How popular isViking?
In September 2026, people searched for Viking by name about 368,000 times worldwide, about the same as the previous year. These searches made up 4.3% of all global cruise line searches, placing Viking eighth out of eight lines. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about cruise lines, Viking appeared in two of the five answers and was the seventh most recommended of the eight.
Viking is the eighth most searched of 8 competitors and the seventh most recommended in AI answers.
Royal CaribbeanShare of searches 32.1%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 1st
Disney Cruise LineShare of searches 15.2%Mentioned in 5 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
MSC CruisesShare of searches 14.3%Mentioned in 1 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 8th
Celebrity CruisesShare of searches 9.6%Mentioned in 3 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
VikingShare of searches 4.3%Mentioned in 2 of 5 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 7th
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Top cruise lines in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Viking was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Viking is the seventh most recommended of the eight.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Royal Caribbean5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
- Disney Cruise Line5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Princess Cruises5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Carnival Cruise Line5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers- Celebrity Cruises3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Norwegian Cruise Line3 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers- Viking2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
- MSC Cruises1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about cruise lines
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which cruise line should I book?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best cruise lines?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best cruise line for a family trip?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“cruise lines”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“family cruise line”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 19, 2026.
Which cruise lines compete with Viking?
Share of searches by month for Royal Caribbean, Disney Cruise Line, MSC Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Viking. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Royal Caribbean | Disney Cruise Line | MSC Cruises | Celebrity Cruises | Norwegian Cruise Line | Princess Cruises | Carnival Cruise Line | Viking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 26.8% | 12.8% | 14.6% | 9.8% | 9.8% | 12% | 9.8% | 4.4% |
| Nov 2025 | 31.5% | 12.3% | 14% | 11.5% | 11.5% | 11.5% | 4.2% | 3.5% |
| Dec 2025 | 33.5% | 13.1% | 14.9% | 10.1% | 10.1% | 10.1% | 4.5% | 3.7% |
| Jan 2026 | 29.2% | 13.3% | 16% | 10.6% | 10.6% | 10.6% | 4.8% | 4.8% |
| Feb 2026 | 29.5% | 14% | 16.2% | 10.8% | 10.8% | 10.8% | 4% | 4% |
| Mar 2026 | 28.5% | 15.8% | 15.6% | 8.6% | 10.4% | 10.4% | 7% | 3.8% |
| Apr 2026 | 34.8% | 13.5% | 15.6% | 8.6% | 8.6% | 10.4% | 4.7% | 3.8% |
| May 2026 | 30% | 16.7% | 13.4% | 9% | 9% | 11% | 6% | 4.9% |
| Jun 2026 | 25.6% | 13.6% | 13.9% | 9.4% | 9.4% | 11.4% | 11.4% | 5.1% |
| Jul 2026 | 27.7% | 14.6% | 12.3% | 10.1% | 8.3% | 10.1% | 12.3% | 4.5% |
| Aug 2026 | 29.7% | 16.8% | 13.2% | 10.8% | 8.9% | 10.8% | 4.9% | 4.9% |
| Sep 2026 | 32.1% | 15.2% | 14.3% | 9.6% | 9.6% | 9.6% | 5.3% | 4.3% |
| Rank | Brand | Share of searches | Estimated monthly branded searches | vs prior month | Share change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, held 1st | 32.1% | 2.7M | 0% | +2.4 points | |
| 2, held 2nd | 15.2% | 1.3M | -16.1% | -1.6 points | |
| 3, held 3rd | 14.3% | 1.2M | 0% | +1.1 points | |
| 4, held 4th | 9.6% | 823K | -17.7% | -1.2 points | |
| 5, moved from 6th to 5th | 9.6% | 823K | 0% | +0.7 pointsmoved from 6th to 5th | |
| 6, moved from 5th to 6th | 9.6% | 823K | -17.7% | -1.2 pointsmoved from 5th to 6th | |
| 7, held 7th | 5.3% | 450K | 0% | +0.4 points | |
| 8, held 8th | 4.3% | 368K | -18.2% | -0.6 points |
32.1%
Held 1st. 2.7M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +2.4 points.
15.2%
Held 2nd. 1.3M estimated branded searches, -16.1% vs prior month. Share -1.6 points.
14.3%
Held 3rd. 1.2M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +1.1 points.
9.6%
Held 4th. 823K estimated branded searches, -17.7% vs prior month. Share -1.2 points.
9.6%
Moved from 6th to 5th. 823K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.7 points.
9.6%
Moved from 5th to 6th. 823K estimated branded searches, -17.7% vs prior month. Share -1.2 points.
5.3%
Held 7th. 450K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.4 points.
8.
Viking4.3%
Held 8th. 368K estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -0.6 points.
Compare popularity between Viking and its closest rivals
Every comparison with Viking
7 comparisons
How has branded search demand for Viking changed worldwide over the last 12 months?
2 findings
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Viking worldwide held steady at 368K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Viking’s share of searches among cruise lines worldwide peaked at 5.1% in June 2026 and was lowest at 3.5% in November 2025.
How did search popularity change for cruise lines worldwide in September 2026?
6 changes
In September 2026, Norwegian Cruise Line overtook Princess Cruises to rank 5th among cruise lines worldwide, with 9.6% of the searches.
In September 2026, Royal Caribbean gained share of searches among cruise lines worldwide, from 29.7% to 32.1%.
In September 2026, MSC Cruises gained share of searches among cruise lines worldwide, from 13.2% to 14.3%.
In September 2026, Disney Cruise Line lost share of searches among cruise lines worldwide, from 16.8% to 15.2%.
In September 2026, Celebrity Cruises lost share of searches among cruise lines worldwide, from 10.8% to 9.6%.
In September 2026, Princess Cruises lost share of searches among cruise lines worldwide, from 10.8% to 9.6%.
How are Viking’s branded searches counted?
1 search term
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Viking’s name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for this branded term can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.
- viking cruises
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