Cruise Frog guide
Viking Ocean Cruises
Viking Ocean Cruises is the ocean and expedition side of Viking, the travel company Torstein Hagen founded in 1997 as a river cruise line. The ocean division was formed in 2013 and began sailing in 2015 with Viking Star; it now runs a fleet of nearly identical small ships for 930 or 998 guests, plus two Polar Class expedition ships, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris, that sail to Antarctica, the Arctic and the Great Lakes.
Style
Premium
smaller crowds, better food and service than mainstream
Best for
- History and culture
- Couples
Fleet rating
No ships rated yet.
About Viking Ocean Cruises
All the ocean ships come from Fincantieri's yards in Italy and share a Scandinavian design with veranda staterooms throughout, an infinity pool, the Nordic Spa and several included restaurants. The newer ships of the Vela design are larger, and Viking plans to add hydrogen-powered sisters, beginning with Viking Libra in late 2026. In 2026 the former Viking Sun rejoined the fleet as Viking Yi Dun, sailing Mandarin-language voyages for Chinese guests.
A Viking cruise is organized around the destinations. Fares include a shore excursion in every port, Wi-Fi, beer and wine with lunch and dinner, specialty dining and spa access, and onboard enrichment comes from lectures and destination performances. Itineraries cover Scandinavia, the British Isles, the Mediterranean, the Americas, Asia, and Australia and New Zealand, along with world cruises of up to 170 days.
What Viking Ocean Cruises is known for
Viking sits near the top of reader polls: Condé Nast Traveler readers have rated it number one for ocean cruises six years in a row through 2026, Travel + Leisure lists it among its World's Best, and U.S. News & World Report has named it best luxury line and best line for couples. Reviewers often credit its calm, uncluttered ships, the amount included in the fare and the focus on history and culture. The flip side of a standardized fleet is that one Viking ocean ship feels much like the next, and Viking itself says it does not try to be all things to all people. Incidents have included the 2019 engine failure of Viking Sky off Norway, which led to a partial helicopter evacuation, and a 2023 episode in which Viking Orion was turned away from New Zealand and Adelaide over hull fouling.
Who it's for
Viking suits curious travelers who choose a cruise for the ports: the line says it designs voyages for people interested in science, history, culture and cuisine, and its fares bundle a guided tour in each port with lectures on board. Couples and travelers who want a quiet atmosphere on a ship of under 1,000 guests will find the format consistent from one voyage to the next, and the expedition ships add Antarctica and the Great Lakes for those who want more adventure. Travelers who want a big-ship atmosphere with lots of onboard activities, round trips from a home port they can drive to, or a different style of ship on every cruise will be better served elsewhere.
- History and culture
- port-intensive itineraries, lectures, included excursions
- Couples
- romantic dining, quiet spaces, balcony cabins
How it rates
None of Viking Ocean Cruises's ships has been rated yet. A line's rating is the average of its ships' scores.
Where Viking Ocean Cruises sails
Ships
Viking Jupiter2019 · 47,842 GT · 930 guestsViking Jupiter is the sixth Viking Star-class ship, built by Fincantieri and delivered in 2019 with 465 veranda staterooms for 930 guests. She was named in Los Angeles, with…
Viking Mars2022 · 47,842 GT · 930 guestsViking Mars is a 930-guest Viking Star-class ship built by Fincantieri at Ancona and delivered in 2022, with Lady Fiona Carnarvon, the Countess of Carnarvon, as her godmother…
Viking Mira2026 · 54,300 GT · 998 guests · Mediterranean · Northern EuropeViking Mira is a 998-guest ship of Viking's enlarged Vela design, delivered by Fincantieri at Ancona on May 26, 2026, and named in Venice that June with attorney and photographer…
Viking Neptune2022 · 47,842 GT · 930 guestsViking Neptune is a 930-guest Viking Star-class ship that Fincantieri delivered at Ancona in 2022, the ninth ship of the class. Astronaut Nicole Stott is her godmother. Like her…
Viking Octantis2022 · 30,150 GT · 378 guests · Antarctica · South AmericaViking Octantis is Viking's first expedition ship, a Polar Class 6 vessel for 378 guests in 189 staterooms. Her hull was built at Vard Tulcea in Romania and finished at Vard…
Viking Orion2018 · 47,842 GT · 930 guestsViking Orion is the fifth Viking Star-class ship, a 930-guest, all-veranda vessel built by Fincantieri at Ancona and delivered in June 2018. She was christened at Livorno by NASA…
Viking Polaris2022 · 30,150 GT · 378 guests · Antarctica · South AmericaViking Polaris is the identical sister of Viking Octantis, a Polar Class 6 expedition ship for 378 guests in 189 staterooms, built by Vard and placed in service in 2022. She was…
