Hilda Passengers aboard the Viking Vela recently faced a dangerous storm in the North Sea while cruising to see the Northern Lights. The Viking cruise ship met 100 mph winds and 40-foot waves as the ship attempted to navigate the choppy waters. Northern Europe has been hit by a dramatic winter storm over the last few days, which spanned from Ireland and the UK all the way through Scandinavia.
Unfortunately, the storm caused significant disruptions to the bucket-list itinerary, which was meant to sail to Northern Norway. This included damage to the ship’s propulsion and steering systems, affecting the ship’s ability to continue sailing. Because of this, passengers are reporting the itinerary has been completely adjusted. While safety measures were effectively implemented, including guests quarantining in their cabins for hours, the experience left many passengers with mixed emotions.
The storm struck near the Stad peninsula, a notoriously challenging area for sailing. Despite being aware of the adverse weather conditions a day in advance, the guests onboard reported that Viking Vela’s captain chose to proceed. Passengers were warned to brace for rough seas with heavy winds. Barf bags were reportedly distributed throughout the ship in anticipation of the rough seas. Unfortunately, the conditions proved too much for the ship, forcing it to seek safe harbor in Ålesund, Norway.
Photos shared on social media captured the chaos: broken glass, dislodged furniture, and passengers thrown from their beds. For 12 hours, everyone was confined to their cabins as the crew worked tirelessly to ensure everyone’s safety.
The ship made its way to Ålesund under the escort of the coast guard vessel KV Hopen and tugboats. While local rescue authorities confirmed there was no immediate danger to passengers, the propulsion and steering damage required significant inspections and repairs. During this time, the crew conducted safety checks and addressed mechanical issues to stabilize the vessel.
UPDATE (1/16): Guests onboard Viking Vela are reporting the ship needs to stay in Ålesund due to the damage and inability to sail in an upcoming storm. According to a Reddit comment, “[The] caption just came on and said we are staying in Ålesund, Norway one more night. Another storm is coming toward us and we cannot be towed back to Bergen in this storm.”
Itinerary adjustments and compensation
What was originally a “Search for the Northern Lights” cruise transformed into an altered journey. The Viking Vela departed from Tilbury, England on January 10, 2025, for the winter sailing. The itinerary originally called for ports in the North Sea, including ports of call in Ijmuiden (Netherlands), Narvik (Norway), Tromsø (Norway), Alta (Norway), and Bergen (Norway).
The northern portion of the itinerary is now canceled, and the ship will now make shorter stops in Flam, Eidfjord, and Stavanger before concluding in Bergen. Passengers expressed disappointment over missing the Northern Lights, which was meant to be a highlight of the cruise.
In response, Viking offered passengers several compensatory measures:
- 60% discount on a future cruise
- Silver Spirits beverage package
- Refunds for optional excursions
Disappointment from passengers
Passenger sentiments ranged from understanding to frustration. Many acknowledged the crew’s hard work and dedication to safety, while others criticized the decision to sail into the storm rather than delay departure or seek shelter earlier. One passenger remarked, “The safety of 998 passengers and 450+ crew outweighs the need to see the Northern Lights!”
Another passenger, however, voiced a different perspective: “Now local news says we sustained damage to the propulsion system. This could have been avoided. 60% off on a FUTURE cruise is worthless for the people who are too traumatized to ever go on another cruise.”
Broader implications
The incident raises questions about decision-making processes in the cruise industry during adverse weather conditions. While compensation packages and safety assurances are standard responses, they may not fully address the concerns of affected passengers, especially those who feel their trust has been broken.
In light of recent events involving the Viking Vela, it’s noteworthy that Norway is considering implementing stricter weather safety regulations for cruise ships. These proposed measures aim to restrict large cruise vessels from navigating hazardous waters during severe storms, potentially impacting off-season itineraries.
The Viking Vela’s encounter with 100 mph winds and 40-foot waves, leading to propulsion and steering damage, underscores the importance of such regulations. Had these proposed restrictions been in place, the ship might have been compelled to alter its course or delay departure to avoid the storm, possibly preventing the subsequent damage and itinerary disruptions.
Passengers have expressed mixed reactions to the incident, with some questioning the decision to sail despite known adverse weather conditions. One passenger noted, “The captain announced the DAY BEFORE that we would have 100 mph winds and 35 – 40 ft waves… But they headed out anyways when they could have pulled into Bergen or Alesund for just an overnight.”
