Most people who apply through us know they want to work on a ship. Far fewer know anything about the company they’re applying to. That’s a mistake, and not only because it shows in an interview. The company you sail with shapes your entire working life for six months at a time.
So before you send us a CV, here’s who Viking actually is.
Started in 1997, with four ships in Russia
Viking was founded in 1997 by a Norwegian named Torstein Hagen, with a handful of river ships operating in Russia. It moved into the North American market in 2000, and then it grew — quietly and relentlessly.
Today Viking operates a fleet of more than 100 vessels across river, ocean and expedition sailing, covering 21 rivers, five oceans and all seven continents. That growth has been recognised in the strangest ways: in 2014 the company christened 16 river ships in the space of two days and picked up a Guinness World Record for it.
What matters to you is that a fleet which is that size is still expanding, and expanding fleets need crew.
The ships are small on purpose
Viking’s ocean ships carry up to 998 guests with around 550 crew. That’s roughly a third of the size of the giant ships you see in the local harbours, and it’s a deliberate choice — smaller ships get into ports the big ones can’t reach.
For crew, the ratio is the interesting number. Just under two guests per crew member means the service standard is high, and it means you are visible. On a 5,000-guest ship you’re one of two thousand. On a Viking ship people know your name, including the officers who decide who gets promoted.
The expedition ships, Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris, carry 378 guests each and are built for polar sailing. If Antarctica appeals to you, that’s where it happens.
No children, no casinos
This is the part that surprises people, and it explains a lot about the job.
Viking’s minimum guest age is 18. Since 2018 there have been no children on board at all. There are also no casinos on Viking ships. The company is quite open about the reasoning — as one of their executives put it, “In addition to marketing what Viking is, we believe our guests also appreciate knowing what Viking is not.”
Think about what that means for a working day. No kids’ club chaos. No family cabins. No casino crowd at two in the morning. Your guests are adults, mostly over 50, well travelled and interested in the places they’re visiting.
They are also, in our experience, demanding in a particular way. Not rude. Attentive. They notice whether the wine was poured properly and whether you remembered what they ordered yesterday. If you take pride in that kind of service, you’ll enjoy it. If you’d rather work somewhere nobody’s watching, this isn’t the fleet for you.
Destination-focused, Scandinavian in style
Viking’s phrase for its guests is “The Thinking Person” and the whole product follows from it. Every voyage includes a shore excursion in every port. There are lecturers on board, cooking demonstrations, art and music. The ships are Scandinavian modernist in design — light, uncluttered, all-veranda staterooms.
The company has collected over 450 awards and is regularly rated number one for both rivers and oceans by Condé Nast Traveler, and “World’s Best” by Travel + Leisure. It’s also invested heavily in cleaner ships, with hydrogen-powered vessels entering the fleet.
Why we work with them
Waitré d’ has been recruiting since 1990 and we’ve placed crew with MSC and NCL. Viking is our primary client, and we chose them for the reason we choose any client: the opportunity it offers the candidate.
Viking employs roughly 10,000 of its own crew worldwide and puts real money into training. Their own careers material talks about growing and learning with them, whether you’re new or have been there many seasons. We’ve watched that play out — people we placed as assistant waiters who are now in management. That progression is the reason we send our best applicants there.
One thing to remember before you apply
Please remember that as we are the appointed Recruitment and Manning agents for the Southern African region, you would need to talk to us first.
Ready to apply? Everything starts at waitred.co.za.