Viking, a leading cruise line, has significantly expanded its fleet, officially reaching a total of 103 ships. This milestone follows the recent naming ceremony for nine new river vessels in Basel, Switzerland. The company now surpasses major competitors in total ship count, marking a period of rapid growth.
Key Takeaways
- Viking's fleet now totals 103 ships, including 88 river, 12 ocean, and two expedition vessels.
- The company recently named nine new river ships in a ceremony in Basel, Switzerland.
- Viking now has more ships than Carnival Corporation, which operates 94 vessels.
- Founder Torstein Hagen highlighted the company's aggressive growth strategy with 31 more river ships and 14 ocean ships on order.
- Despite a larger fleet, Viking carries fewer passengers due to smaller ship sizes, but shows high profitability.
Viking's Fleet Expansion
Viking officially welcomed nine new river ships to its fleet during a ceremony held in Basel, Switzerland. This event pushed the company's total ship count to 103 vessels. The expansion positions Viking as the cruise company with the most ships, surpassing Carnival Corporation's current fleet of 94. Carnival Corporation, which includes brands like Carnival Cruise Line and Princess Cruises, had 104 vessels as recently as 2020 but has since reduced its count.
Torstein Hagen, Viking's founder, chairman, and CEO, spoke at the naming event. "It's a big day for us," Hagen stated, remarking on the company's swift expansion. He humorously added, "We've been adding ships like counting sheep." The ceremony took place atop one of the new vessels, the 190-passenger Viking Honir, which will operate on the Rhine River.
Fleet Snapshot
- Total Ships: 103
- River Ships: 88
- Ocean Ships: 12
- Expedition Ships: 2
A Global Naming Ceremony
While Viking Honir was physically present in Basel, the naming ceremony connected to the other eight new ships remotely. Five of these vessels were already positioned on rivers where they will begin service, including the Nile in Egypt, the Douro in Portugal, the Mekong in Vietnam, and the Seine in France. The remaining three ships were still undergoing final construction stages at the Neptun Werft shipyard in Rostock, Germany.
Captains and godmothers, along with some godfathers, for all nine vessels attended the event on board Viking Honir. The ceremony included video feeds from each remote ship. Each vessel was officially named with a smash of Norwegian aquavit against its hull, a tradition reflecting Viking's Norwegian heritage, a nod to founder Hagen's background.
"It's a big day for us. We've been adding ships like counting sheep."
— Torstein Hagen, Viking Founder, Chairman, and CEO
Rapid Growth and Future Orders
This latest event marks another significant achievement for Viking, a company that has experienced extraordinary growth over its 28-year history. As recently as 2012, Viking operated only 29 ships. The company now boasts 12,000 employees and continues its rapid expansion trajectory.
Viking shows no signs of slowing down. Hagen confirmed that the company has 31 more river ships on order, with deliveries expected by 2030. Additionally, 14 new ocean ships are on order for delivery by 2033. These additions project a passenger capacity growth rate of over 50% for Viking between now and 2030. In contrast, Carnival Corporation's projected growth for the same period is just under 10%, and Royal Caribbean Group's is around 20%.
Competitive Landscape
While Viking now has more ships than Carnival Corporation or Royal Caribbean Group, it carries fewer passengers overall. This difference is due to Viking's focus on smaller, more intimate vessels. Despite this, Viking demonstrates strong financial performance. The company reports a return on invested capital of approximately 40%, making it one of the most profitable in the industry by some measures.
New River Vessels and Their Routes
The nine new river ships introduced on Tuesday are set to sail on some of Viking's most popular itineraries. Four of these vessels—Viking Annar, Viking Dagur, Viking Eldir, and Viking Honir—will explore Europe's iconic Rhine, Main, and Danube rivers.
Three other ships—Viking Nerthus, Viking Gyda, and Viking Tonle—will serve different regions, sailing the Seine, Douro, and Mekong rivers, respectively. The final two new ships named, Viking Thoth and Viking Amun, are designated for journeys along the historic Nile River, expanding Viking's presence in Egypt.
- European Rivers: Viking Annar, Viking Dagur, Viking Eldir, Viking Honir (Rhine, Main, Danube)
- Other Rivers: Viking Nerthus (Seine), Viking Gyda (Douro), Viking Tonle (Mekong)
- Nile River: Viking Thoth, Viking Amun
This strategic expansion reinforces Viking's commitment to offering diverse river and ocean cruise experiences worldwide, catering to travelers seeking cultural enrichment and destination-focused journeys.