The proposed regulations aim to enhance passenger safety and minimize the risks associated with sailing in severe weather conditions. If implemented, cruise operators may need to adjust their scheduling and routing strategies, especially during seasons prone to harsh weather, to comply with these safety measures.
What happened to Viking Vela highlights the potential benefits of Norway’s proposed stricter weather safety rules for cruise ships. Such regulations could play a crucial role in preventing similar occurrences in the future, ensuring safer and more reliable experiences for cruise passengers navigating Norway’s waters.
The Viking Sky incident
Viking Vela’s experience in the North Sea echoes a similar situation faced by the Viking Sky in March 2019. The Viking Sky encountered rough weather off the coast of Norway, with engine failures that left the ship adrift near the perilous Hustadvika region. This incident, which involved dramatic helicopter rescues of hundreds of passengers, was a stark reminder of the dangers cruise ships face in challenging weather conditions.
While the Viking Sky ultimately avoided disaster, the incident raised serious questions about decision-making, route planning, and weather forecasting in the cruise industry. Similarly, passengers aboard Viking Vela have expressed concerns about the decision to proceed into known adverse conditions, despite warnings of 100 mph winds and 40-foot waves.
The 2019 event led to increased scrutiny of cruise ship operations in Norwegian waters, and Norway’s proposed stricter weather safety regulations could be a direct response to these recurring challenges. These rules aim to minimize risks to passengers and crew by limiting cruise activity during severe weather events—a policy that, if enacted earlier, might have prevented both the Viking Sky and Viking Vela incidents.
Most of us passengers are pretty angry and disappointed at the insufficient information provided by Captain and crew. It’s as though they are afraid to talk about what really happened. A huge storm like that does not just sneak up on you. It might have been more prudent to stop in Bergen until weather calmed down and rather than losing the entire itinerary, we may have only lost a day.
This article is so inflammatory! The statements made in this article have come from Facebook posts on multiple Viking group pages. Obviously you didn’t take the time to research each of the comments. There are several outlandish comments that do not fit with passengers who are on the ship. Some of those outlandish comments are from Facebook pages that haven’t posted comments in several years! While many passengers are highly disappointed (with reason) many of them have commented that the crew have been amazing and that they’re making the best of it. Stating that the ship is stranded is false. The ship’s itinerary has it leaving today. The letter from Viking you posted came from the Viking Facebook groups page. How do I know that? Because the letter is cut off just as it was when the passenger posted it. Get your facts straight before trying to draw attention to your lack of integrity.
Hi Doug. Others onboard are stating the ship is delayed again and not leaving. We have included quotes from passengers on the ship currently, which aligns with what we are seeing elsewhere. There was no official statement from the cruise line about the incident, so we have cited and quoted comments from social media.
People exaggerate. Yes Vela will not sail today. Tomorrow the new departure time is 3pm. There was never a mention of being “towed to Bergen”.
Yes. This change is agrevating to say the least.
Have you not noticed the Coast Guard ship trailing us??
The ship was never to stop where it is.
It had to stay 4 extra days here to get water out of the ship and do major repairs.
It is not on schedule
People had injuries, furniture and glass was broken and scattered everywhere.
Sorry Doug you have facts wrong. I am currently stranded on the ship
This information is ALL Correct Doug! I am sitting on the Vela right now! That was a letter that we received! And the information was directly from the Captain.
We didn’t leave, though did we? Stayed an additional day and a half. Never made it to Flam. Then headed to Eidfjord, got past Bergen and the captain turned around the boat… nothing makes the passengers quite so happy as seeing the majestic fjords in the dark and going to a tiny village with a smaller population than the ship on a SUNDAY
are you on the ship Doug ?Do you work for Viking ?
And just announced that we are delayed ANOTHER day AGAIN citing 40mph winds! So, is the ship not fixed, or what???
My wife and I are on Vela and can vouch for the details reported in this post. And we are now spending another 24 hours in Alesund, after the captain told us there were high winds of 30-50 mph at sea that would prevent us from leaving today. A fellow passenger said his winds app indicated 10-15 mph winds out there. And there are divers and welders hanging off the side of the ship working on the stern (where steering and propulsion is).
The head receptionist in guest services told me, this morning, that stories on the Internet about steering and propulsion damage from the storm “are all false. There’s nothing wrong with the ship,” she told us. We’re just waiting for good weather.
