In a nod to family history, Paps Explorers’ Lounge bar on the Viking Polaris is named for Torstein Hagen’s father.  Torstein is the chairman of Viking.

From his family’s little red house in Nittedal, Norway, Paps became a CPA by correspondence course. Every day, he bicycled from his home to the historic Rotnes Bruk estate where he applied his accounting skills. Read more...

Viking is celebrating the start of its third season in the Great Lakes with both of its identical expedition ships, the Viking Octantis and the Viking Polaris, now deployed in the region.

“The Great Lakes region is a phenomenal place that is close to home for many of our guests, but one that few have yet to fully discover,” Torstein Hagen, chairman and CEO of Viking, said in a news release. Read more...

Destination-inspired cocktails by notable mixologists are now helping Holland America Line’s guests enjoy more regional tastes. Creating the tasty drinks are Sam Ross for Alaska cruises and Tess Posthumus for European cruises.

“Sam and Tess bring an exciting dimension to our beverage offerings, adding a new element in the cocktail space on sailings to two of our most popular regions,” Drew Foulk, Holland America Line’s senior manager of beverage operation and dining innovation, said in a news release. Read more...

MSC will be expanding its presence at Port Canaveral with a second ship. MSC Grandiosa will double vacation options from Central Florida beginning in December of 2025. MSC Grandiosa will be joining guest-favorite MSC Seashore.

“The winter 2025-2026 season will mark our largest presence in the U.S. to date, and our expansion at Port Canaveral is a big part of that,” Rubén A. Rodriguez, president, MSC Cruises USA, said in a news release. Read more...

The Nile River will soon have a new ship for Egyptian cruising passengers. The 82-guest Viking Sobek has been “floated out,” marking a major construction milestone and the first time the ship has touched water.

“Egypt has always captivated curious travelers with its rich culture and history, and it continues to be a destination of interest for our guests,” Torstein Hagen, chairman and CEO of Viking, said in a news release. Read more...

Pablo Picasso was an artistic genius. His astounding legacy includes more than 148,500 works – paintings, sculptures, ceramics and illustrations. He even authored books and wrote two plays.

But Picasso was also a very superstitious man. A rarity among artists, Picasso became quite wealthy during his lifetime. Read more...

When Viking cruise founder Torstein Hagen was a child, he called his beloved mother “Mamsen.” His hard-working mother Ragnhild Hagen’s kitchen was a family safe harbor in any storm.

Now Mamsen’s on the Viking Polaris is a loving tribute to the family matriarch serving food that Torstein Hagen enjoyed as a child. It’s a good spot to enjoy a light breakfast or Nordic lunch buffet or afternoon snack. Read more...

When I was a little girl, one of my favorite dresses had a pattern of blue poodle dogs with golden leashes surrounded by a smattering of pink hearts. I thought it was beautiful. One of my elderly neighbors said it was “quite gaudy.”

To me, that was a compliment. Figured it was just another way of describing my twirly dress as pretty. Mom told me the truth. But I still figured it was a different way of admiring my fashion. To each her own. Read more...

By Jackie Sheckler Finch

Fifty years ago, American Cruise Lines started when Carol and Charles A. Robinson ran a tiny operation on the Connecticut River.

“My mom managed the ticket booth, while my dad ran the boat on hour-long sightseeing excursions,” Charles B. Robertson, president and CEO of American Cruise Lines said in a press release. “I recall well the small East Coast operation that defined so much of my childhood.” Read more...