Viking Saturn2023 · 47,842 GT · 930 guestsViking Saturn is the last of the 930-guest Viking Star-class ships, delivered by Fincantieri at Ancona in 2023. Her godmother is Ann Ziff, chairman of the Metropolitan Opera. She…
Viking Sea2016 · 47,842 GT · 930 guestsViking Sea is the second Viking Star-class ship, a 930-guest, all-veranda cruise ship built by Fincantieri and delivered to Viking Ocean Cruises in March 2016. She was named in…
Viking Sky2017 · 47,842 GT · 930 guests · World cruises · South PacificViking Sky is a 930-guest Viking Star-class ship that entered service with Viking Ocean Cruises in February 2017 and was christened in Tromsø that June. Built by Fincantieri at…
Viking Star2015 · 47,842 GT · 930 guestsViking Star is the ship that launched Viking Ocean Cruises, an all-veranda vessel of about 47,800 gross tons that carries 930 guests in 465 staterooms and suites. She is the lead…
Viking Vela2024 · 53,769 GT · 998 guests · Mediterranean · Northern EuropeViking Vela is the first of Viking's enlarged ocean ships, delivered by Fincantieri at Ancona in December 2024 with 499 veranda staterooms for 998 guests. At 784 feet (239…
Viking Venus2021 · 47,842 GT · 930 guestsViking Venus is the seventh Viking Star-class ship, delivered by Fincantieri in 2021 with 465 veranda staterooms for 930 guests. She is 745 feet (227 meters) long and measures…
Viking Vesta2025 · 53,769 GT · 998 guests · Mediterranean · Northern EuropeViking Vesta is the second 998-guest ship of Viking's enlarged Vela design, delivered by Fincantieri at Ancona on June 30, 2025, and named in Croatia with Norwegian journalist…
Viking Yi Dun2017 · 47,842 GT · 930 guests · Mediterranean · Northern EuropeViking Yi Dun is a 930-guest Viking Star-class ship that entered service in 2017 as Viking Sun and sailed the line's first round-the-world cruise, from Miami to London, in…Coming soon
Quick answers
What is Viking Ocean Cruises known for?
Viking sits near the top of reader polls: Condé Nast Traveler readers have rated it number one for ocean cruises six years in a row through 2026, Travel + Leisure lists it among its World's Best, and U.S. News & World Report has named it best luxury line and best line for couples. Reviewers often credit its calm, uncluttered ships, the amount included in the fare and the focus on history and culture. The flip side of a standardized fleet is that one Viking ocean ship feels much like the next, and Viking itself says it does not try to be all things to all people. Incidents have included the 2019 engine failure of Viking Sky off Norway, which led to a partial helicopter evacuation, and a 2023 episode in which Viking Orion was turned away from New Zealand and Adelaide over hull fouling.
Who is Viking Ocean Cruises best for?
Viking suits curious travelers who choose a cruise for the ports: the line says it designs voyages for people interested in science, history, culture and cuisine, and its fares bundle a guided tour in each port with lectures on board. Couples and travelers who want a quiet atmosphere on a ship of under 1,000 guests will find the format consistent from one voyage to the next, and the expedition ships add Antarctica and the Great Lakes for those who want more adventure. Travelers who want a big-ship atmosphere with lots of onboard activities, round trips from a home port they can drive to, or a different style of ship on every cruise will be better served elsewhere.
Where does Viking Ocean Cruises sail?
Viking Ocean Cruises's ships in service sail Mediterranean (4 ships), Northern Europe (4 ships), South America (2 ships), Antarctica (2 ships), World cruises (2 ships), Asia (1 ship), Australia and New Zealand (1 ship) and South Pacific (1 ship).
Does Viking Ocean Cruises have new ships coming?
Yes: Viking Ocean Cruises has 5 new ships on the way: Viking Libra (debuts December 2026), Viking Astrea (debuts June 2027), Viking Lyra (debuts May 2028), Viking Vega (due 2028) and Viking Leda (due 2029).
How many ships does Viking Ocean Cruises have?
Viking Ocean Cruises has 15 ships in service on Cruise Frog: Viking Jupiter, Viking Mars, Viking Mira, Viking Neptune, Viking Octantis, Viking Orion, Viking Polaris and Viking Saturn, and 7 more.
Who owns Viking Ocean Cruises?
Viking Ocean Cruises is part of Viking Holdings Ltd.
Where is Viking Ocean Cruises based?
Viking Ocean Cruises is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland. It has operated since 2013.
What is Viking Ocean Cruises's loyalty program called?
Viking Ocean Cruises's past-guest loyalty program is Viking Explorer Society.
What is the largest Viking Ocean Cruises ship?
Viking Mira is Viking Ocean Cruises's largest ship at 54,300 gross tons, carrying 998 guests.
Cruising with children
Viking Ocean is a choice for a family travelling entirely with adult children. A holiday that includes anyone under eighteen requires another cruise line.
Read the Viking Ocean Cruises family guide →