Nothing makes me madder, faster, than being lied to by someone I’ve paid for a service or product they failed to deliver. There’s 1,000 pax on this ship and well over half of them are seething angry.
Viking Vela is equipped with Azipod electrical propulsion, which is a system of electric motors that rotate to power & steer the ship (https://shorturl.at/JcCi6) designed to increase maneuverability, reduce fuel consumption, and improve operating efficiency. But Azipod has its disadvantages – lack of power – unlike diesel generators. This is exactly what is said to have failed during the strong winds & waves of the storm – hence the inability to steer / power the Vela…
Apparently, an Azipod employee told a passenger today that a pod was lost – which would explain the divers’ inspection 2 days ago. And zigzag pattern observed as it navigated the incident. If correct, the Vela may require tug assistance to get it back to Bergen for repairs. Time will tell. Viking sure ain’t.
We were fortunate to have made the decision to leave this mess on Jan 15 and fly back home. We made the decision based on
1) Overall gross incompetence that was so obvious but not acknowledged by Viking re what actually happened and the extent of damage. The storm was well known about and if passengers safety was on the minds of Viking or the Captain we could have stayed back in Amsterdam or Bergen . Instead the Captain made it appear as a “unknown” that came out of the blue. Overall I felt the Captain was inadept at many levels where at one point he made comments over the PA that were almost condescending to insulting to the intelligence of the passengers. We don’t claim to be maritime gurus but when we have Coast guards alongside sometime is not quite ok.
BTW 2 yrs ago we crossed Drakes passage with another company and it was a walk in the park compared to what we experienced on Vela. This boat was never meant to be in a storm in the North Sea.
2) A complete lack of transparency about facts . For ex we informed the desk services that we will disembark on 15th in Alesund. We were not told re the need to visit a local immigration office to get an entry visa stamped!! I just happened to stop by later that morning to make sure all was in order and was casually told that I had to do this in my own as we chose to leave. Really ??? Could be managed so much more professionally. To me this reflects a total breakdown in Vikings re customer well being and more.
3) Finally the compensation being offered. Why will I ever step foot on another Vikings??? The least they can do is offer a full refund for the cruise along with penalties we incurred for change of our flights.
I wish well for all the passengers and crew left on the ship and maybe Viking use this as a learning moment to improve.
I understand the. North Sea can be nasty in winter. However, the captain knew the weather was there and should have gone into port for a day. We may have missed one day, but now we are day 4 in Alesund and the weather has gone to crap again. I feel that had the ship been fixed, we could have left before this next storm, but don’t tell me the reason we were here for the past 3 days is due to weather! I saw divers on the dock, and plenty of minor visible damage.
And what really gets me is the 60% refund offer, is only the cruise fare cost, nothing else. So the $23,000 we spent for 2 of us, only $3000 is coming back. I feel it should be %60 of the entire cost.
The crew have been remarkable and it’s not their fault.
Another passenger on board here. This is a great, factual article that many folks, myself included, were hoping we’d find when little information was being shared with us. Happy to share photos and videos to backup this story, if needed.
Thank you for your comment, Michelle! We are so happy to have been of help.
I am also a passenger currently on the Vela The Captain told us we would hit rough weather but he only said we would have 15-20ft waves and winds of around 50mph. Apparently the forecast was wrong. I disagree with the above person who stated that the Captain told us that we were headed into 35-40ft waves or 100mph winds – do you think he’d really have sailed if he’d know the weather was going to be that bad. Once it got that bad he did tell us the wave height and that the winds were 100mph+.
We didn’t leave Alesund until 9.30 pm last night (Flam had to be cancelled) and were headed for the fjords but the winds were too bad and we’ve now had to turn around out of the fjords and go back out to sea as apparently it was not safe to go though the narrower fjords and pass under some of the bridges in the high winds.
It’s certainly not been what any of us hoped or planned for that’s for sure!!
I’ve read almost all the comments posted on various sites and threads. There are many consistencies including reports of damage, injuries and frustration regarding Viking responses. What will be interesting is what Viking plans to do with the remaining 3 sailings of this itinerary. Though they will never admit captain error (liability with current passengers/crew) they can claim unforeseen weather/mechanical issues just this once, they cannot sail this vessel until repairs are made and tested. It would be a legal and public relations nightmare.