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Viking River Cruises

Viking River Cruises Overview

Viking River Cruises is the world's largest river cruise line. They showcase the rivers of Europe, Russia, the Ukraine and China. With over 60 ships, Viking River Cruises continues to expand to new destinations, and builds innovative vessels that provide all the comforts of a fine hotel with attentive Swiss management.

Unlike a bus tour where you spend more time on the bus than actually seeing the country, Viking River Cruises offers you fine food, great service and scenic cruising along some of the world's great rivers.

Viking River Cruises visits at least one port a day on virtually every itinerary, and you can explore small villages off the beaten path that are inaccessible via an ocean cruise. Docking in the heart of town, you'll have more to time to see the cities, not just travel to the cities. You'll experience ever-changing riverside scenery as well as local nightlife when your ship overnights in port. Your cruise will not only bring you up close to historic sites and natural wonders, it will provide an enriching and scenic journey that's sure to be one of the most delightful vacations you'll ever have.

Viking River Cruises Ships

 

Viking River Cruises has deluxe cruise ships that are built to easily navigate Europe's rivers, while the Scandinavian-designed interiors ensure the same outstanding comfort you would expect from a fine hotel. These maneuverable ships often dock in the heart of town, so you step right into Europe's history-filled cities. The ships' sophisticated hydraulic systems and maximum flexibility allow you the excitement of journeying through engineering marvels like the Main-Danube Canal.

Every day offers an opportunity to stroll on the Sun Deck and marvel at breathtaking 360-degree views of the ever-changing scenery... to savor fine dining in the elegant restaurant... to relax with friends over a game of cards or curl up with a good book in the library... to enjoy a leisurely cocktail in the stylish bar and observation lounge with its large picture windows. And every evening you'll retire in comfort to your well-appointed outside cabin.

You'll cruise intimately with other travelers, and be known as an individual and friend to the English-speaking crew. They'll enhance your shipboard experience and enrich your discoveries of Europe with personal insight into their culture. The ships of Viking River Cruises truly offer you the most rewarding way to discover the real Europe.

Viking River Cruises Destinations

 

A river cruise with Viking River Cruises is the best way to see Europe, Russia or China up close and in depth. In Europe you can cruise the Rhine, Main, Moselle, Danube, Elbe, Seine and Rhne Rivers. In Russia, you'll sail along the banks of the Volga River. And in China, you'll experience the wonders of the Yangtze.

Explore the best destinations in the world from an intimate perspective, spending your time being there, not getting there.

Viking River Cruises Accommodations

Viking River Cruises designed their cabins with your needs in mind. All cabins are outside cabins - no dark, interior rooms - and a personal river view comes with each one. Many cabins are equivalent in size to more mainstream cruise ships at around 150 square feet of well-appointed comfort. Clean, Scandinavian-designed rooms offer storage options from wardrobes and bureaus to built-in desks and shelving.

Many cabins feature hotel-style beds and large picture windows that open, two unique features not found on most river cruise vessels. All western European ships have in-room televisions with English-language programming, movies for leisure-time viewing, and telephones so you can keep in touch. And a gracious cabin stewardess will service your cabin twice daily, and will pamper you with turndown service to prepare you for a peaceful night's rest.

Viking River Cruises Dining

Perhaps one of the most anticipated features of your journey through Europe with Viking River Cruises is the opportunity to sample new tastes. Their chefs are trained in the finest European traditions, with specialties in French, German, Austrian and Swiss cuisine.

When you dine with Viking River Cruises, your needs are anticipated and your desires fulfilled with pleasure. This starts with the dining rooms, which feature extra-large windows for unobstructed sightseeing, and single-seating, open-seating dining so you are free to make new friends. And you'll love the elegance of dining on place settings of fine Norwegian china, Swiss cutlery, premium Indian cotton linens and German glassware.

Start your morning off with a buffet breakfast, complete with a selection of fresh breads, eggs, cereal, pastries, cheese and European cold cuts, plus fresh fruit. You're also welcome to order from a selection of hot items prepared in the kitchen. For lunch, choose from the salad and sandwich bar or enjoy a homemade soup, choice of entrees and dessert. At dinner, you'll look forward to a five-course gourmet menu with a choice of entrees including regional specialties like Roast Pork and Barbary Duck Breast.

