Source: The Points Guy
Summary
Viking Cruise added seven new river ships, bringing its total to 109. The company now has more ships than any other cruise brand, surpassing Carnival Corporation. The new vessels will sail on European rivers and the Nile. Viking, founded 29 years ago, has grown rapidly, with plans for more ships through 2034. Its focus on upscale, adult-only cruises targets older travelers with in-depth cultural experiences.
Our Reading
The escape is carefully planned.
Viking adds seven new river ships to its fleet, focusing on Europe and Egypt.
Each ship has a godmother or godfather, often from travel advisor companies.
There are 36 more river ships on order, with 17 ocean ships planned by 2034.
The company’s growth is matched by its stock market value, now exceeding Carnival Corporation’s.
Author: Evan Null
New ships for Europe and Egypt
Two of the seven new vessels, the 190-passenger Viking Rota and 190-passenger Viking Haki, were physically present in Amsterdam for the naming ceremony. Both ships will sail on Europe’s Rhine, Main and Danube rivers, with itineraries that often begin or end in Amsterdam.
Three of the seven new ships were located on the two rivers where they will be sailing, the Nile in Egypt and the Seine in France. Two more were at the Neptun Werft shipyard in Rostock, Germany, where they were undergoing the last stages of construction.
Still, the captains and godmothers (and, in a couple of cases, godfathers) of all seven vessels were present at the pierside event for the ceremony, which included video feeds from each of the vessels as, one by one, they were officially named with a smash of Norwegian aquavit against their hulls.
The use of bottles of aquavit instead of bottles of Champagne to name the vessels was a nod to Viking’s Norwegian heritage. (Viking founder Torstein Hagen is Norwegian.)
All seven of the godmothers and godfathers for the ships were owners or top executives of travel advisor companies that sell Viking cruises.
Enormous growth
Thursday’s event was just the latest milestone in what has been an extraordinary period of growth for Viking.
With the addition of the seven new river ships, Viking now operates 94 river ships around the world, as well as 13 traditional ocean ships and two expedition cruise vessels.
As recently as 2012, the company fielded just 29 river ships and not a single ocean ship.
The recently public company, which now has more than 12,000 employees, has been one of the fastest-growing cruise companies in history and shows no signs of slowing its growth.
As Viking executives noted in a briefing for media on Thursday before the naming event, the company has 36 more river ships on order or under option for delivery by 2032 — an astounding number. It also has 17 ocean ships on order or under option for delivery by 2034.
Viking’s unique approach
Viking has seen enormous success since its founding 29 years ago with intimate, upscale cruises aimed at the 55-plus traveler — a segment of travelers that has more time and money for travel than younger segments of the traveling population.
Designed for the “thinking person,” as founder Hagen likes to say, they are trips that revolve heavily around the destinations that the ships visit, with longer stays in ports that allow for more in-depth exploring and included tours in every port.
In the case of the line’s ocean ships, they also feature expert lecturers on board to explain the things passengers are seeing.
All Viking cruises, notably, are adults-only, with no children under the age of 18 allowed — something that is rare in the world of cruising. On many sailings, most passengers are retirees.
Viking ships also are particularly known for their elegant, Scandinavian-influenced design, which is modern, upscale and residential in its feel.
New river ships
The seven new river ships that Viking welcomed on Thursday include four — Viking Rota, Viking Haki, Viking Halogi and Viking Sjofn — that will sail the brand’s most popular itineraries along Europe’s Rhine, Main and Danube rivers.
Two of the vessels (Viking Ptah and Viking Sekhmet) will sail the Nile.
The final ship named on Thursday, Viking Fjolvar, will sail the Seine River in France.
Viking’s focus on cultural immersion and upscale travel has made it a leader in the cruise industry, particularly among older, affluent travelers.
The company’s continued expansion reflects its strategy to grow its fleet and offer more diverse itineraries across the globe.
Market position
Viking’s stock market capitalization, at $37.4 billion, had pulled ahead of Carnival Corporation’s market capitalization by nearly a billion dollars.
Royal Caribbean Group, the parent company of Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea Cruises, currently has the biggest stock market capitalization among cruise companies with a value as of Thursday’s close of nearly $75 billion.
Despite its smaller average ship size, Viking’s growth has positioned it as a major player in the cruise industry, with a unique appeal to travelers seeking cultural and educational experiences.
The company’s focus on adult-only cruises, included tours, and expert-led excursions sets it apart from other cruise lines that cater to a broader demographic.
Viking’s continued success highlights the growing demand for curated, immersive travel experiences, especially among older, affluent travelers who value depth over speed.
