WHAT DO VIKING'S GREAT LAKES SAILINGS & MISSISSIPPI RIVER DOCKING SPACE ACQUISITIONS PORTEND?
Viking has recently taken great strides towards establishing roots in the domestic cruise market. With recent announcements of their upcoming Great Lakes Expeditions itineraries, combined with Viking’s acquisition of a Davenport Iowa, Mississippi River docking space, Viking has maintained a strong lead in the cruise industry.
Viking (no longer Viking Cruise Lines due to a recent name change) continues its breathtaking expansion in the travel industry. In just a few short years they have attained total dominance with their River Cruise Segment, and are on their way to attaining the same in the small-ship ocean cruising category.
VIKING ANNOUNCES EXPEDITION SAILINGS
Best known for river cruises, Switzerland-based Viking with a fleet of 79 vessels last week said it was building two expedition ships, which will both serve the Antarctic.
The first 378-passenger Viking Octantis being built in Norway by Fincantieri’s Vard – also begins sailing the Great Lakes, visiting Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin and Canada’s Ontario province. The second expedition vessel, Viking Polaris, is due in August 2022 and will sail both polar regions.
Now with their announced Expedition Itineraries, including forays into Anarctica, The Arctic as well as the Great Lakes regions, this will be another box to check in their expansion plans.
“The Great Lakes are a phenomenal destination in the world,” and they are underserved by cruise lines, Viking Chairman, Torstein Hagen said in announcing the new vessels.
US RIVERBOAT MARKET
U.S. coastal and inland river overnight cruising has boomed in recent years with U.S. based lines such as American Cruise Lines building or refurbishing vessels for the voyages.
When Viking first talked about the U.S. market it said it would build vessels similar to its Longships used in Europe rather than the more traditional paddle-wheelers.
A December 2019 announcement of the 20 year docking space agreement at River Heritage Park, Davenport, Iowa has paved the way for river boat access as early as 2022. The approval notes Viking has received “its necessary permitting to navigate on U.S. waterways.”
It is with great pride, that we at Cruisin’ With Ted, were able to foresee the breadth and vision of Viking’s leader and visionary, Mr. Hagen, long before others quickly got on the band wagon. With the original Viking Facebook Group, combined with our endless blogging, we feel we have garnered a very rewarding partnership with Viking.
Without debt accumulation or having to refurbish other seafaring hand-me-downs, Viking has managed to leave all other competitors, literally, in their wake. We here at Cruisin’ With Ted salute Viking for their many accomplishments so far and the ones yet to be attained.
