Viking has formally welcomed seven river vessels at a naming ceremony in Amsterdam, taking its fleet to 109 ships and consolidating its position as the world's largest cruise operator by vessel count. Its nearest competitor on that measure, Carnival Corporation, operates 92 ships across eight brands. Nevertheless, Viking carries significantly fewer passengers annually than Carnival Corporation and Royal Caribbean Group because its vessels are considerably smaller.
Four additions — Viking Rota, Viking Haki, Viking Halogi and Viking Sjofn — will serve the Rhine, Main and Danube. Viking Ptah and Viking Sekhmet will operate on Egypt's Nile, while Viking Fjolvar will sail France's Seine. Only Rota and Haki, each accommodating 190 passengers, attended the ceremony in Amsterdam. Video links connected the event with the vessels elsewhere. Bottles of Norwegian spirits were broken against their hulls, reflecting the company's Norwegian heritage.
The expansion brings Viking's fleet to 94 river ships, 13 conventional ocean ships and two expedition vessels. In 2012, it operated just 29 river ships and no ocean ships. Its adults-only cruises exclude passengers under 18 and primarily target travellers aged 55 and above; many sailings attract mostly retirees. The destination-focused itineraries offer extended port stays and included tours at every port, while expert lecturers provide commentary aboard its ocean ships. Further expansion is planned: Viking has 36 river ships on order or under option for delivery by 2032, alongside 17 ocean ships under equivalent arrangements for delivery by 2034.
