viking riverboat cruises europe

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The Viking Fleet

Viking longships.

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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.

Viking Longships 360° Tour

Step inside our award-winning, state-of-the-art sister ships.

All Longships

• Viking Aegir
• Viking Alruna
• Viking Alsvin
• Viking Atla
• Viking Baldur
• Viking Bragi
• Viking Buri
• Viking Delling
• Viking Egdir
• Viking Egil
• Viking Einar
• Viking Embla
• Viking Forseti
• Viking Freya
• Viking Gefjon
• Viking Gersemi
• Viking Gullveig
• Viking Gymir
• Viking Heimdal
• Viking Herja
• Viking Hermod
• Viking Hervor
• Viking Hild
• Viking Hlin
• Viking Idun
• Viking Ingvi
• Viking Jarl
• Viking Kadlin
• Viking Kara
• Viking Kvasir
• Viking Lofn
• Viking Magni
• Viking Mani
• Viking Mimir
• Viking Modi
• Viking Njord
• Viking Rinda
• Viking Rolf
• Viking Sigrun
• Viking Sigyn
• Viking Skadi
• Viking Skirnir
• Viking Tialfi
• Viking Ullur
• Viking Vali
• Viking Vidar
• Viking Vilhjalm
• Viking Vili

Ship Videos

Viking Longships Tour

With their innovative patented design, al fresco Aquavit Terrace and understated elegance, Viking Longships provide the most rewarding way to explore Europe. Find out more on this short tour.

Viking Onboard Experience

Tour our stylish ships, designed with understated elegance and comfort in mind. Spacious staterooms, indoor and outdoor dining venues and panoramic views enrich your travel experience.

The Original Longships

Delve into the past for a look into the art of building a Viking longship. Meet a master boatbuilder and learn about the role these vessels played in Viking society centuries ago.

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Viking River Cruises

Viking ocean cruises.

• Scandinavia
• British Isles & Ireland
• North America
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• Mediterranean
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• World Cruises
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European River Cruises

Immerse yourself in the Old World as you sail Europe’s most iconic rivers. Discover Danube gems like Vienna and Budapest. See storied Rhine castles. Trace French history along the Seine. From the Main to the Moselle, the Douro to the Dordogne, the Viking experience is unsurpassed.

Danube River Cruises

Winding through ten countries past old-world cultures, emerald-greenhills and vibrant cities, the Danube has witnessed epic histories that have shaped all of Europe.

Rhine River Cruises

Steeped in legend, the scenic Rhine flows through six countries. Fairy-tale castles and soaring fortresses along its banks evoke the spirit of medieval Europe.

Elbe River Cruises

From the Bohemian highlands, the historic Elbe passes the soaring landscapes of Saxony and the baroque splendor of German cultural centers.

Main River Cruises

Forested hills, vibrant meadows and richly historic towns line the Main, a Rhine tributary celebrated for the ornate palaces that dot its tranquil shores.

Douro River Cruises

The Douro River travels along ancient wine estates, passing barcos rabelos laden with casks en route to Porto and Lisbon, defining a sublimely scenic corner of Europe.

Seine River Cruises

The glorious Seine winds through elegant Paris into historic Normandy, passing bucolic villages and scenic landscapes and farm lands that inspired famed Impressionist artists.

Moselle River Cruises

The tranquil Moselle twists through France and Luxembourg before traversing one of Germany’s most picturesque wine-growing regions, lined by steeply terraced vineyards.

Rhône River Cruises

The fabled Rhône, lined with vestiges of a rich Roman past, courses through picturesque Provence, cultivating renowned vineyards and vibrant wild flower fields.

Why Cruise the Rivers of Europe?

Viking takes you to the heart of Europe via its grand waterways, providing you with boundless insight into the continent’s cultural and historic treasures. Immerse yourself in the storybook villages, vibrant cultural centers and picturesque landscapes of The Netherlands, Austria, Germany, France, Hungary and Switzerland, and unlock a whole new world of discovery. Here is a sample of what you will see on one of our European river cruises:

• Visits to Germany’s charming wine-producing villages
• Culinary delights in Lyon, France
• Medieval Prague, “City of a Thousand Spires”
• The elegant boulevards and grand monuments of Paris
• Historic Wittenberg, home to Martin Luther
• Fairytale windmills of The Netherlands
• Wine tastings in the quintas of Portugal’s Douro Valley
• Budapest’s regal Parliament building and Chain Bridge
• Vienna’s inspirational legacy of classical music
• France’s famed wineries in Beaujolais, Bordeaux and beyond

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Viking River Cruises

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Viking Ocean Cruises

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Press Release

Viking announces opening of 2026 european river season, due to strong demand, bookings are now open for the company’s popular river voyages.

Los Angeles (December 11, 2023) – Viking® ( www.viking.com ) today announced that the 2026 season of its European river voyages is now open for reservations. With many 2024 dates already sold out and the 2025 season selling well, strong demand among North American travelers has led to an early opening of all 2026 departures for Viking’s iconic itineraries on the rivers of Europe.

“Our guests are curious travelers who are interested in history, art and culture, which is why Europe remains our most popular destination,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. “The idea of a modern river voyage is still new to many, even to some of the most well-traveled individuals. But make no mistake; there is no better way of exploring the heart of Europe than sailing its historic waterways on an elegant Viking Longship. We look forward to welcoming more guests, both returning and new, on board our state-of-the-art vessels in the coming years.”

