Viking’s purpose-built fleet, engineered for efficiency, consistency and guest experience, helped serve as a driver of the company’s strong financial results in 2025, according to remarks made by Founder and Chairman Torstein Hagen during the company’s fourth-quarter and year-end earnings call.

On the ocean side, Viking operates one of the youngest fleets in the cruise industry, he said.

Hagen credited the ships’ efficient design with eliminating wasted space and excess weight, which in turn maximizes both guest comfort and fuel efficiency.

The vessels are equipped with closed-loop scrubbers, allowing Viking to use more cost-efficient fuel grades and better manage fuel costs.

Streamlined onboard operations also allow the company to run with leaner crew complements without compromising service standards, Hagen added.

For river operations, Viking’s ships represent a proprietary design tailored specifically to European waterways.

Hagen highlighted features such as a hull design that enables three full passenger decks, accommodating more guests than the average European river vessel and improving  profitability.

The river segment also benefits from fixed-price fuel contracts covering a significant portion of the 2026 season.

A key differentiator Hagen stressed is fleet interchangeability. Viking’s ships are largely indistinguishable to guests, meaning passenger loyalty is tied to the Viking brand rather than any vessel.

This allows older ships to achieve yields comparable to newer ones, even as the fleet continues to expand.

On capital returns, Hagen pointed to payback periods of five to six years for ocean ships and four to five years for river vessels.