Thanks to the talent and creativity of their first-class chefs, every item on a Viking River Cruise menu is sure to satisfy and delight. For those with special dietary needs, they can also prepare low cholesterol, low sodium and diabetic selections on advance notice.

Adults Only on Viking River Cruises

Viking River Cruises does not have a dedicated children's program or specific children's facilities onboard its ships. Guests must be the age of 18 on or before the day of embarkation to be allowed to travel on a Viking cruise.

Viking River Cruises Onboard Activities & Entertainment

Viking River Cruises offers passengers the ultimate in river cruising. All itineraries are designed to provide travelers with comprehensive sightseeing opportunities and feature:

  • Attentive personal service including an experienced Cruise Manager
  • Fine gourmet dining and regional specialties
  • In Europe & Russia, the Viking Old World Highlights program, featuring folkloric entertainment, lectures, demonstrations and daily shore excursions led by knowledgeable, English-speaking guides
  • In China, a fully-escorted vacation with English-speaking guides, fascinating guided tours and cultural highlights
  • Accommodations in an outside, river-view cabin with private bathroom and shower, and with hotel-style beds and large picture windows that open in many cabins
  • Intimate, deluxe ships averaging 150 passengers for Europe and just 186 for China
  • Beautifully appointed public areas with single-seating restaurants, bars, and lounges
  • Modern nautical equipment meeting the highest safety standards

Viking River Cruises Past Guest

If you have traveled with Viking River Cruises before, you know that a journey with Viking is a rich experience indeed. But now Viking travel has become even more rewarding! Once you take a Viking vacation, you are automatically enrolled in the Viking Explorer Society, meaning you are part of a community of sophisticated travelers - people who like to expand their world view through river cruising.

Silver Tier Benefits (after 1 trip):

  • Past Guest Travel Credit
  • Members-only onboard cocktail party
  • Calendar
  • Exclusive Viking Explorer Society phone number

Premier Tier Benefits (after 3 trips):

  • Includes all Silver Tier benefits plus...
  • Free onboard upgrades (subject to availability)
  • Complimentary Viking Air Plus services

Nobody has posted a listing with that criteria.



 

Travel the World 

Civilization began around rivers, and Viking River Cruises is fully aware of this. Their voyages along some of the world’s most famous rivers allow guests to travel through both space and time, seeing buildings where history was made and tiny isolated villages where the past comes alive.

Viking has the world’s largest fleet of river cruise ships, and all have been designed with elegance and convenience in mind. The fleet travels the world, with routes in Europe, Russia and Ukraine, Egypt, China, and Southeastern Asia.


History

Viking was founded in 1997 with the purchase of four ships in Russia. In 2000, the company purchased Europe’s KD River Cruises in order to grow its fleet, to leverage 40 years of river cruising experience and to acquire rights to prime docking locations in key European cities.

The company expanded into the American market in 2000, establishing US headquarters in Los Angeles, California. Through rapid expansion, the company has grown to be The World’s Leading River Cruise Line, with double-digit growth in recent years. And with the launch of its ocean fleet in 2015, the company has also become the leader in small ship ocean cruising.

With operational headquarters in Basel, Switzerland, Viking provides destination-focused itineraries designed for experienced travelers who have an interest in geography, culture and history. Each journey includes a shore excursion in every port, and an exclusive Viking Culture Curriculum program that provides deep immersion in the destination through performances of music and art, cooking demonstrations, informative port talks and carefully selected guest lecturers.

The company currently operates a fleet of more than 60 vessels, state-of-the-art ships that have received numerous accolades since their launch from industry experts and travelers alike. Viking was recently voted the #1 River Cruise Line by Condé Nast Traveler in their 2017 Readers’ Choice Awards, and for the second year in a row, has been rated the #1 Ocean Cruise Line* by Travel + Leisure readers in the World’s Best Awards 2017.

River Ships and Itineraries

Sailing Europe’s storied rivers, the award-winning Longships offer a variety of stateroom categories and true two-room suites with full-size verandas. Onboard amenities include a restaurant, bar and lounge, library and expansive sun deck. The ships feature an elegant Scandinavian design and “green” features, such as solar panels, an onboard organic herb garden and energy-efficient hybrid engines for a remarkably smooth ride.

