Viking Cruises

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 in 1997 with four river ships, 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 voyage. In 2022 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 ships over 80 strong. First, we set the standard for modern river cruises, then we reinvented ocean cruises with the launch of our award-winning small ship voyages. Now we are perfecting expedition voyages, with our new, state-of-the-art expedition ships, Viking Octantis, and Viking Polaris on the way. A family-owned and operated business when we began, Viking remains a family-owned business to this day, with Tor ensuring his original vivid Viking vision is upheld with each passing year. TO R S T E I N H AG E N W I T H V I K I N G O C TA N T I S "When we started Viking 25 years ago, we wanted to do things differently – and since then, our mission has resonated with curious travellers." To r s t e i n H a g e n , V i k i n g C h a i r m a n Viking River Cruises established by Torstein Hagen with the purchase of four river ships 1998 With the purchase of KD River Cruises, Viking becomes the largest river cruise operator in Europe 2005 Four state-of-the- art Viking Longships launched, with patented layout and largest river cruise suites in Europe 2015 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 2012 Launch of Viking ocean cruising with Viking Star christened in Bergen, Norway 6

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