LOS ANGELES, 27 May 2026: Viking® has announced its 2028-2029 World Cruise itineraries, including a 142-day Viking World Cruise on board Viking Vesta®, according to the official press release. The itinerary is scheduled to depart Fort Lauderdale on 21 December 2028 and end in London on 12 May 2029.
The 142-day voyage will cover six continents and 31 countries. It will include 62 guided tours in separate ports of call and overnight calls in 16 cities. Viking said the itinerary has been designed to combine major cities with smaller destinations across a single extended journey.
“Our approach has always been to focus on the destination,” said Torstein Hagen, Executive Chairman of Viking. “Our World Cruises are thoughtfully designed for curious travellers who have the time and desire to experience dozens of phenomenal destinations around the globe in one seamless journey.”
Global itinerary to include six continents
Across the voyage, guests will have the opportunity to visit up to 45 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The itinerary will also include ports in Southeast Asia and Africa before the ship continues towards Europe.
The Viking World Cruise will include a transit of the Panama Canal before continuing along the West Coast of North America. The ship will then cross the Pacific Ocean, with calls including Hawaii, French Polynesia, New Zealand and Australia.
Viking said the programme will feature both larger cultural centres and smaller ports that allow guests to engage with local communities and daily life. Overnight stays are planned in ports including Sydney, Singapore, Zanzibar, Cape Town and Casablanca.
Extended and shorter voyage choices
In addition to the 142-day Viking World Cruise, Viking is offering several related itinerary options for the 2028-2029 season.
Guests who want to extend the journey may book the 170-day Viking World Voyage III. This itinerary continues from London and adds 21 ports across Northern Europe and Scandinavia before concluding in Stockholm.
The cruise line is also offering Viking World Voyage IV, a 153-day sailing from Los Angeles to Stockholm. This voyage will visit 37 countries.
A shorter option, Viking World Discoveries, will run for 125 days. It departs from Los Angeles, visits 27 countries and ends in London.
Included excursions will be available as part of the itinerary, offering guests access to local culture, traditions and communities. Viking also listed optional excursions for travellers seeking more detailed destination experiences.
Enrichment and shore programme
Viking said the onboard programme will include cultural enrichment through lectures and entertainment. This includes the Viking Resident Historian® programme, which is designed to provide historical and cultural context linked to the voyage.
These optional shore programmes include Local Life, Working World and Privileged Access® experiences at selected cultural institutions. Viking said World Cruise guests will also be able to book optional multi-day overland excursions, allowing them to travel further inland before rejoining the ship at a later port.
Examples listed by the company include a six-day Uluru & Great Barrier Reef Overland excursion in Australia, a six-day India’s Golden Triangle Overland excursion covering landmarks such as the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and Jaipur, and a five-day Kruger National Park Overland excursion focused on wildlife viewing.
Fleet and company information
Viking operates a fleet of more than 100 ships across rivers, oceans and expedition itineraries. The company’s ships sail on 21 rivers, five oceans and all seven continents.
The company said it has received more than 450 awards. It has been rated number one for Rivers and number one for Oceans by Condé Nast Traveler for five consecutive years in the 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards. Viking has also been rated a “World’s Best” by Travel + Leisure.
Viking Vesta® was recently named to Condé Nast Traveler’s 2026 Hot List. The company was also named to TIME’s 2026 TIME100 Most Influential Companies list.50.
Source: Official announcement by MSC Cruises on 27 May, 2026
