Viking River Cruises has dominated the river cruise industry for years with 30 plus ships and 12 more on order for 2014.
And now Viking has announced plans to enter the ocean cruise industry while keeping its focus on elegant ships and exotic destinations.
The new line will be called Viking Ocean Cruises and will be the first new cruise line to emerge in almost a decade. Viking Chairman Torstein Hagen said that he wants to take a different approach than the other cruise lines have taken saying,
“It is our view that in the race to build bigger ships, many cruise lines have lost sight of the destinations to which they sail. With our new ocean cruises, we are applying the same principles behind our award-winning river cruises to our itinerary and ship design; privileged-access excursions; and on-board experiences to make destinations the true focus.”
Watch a video tour of what Viking Ocean Cruises’ ships will look like:
The new cruise line has ordered two 48,000 ton cruise ships that can hold 928 passengers each and is expected to order 4 more in the future. The Viking Star will be the first ship to debut in 2014 and will have initial itineraries in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean.
The smaller ships will allow them to be able to cruise to ports that are inaccessible to larger ships and help keep the cruisers focused on destinations rather than new frills and rides on the ship.
The clientele that Viking will focus on will be similar to Royal Caribbean owned Azamara and will be perfect for those who wish to see more of the world while living in luxury.
Fares will start at $2,999 per person for a 10-night cruise in the Mediterranean but this fare price is all inclusive. The cost of drinks, meals, wireless internet, and even shore excursions at every port will be included in the fare price, making the price tag a lot more attractive.
Although the ships will be small compared to some of the mega ships of today, the rooms will be quite a bit bigger. Every room will have a balcony and even the smallest category rooms will have 270 square feet.
And for those wanting to cruise in a suite, the 14 different multiple room suites will offer from 750 to 1,400 square feet of space.
Have you ever been on a Viking River Cruise? What do you think about this new cruise line? Let us know with a comment below.