Where We Travel

River cruises range from 8 to 23 days, with itineraries featuring Europe’s Rhine, Main, Danube, Seine, Rhône, Douro, Moselle, Elbe, Dordogne, Garonne and Gironde Rivers; Russia’s Volga, Neva and Svir; Egypt’s Nile; China’s Yangtze; and Southeast Asia’s Mekong.

 

Staterooms

Viking’s ships have some of the largest staterooms, each with a veranda, French balcony, or window, and plenty of room onboard from which to watch the world float by. The line has just gained two new “green” ships, the Viking Prestige and the Viking Legend, which sail the Rhine, Main, and Danube, along with most of the fleet.

The Viking Emerald is the newest river cruise ship in China and includes a private veranda in every stateroom, perfect for viewing the splendors of the Yangtze River as you sail through remote parts of China. Viking Air Plus helps you with your plans for after the cruise, whether you want to extend your trip or find the fastest way home.

Viking River Cruises allows travellers to see some of the most remote parts of the globe, while still enjoying the luxury of a hotel in a major city.

Food & Beverage

Food and drinks are covered in the fare on Viking River Cruises, so it’s perfectly alright to indulge a bit – and you’ll want to. Breakfast and lunch are casual, but carefully considered. Dinner, though, is when the chefs are allowed to shine. Minestrone, sea bass, and lamb loin are tempting enough, but wait until the ‘Taste of…’ events to be really impressed.

These events provide a culinary introduction to the cruise destinations and maybe a chance to try something new! On other days you can accompany a chef to market, meet local producers, and take a cooking lesson with friends, or dine outside on the Aquavit Terrace.

Excursions

Viking is committed not just to travel, but to education about its destinations as well. Guests can enjoy personalized shore excursions guaranteed to show them the history and the highlights as well as genuine local culture, art, and architecture. Take the opportunity to visit a souk, a museum, a palace, or an artisan’s shop.

Viking also has a program called Culture Curriculum that brings travellers into contact with local artists, performers, and eyewitnesses to historical events, allowing for a deeper understanding of the port cities they explore. To end the day of discovery, spend an evening at the ballet, opera, or concert, taking in the sights and sounds of the city once more before the ship sets sail to start the adventure all over again.

River Cruise Destinations

 

Journey into the heart of Europe, China, Southeast Asia and Egypt. Traveling by river, beyond the reach of roadways, you’ll discover the true nature of these fascinating lands and the people who call them home. You’ll travel with ease, unpacking just once and enjoying the ever-changing scenery along the banks as you are gently carried aboard an elegant, intimate ship to your next destination. Nothing compares to a river, and no experience compares to a Viking river cruise.


Danube

Flowing from the Black Forest to its vast delta at the Black Sea, the Danube has shaped the history of Central Europe. Cruise through the forested slopes of Bavaria, along the terraced hills of Austria’s wine region and past the Hungarian steppes into the heart of Eastern Europe.



Rhine

Lined with hilltop castles, fairy-tale villages and sprawling vineyards, “Old Father Rhine” has long been a major European lifeline of commerce and culture. Its romance and beauty have inspired poets and composers, giving birth to the tales of Lorelei and the music of Wagner.



France

Cultural treasures line the banks of the rivers of France. Along the Rhône and Dordogne, sample world-renowned wines and cuisine and stunning beauty. Follow the winding Seine into breathtaking Norman farmland. And marvel at landscapes immortalized by France’s greatest painters.



Douro (Portugal)

Central to Portugal’s wine industry, the Douro River was long the sole highway that delivered the region’s famed port wine to the world. Trace its enchanting route past terraced slopes cloaked in lush vineyards, hillside wine estates and stunning olive and almond groves.



Elbe (Germany)

One of Central Europe’s most important waterways, the Elbe River traverses the bohemian highlands of the Czech Republic and the untouched forests of Germany. Its waters course past vineyard-laden hills and the soaring rock formations of Saxon Switzerland.



Holiday

Lined with traditional Christmas markets and the festive spirit of the season, Europe’s waterways are pure magic during the holidays. Celebrate along the Rhine, Main and Danube and raise your mulled cider to a joyous Noël you’ll always remember.



