Viking Cruises is majority controlled by founder Torstein Hagen through publicly traded parent company Viking Holdings Ltd.
Hagen and his daughter Karine Hagen together hold a controlling economic and voting stake in the company following its May 2024 stock market listing.
Viking itself is known for destination focused river and ocean cruises built for adults, with a calm, culturally rich onboard atmosphere.
The brand avoids water slides, casinos, and children under eighteen, instead emphasizing history, art, and included shore excursions.
Viking Holdings is a major force in global cruising, with operating headquarters in Basel, Switzerland, and marketing headquarters in Los Angeles, California.
The company operates one of the largest river cruise fleets in the world alongside a fast growing ocean and expedition division.
Have you ever wondered how a Norwegian entrepreneur who once ran a rival cruise line built Viking into a public company still worth more than half of his after listing on the New York Stock Exchange?
In this guide we will cover who owns Viking Cruises, how ownership is split since its 2024 initial public offering, who leads the company, and what the brand is best known for.
Lets take a closer look.
Table of Contents
What Is Viking Cruises?
Viking Cruises is a destination focused cruise line best known for river cruising in Europe, alongside a growing ocean and expedition fleet.
The company was founded in 1997 by Norwegian entrepreneur Torstein Hagen, who previously helped build rival line Royal Viking Line.
Viking began with four small river vessels purchased in Russia and has since grown into one of the largest river cruise operators anywhere.
The company markets itself primarily toward English speaking travelers over the age of fifty five who want cultural enrichment rather than large scale entertainment.
Who Owns Viking Cruises?
Viking Cruises operates under publicly traded parent company Viking Holdings Ltd, which listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol VIK in May 2024.
Founder Torstein Hagen remains the controlling owner, holding the position of Chairman after previously serving as Chief Executive Officer.
His daughter Karine Hagen also holds an executive role and a meaningful ownership stake, keeping control firmly within the founding family even after the company went public.
Publicly traded parent company (NYSE: VIK)
Founder and Executive Chairman, controlling shareholder
Chief Executive Officer, Viking Holdings
Executive Vice President, family shareholder
Is Viking Cruises Publicly Traded or Privately Owned?
Viking Holdings is publicly traded, not privately owned, following its initial public offering on May 1, 2024.
Shares trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol VIK, and the offering ranked among the largest United States stock market debuts of that year.
Even after going public, the Hagen family retained a majority economic stake and the large majority of voting power in the company.
Who Are The Largest Shareholders Of Viking Holdings?
Founder Torstein Hagen and his family are by far the largest shareholders of Viking Holdings.
Based on disclosures made around the 2024 public offering, the following groups held some of the largest stakes in the company.
| Shareholder | Approximate Economic Stake |
| Torstein Hagen and Hagen family interests | Approximately 53 percent |
| Canada Pension Plan Investment Board | Approximately 14 percent |
| TPG Capital | Approximately 14 percent |
| Other public shareholders | Remaining balance |
These figures shift with every filing, so investors should always check the most recent proxy statement for exact current numbers.
Who Founded Viking Cruises?
Viking Cruises was founded in 1997 by Torstein Hagen in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
Hagen had previously served as an executive at Royal Viking Line, a rival cruise brand, before starting his own river cruise company.
He purchased four small river vessels to launch the business and has remained the driving force behind Viking ever since.
Viking Fleet And Expansion
Viking operates one of the largest river cruise fleets in the world, with dozens of nearly identical Viking Longships sailing across Europe.
The ocean division includes Star class ships carrying roughly 930 guests each, a small size compared with mainstream ocean lines.
An expedition division launched in 2022 with Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris, aimed at polar and remote destination travel.
Where Does Viking Cruise?
Viking river ships sail primarily across Europe, including the Rhine, Danube, Seine, and Douro rivers.
The ocean fleet sails worldwide itineraries, including the Mediterranean, Caribbean, and long transoceanic crossings.
The expedition division focuses on polar regions including Antarctica and the Arctic, alongside other remote coastal destinations.
What Is Viking Known For?
Viking is best known for its calm, adult only onboard atmosphere and included cultural excursions at nearly every port.
Ships avoid water slides, casinos, and formal nights, favoring understated Scandinavian design instead.
The brand has built a large following through sponsorship of public television programming aimed at an older, well traveled audience.
How Does Viking Compare With Other Cruise Lines?
Viking ranks among the largest river cruise operators in the world, well ahead of most competitors in that category.
Compared with mainstream ocean lines like Royal Caribbean or Carnival, Viking ships are far smaller and carry no children under eighteen.
Compared with luxury lines like Regent Seven Seas, Viking generally prices closer to the premium tier while still including many shore excursions in the fare.
Customer Service And Official Contact Information
Guests with booking questions or onboard concerns should start with Viking official channels rather than third party booking sites.
The official website is vikingcruises.com, which lists current phone support, live chat, and travel advisor resources.
For background on how other cruise companies are structured, see WhoMakeThis guide to who owns Royal Caribbean and the related breakdown of who owns Celebrity Cruises.
Frequently Asked Questions About Viking Cruises
Who owns Viking Cruises?
Viking Cruises operates under publicly traded Viking Holdings Ltd, which is majority controlled by founder Torstein Hagen and his family.
Is Viking Cruises publicly traded?
Yes. Viking Holdings began trading on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol VIK on May 1, 2024, in one of the largest United States stock offerings of that year.
General cruise industry standards are set by the Cruise Lines International Association at cruising.org.
Who founded Viking Cruises?
Viking Cruises was founded in 1997 by Norwegian entrepreneur Torstein Hagen, who previously worked at rival line Royal Viking Line.
Does Viking Cruises allow children onboard?
No. Viking does not accept guests under the age of eighteen, keeping the onboard atmosphere focused on adult travelers.
Additional company history is available on Wikipedia.
I am Jack Neel, a mechanical engineer, researcher, and writer. I created this website to share my knowledge about different brands and products with you. I research the manufacturers behind the brands and provide you with the information you need to make smart buying decisions.