Some of you have asked why we don’t promote Viking more. First… Viking is our top vendor in terms of sales and number of people that travel with them. Second… most of you are on Viking’s mailing list, which means you already get A LOT of marketing material from them. There is no doubt that Viking is a well-oiled marketing machine!
So here’s a peak at WHAT’S NEW, and what you can expect from them in the next few years:
The FUTURE is GROWTH: From FOUR Ships to 100 Ships
- Viking started in 1997 with only 4 ships, and this year eclipsed 100 vessels. In the next six years, they will add 11 more ocean ships, and 26 more river boats.
- Viking LIBRA joins the ocean fleet next year, and will be the world’s first hydrogen powered, zero-emission cruise ship.
- Viking is now publicly traded, so we know that their revenue is 18.5% higher in 2025 than 2024, indicating substantial growth.
What’s NEW on the RIVER:
- INDIA: Viking announced 15-day round-trip Delhi itineraries on the Brahmaputra River starting in 2027. Unfortunately, it sold out for 2027 and 2028 in days.
- RHINE / MAIN Rivers: Nuremberg to Basel or Amsterdam itineraries.
- COMBINATION River & Ocean: Barcelona to Porto (Spain & Portugal). ALSO Basel to Bergen (Switzerland, France, Germany, Netherlands, Denmark, Norway) and Bergen to Budapest (Norway, Denmark, Netherlands, Germany France, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary)
What’s NEW on the OCEAN. Viking Took the Soul of the River Experience to the Ocean:
- MEDITERRANEAN: there are 20 new itineraries that include longer combination voyages, and stops in Northern Africa.
- UK & IRELAND: London to Belfast with an extension to Highclere Castle for 15-days.
- 26 NEW Ocean Itineraries: https://www.vikingcruises.com/oceans/cruise-destinations/specialty/new/index.html
What’s NEW on EXPEDITION. Viking can take you to more remote places as well:
Most Viking Expedition itineraries are ANTARCTICA or GREAT LAKES. Here are others:
- NORTHWEST PASSAGE: Round-trip Nuuk (Greenland) for 13-days.
- LONGDITUDINAL WORLD CRUISE: Greenland to Antarctica for 81-days.
- GREENLAND & CANADA: Toronto to Nuuk for 15-days
- Here’s a look at all the new Expedition Itineraries: https://www.vikingcruises.com/expeditions/search-cruises/index.html
Our team has travelled on Viking River, Ocean, and Expedition, and love the product, so we’re ready to help you with your Viking plans at any time.
Dream-Travel-Share UNPACKED Podcast
Check out our PODCAST where Kim & Bob talk about WHAT’S NEW at VIKING, and what to expect from them in the coming years.
In Case You Missed It:
MOROCCO is an easy add-on to a vacation to Southern Europe. Here’s WHERE, HOW, and WHY you might consider Morocco (for pre/post cruise).
https://pamperedcruiser.com/morocco/
INSIDER’S LOOK at PAMPERED CRUISER: People sometimes ask how we position ourselves in the travel industry, and what our specialties are. Here’s the detail:
https://pamperedcruiser.com/insiders-look-at-the-pampered-cruiser/
TRAVEL REVIEW WEBSITES like Trip Advisor and Cruise Critic can help you make vacation decisions, but it’s like panning for gold… you have to sift through a lot of misinformation to get to the nuggets:
https://pamperedcruiser.com/the-problem-with-online-reviews/
Featured YOUTUBE Video:
We have several VIKING videos on our YouTube channel:
Viking Ocean Ship Tour:
Viking Expedition Ship Tour
Viking Expedition Polaris / Octantis Ship Tour – YouTube
Viking River Ship Tour
Remember to SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel while you’re there. It really helps us, and we can produce more content for you!
Have something to say about this?
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Today’s Travel Opportunities
RIVER CRUISES – Viking
Viking started with 4 river boats in 1997, and now are larger than all other river cruise companies combined. If you’re looking at your first European River Cruise, look at this one:
RHINE GETAWAY: Amsterdam to Basel for 8-days
- Visit Kinderdijk, Cologne, Koblenz, Rhine Gorge, Rudesheim, Speyer, Strasbourg, and Breisach. This itinerary has history, architecture, scenery, wineries, art and culture. There’s a bit of something for everyone.
- Optional pre/post cruise extensions to Amsterdam, Switzerland, Lucerne, Basel, Lake Como, Belgium
- BEST FARES: $2199 for a Standard Room in November. There are over 20 departures per month March through November.
If you’ve already done a lot of river cruising in Europe, look at this one:
LOWER DANUBE: Budapest to Bucharest for 11-days
- Visit Budapest (for 3 nights), and then visit Kalocsa (Hungary), and then on to Croatia, Belgrade, Golubac Fortress, 2 port stops in Bulgaria, and then finish in Bucharest, Romania (“Paris of the East”). These five countries are not as discovered as Western Europe, and have a rich history and culture.
- Optional pre/post cruise extensions to Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Istanbul, and Transylvania.
- BEST FARES: $3499 for a Standard Room in March. There are 12 sailings per month.
People often ask about the Locks & Bridges on European rivers. Here’s a video we made when we travelled with Viking: https://youtu.be/AgGNSU-7Qu8?si=BChxon3ZqDf5MkTK
OCEAN CRUISES – Viking
Viking took the soul of river cruising to salt water, with their first ship in 2015, and there are now 16 currently in operation, with 11 more coming by the end of the decade.