Russia

Cruise a vast network of rivers, lakes and canals between St. Petersburg and Moscow, stopping at inviting Golden Ring cities and charming villages. As you explore, meet smiling babushkas, admire the fine art of nesting dolls and gaze up at multi-hued onion-domed churches.



Ukraine

Big, warm-hearted and largely undiscovered, Ukraine will surprise you with its diverse landscapes and traditions. Cruise the Dnieper River from Kiev to the Black Sea, stopping to explore cities and villages woven with the colorful threads of Greek, Mongol, Tatar, Ottoman, Cossack, Jewish, Polish and Russian culture.





Asia

Asia is a fascinating juxtaposition of the past, present and future. See China’s highlights and take a deluxe Yangtze River cruise or visit colorful Southeast Asia along the Mekong or Irrawaddy River.




Egypt

Egypt is a rich repository of legendary pyramids, monumental statuary and temple unearthed from desert sands. Uncover the secrets of pharaohs and ancient civilizations as you sail along the fabled Nile River.





Ocean & River Voyages

Travel by both river and sea with enriching journeys that highlight the history, culture and seldom-seen sights of inland and coastal destinations on one seamless itinerary.




Viking River Cruises Overview

 

Viking River Cruises is the world's largest river cruise line. They showcase the rivers of Europe, Russia, the Ukraine and China. With over 60 ships, Viking River Cruises continues to expand to new destinations, and builds innovative vessels that provide all the comforts of a fine hotel with attentive Swiss management.

 

Unlike a bus tour where you spend more time on the bus than actually seeing the country, Viking River Cruises offers you fine food, great service and scenic cruising along some of the world's great rivers.

 

Viking River Cruises visits at least one port a day on virtually every itinerary, and you can explore small villages off the beaten path that are inaccessible via an ocean cruise. Docking in the heart of town, you'll have more to time to see the cities, not just travel to the cities. You'll experience ever-changing riverside scenery as well as local nightlife when your ship overnights in port. Your cruise will not only bring you up close to historic sites and natural wonders, it will provide an enriching and scenic journey that's sure to be one of the most delightful vacations you'll ever have.

 

Viking River Cruises Ships

 

Viking River Cruises has deluxe cruise ships that are built to easily navigate Europe's rivers, while the Scandinavian-designed interiors ensure the same outstanding comfort you would expect from a fine hotel. These maneuverable ships often dock in the heart of town, so you step right into Europe's history-filled cities. The ships' sophisticated hydraulic systems and maximum flexibility allow you the excitement of journeying through engineering marvels like the Main-Danube Canal.

 

Every day offers an opportunity to stroll on the Sun Deck and marvel at breathtaking 360-degree views of the ever-changing scenery... to savor fine dining in the elegant restaurant... to relax with friends over a game of cards or curl up with a good book in the library... to enjoy a leisurely cocktail in the stylish bar and observation lounge with its large picture windows. And every evening you'll retire in comfort to your well-appointed outside cabin.

 

You'll cruise intimately with other travelers, and be known as an individual and friend to the English-speaking crew. They'll enhance your shipboard experience and enrich your discoveries of Europe with personal insight into their culture. The ships of Viking River Cruises truly offer you the most rewarding way to discover the real Europe.

Discover Our Ships

Viking River Cruises boasts the most extensive fleet of river cruises vessels, and we are proud to offer you the best ships in each region where we travel. Viking ships are specially designed to navigate the world’s great rivers and provide convenient daily access to a plethora of destinations and experiences. Enjoy all the comfort and elegance of river cruising: attentive and professional staff, delicious onboard meals and spectacular scenery from every stateroom and public area.

 

Explore Ship Classes: Start with Our Award-Winning Longships

 

You’re about to discover the most convenient way to see the world. On a Viking ship, you will sail into the heart of your destination, so you can explore up close and in depth.

Viking Longships

Our award-winning Viking Longships® showcase innovative engineering, streamlined Scandinavian design and understated elegance. Thoughtfully engineered to get you closer to your destination, they provide unprecedented levels of comfort, including spacious staterooms with full-size verandas, the largest suites on Europe’s rivers and the most al fresco dining.

