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Viking Announces 2028-2029 World Cruise Itineraries

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Viking Announces 2028-2029 World Cruise Itineraries
Business

Business

Viking Announces 2028-2029 World Cruise Itineraries

2026-05-28 04:30 Last Updated At:04:40

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 27, 2026--

Viking ® ( www.viking.com ) (NYSE: VIK) today announced its 2028-2029 World Cruise itineraries, including the 142-day Viking World Cruise, on board the elegant Viking Vesta®. Departing Fort Lauderdale on December 21, 2028, the itinerary spans six continents and 31 countries, featuring 62 guided tours in distinct ports of call and overnight stays in 16 cities, before concluding in London on May 12, 2029.

This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260527093402/en/

“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 travelers who have the time and desire to experience dozens of phenomenal destinations around the globe in one seamless journey.”

Viking’s 2028-2029 World Cruise itineraries combine many of the world’s most iconic cities with lesser-known destinations and culturally rich ports of call across one continuous global journey. Guests can transit the famed Panama Canal, journey along the West Coast of North America and cross the Pacific Ocean to explore destinations including Hawaii, French Polynesia, New Zealand and Australia, with opportunities to visit up to 45 UNESCO World Heritage Sites throughout the journey. The voyages also call on ports throughout Southeast Asia and Africa—with opportunities for wildlife safari excursions—before concluding in Europe. Along the way, guests enjoy access to both celebrated cultural capitals and smaller destinations that offer a deeper connection to local life.

Guests on Viking’s World Cruises will enjoy overnight stays in world-renowned ports such as Sydney, Singapore, Zanzibar, Cape Town and Casablanca, allowing for more in-depth exploration. Those wishing to extend their journey may choose the 170-day Viking World Voyage III, which continues from London and includes 21 additional ports of call across Northern Europe and Scandinavia before concluding in Stockholm. Viking also offers additional voyage options, including the 153-day Viking World Voyage IV, which sails from Los Angeles to Stockholm and visits 37 countries, as well as the shorter 125-day Viking World Discoveries voyage, which departs from Los Angeles, visits 27 countries and concludes in London.

While on board, Viking offers extensive cultural enrichment through onboard lectures and entertainment, including the Viking Resident Historian ® program, which provides guests with a high-level historical and cultural education specific to their journey. Guests can immerse themselves in the world’s cultures during included excursions that provide unmatched insight into daily life and opportunities to connect with local culture, traditions and communities. For those seeking a deeper understanding of the destination, optional excursions provide in-depth experiences that range from behind-the-scenes access to Local Life and the Working World, as well as Privileged Access ® experiences at cultural institutions that are not available to the general public. Viking also offers World Cruise guests the unique opportunity for optional multi-day overland excursions to explore the region further inland before rejoining the ship at a later port. Guests can choose a variety of overland excursions, including the six-day Uluru & Great Barrier Reef Overland excursion to admire Australia’s natural wonders; a six-day India’s Golden Triangle Overland excursion to experience the famed landmarks of the country including the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort and the “Pink City” of Jaipur; or the five-day Kruger National Park Overland excursion in search of Africa’s “Big 5.”

Viking’s Award-Winning Fleet

Viking continues to receive top honors from leading travel publications and industry organizations around the world. Viking was recently named to TIME’s 2026 TIME100 Most Influential Companies list, recognizing companies making an extraordinary impact around the world. Viking was also rated #1 for Oceans and #1 for Rivers by Condé Nast Traveler for the fifth consecutive year in the 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards. In addition, Viking was named “World’s Best” by Travel + Leisure —no other travel company has simultaneously received such honors by both publications. Recently, the Viking Vesta® was also named to Condé Nast Traveler’s 2026 Hot List. Additional recognition includes ranking #1 in seven categories in USA TODAY 10BEST 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards, earning top honors from Southern Living for both its river and ocean voyages in the publication’s 2026 cruise rankings, receiving eight awards in Cruise Critic’s 2025 Best in Cruise Awards and, for the fifth year in a row, earning 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.

Booking Details

From now through May 31, 2026, Viking is offering North American travelers special savings on 2028-2029 World Cruises, including free business class airfare and transfers, a $4,000 per couple shore excursion credit, a $4,000 per couple shipboard credit for returning guests, complimentary Silver Spirits Beverage Package and more. Plus, guests can enjoy a limited-time reduced deposit of 10%. As always, Viking Inclusive Value also features one complimentary shore excursion in each port, complimentary access to The Nordic Spa & Fitness Center, free Wi-Fi and more. Guests who pay in full early may also enjoy additional savings. Call Viking toll free at 1-800-2-VIKING (1-800-284-5464) or contact a travel advisor for booking details.

