Viking® has once again earned top honors from readers of Travel + Leisure, who named the brand a “World’s Best” across its river, ocean, and expedition cruise offerings in the 2025 World’s Best Awards. Viking took the #1 spot for Expeditions for the second year in a row—maintaining its leading position since becoming eligible in that category—and also received high praise as one of the world’s top river and ocean cruise lines. In a rare distinction, Viking is also rated #1 for Rivers, Oceans, and Expeditions by readers of Condé Nast Traveler, making it the only travel company to receive such recognition from both publications simultaneously.
The Travel + Leisure World’s Best Awards, now celebrating their 30th year, spotlight excellence in global travel as determined by reader feedback. Since 1995, the annual survey has invited travelers to evaluate cruise lines based on criteria such as accommodations, dining, service, destination itineraries, shore excursions, and overall value.
“This honor reflects the dedication of our entire global team,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman and CEO of Viking. “Since day one, we’ve chosen to chart our own course in the cruise industry, and we remain committed to offering thoughtful, enriching experiences for curious travelers around the world.”
The accolades don’t stop there. Viking has also earned multiple distinctions in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best Cruise Lines, including Best Luxury Line, Best for Couples, and Best in the Mediterranean—each for the fourth year running. Viking’s ocean fleet was also “Recommended” in the 2024 Forbes Travel Guide Star Awards, a prestigious evaluation of top-tier hospitality brands. Additionally, Cruise Critic recognized Viking with seven wins in its 2024 Best in Cruise Awards, spanning Luxury (Ocean), River, and Expedition categories.
