Europe’s Legendary Waterways · Intimate Cultural Journeys

Viking River Cruises

Discover the heart of Europe and beyond aboard Viking’s award-winning river fleet – purpose-built longships offering culturally immersive itineraries, elegant Scandinavian design, and an inclusive experience that brings destinations to life.

A modern river cruise ship navigates the Douro River in Porto, with the iconic Dom Luís I Bridge and historic city architecture in the background. Two sailboats are also visible on the river.

The World’s Leading River Cruise Line

Founded in 1997 by Torstein Hagen, Viking has revolutionized river cruising with its fleet of innovative Longships – sleek, purpose-built vessels designed to navigate Europe’s most storied waterways. With a focus on destination-enriched itineraries, elegant Scandinavian design, and an inclusive approach to cruising, Viking River Cruises consistently earns top honors from travel publications worldwide. Their ships carry just 190 guests, creating an intimate atmosphere that brings you closer to the culture, history, and cuisine of every destination.

At a Glance

Cruise Line: Viking River Cruises – Premium River Cruising, Destination-Focused, Inclusive

Fleet: 80+ award-winning Viking Longships plus specialty vessels for select waterways

Destinations: Europe’s great rivers including the Rhine, Danube, Seine, Douro, Rhône, Elbe, and more – plus select itineraries in Asia, Egypt, and the Mississippi

Ship Size: 190 guests on Viking Longships, creating an intimate and refined atmosphere

Signature Feature: Culturally enriching itineraries with included shore excursions, onboard lectures, and the innovative Aquavit Terrace – one of the industry’s first outdoor riverside dining venues

  • A guided shore excursion in every port of call
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi throughout the ship
  • Wine, beer, and soft drinks with lunch and dinner onboard
  • All onboard meals in multiple dining venues
  • Port charges and government taxes
  • Cultural enrichment through onboard lectures and destination performances
  • Self-service laundry facilities
  • 24-hour specialty coffee, tea, and bottled water

Optional Silver Spirits beverage package and additional excursions available for purchase.

  • Award-winning Longships with patented design features including the Aquavit Terrace and full-size veranda staterooms
  • Destination-focused itineraries designed by cultural experts — no sea days, every day is an exploration
  • No children under 18 — a serene, adult-only atmosphere
  • Consistently rated #1 river cruise line by Travel + Leisure, Condé Nast Traveler, and cruise industry publications

The Restaurant: Elegant main dining room featuring regionally inspired menus that change with each destination

Aquavit Terrace: Viking’s signature alfresco dining venue at the bow of the ship — enjoy casual meals while watching the scenery glide by

Chef’s Table: Multi-course tasting menu with wine pairings for an elevated culinary evening (additional charge)

All onboard dining is included, with wine, beer, and soft drinks complimentary at lunch and dinner. Regional specialties and local ingredients are featured throughout every voyage.

Standard Staterooms: 150 sq. ft. with a half-height picture window on the lower deck

French Balcony Staterooms: 135 sq. ft. with a floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door for fresh river breezes

Veranda Staterooms: 205 sq. ft. with a full private balcony — Viking’s patented design innovation

Veranda Suites: 275 sq. ft. with a spacious veranda and separate living area

Explorer Suites: 445 sq. ft. — the largest suites on European rivers, with a wraparound private veranda and premium amenities

At a Glance

Inclusive River Cruising

190 Guests

Intimate ships, immersive destinations

  • Guided excursion in every port
  • Wine, beer & soft drinks at meals
  • Complimentary Wi-Fi
  • Onboard cultural enrichment
  • All onboard meals included
  • Port charges & government taxes
  • Adult-only atmosphere (18+)

Optional Silver Spirits package available

Explore

Discover Viking River

A white river cruise ship sailing past a picturesque European town with historic buildings and a church tower, nestled among forested mountains with a castle in the background.

The Aquavit Terrace

Viking’s signature Aquavit Terrace transformed river cruising when it debuted as one of the industry’s first true alfresco dining spaces at the bow of the ship. Enclosed by a retractable glass canopy, this innovative venue lets you enjoy casual breakfast, lunch, and dinner while watching castles, vineyards, and charming villages drift past. Our advisors have dined here on multiple sailings, and they’ll tell you there’s nothing quite like a leisurely lunch in the Wachau Valley or sundowner cocktails as a medieval town comes into view. It’s a dining experience that simply cannot be replicated on land.

The Viking Longship Design

Viking’s award-winning Longships are the gold standard of European river cruising. Inspired by Scandinavian design principles of clean lines, light-filled spaces, and understated elegance, these 443-foot vessels carry just 190 guests. The ships feature an abundance of natural light through floor-to-ceiling windows, the innovative two-story Atrium Lobby with an organic herb garden, and the serene indoor Sun Deck with a walking track and putting green. Every detail – from handcrafted teak furniture to the curated Scandinavian art – reflects Viking’s commitment to thoughtful, purposeful design. Our advisors have walked these decks and can recommend exactly which stateroom category and deck placement will give you the best experience for your voyage.

A white Viking river cruise ship docked near a historic riverside city with green trees and architectural landmarks. The vessel is moored in a lock with a picturesque urban landscape in the background.
A modern river cruise ship navigates a tranquil river in front of an impressive Renaissance-style castle with multiple towers, surrounded by lush green trees and a dramatic blue sky with white clouds.

Destinations That Tell a Story

Viking River Cruises sail the world’s most storied waterways – from the grand Danube winding through Budapest and Vienna, to the romantic Rhine Valley dotted with fairy-tale castles, to the Seine flowing through the French countryside to Paris. Explore Portugal’s sun-drenched Douro Valley, cruise the Rhône through Provence, or journey along the Elbe from Berlin to Prague. Beyond Europe, Viking offers voyages on the Nile through ancient Egypt, the Mekong through Southeast Asia, and the Mississippi through America’s heartland. Each itinerary is crafted to immerse you in local culture, history, and cuisine – because with Viking, the destination is always the star.

