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Viking Holdings is the luxury cruise operator that likes to say no.
A 16-point list details what isn’t allowed on its river and ocean ships, including children, umbrella drinks and casinos. Travelers will find few trips through the Caribbean, a popular destination among other cruise operators. And instead of trying to wow travelers with flashy new features, Viking sticks with its classic designs when rolling out new ships.
Viking executives say the company’s strictness on what its vacations will and will not be helps keep ships full in the face of new competition in the river space and a sea of larger, kid-friendly boats teeming with entertainment and rides.
Guests on Viking ships attend lectures about their trip’s destinations from resident historians and listen to classical music. Rather than pool parties and waterslides, a Viking cruiser steps into quieter pools and snow grottos, small glass-enclosed rooms filled with man-made snow.
“There are very successful floating entertainment palaces,” said Chief Executive Tor Hagen, referring to other cruise operators. “We are really a place where we take grown-ups to interesting places, where they can continue to educate themselves.”
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