For the FIRST TIME Viking Ocean cruiser:
WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN: Rome to Barcelona for 8-days
- Visit Florence/Pisa (overnight), Monte Carlo, Marseille, Sete, Barcelona (overnight)
- Optional pre/post cruise extensions to Rome, Tuscany, Umbria, Madrid, Barcelona.
- BEST FARES: $2799 for a Veranda cabin in December. Sailings year-round
If you’ve already done a few Viking Ocean cruises, look at this itinerary:
NORWAY & ICELAND: Bergen to Reykjavik for 13-days
- This itinerary combines the best elements of Norway’s Fjords, and scenic Iceland
- Visit Bergen (overnight), Flam (for the railway), Alesund, Geiranger, Faroe Islands, 4-stops in Iceland, with an overnight in Reykjavik.
- Optional pre/post cruise extensions to Bergen, Oslo (with scenic train), Reykjavik.
- BEST FARES: $7499 June through August.
REMOTE EXPLORATIONS – Viking
The idea of an EXPEDITION CRUISE puts some people “off”, but it’s really just a smaller ship to more remote locations. Viking’s expedition ships carry only 378 guests, and will feel very familiar to Viking Ocean clients.
If you just want to check out the Viking Expedition ship, or see if Expedition cruising is right for you, choose this itinerary:
GREAT LAKES: Toronto to Milwaukee for 8-days
- Traverse the Welland Canal (there are locks in North America, too!), then visit Niagara Falls, Point Pelee NP, Detroit, Alpena MI, Mackinac Island, Milwaukee (overnight).
- Optional pre/post cruise extensions to Toronto, Muskoka Lakes (Ontario), Milwaukee, Chicago
- BEST FARES: $6995 in April with departures April through October
Here’s the itinerary video we make when we did the Great Lakes with Viking: https://youtu.be/uDeGzBDb0mM
If you’re comfortable with the idea of an Expedition Cruise, then Antarctica should be on your list:
ANTARCTICA: Buenos Aires round-trip for 13-days
- Start in Buenos Aires, and then fly to Ushuaia (included) to board your ship. Traverse the Drake Passage, and have 6-days of scheduled landings on the continent, before returning to Ushuaia.
- Optional pre/post to Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls, Easter Island, Atacama Desert, Patagonia, or Peru.
- BEST FARES: $13,995 in March with departures November through March
If you’re unsure about Expedition Cruising, here’s a video we made on HOW VIKING EXPEDITION IS DIFFERENT THAN VIKING OCEAN:
SEA CLOUD – Intimate Yachting Experience
If you prefer the idea of a Viking River Cruise, but want to visit a salt water destination that Viking can’t get you to, here’s two examples of on SEA CLOUD, that we would describe as a Salt-Water River Cruise.
Costa Rica & Central America (Panama City to Cozumel), departing Mar.13th 2026 (12 nights)
- Details: https://issuu.com/seacloudcruisesusa/docs/sea_cloud_big_book_2026_/100
- Visit San Blas Archipelago, Bocas del Toro (Panama), Puerto Limón (Costa Rica), Honduras, and Belize
- Website Price: starting at $8990 per person
- SPECIAL PRICE: From $6990 per person (SAVE $2000 per person!)
Greek Isles (Athens round trip), departing July 17th/24th/or 31st 2026 (7 nights)
- Details: https://issuu.com/seacloudcruisesusa/docs/sea_cloud_big_book_2026_/68
- Visit Amorgos, Milos, Amorgos, Nauplio, and Poros
- Website Price: starting at $6745 per person
- SPECIAL PRICE: From $4745 per person (SAVE $2000 per person!)
Learn more about Sea Cloud here: https://youtu.be/fy7Kfd1i3ZQ
CANYON SPIRIT LUXURY RAIL JOURNEY
This is the perfect way to take in the incredible scenery in Colorado, Utah, and the surrounding National Parks:
Denver to Las Vegas for 5-nights with 5 National Parks:
- Denver, Glenwood Springs, Moab (2), Bryce Canyon, Las Vegas
- Departures available April through October from $5003
Denver round-trip for 7-nights with 4-Days on the Rails
- Denver, Glenwood Springs, Moab (for 3 nights), Glenwood Springs, Denver
- Departures available April through November from $4249
Recently Booked a Viking Cruise?
Viking makes it really easy to book direct, either online, by phone, or on board. Our clients worry that if they book on-line, that they’re cutting us out, but if you let us know after you’ve booked, then we can still help you with your reservation (even if you booked ON BOARD).
We’ll check over your reservation to make sure you’re getting the best possible deal, and we will also add some onboard credits that are not available on direct bookings.
There is never a situation where you’ll get a better deal by booking directly with Viking (or any other cruise line).
Do You Have an Upcoming Viking Cruise?
Viking’s BON VOYAGE incentive allows you to book your next Viking cruise in the 35 days BEFORE you board, and get some extra goodies for doing so:
- $100 per person on board credit
- 6-month final payment date
- $100 per person OFF one-week cruises, and bigger discounts for longer itineraries.
We made a short video about the Bon Voyage Program if you’d like more details: https://youtu.be/gBM8IvjIb3U?si=Vy9UDiSqZQYHWR32
If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here or call 800-876-0168 to get in touch today.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sue Bradley
Sue Bradley
