Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1451127
T H E V I K I N G S T O R Y How one man's vision led to a new way to sail WHEN TORSTEIN HAGEN FOUNDED VIKING with four ships in Russia, he had few supporters and even fewer who believed in his vision. He was 54 years old and had spent much of his career in Norway in shipping, bearing witness to an industry that was ripe for change. Our Norwegian-born patriarch had a deep desire to create something different – and as anyone who has travelled with us will tell you, different is exactly what you get on a Viking cruise. This year we celebrate 25 years in business. In this time, Chairman Torstein – who the Viking family knows simply as 'Tor' – has built an award-winning fleet of over 80 state-of-the-art river, ocean and expedition ships. Our fleet of 72 river ships, comprised predominantly of our Viking Longships, continues to expand this year, with three new custom-built ships set to sail the waterways of South East Asia, Egypt and the United States. In 2022, we also usher in a new era of exploration as we welcome our first expedition ship Viking Octantis to the fleet, with a second vessel, Viking Polaris on the way. A family-owned and operated business when it began, Viking remains a family-owned business to TO R S T E I N H AG E N , BA S E L , S W I T Z E R L A N D "When we founded Viking with four river vessels in 1997, we had a vision that travel could be more destination focused and culturally immersive." To r s t e i n H a g e n , C h a i r m a n , V i k i n g Viking River Cruises established by Torstein Hagen with the purchase of four Russian river ships 1998 With the purchase of KD River Cruises, Viking becomes the largest river cruise operator in Europe 2005 Viking is the first to use hybrid diesel electric engines 2012 1997 Viking purchases nine additional ships and expands operations into the rivers of Europe 2000 Viking introduces French balconies — the first river cruise line to do so 2009 Four state-of-the- art Viking Longships launched, with patented layout and largest river cruise suites in Europe 6