Viking Cruises has won three top awards in the cruise section of USA Today‘s recent 10Best 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards.
Viking was ranked Best River Cruise Line, Best Ocean Cruise Line, Best Alaska Cruise and Best Cruise Line for Shore Excursions.
In addition, Viking’s ocean ships, the Viking Mars and the Viking Star received individual honours for Best Adults-Only Cruise and Best Cruise Ship for Dining, respectively.
“We are honoured to be recognised by USA TODAY readers for both our river and ocean voyages,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman and CEO of Viking. “We have always done things differently in the travel industry—we focus on the destination, and we do not try to be all things to all people. These awards are a testament to the hard work and dedication of the entire Viking family across our fleet.”
The announcement adds to a growing list of accolades for Viking. Viking was rated number one for Oceans and number one for Rivers by Condé Nast Traveler for the fifth consecutive year in its 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards.
Viking is also rated a “World’s Best” by Travel + Leisure—no other travel company has simultaneously received such honours by both publications. Additional recognition includes eight awards in Cruise Critic’s 2025 Best in Cruise Awards and, for the fifth year in a row, top rankings from U.S. News & World Report as “Best Luxury Line,” “Best Line for Couples,” and “Best Line in the Mediterranean.” Viking also earned AOL’s Best Cruise Line for 2025 and continues to receive “Recommended” ratings for its ocean ships in Forbes Travel Guide.