Media Assets

For more information about Viking, or for images and b-roll, please contact vikingpr@edelman.com.

About Viking

Viking (NYSE: VIK) is a global leader in experiential travel with a fleet of more than 100 ships, exploring 21 rivers, five oceans and all seven continents. Designed for curious travelers with interests in science, history, culture and cuisine, Executive Chairman Torstein Hagen often says Viking offers experiences For The Thinking Person™. Viking has more than 450 awards to its name, including being rated #1 for Rivers and #1 for Oceans five years in a row by Condé Nast Traveler in the 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards. Viking is also rated a “World’s Best” by Travel + Leisure —no other travel company has simultaneously received such honors by both publications. For additional information, contact Viking at 1-800-2-VIKING (1-800-284-5464) or visit www.viking.com.

Viking today announced its 2028-2029 World Cruise itineraries, offering guests a seamless voyage across six continents with opportunities to visit up to 45 UNESCO World Heritage Sites along the way. Pictured here, a Viking ocean ship in Sydney, Australia—one of the overnight destinations during the World Cruise itineraries. For more information, visit www.viking.com.

Viking today announced its 2028-2029 World Cruise itineraries, offering guests a seamless voyage across six continents with opportunities to visit up to 45 UNESCO World Heritage Sites along the way. Pictured here, a Viking ocean ship in Sydney, Australia—one of the overnight destinations during the World Cruise itineraries. For more information, visit www.viking.com.

Viking today announced its 2028-2029 World Cruise itineraries, including the Viking World Cruise, which will offer a seamless voyage across six continents over 142 days, visiting 31 countries with 62 guided tours and overnight stays in 16 cities. Pictured here, a map of the route and ports of call planned for the Viking World Cruise itinerary. For more information, visit www.viking.com.

Viking today announced its 2028-2029 World Cruise itineraries, including the Viking World Cruise, which will offer a seamless voyage across six continents over 142 days, visiting 31 countries with 62 guided tours and overnight stays in 16 cities. Pictured here, a map of the route and ports of call planned for the Viking World Cruise itinerary. For more information, visit www.viking.com.

Viking today announced its 2028-2029 World Cruise itineraries, including the 142-day Viking World Cruise spanning six continents and 31 countries, with 62 guided tours and overnight stays in 16 cities and opportunities to visit up to 45 UNESCO World Heritage Sites along the journey. Pictured here, a Viking ocean ship in London, England—one of the overnight destinations during the World Cruise itineraries. For more information, visit www.viking.com.

Viking today announced its 2028-2029 World Cruise itineraries, including the 142-day Viking World Cruise spanning six continents and 31 countries, with 62 guided tours and overnight stays in 16 cities and opportunities to visit up to 45 UNESCO World Heritage Sites along the journey. Pictured here, a Viking ocean ship in London, England—one of the overnight destinations during the World Cruise itineraries. For more information, visit www.viking.com.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The final sentencing in the 2 1/2-year investigation and prosecution following the drug death of Matthew Perry will be of the personal assistant who sat at the center of the entire affair, buying the ketamine that would cause the death of the “Friends” star and injecting him with the lethal dose.

Kenneth Iwamasa, 60, is set to be sentenced Wednesday in the Los Angeles federal courtroom of Judge Sherilyn Peace Garnett, who has sentenced four of his co-defendants in the past year.

He was the first of them to reach a deal with prosecutors, pleading guilty in August 2024 to one count of conspiracy to distribute ketamine resulting in death. Wednesday will be his first court appearance since the case became public knowledge.

Iwamasa became the most important witness for the prosecution. They are asking Garnett to sentence him to three years and five months in prison, significantly less than what he might have faced without cooperating, but still more than all but one of his co-defendants.

Iwamasa’s lawyers said in a court filing that he was an employee doing his employer's bidding and had a “particular vulnerability” in his relationship to Perry. “In short, he could not ‘simply say no.’ That inability had tragic consequences.”

Perry's family members, some of whom may speak in court, made it clear in letters to the judge that there is no one they blame for his death more than Iwamasa — a longtime friend they thought would help the actor maintain sobriety but instead indulged the worst impulses of a lifelong addict.

“Mathew trusted Kenny. We trusted Kenny. Kenny’s most important job — by far — was to be my son’s companion and guardian in his fight against addiction,” wrote Perry's mother, Suzanne Morrison. “We trusted a man without a conscience, and my son paid the price.”

Perry had hired Iwamasa in 2022, and he was paying him $150,000 a year to live at his Los Angeles home and act as his assistant.

The actor had been taking the surgical anesthetic ketamine legally for depression, an increasingly common off-label use. But he wanted more than his doctor would give him.

According to Iwamasa's plea agreement, he bought off-the-books ketamine from another doctor, Salvador Plasencia, who taught him how to inject it. Plasencia was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison in July.

