Viking said Thursday that the company was off to a "great start" in 2026 and pacing ahead of the same time last year for 2027.
Leah Talatac, named president and CEO Thursday ahead of the company's Q1 earnings call as Torstein Hagen moves to executive chairman, said there was "great demand" for Viking cruises in the first quarter. Cruises were 92% booked for the year as of May 11, making them effectively sold out.
Viking's total Q1 revenue was $1.05 billion, a 17.5% increase from a year earlier.
And 2027 is off to a strong start. Customers have booked 38% of capacity, with capacity increasing 15%. Advanced bookings are 31% higher than last year.
There was a brief period of softness, mostly in river cruising, in the first quarter due to the Iran war and geopolitical uncertainty "as our guests took time to process the new developments," Talatac said. Business has since rebounded, and cancellations have been occurring at the typical rate, Talatac said.
Viking shared the strategy behind placing two additional ships in Egypt in 2028. Egypt operations have an outsized impact on business, Talatac said, as its eight ships sailing the Nile deliver the highest yields in Viking's river fleet, she said.
Viking also said that the Viking Yi Dun will sail Mediterranean ocean cruises tailored for Chinese guests. Those cruises start this August. The Yi Dun is currently sailing in China and Japan.