A Viking Has Conquered The Great Lakes
No, it’s not a burly, bearded guy wielding an ax but rather the brand new Viking Octantis cruise ship. This striking beauty has established her reign by capturing the bounty of nature in the majestic waters of the Great Lakes. Over the past 25 years Viking has established itself as a premier playe
Viking Takes Delivery of New Expedition Ship Viking Octantis
The first of two brand new adventure cruise ships from Viking is finally here and ready to begin sailing! Viking Octantis left Fincantieri’s VARD shipyard in Søviknes, Norway on December 23rd after a delivery ceremony held at the shipyard and will begin sailing with guests to Antarctica
Cruising on Viking Venus: Just What the Doctor Ordered
Never say never, I suppose, but I’d be stunned if anyone even caught a cold aboard a Viking Ocean ship, much less contracted COVID-19. I just returned from a 12-night Mediterranean Odyssey voyage aboard Viking Venus, the latest addition to Viking’s gorgeous series of identical 930-passenger, 47,
Choose Your Cruise – December 30, 2020
When the ball drops in Times Square this New Year’s Eve, make sure you’re tuned in to watch. It’s going to be a little bit different this year, but the spirit of the season remains. It seems like our collective New Year’s resolution for 2021 is to get out and do EVERYTH
South Seas Trifecta
In a land far, far away — from Porthole HQ, at least — lies the down under continent of Australia, flanked on the southeast by New Zealand and the petite island paradise of Fiji to the northeast. A marathon flight to these far-flung destinations may require diligent planning, but there is nothin
CRUISE RECIPE: Viking Cruises’ Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Hungry to Sail Again Before today’s lockdown, I’d open my fridge and find a bottle or two of wine, condiments representing every corner of the globe and maybe some sliced turkey or ham that I’d slap on a wrap when the dinner hour approached. Now, the shelves are groaning under the weight
CRUISE RECIPE: Viking’s Pastel de Nata
Hungry to Sail Again Today, I’m whipping up a sweet reminder of my glorious Viking Helgrim cruise down Portugal’s Douro River last summer. And I have all the ingredients on hand! The 262-foot, 106-passenger Viking Helgrim, is a baby longship, custom-built to navigate the short and narrow l
Choose Your Cruise – April 10, 2020
It’s choose your cruise time! Last week we posted some of our favorite expedition cruises from companies who are really pushing the boundaries between luxury and adventure. Today, we’re skipping the remote environments for river cruises all over the world. If you love sipping wine, learn
Cruise Lines Curate Virtual Cruise Experiences
Along with getting bigger and more luxurious, many new cruise ships are experimenting with virtual reality to enhance the passenger experience. Innovations like Royal Caribbean’s Sky Pad or the laser tag arena on the new Norwegian Encore aim to blend the real world with elements of virtual reality
Viking Mississippi River Cruise Ship Coming in 2022
Soon you won’t have to go far to experience the wonders of a Viking river cruise. The popular cruise line announced new itineraries for the Mississippi River upon the completion of their newest ship, Viking Mississippi, in 2022. The ship is currently in production at a shipyard in Louisiana and wi
Princess, Viking Cruises Halt Operation for 60 Days
Two of the world’s most recognizable cruise brands took major steps to help curb the spread of Coronavirus today. Princess Cruises and Viking Cruises have both announced they have halted all cruises for a 60-day period. Virgin Voyages has also delayed the maiden voyage of Scarlet Lady until S
The Beauties and Basics of a Baltics Cruise
Vikings, Teutonic Knights, and murderous czars ruled its capitals. Its dramatic buildings embody the finest elements of Neoclassical, Jugendstil, and Baroque styles. Few lines know the storied shores of the Baltic Sea like Viking Ocean Cruises, founded by Norwegian Torstein Hagen in 1997 as Viking R
River, Ocean, And Now — Viking Expeditions!
On January 16, less than two weeks after the glittering Golden Globes took place at the historic Beverly Hills Hilton, the hotel’s spotlight was shining on another award winner: Viking Cruises. Viking Chairman Torstein Hagen, while no Ricky Gervais (thank God), hosted an evening that was a dazzlin
The Judi’s Choice Awards 2019
The Monthly Mantra Judi’s Choice Awards … Judi’s Choice Awards … Judi’s Choice Awards … It’s time for the 2019 Judi’s Choice Awards! Unlike all those hum-drum “best-ofs” that tackle the obvious aspects of a cruise like dining, entertainment, and itineraries (anyone could do that)
Ship Review: Celestial Sailing on Viking Orion
It’s a special feeling to rise from a sound sleep, slide open the door and breathe the fresh morning air from your cruise ship balcony. Gazing out each day at a new destination that promises yet another chance for exploration. In fact, Viking Ocean Cruises thinks this is such a special part of
Viking Announces 2020-2021 World Cruise
Are you ready to relive the most fascinating wager in fiction? When Jules Verne wrote Around the World in 80 Days, the fiction trip he imagined was a perilous one. The one major gripe most have with the novel is the lack of time protagonist Phileas Fogg had to spend in each new place as […]
Castle from Downton Abbey Extends Partnership with Viking
Fans of the show Downton Abbey are no strangers to Highclere Castle. Just 60 miles west of London, Highclere has served as the show’s setting since it first premiered in 2010. Viking Cruises announced a new partnership with the castle which includes event sponsorships, shore excursions to the cast
From Sky to Sea, Viking Orion Named by NASA Astronaut
For NASA astronaut Dr. Anna Fisher, exploration is just part of the job. As a veteran of NASA’s Discovery space programs and the first mother to ever leave our atmosphere, Dr. Fisher’s list of accomplishments is hard to top. She’s also an accomplished chemist, emergency room physician and than
Viking Jupiter Float Out Honors Maritime Tradition
Viking Cruises strives to establish an intimate cruise experience for each and every guest. Their newest ship, Viking Jupiter, personifies that commitment in every way possible. Viking Jupiter recently reached a major building milestone as it was “floated out” for the first time since construct
Around the World in 245 Days With Viking Cruises (VIDEO)
All due respect to Jules Verne, but 80 days isn’t nearly enough time for a world cruise. Thanks to Viking Cruises, intrepid vacationers can now spend the better part of a year at sea enjoying everything from the cool mists of London to the extravagant hanging gardens of Mumbai. On May 1st, Viking&
