![]() “We have always had a customer-centric approach and, as a privately held company, we are able to focus on the well-being and best interests of our guests and crew,” says Atkin-Smith. Since the Covid-19 pandemic, the bar has been raised in the industry for what constitutes a safe onboard operating environment and Viking has risen to the challenge. This exclusive access has set us apart from other operators.” As part of many of our itineraries, we provide Privileged Access experiences which offer exclusive entry for Viking guests to cultural treasures all around the world. “We have always enabled our guests to meet and interact with local people in the communities we visit. In addition, every stateroom has a Nordic Balcony which comprises a sunroom that converts into an al fresco viewing platform.Ĭonnecting cultures is central to the Viking experience, says Atkin-Smith. The new expedition ships include innovative features such as The Hangar, an in-ship marina which allows guests to embark and disembark from the expedition vessels in a safe and stable environment. Our first expedition ship, Viking Octantis, embarked on her inaugural voyage to Antarctica in January.” “Viking now offers destination-focused voyages on more than 20 rivers, five oceans and five Great Lakes, visiting 403 ports in 95 countries. ![]() “We could see there was a gap in the market for expedition ships which harness all the latest technology and cutting-edge design, but which are also extremely comfortable,” she says. Viking’s new focus on the growing expedition market fulfils Hagen’s long-held dream of visiting Antarctica, which began when he was a small boy, explains Atkin-Smith. Atkin-Smith explains: “As well as introducing Viking Expeditions and our two new ocean ships, we are also launching our first river cruise in North America on the Mississippi and new river ships on the Nile and the Mekong, plus eight new vessels on European rivers.” The expedition and river cruise strands of the business are set for a bumper year. Viking Sky will sail an identical itinerary in parallel, giving guests a choice of two departure dates for the 2023-2024 extended voyage to meet high demand. Viking Mars will be delivered in May 2022 and Viking Neptune in November 2022, with the latter vessel set to embark on the 2023-2024 Viking World Cruise from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to London, UK, which spans 138 days, 28 countries and 57 ports, with overnight stays in 11 cities. “With two new ocean ships launching this year and another planned for 2023, the speed of our growth into the ocean cruising sector has been quite exceptional,” says Atkin-Smith. This made Viking the largest small-ship travel company in the world. Having introduced its first ocean cruise itinerary in 2015, the company has gone from strength to strength in this market sector and took delivery of its seventh ocean ship, Viking Venus, in 2021. ![]() With the recent launch of our expedition voyages, we now cover all seven continents including Antarctica.” “We started in 1997 with four river ships, so we have continually been adding new destinations and varied itineraries since then, including our popular world cruises. We welcome guests over the age of 18 and we do not have casinos or formal nights so it is really a very different experience. “Viking has always been destination focused, which enables our guests to explore different parts of the world with us. “Torstein always says there is a cruise line for everyone so we have never tried to be all things to all people.”Ītkin-Smith believes that the success of Viking can be attributed to the fact that the company has always focused on its core market of culturally curious travellers aged 55 and above, tailoring all of its onboard and onshore products and experiences to this market and their interests. “Our chairman, Torstein Hagen, has been at the helm of Viking since it all began back in 1997 and it was always his vision to offer culturally enriching experiences and an alternative to mainstream cruises – he often refers to Viking as ‘the thinking person’s cruise line’,” says Atkin-Smith. With 2022 set to be one of the brand’s biggest years yet thanks to the launch of many new ships and new itineraries, managing director of Viking UK Wendy Atkin-Smith looks at how the chairman of Viking has shaped the brand’s growth. Over the years, as it has developed from a small river cruise operator to an ocean-going market contender with expedition ambitions, Viking has attained a reputation for having a distinctive personality at the helm.
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