Viking Celebrates Start of 2025 River Season in Europe

 

March 20th, 2025 – With the official start of Spring, Viking is also celebrating the start of its 2025 European river season as its award-winning fleet of Viking Longships embark on voyages across the continent’s most scenic waterways.

 

This season, Viking will continue to expand its destination-focused offerings with the introduction of seven new sister ships, which host 190 or fewer guests and are designed specifically for European rivers. Viking will also sail three new itineraries this year, as well as popular Viking voyages. Below my signature I’ve included more information.

 

Earlier this week, Viking took delivery of its new river vessel, the Viking Nerthus (press release here), which is built specifically to sail the Seine River, and the company continues to grow its capacity across its fleet. Based on the committed orderbook, the Company expects to take delivery of 25 additional river ships by 2028 and nine additional ocean ships by 2030. With these orders, Viking will have 109 river ships in 2028 and 21 ocean and expedition ships in 2030.

 

Viking’s River Voyages in Europe:

Sailing March through December, Viking will introduce three new itineraries on the Rhine, Main, and Seine rivers, offering guests the opportunity to explore more of Europe in the Viking way; and it will continue to offer its popular European river voyages. Highlights of the 2025 river season in Europe include:

 

NEW Rhine & Main Explorer (11 days; Nuremberg – Basel) – Discover the hidden gems of southern Germany, Switzerland, and France. Visit Basel, Switzerland’s capital of culture, explore Frankfurt’s vibrant cityscape, and admire the charming medieval towns of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. Turreted castles, rolling vineyards, and a fascinating blend of old and new await.

 

NEW Christmas on the Rhine & Main (11 days; Nuremberg – Basel) – Experience the magic of Europe’s Christmas markets along the Rhine and Main rivers. Browse festive stalls in Basel and Karlsruhe, discover Strasbourg’s Alsatian traditions, and wander through Nuremberg’s world-famous Christkindlesmarkt while savoring mulled wine and handcrafted holiday treats.

 

NEW Christmastime in Paris & Normandy (8 days; roundtrip from Paris) – Celebrate the holiday season in the “City of Light” before setting sail through the serene landscapes of Normandy. Visit the charming riverside town of Rouen, soak in the festive atmosphere of Christmas markets, and return to Paris to enjoy its world-famous holiday illuminations.

 

Rhine Getaway (8 days; Basel – Amsterdam) – 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.

 

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.

 

Romantic Danube (8 days; Budapest – Regensburg) – Visit Budapest’s Castle District and cross the famous Chain Bridge. Explore Göttweig Abbey, one of Austria’s most revered monastic centers, and make dumplings with Wachau Valley apricots. Visit historic Salzburg. Spend two days in Vienna and celebrate the city’s musical heritage at a concert featuring works by Mozart and Strauss. With medieval towns, grand cities and stunning scenery, this eight-day journey on the “Blue Danube” is one you are sure to love.

 

Paris & the Heart of Normandy (8 days; roundtrip to Paris) – 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.

 

Grand European Tour (15 days; Amsterdam – Budapest) – Admire Rhine Valley vistas from a 900-year-old castle. Sample the culinary delights of Austria’s Wachau Valley. Learn the Viennese waltz, visit Melk’s Benedictine Abbey and delve into Nuremberg’s World War II history. Indulge your senses on this 15-day journey spanning the best of Europe, tracing the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers between the windmill-dotted waterways of Holland and the stunning landscapes of Hungary, with engaging encounters at every bend.

 

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.

 

Looking Ahead: 2026 European River Season

Viking also announced its 2026 European river season will include more ways of exploring the region with the company including four additional sister ships in the Viking Longships fleet. Additionally, starting in 2026, Viking will add four new immersive Pre and Post Extensions. The new, fully guided, three or four-night extensions feature Privileged Access® to museums, local cuisine for lunches and dinners, vineyard visits, cooking classes and exploration of the region by scenic train travel – as well as more time to personalize the journey with optional excursions. The new extensions include:

 

Best of Holland – Discover Holland’s rich cultural heritage, scenic beauty and iconic sights. Explore Delft’s Royal Dutch Delftware Manufactory and Gouda’s historic sites, and partake in a stroopwafel workshop. See The Hague’s landmarks and admire the masterpieces on display at the Mauritshuis Museum and Rijksmuseum.

 

Best of Belgium – Experience the rich history, stunning architecture and vibrant culture of Belgium during visits to three of its most captivating cities. Immerse yourself in the picturesque UNESCO-listed charms of Brussels and medieval Bruges, and explore bustling Antwerp, Europe’s renowned diamond capital.

 

Reims & Champagne – Explore the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of the Champagne region. Stroll through lush vineyards, savor a taste of champagne and exquisite cuisine, and visit the grave of Dom Pérignon. Admire the grandeur of Reims Cathedral and see the Châteaux de Vaux-le-Vicomte, an inspiration for Versailles.

 

St. Moritz, Lombardy & Alpine Train – Board the Bernina Express for a stunning rail journey along a UNESCO World Heritage Site route through the majestic Alps and Northern Italy. Explore the old town of Chur and admire striking views from atop Muottas Muragl in Saint Moritz. Experience Milan, the cultural center of Northern Italy.

 

Swiss Alps & Scenic Train – Journey through the Swiss Alps and visit picturesque alpine villages and towns, traveling by train on the scenic GoldenPass railway. Enjoy a stay amid scenic vistas by Lake Geneva’s shores, discover the serene beauty of Switzerland’s famed mountain range and explore the beautiful Jungfrau region.