Viking’s 2026 Ocean Cruises Now Available for Booking, Brand New Viking Vesta Debuts in July 2025
Viking (www.viking.com) announced that guests can now book 2026 ocean voyages. Due to strong demand among North American travelers, Viking decided to launch an early opening of 2026 itineraries. The booking dates are expected to go quickly as many 2024 departures are sold out and 2025 dates are selling quickly.
Viking also announced that its newest ship, the Viking Vesta, will debut in July 2025. The 998-guest ship will spend her inaugural season in the Mediterranean and Scandinavia. The Viking Vesta is classified as a small ship, with a gross tonnage of 54,300 tons, and 499 staterooms that can host 998 guests.
Upon her debut she will join an award-winning ocean fleet of sister ships including the Viking Star, the Viking Sea, the Viking Sky, the Viking Orion, the Viking Jupiter, the Viking Venus, the Viking Mars, the Viking Neptune and the Viking Saturn. Additionally, the new Viking Vela is scheduled to debut in December 2024.
Torstein Hagen is the Chairman of Viking
Torstein Hagen is the Chairman of Viking and he noted “We have always done things a bit differently. At Viking, we are contrarians. We design travel experiences for thinking people, with no children and no casinos.”
He added “We are pleased that our approach has resonated with so many—and with the addition of the Viking Vesta to our ocean fleet, we look forward to introducing even more curious travelers to the Viking way of exploration.”
Viking Leads the Way in Ocean Travel
Viking’s 80+ ocean itineraries are rated the #1 by both Condé Nast Traveler and Travel + Leisure. Here are a few examples of Viking’s most popular voyages.
Viking’s Majestic Mediterranean Cruises
Viking’s Iconic Western Mediterranean is an 8 day adventure from Barcelona to Rome. Guests enjoy France’s southern coast including stops at Montpellier, picturesque Marseille, and world famous Monte Carlo. Other options on the Mediterranean sojourn include opportunities to view Catalonian and Tuscan art, architecture, and history while staying overnight in Barcelona and Tuscany.
In contrast, the Empires of the Mediterranean 10-day Venice to Athens voyage offers offer nine fascinating destinations. Guests sail the Adriatic and Aegean, take in the ancient ruins of Olympia and the Acropolis, view the medieval warrens of Zadar and Dubrovnik, and gaze upon the famous whitewashed villages of Santorini as well as other delightful destinations.
Viking’s Award Cruise Adventures
The Viking Homelands cruise, 15 days from Stockholm to Bergen, offers overnights in Stockholm, Oslo and scenic Bergen. Guests will also see Ålborg and Gdańsk, as well as Berlin and Copenhagen.
Biking’s British Isles Explorer is a 15 day Bergen to London adventure that includes overnight stays in Bergen, Norway, and Greenwich, England. Guests visit the Shetland and Orkney Islands and discover the legendary Highlands, the Western Isles of Scotland, and its capital city, Edinburgh. Belfast and Dublin are also on tap, as are Snowdonia, Liverpool, London, and Dover.
Guests who want to explore the colorful Caribbean will delight in the West Indies Explorer, an 11 day San Juan to San Juan roundtrip adventure. Along the way guests explore the British, French, and Dutch cultures of the Lesser Antilles, sailing the cerulean waters from Tortola and St. Lucia to Dominica, St. Martin, and St. Thomas.
Viking’s New Immersive Pre and Post Extensions For 2024 and 2025
Additionally, Viking has announced six new immersive Pre and Post Extensions for 2024 and 2025; nearly half of all Viking guests choose to add such extensions to their voyage.
The new, three-night extensions are fully guided, and include Barcelona, Istanbul, London, Rome, Stockholm, and Venice where guests enjoy Privileged Access® to museums, local cuisine for lunches and dinners, market visits and cooking classes. The new extensions include:
Best of Barcelona in which guests explore the beautiful city of Barcelona, Montserrat, and the legendary Gothic Quarter.
The Best of Istanbul extension take guests to the Topkapi Palace, the Blue Mosque, and Hagia Sophia. Guests also visit the Grand Bazaar, a spice market, and a Michelin Star restaurant.
Guests who book the Best of London extension visit London where they receive Privileged Access to the British Museum and St. Paul’s Cathedral. Guests meet TV chef and culinary author Celia Brooks and spend an evening at the Tower of London.
The Best of Rome extension includes Vatican City, ancient Rome sites, and a lesson in the art of making authentic Italian pasta.
Guests who want to explore Stockholm can book the Best of Stockholm extension where they will visit historic City Hall, cruise the country’s scenic archipelago and sample traditional cuisine at Östermalmshallen.
Finally, the Best of Venice extension allows guests to cruise the Grand Canal after dark, enjoy a morning visit to the bustling Rialto Fish Market, and gaze at historic landmarks around St. Mark’s Square.
As an added bonus, from now through January 31, 2024, Viking is offering North American travelers the Discover More Sale, with up to free international airfare, special fares, and a $25 deposit. Additionally, there are increased savings for both new and returning guests on all-inclusive river, ocean and expedition voyages.
Be sure to catch up on everything happening with Viking Travel. Come back here often for Viking Travel news and updates.