Watch this space! Only the tiniest hint of what's to come was announced this week, with more to come over the coming weeks and months.
For years, Viking River Cruises was the world's most popular river cruise company, with their signature longships and in-house staffing - they started with itineraries in Russian waters and quickly became a staple throughout Europe.
Viking announced their foray into ocean cruising in 2013 and their inaugural season with the Viking Star in 2015 led to a sweep of awards. Their 6 sister ships hold so many industry awards at this time it's ridiculous. I had the pleasure of inspecting the Viking Sky in 2017, the ships are beautifully appointed, like visiting a relative's home in Norway while floating across the seas. Incredible.
This week, Viking finally announced their long-awaited foray into the waters of North America's interior, starting with the Great Lakes.
I don't yet have official imagery to share, but the expedition vessels look amazing! Expect only a few hundred cabins, meaning a smaller ship to fit into smaller ports of call and a more intimate experience on board.
Details about destinations and itineraries are yet to emerge, but the ships will be part of their expedition fleet and set to debut in January of 2022 with the Viking Octanis.
Expect another vessel that August, with Great Lakes itineraries scheduled to include Detroit, Duluth, Milwaukee, Sault Ste Marie, Thundery Bay, and... Toronto!