Free Republic

The Viking Neptune transformed into a cross-continental petri dish as more than 100 passengers onboard the cruise ship fell ill with the highly contagious norovirus this month. In a Tuesday update, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said 110 cruisers — more than 13% of the ship's 838 passengers — were affected by the gastrointestinal virus during the vessel's two-week trip from Iceland to New York, which ended Tuesday.

Norwegian officials are set to investigate why a cruise ship carrying more than 1,300 people set sail despite 'high risk' conditions and storm warnings, forcing an evacuation. More than 400 people had to be airlifted to safety from the stricken cruise ship Viking Sky after it suffered engine trouble off the Norwegian coast on Saturday and was seen listing at nearly 45 degrees. Norway's Accident Investigations Board said 'the high risk which the ship, its passengers and crew were exposed to made us decide to investigate the incident.' The company's owner apologised to guests for the ordeal while a Viking...

An American couple who were aboard a cruise ship that was violently rocked by massive waves and 50mph wind gusts recalled the terror they experienced as walls of water engulfed the vessel just off the coast of Norway. Rodney Horgen, 62, and Judy Lemieux, 66, of Deer River, Minnesota, were among several hundred passengers rescued from the Viking Sky, a 12-day luxury cruise along the Norwegian coast, on Saturday. Passengers described conditions as comparable to 'being on the Titanic' and feared they would drown as the ship was tossed around the Norwegian Sea. 'I tried to grab her, but I...

Norwegian newspaper VG said the Viking Sky cruise ship ran into propulsion problems as strong winds and heavy seas hit Norway’s coastal regions Saturday. Police in the western county of Moere og Romsdal said Saturday the ship has managed to moor in Hustadsvika Bay, between the western Norwegian cities of Alesund and Trondheim.

When Virgin Voyages announced last year that the cruise line’s first ship, to debut in 2020, would be for adults only, it surprised many in the industry. Cruises are typically marketed to families and boomers. Recent years have seen cruise ships add wild theme park-like attractions onboard, ranging from multi-story in-suite slides to go-kart tracks to indoor skydiving. Families are big business in the industry. Marketing the no-kids move as “Adult by Design,” Virgin Voyages, a joint venture between Richard Branson’s Virgin Group and private investment firm Bain Capital, looked to fill a void in the market. Virgin Voyages CEO...

Viking Cruises announced Tuesday it will launch the longest continuous world cruise itinerary in history with the new Ultimate World Cruise, which will span 245 days, six continents, 59 countries and 113 ports. The eight-month world cruise on the Viking Sun departs from London August 31, 2019, but travelers have the option to sail one of two shorter segments during the voyage. The shorter itineraries include Viking World Treasures, a 127-day sailing from London to Los Angeles that visits 33 countries and 61 ports, or Viking World Wonders, a 119-day journey from Los Angeles to London that visits 29...