A

  • Viking Longship Aegir
  • Viking Longship Alruna
  • Viking Longship Alsvin
  • Viking Longship Atla

 B

  • Viking Longship Baldur
  • Viking Longship Bragi
  • Viking Longship Buri 

D

  • Viking Longship Delling 

E

  • Viking Longship Egil
  • Viking Longship Einar
  • Viking Longship Eir
  • Viking Longship Embla 

F

  • Viking Longship Forseti 

G

  • Viking Longship Gefjon
  • Viking Longship Gullveig 

H

  • Viking Longship Heimdal
  • Viking Longship Herja
  • Viking Longship Hermod
  • Viking Longship Hild
  • Viking Longship Hlin 

I

  • Viking Longship Idi
  • Viking Longship Idun
  • Viking Longship Ingvi

J

  • Viking Longship Jarl 

 

K

  • Viking Longship Kadlin
  • Viking Longship Kara
  • Viking Longship Kvasir

 

L

  • Viking Longship Lif
  • Viking Longship Lofn 

M

  • Viking Longship Magni
  • Viking Longship Mani
  • Viking Longship Mimir
  • Viking Longship Modi

N

  • Viking Longship Njord 

O

  • Viking Longship Odin  

R

  • Viking Longship Rinda
  • Viking Longship Rolf 

S

  • Viking Longship Sigrun
  • Viking Longship Sigyn
  • Viking Longship Skadi
  • Viking Longship Skirnir 

T

  • Viking Longship Tialfi
  • Viking Longship Tir
  • Viking Longship Tor 

T

  • Viking Longship Tialfi
  • Viking Longship Tir
  • Viking Longship Tor 

U

  • Viking Longship Ullur

Europe

Throughout our decades of sailing the world’s great rivers, Viking has repeatedly reinvented the European river cruise vessel. By continuously building upon our tradition of innovation, we have set industry standard and delighted our guests. Meander along Europe’s great waterways, gliding past magnificent vistas and pausing to explore riverside ports.

 

Douro River Cruise Ships

These intimate ships were custom built to sail Portugal's Douro River, with state-of-the-art engineering, deluxe accommodations and streamlined Scandinavian interiors. Like our Viking Longships, you can choose from a variety of stateroom classes, all with sweeping river views.

  • Viking Helgrim
  • Viking Hemming
  • Viking Osfrid
  • Viking Torgil



Viking Elbe Ships

Boasting many of the same popular design elements of our Viking Longships, our new Elbe ships feature state-of-the art engineering, deluxe accommodations and streamlined Scandinavian interiors. The other classic, intimate ships feature deluxe accommodations and streamlined Scandinavian interiors. Their customized hulls and engines are specially built to navigate the historic Elbe river

  • Viking Astrild
  • Viking Beyla

Russia

 

More than 20 years ago, Viking began sailing the storied waterways of Russia. Today, our fully refurbished, elegant Russia fleet sets new standards of excellence in this region. Complete with hotel-style amenities, they feature spacious staterooms and suites, an inviting restaurant and refined public spaces

Russia Ships  

  • Viking Akum
  • Viking Helgi
  • Viking Ingvar
  • Viking Truvor
  • Viking Rurik
 

Asia

Southeast Asia has so much to offer. Explore timeless riverside landscapes, architecture of ancient cultures and modern world cities in Vietnam and Cambodia or Thailand and Myanmar (Burma). From your intimate river cruise ship on the Mekong or Irrawaddy or China’s deluxe Yangtze River cruise, you will sail past unforgettable scenery, visit destinations rich in history, enjoy wonderful cuisine and meet the region’s fascinating, friendly people.

Built specifically to cruise the Yangtze and Mekong Rivers, our classic river cruise vessels meet the latest international standards of comfort and elegance. With outside verandas, hotel-style beds in every spacious stateroom and suite, public areas bathed in light, design elements that reflect the cultures of the region, and an all English-speaking staff, these river ships are the most distinctive sailing the region


Asia Ships

  • Viking Emerald
  • Viking Mekong

 

 

Ukraine

Completely refurbished in 2014, Viking Sineus offers exceptional ambiance with the comforts of a fine hotel. Enjoy spacious staterooms and suites, an inviting restaurant and beautiful public spaces on an elegant ship that sets a new standard of river cruising excellence in this region.
 
 
  • Ukraine Ship

 

 Egypt River Cruise Ships

 

Specifically built to navigate the Nile River, our Egypt ships have been fully reimagined to international standards of comfort and elegance. With French balconies, hotel-style beds in every spacious stateroom and public areas bathed in light, these ships are the most sophisticated river ships sailing the region.


