Earlier this year – on March 11, 2020 – Viking Chairman Torstein Hagen announced that the company would be the first cruise line to immediately suspend all operations in the wake of COVID-19. Today, he has announced the company is cancelling all cruises through December 31.
In a statement Viking Chairman Thorsten Hagen announced the cruise line is extending its suspension of operations and cancelling all scheduled departures through the end of the year. Mr. Hagen said: ¨Recent events have shown us that the recovery from this pandemic will be sporadic, and the ability to travel freely across borders remains some time away. As keen as we may be to get back to exploring, for now, international travel must wait.¨
¨As a private, closely-held company, Viking does not have to rush the decision to return to service and we will only sail again when it is safe to do so,¨ he added.
Also read: Crystal cancels all ocean, river and yacht voyages through December 2020
Viking Cruises operates 74 river ships in Europe, Russia, Asia and Egypt, and six ocean-going ships worldwide.
Just last week, the company celebrated its 23rd anniversary. In 2021 the cruise line will continue the expansion of our fleet with the launch of Viking Venus, the seventh ocean ship. The company will also launch a new vessel on the Mekong, Viking Saigon, which will set a new standard for modern river cruising in Southeast Asia.
In 2022, Viking will welcome its new expedition vessels, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris, which will explore Antarctica, the Arctic and North America’s Great Lakes – and Viking Mississippi, the company´s first ship on an American river. Additionally Viking will welcome its eighth ocean ship, Viking Mars, in 2022.