VIK

Viking Holdings Ltd

A cruise line that sails river and ocean ships to destinations around the world, with an adults-only policy and a focus on cultural enrichment rather than casinos and big shows. It was founded in 1997 by Norwegian Torstein Hagen, a former Royal Viking Line executive, who started with four refurbished river ships in St. Petersburg, Russia. At its ship-naming ceremonies, a godmother uses a historic Viking broadaxe to cut a ribbon that releases a bottle of Norwegian aquavit against the hull.