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. For more than 28 years our 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 journeys, then we reinvented ocean voyages with the launch of our award-winning small ship voyages and then we perfected expedition voyages, with our, state-of-the-art expedition ships, Viking Octantis, and Viking Polaris. 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 , T R I ES T E , I TA LY "From the beginning, we have chosen to do things differently. We remain committed to that philosophy as we continue to welcome more curious travellers to experience the Viking way of exploration around the world." 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 established in 1997 by Torstein Hagen with four river ships. Nine additional river ships purchased in 1998 and operations expand across Europe. 2000 Viking launches four new state- of-the-art Viking Longships. 2015 After its first year of ocean operations, Viking is named #1 Ocean Line by readers of Travel + Leisure. 2017- 2019 1997 -1998 Viking purchases KD River Cruises and becomes the largest river cruise operator in Europe. 2012 Viking launches Viking Ocean Voyages with Viking Star christened in Bergen, Norway. 2016 Viking adds four new ocean vessels, taking the fleet to six ships and making Viking the largest small ship ocean cruise line. 6 | For pricing, availability and more details visit viking.com

• Cover