With a current fleet of 80 river ships and more than 50 percent of the market share for North American travelers, Viking is by far the industry’s leading river line. Some of company’s most popular itineraries in Europe include:

• Danube Waltz   (8 days; Budapest—Passau) – Soak up soothing steam at a Budapest thermal bath. Learn to waltz at a Viennese dance school. Savor Austro-Hungarian cuisine in Vienna and Budapest. Admire the Wachau Valley’s beauty. Explore lesser-known Central European cities like Bratislava and Passau. Witness daily monastic life on an exclusive visit to Göttweig Abbey. This eight-day itinerary reveals the best of these places while cruising leisurely through spectacular scenery.
• Rhine Getaway (8 days; Amsterdam—Basel) – Explore one of Europe’s best-loved rivers. Discover the turreted fortresses, grand cathedrals, historic cities, medieval towns and stunning scenery of the Middle Rhine—a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Taste the region’s renowned white wines, the roots of its terraced vineyards reaching back to Roman times. Savor the various culinary traditions of Alsace. With calls in Amsterdam, Cologne and Basel, this journey reveals a rich landscape of beauty and culture.
• Paris & the Heart of Normandy (8 days; Paris roundtrip) – Dock in the heart of Paris, admiring views of the Eiffel Tower and a replica of the Statue of Liberty from your ship. Experience history firsthand at the Normandy beaches and delight in Rouen’s Gothic architecture. Explore Giverny and the charming house and gardens where Claude Monet lived and worked, the setting inspiring many of his masterpieces. This voyage celebrates history, art, food and customs in France’s most alluring urban and pastoral settings.
• Lyon & Provence (8 days; Lyon—Avignon) – Tap into your inner van Gogh at an Arles painting class. Discover Roman Provence at Les Arènes d’Arles and the Pont du Gard. Explore the world’s largest Gothic palace at Avignon’s grand Palace of the Popes. Excite your palate in Lyon, capital of French gastronomy. Savor local wines, hunt for truffles and see how chèvre cheese is made. Come witness the beauty that inspired artists like Cézanne and Chagall on this eight-day voyage along the Rhône.
• Portugal’s River of Gold (10 days; Lisbon—Porto) – Experience the renaissance of Lisbon, newly invigorated with trending galleries and restaurants. Explore two of Iberia’s oldest university towns: Coimbra, Portugal and Salamanca, Spain. Roam the port warehouses of Porto. Enjoy traditional cuisine, wine and fado singing. Cruise the Douro River Valley, the world’s oldest demarcated wine region and a UNESCO Site. Our 10-day cruisetour includes a hotel stay in Lisbon and the added bonus of a visit to Spain.

Viking recently announced it will welcome an additional 10 Viking Longships ® to its river fleet by the end of 2026. Currently under construction, eight of the new vessels will sail Viking’s itineraries on the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers, while two additional Viking Longships will join the fleet on the Seine River. To meet the strong demand, five of the new vessels will be delivered in 2025, with the remaining five to be delivered in 2026.

Today’s announcement follows a year of accolades for Viking. Most recently, Viking was honored with seven awards—more than any other line—in the 2023 Cruise Critic Editors’ Picks Awards, including Best River Line, Best for First-Timers and Best Service in the river category. In October, Viking made history when it was voted #1 for rivers, oceans and expeditions by  Condé Nast Traveler in the publication’s 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards. The company was also voted to the top of its categories for rivers, oceans and expeditions by Travel + Leisure in the 2023 World’s Best Awards. No other travel company has simultaneously received the same honors by both publications.

Booking Details

From now through December 31, 2023, Viking is offering North American travelers the Holiday Sale, with up to FREE international airfare, special fares and a $25 deposit on all 2026 European river voyages—as well as other river, ocean and expedition voyages. Call Viking toll free at 1-855-8-VIKING (1-855-884-5464) or contact a travel advisor for details.

Media Assets

For more information about Viking, or for images and b-roll, please contact [email protected] .

About Viking

Viking was founded in 1997 and provides destination-focused journeys on rivers, oceans and lakes around the world. Designed for curious travelers with interests in science, history, culture and cuisine, Chairman Torstein Hagen often says Viking offers experiences for The Thinking Person™. Viking has more than 450 awards to its name, including being rated #1 for Rivers, #1 for Oceans and #1 for Expeditions by Condé Nast Traveler in the 2023 Readers’ Choice Awards. Viking is also rated at the top of its categories for rivers, oceans and expeditions by Travel + Leisure . No other travel company has simultaneously received the same honors by both publications. For additional information, contact Viking at 1-800-2-VIKING (1-800-284-5464) or visit https://www.viking.com/ . For Viking’s award-winning enrichment channel, visit https://www.viking.tv/ .

Sign up to receive updates from Viking

Stay current with special offers, news and destination-focused content.

Company Information

• Order a Brochure
• Travel Advisors
• Media Center
• Health & Safety Program
• Privacy Policy
• Cookie Policy
• Manage Cookies

Viking River Cruises

• Mississippi

Viking Ocean Cruises

• Scandinavia
• British Isles & Ireland
• North America
• Caribbean & Central America
• South America
• Mediterranean
• Quiet Season Mediterranean
• Australia & New Zealand
• World Cruises
• Grand Journeys

Viking Expeditions

• Great Lakes
• Longitudinal World Cruises