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After launching its first ship in 1997, Viking quickly rose to Big Kahuna status among river cruise lines. The company now has more than 65 ships (more than twice as many as other leading lines) sailing the rivers of Europe, as well as more than a half dozen vessels in Egypt and Asia. The line has continued to launch new ships, most of them 190-guest Viking Longships in Europe offering an innovative, contemporary design that has accomplished the company’s goal of modernizing river cruising.
In 2022, Viking ventured into North America for the first time, debuting 386-guest Viking Mississippi on the Mississippi River. The company has also expanded its fleet on the Nile River in Egypt with the addition of several new vessels accommodating 52 to 82 guests.
Smart Design: The high-tech longships, all named for Norse gods and heroes, are sleek and modern, done up in appealing Scandinavian decor and showcasing light-filled atriums, glass elevators, cabins with verandas, two-room suites, and alfresco alternative dining.
Sleek Uniformity: The Longships are all virtually interchangeable, so you can pick a route rather than trying to get on a particular ship. Repeat guests know what to expect — everything is in the same place — and in an instance of low water creating an impassable section of river, Viking can easily swap passengers between two ships on either side of the issue, with guests moving into the same cabin number they had on the first ship.
Aquavit Terrace: If there’s a favorite spot among guests on Viking’s Longships, it has to be the Aquavit Terrace. What’s better than enjoying an al fresco lunch or a post-tour wine-tasting as you watch the picturesque landscapes along Europe’s legendary rivers serenely pass by?
Easy Exploration: River cruising with Viking is spoon-fed travel at its best. You don't need to bring a guidebook or worry about getting around because local guides meet you at each port. On the ship, you're fed, provided with wine and beer (with lunch and dinner), and well cared for. All you have to do is enjoy river views as your floating hotel takes you from one place to the next.
Local Flair: Viking's crew includes folks from Eastern Europe (even from some of the cities you may be visiting), menus present such local treats as Wiener schnitzel, and evening entertainment regularly involves regional folkloric troupes.
An Older Crowd: The ships are designed for couples and singles ages 55-plus who enjoy a fully-guided vacation experience. Many passengers are actually well past retirement age, so the pace when touring isn’t always as expeditious as younger guests might like.
You Need to Book in Advance: Viking is a well-known brand that is extremely popular with American travelers looking to experience river cruising for the first time — and once they’ve cruised with Viking they are extremely loyal. Make reservations about a year in advance for popular summertime cruises such as the Rhine or Danube. This can ruin the option of spontaneously deciding to do a river cruise.
You Are Part of a Pack: Although you are free to go off on your own in port (as long as you carefully keep track of ship departure times), river cruising Viking-style is very much about traveling as a group.
