The present-day story of Viking Sport Cruisers is pretty straightforward. The company reps the entire line of luxury cruising yachts for Princess Yachts Limited, including the 42- to 85-foot V Class, 42- to 95-foot F Class (Flybridge) and the 105- to 132-foot M Class, among others. The evolution of the brand, however, is way more interesting: Viking Yacht Company got into the yacht-building business in 1964 in New Gretna, New Jersey. Marine Projects was founded one year later in Plymouth, England. Their founders, Bob and Bill Healey, and David King, respectively, didn’t know it at the time, but their companies shared a few key business practices. Both took a hands-on approach to design and both manufactured almost all their components in-house.
It wasn’t until the ‘90s that Tom Carroll, then-Executive VP for Viking Sport Cruisers (now president and CEO of Princess Yachts America), discovered an impressive line of European motor yachts that rivaled Viking Sport Cruisers for quality, style and engineering capabilities. The line’s manufacturer: Marine Projects, now Princess Yachts.
Providing Quality, Style and Engineering Capabilities
Princess yachts were regarded as royalty in the international marketplace. Viking Sport Cruisers had a huge following in North America. Princess Yachts was looking for an entrée into the American market. Viking Sport Cruisers had an extensive network of dealers and sales and service support, as well as a huge inventory of spare parts. Viking Sport Cruisers was always on the hunt for new opportunities to align with premiere yacht builders and keep its designers and in-house parts craftsmen on the cutting edge. It was a deal made in blue water heaven when Viking Sport Cruisers joined forces with Princess Yachts Limited. The collaboration resulted in a true Euro-American boat – custom amenities and luxurious interiors fit for a king; engineering, redesign, HVAC and refrigeration systems, and more horsepower to appeal to the American market.
Shipyard Stats:
- Founders: Robert Healey, William Healey
- Yacht Type: Cruisers, flybridge, racing, motor yachts and superyachts
- Size: 30 to 95 feet
Today, through its network of established dealers, the yacht builder is the sole distributor of Princess Yachts across North America, Central America, Mexico and the Caribbean.
Starting with F and ending with Y, here are the ABCs of the joint venture’s seven world-class flagships:
- F Class 45, 50, 55, 62, 70 – Flybridges that conquer technology, space and performance
- M Class 30 & 35 – Master of proportions and personalized details
- R Class 35 – Racer with top speed of 50 knots
- S Class 62, 66 & 78 – Spacious and Sporty
- V Class 40, 50, 55, 60, 65, 78 – Deep-V hull translates to speed and tight handling
- X Class 95 – Xpansive spaces, flybridge and main deck
- Y Class 72, 78, 85, 95 – Yahoo! A stunning union of luxury and power
Shipyard Stats
- Size: 30 to 95 feet
- Type: Cruisers, flybridge, racing, motor yachts, superyachts
To find Viking Sport Cruisers, browse through our database for the latest yachts for sale listings. You’ll find our info is reliable and accurate, and our site is easy to use.
