advised.

The company Viking is privately owned, which also makes it different from most other cruise lines.

Viking Age ships were both light and strong. There are two main reasons for this: The planks and frames were cleaved and followed the tree's fibres. This made the finished pieces very strong, even though their dimensions were reduced due to a desire to keep the overall weight of the ship down.

The Most Fearsome Viking Pirate Ships

The Dreki long-boat is one of the most iconic pirate ship designs in medieval history. These battleships were long, narrow decked boats with a shallow draft and a long, high stem at the front of their body.

The Karve was a small type of Viking longship, with a broad hull somewhat similar to the knarr. They were used for both war and ordinary transport, carrying people, cargo or livestock. Because they were able to navigate in very shallow water, they were also used for coasting.

Longships are around 28 – 30 meters long in size and built to hold more than 100 men. The boats speed can get up to 30 – 35 kilometres per hour because the Vikings had both oars and sails so they could keep going in any weather condition. They were constructed out of raw timber.

Draken Harald Hårfa*gre is a Dragonship. The Viking longships owned by kings and chieftains often had a head from a mythological animal in the bow, it offered protection from sea monsters and men, bad weather and raids along the voyages.

The secret of the Vikings' ships lies in their unique construction. Viking longboats were 'clinker' built, a technique that used planks of wood that overlap at one edge and are riveted together. The ships were then made watertight by filling the spaces between the planks with tarred wool or animal hair.