Iwamasa also began buying ketamine from Perry acquaintance Erik Fleming, who was getting it from a street dealer. Fleming was sentenced to two years in prison two weeks ago.

The dealer, Jasveen Sangha, dubbed “The Ketamine Queen,” was sentenced to 15 years on April 8.

In the final days of Perry's life, Iwamasa was injecting him six to eight times per day. On Oct. 23, 2023, he shot the 54-year-old actor full of a large dose and left to run errands. He returned to find Perry dead in the Jacuzzi. The LA County Medical Examiner found that ketamine was the primary cause of death. Drowning was a secondary cause.

At first, Iwamasa lied to police, omitting ketamine from the list of medications Perry was using, and saying nothing about his injections. But when investigators served a search warrant in January of 2024, he began coming clean.

Perry became one of the biggest stars of his generation along with Courteney Cox, Jennifer Aniston, Matt LeBlanc, David Schwimmer and Lisa Kudrow on “Friends,” NBC’s megahit sitcom that ran from 1994 to 2004.

Kenneth Iwamasa, one of five people who pleaded guilty in the ketamine overdose death of actor Matthew Perry, leaves federal court after his sentencing in Los Angeles, Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Kenneth Iwamasa, one of five people who pleaded guilty in the ketamine overdose death of actor Matthew Perry, leaves federal court after his sentencing in Los Angeles, Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Matthew Perry's stepfather, Keith Morrison, left, talks to reporters after the sentencing of Kenneth Iwamasa, one of five people who pleaded guilty in connection with the ketamine overdose death of the actor, in Los Angeles, Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Matthew Perry's stepfather, Keith Morrison, left, talks to reporters after the sentencing of Kenneth Iwamasa, one of five people who pleaded guilty in connection with the ketamine overdose death of the actor, in Los Angeles, Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Kenneth Iwamasa, one of five people who pleaded guilty in the ketamine overdose death of actor Matthew Perry, looks away as his attorney, Alan Eisner, talks to reporters after Iwamasa's sentencing in Los Angeles, Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Kenneth Iwamasa, one of five people who pleaded guilty in the ketamine overdose death of actor Matthew Perry, looks away as his attorney, Alan Eisner, talks to reporters after Iwamasa's sentencing in Los Angeles, Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

FILE - Actor Matthew Perry arrives at the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles on Sept. 23, 2012. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - Actor Matthew Perry arrives at the 64th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles on Sept. 23, 2012. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File)

Matthew Perry's mother, Suzanne Morrison, center left, and Keith Morrison, arrive at federal court for the sentencing of Kenneth Iwamasa, one of five people who pleaded guilty in connection with the ketamine overdose death of the actor, in Los Angeles, Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Matthew Perry's mother, Suzanne Morrison, center left, and Keith Morrison, arrive at federal court for the sentencing of Kenneth Iwamasa, one of five people who pleaded guilty in connection with the ketamine overdose death of the actor, in Los Angeles, Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Matthew Perry's mother, Suzanne Morrison, left, and Keith Morrison, arrive at federal court for the sentencing of Kenneth Iwamasa, one of five people who pleaded guilty in connection with the ketamine overdose death of the actor, in Los Angeles, Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Matthew Perry's mother, Suzanne Morrison, left, and Keith Morrison, arrive at federal court for the sentencing of Kenneth Iwamasa, one of five people who pleaded guilty in connection with the ketamine overdose death of the actor, in Los Angeles, Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Matthew Perry's mother, Suzanne Morrison, left, and Keith Morrison, arrive at federal court for the sentencing of Kenneth Iwamasa, one of five people who pleaded guilty in connection with the ketamine overdose death of the actor, in Los Angeles, Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Matthew Perry's mother, Suzanne Morrison, left, and Keith Morrison, arrive at federal court for the sentencing of Kenneth Iwamasa, one of five people who pleaded guilty in connection with the ketamine overdose death of the actor, in Los Angeles, Wednesday, May 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

FILE - Matthew Perry poses for a portrait in New York on Feb. 17, 2015. (Photo by Brian Ach/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - Matthew Perry poses for a portrait in New York on Feb. 17, 2015. (Photo by Brian Ach/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - Suzanne Morrison, mother of Matthew Perry, leaves the court in Los Angeles on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, after a federal judge handed down a sentence of 15 years in prison to Jasveen Sangha, who pleaded guilty to selling "Friends" star Perry the ketamine that killed him in a 2023 overdose. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

FILE - Suzanne Morrison, mother of Matthew Perry, leaves the court in Los Angeles on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, after a federal judge handed down a sentence of 15 years in prison to Jasveen Sangha, who pleaded guilty to selling "Friends" star Perry the ketamine that killed him in a 2023 overdose. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

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