Viking Unveils 2028-29 Ocean Cruise Season and New Ships

The Viking Vela cruise ship in a port
Cruise Industry
by Sam Hamilton

Viking has announced details of its 2028-29 ocean cruise program, featuring 80 itineraries that will visit 301 ports across 84 countries on six continents.

The newly released schedule covers sailings from May 2028 through September 2029, with voyages spanning Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, North America, Alaska, South America, Australia and the Caribbean.

A key highlight of the season is the introduction of two new ocean ships, Viking Leda and Viking Vega. Each vessel will accommodate 998 guests, with Viking Leda scheduled to enter service in December 2028 and *Viking Vega *following in June 2029.

The deployment also introduces two brand-new itineraries: the 15-day “Alaskan Fjords & the Inside Passage” voyage and the 16-day “Mediterranean, Malta & North Africa” cruise.

The new Alaska itinerary will sail between Vancouver and Whittier aboard Viking Orion and Viking Venus. Alongside established destinations such as Ketchikan, Wrangell, Haines, Juneau, Icy Strait Point, Valdez, Homer, Seward and Kodiak, the voyage will introduce two first-time ports for the cruise line: Klawock and Yakutat Bay.

Meanwhile, the new “Mediterranean, Malta & North Africa” itinerary includes an overnight stay in Valletta, Malta, giving guests additional time to explore the UNESCO World Heritage city.

Viking is also expanding its Asia program by adding more departures of its recently launched “Japan Discovery” itinerary. The cruise line said the decision follows strong early demand for the roundtrip Tokyo voyage. The 15-day itinerary offers travelers the chance to experience the “timeless traditions and vibrant cities of Japan” while visiting nine destinations. The additional sailings are scheduled for the summers of 2028 and 2029 aboard Viking Neptune.

The 2028-29 season will also feature three additional newbuilds currently under construction at Fincantieri: Viking Libra, Viking Astrea and Viking Lyra. The 998-passenger ships are expected to enter service between 2026 and 2028.