  • Viking Ra
  • MS Antares
 

Where We Travel

Whether you choose the Rhine, Danube, Seine, Yangtze, Portugal’s Douro or Russia’s Volga, the easy pace of river cruising allows you to both enjoy the scenery and discover unique customs.
 

 

Viking River Cruises Accommodations

 

Viking River Cruises designed their cabins with your needs in mind. All cabins are outside cabins - no dark, interior rooms - and a personal river view comes with each one. Many cabins are equivalent in size to more mainstream cruise ships at around 150 square feet of well-appointed comfort. Clean, Scandinavian-designed rooms offer storage options from wardrobes and bureaus to built-in desks and shelving.

 

Many cabins feature hotel-style beds and large picture windows that open, two unique features not found on most river cruise vessels. All western European ships have in-room televisions with English-language programming, movies for leisure-time viewing, and telephones so you can keep in touch. And a gracious cabin stewardess will service your cabin twice daily, and will pamper you with turndown service to prepare you for a peaceful night's rest.

 

Viking River Cruises Dining

 

Perhaps one of the most anticipated features of your journey through Europe with Viking River Cruises is the opportunity to sample new tastes. Their chefs are trained in the finest European traditions, with specialties in French, German, Austrian and Swiss cuisine.

 

When you dine with Viking River Cruises, your needs are anticipated and your desires fulfilled with pleasure. This starts with the dining rooms, which feature extra-large windows for unobstructed sightseeing, and single-seating, open-seating dining so you are free to make new friends. And you'll love the elegance of dining on place settings of fine Norwegian china, Swiss cutlery, premium Indian cotton linens and German glassware.

 

Start your morning off with a buffet breakfast, complete with a selection of fresh breads, eggs, cereal, pastries, cheese and European cold cuts, plus fresh fruit. You're also welcome to order from a selection of hot items prepared in the kitchen. For lunch, choose from the salad and sandwich bar or enjoy a homemade soup, choice of entrees and dessert. At dinner, you'll look forward to a five-course gourmet menu with a choice of entrees including regional specialties like Roast Pork and Barbary Duck Breast.

 

Thanks to the talent and creativity of their first-class chefs, every item on a Viking River Cruise menu is sure to satisfy and delight. For those with special dietary needs, they can also prepare low cholesterol, low sodium and diabetic selections on advance notice.

 

Viking River Cruises Kids & Teens

 Viking River Cruises does not have a dedicated Children's Program.

 

Viking River Cruises Onboard Activities & Entertainment

 

Viking River Cruises offers passengers the ultimate in river cruising. All itineraries are designed to provide travelers with comprehensive sightseeing opportunities and feature:

 

  • Attentive personal service including an experienced Cruise Manager
  • Fine gourmet dining and regional specialties
  • In Europe & Russia, the Viking Old World Highlights program, featuring folkloric entertainment, lectures, demonstrations and daily shore excursions led by knowledgeable, English-speaking guides
  • In China, a fully-escorted vacation with English-speaking guides, fascinating guided tours and cultural highlights
  • Accommodations in an outside, river-view cabin with private bathroom and shower, and with hotel-style beds and large picture windows that open in many cabins
  • Intimate, deluxe ships averaging 150 passengers for Europe and just 186 for China
  • Beautifully appointed public areas with single-seating restaurants, bars, and lounges
  • Modern nautical equipment meeting the highest safety standards

 

Viking River Cruises Past Guest

 

If you have traveled with Viking River Cruises before, you know that a journey with Viking is a rich experience indeed. But now Viking travel has become even more rewarding! Once you take a Viking vacation, you are automatically enrolled in the Viking Explorer Society, meaning you are part of a community of sophisticated travelers - people who like to expand their world view through river cruising.

 

Silver Tier Benefits (after 1 trip):

 

  • Past Guest Travel Credit
  • Members-only onboard cocktail party
  • Calendar
  • Exclusive Viking Explorer Society phone number

 

Premier Tier Benefits (after 3 trips):

 

  • Includes all Silver Tier benefits plus...
  • Free onboard upgrades (subject to availability)
  • Complimentary Viking Air Plus services