She is the first newbuilding delivered to the company since MS Kalypso in 1990 and also Viking Line's first fast cruiseferry, with a building contract worth approximately 120–130 million euros.

[10] The Viking XPRS makes the crossing between the two capitals in about two and a half hours, with two daily departures from each port.

Reasons for the delays included slower-than-planned furnishing works and faults in one of the Rolls-Royce-manufactured propellers.

Viking XPRS made her maiden voyage between Helsinki and Tallinn on 27 April 2008 and entered regular service on the route the following day.

[1] Compared to MS Rosella that had sailed on the route the previous year the Viking XPRS attracted a notably larger number of passengers, with a 61% raise in passenger number and 74% raise in vehicles transported between Helsinki and Tallinn between June and August 2008 compared to the same months in 2007.

[12] In February 2009 the Viking XPRS was voted as one of the top 5 medium-sized cruise ships in the world by readers of the prestigious Condé Nast Traveler guide, rating higher than the ships of Holland America Line amongst others.

[20] The ship was renovated in 2015 when a new à la carte restaurant Wine & Dine and a smaller Fashion Shop in connection to the conference rooms were opened.

[citation needed] In January 2017 Viking XPRS moved to the Landskrona docks, where the public spaces and cabins were renovated.

During the reparations the ship was temporarily replaced with MS Rosella on the Helsinki-Tallinn route.

[21] From 8 to 24 January 2020 MS Rosella again temporarily replaced Viking XPRS on the Helsinki-Tallinn route because of a dock visit.

The ship then remained at the harbour during the process of reflagging and departed on its maiden voyage under Finnish flag on Wednesday 8 March 2023 at 20:30.