Experience

The Viking River Experience

Destination-Focused Itineraries

There are no sea days on a Viking river cruise. You wake up in a new destination almost every morning, step off the ship for an included guided excursion, and return to onboard lectures and local performances that deepen your understanding of each region.

Regionally Inspired Cuisine

From local market ingredients to regional wine selections, Viking’s onboard dining reflects the places you visit. Menus rotate daily in The Restaurant, the Aquavit Terrace puts you right at the bow for a relaxed meal with a view, and the Chef’s Table elevates an evening into a culinary event.

Award-Winning Longships

Viking’s innovative Longships blend clean Scandinavian aesthetics with clever engineering – think floor-to-ceiling windows flooding every corridor with natural light, a two-story atrium lobby, and a Sun Deck walking track for scenic stretches between ports.

Images

Gallery

A modern river cruise ship sailing along the Moselle River, with a picturesque medieval castle perched on a forested hill and a charming European town in the foreground.
A white Viking river cruise ship docked in a scenic European city, with lush green trees and historic buildings along the riverbank on a sunny day.
A historic stone castle perched on a forested riverbank with a dramatic curved river and golden sunset landscape. A river cruise ship navigates the scenic waterway past the picturesque medieval fortress.
A white river cruise ship docked in a picturesque German town with twin-spired church towers, surrounded by lush green forested hills and a calm river.
A picturesque medieval castle perched on a forested hilltop overlooking the Rhine River, with a cruise ship sailing below and a misty morning landscape in the background.
A modern river cruise ship sailing along a picturesque waterway with a charming European village nestled on the shoreline, surrounded by terraced vineyards and forested hills.
Ships

Our Fleet

Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Viking River Cruises is the world’s leading river cruise line, consistently rated #1 by Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler. What sets them apart is their unwavering focus on destination immersion – every itinerary is crafted by cultural experts to bring the history, art, and cuisine of each region to life. Their award-winning Longships feature innovative Scandinavian design with more outdoor space than any competitor, and their adult-only policy (18+) ensures a serene and refined atmosphere throughout the voyage.

Viking River Cruises include a guided shore excursion in every port, all onboard meals, wine, beer, and soft drinks with lunch and dinner, complimentary Wi-Fi, port charges and government taxes, onboard cultural enrichment lectures and performances, specialty coffee, tea, and bottled water around the clock, and self-service laundry facilities. When you book through Cruise Help, you also benefit from our exclusive group rates, weekly price monitoring, and no booking fees — ever.

Viking Longships offer five stateroom categories to suit different preferences and budgets. Standard Staterooms (150 sq. ft.) feature half-height windows on the lower deck. French Balcony Staterooms (135 sq. ft.) have floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors. Veranda Staterooms (205 sq. ft.) feature Viking’s patented full private balcony design. Veranda Suites (275 sq. ft.) add a separate living area. Explorer Suites (445 sq. ft.) are the largest suites on European rivers, with a wraparound private veranda. Our expert advisors can help you choose the perfect cabin for your needs and budget.

Viking River Cruises sail Europe’s most iconic waterways including the Rhine, Danube, Seine, Douro, Rhône, Elbe, Main, and Moselle. Beyond Europe, Viking offers river voyages on the Nile in Egypt, the Mekong in Southeast Asia, and the Mississippi in the United States. Popular itineraries include the Romantic Danube (Budapest to Nuremberg), Rhine Getaway (Amsterdam to Basel), Paris & the Heart of Normandy, and Portugal’s River of Gold along the Douro Valley.

All onboard dining is included in your fare. The Restaurant serves regionally inspired menus that change with each destination, featuring locally sourced ingredients. The Aquavit Terrace – Viking’s signature innovation – offers casual alfresco dining at the bow of the ship. For a special evening, the Chef’s Table presents an elevated multi-course tasting menu with wine pairings (additional charge applies). Wine, beer, and soft drinks are complimentary with lunch and dinner.

Absolutely! Viking River Cruises are one of our most recommended options for first-time cruisers. The intimate 190-guest ships feel more like a floating boutique hotel than a traditional cruise ship, with no motion sickness concerns on calm rivers. The inclusive pricing means fewer surprises, and the included excursions take the guesswork out of sightseeing. Plus, you unpack once and visit a new destination almost every day. Our expert advisors at Cruise Help have sailed these itineraries and can help you choose the perfect first river cruise.

Yes! Viking’s Explorer Society loyalty program rewards repeat guests with increasing benefits. After your first sailing, you automatically become a member and receive benefits including savings on future cruises, onboard credit, special pricing on new itineraries, and early access to new sailings before they’re available to the public. Our team at Cruise Help can help you maximize your loyalty benefits and combine them with our exclusive group rates for even greater savings.

Viking maintains an adult-only policy — all guests must be 18 years of age or older. This creates a refined, peaceful atmosphere that appeals to travelers seeking a culturally enriching experience without the distractions of a family-oriented cruise. For families traveling with children, our expert advisors at Cruise Help can recommend other excellent river cruise lines that welcome younger guests.

Most Viking River itineraries range from 7 to 15 days, with the most popular European sailings being 7 or 8 days. Longer Grand European Tour itineraries of 15 days sail from Amsterdam to Budapest (or reverse), covering both the Rhine and Danube. Viking also offers shorter 5-day introductory voyages and extended journeys that can be combined with pre- and post-cruise land extensions. Our advisors can help you find the ideal length and itinerary for your schedule and interests.

When you book Viking River Cruises through Cruise Help, you get access to exclusive group rates with savings up to 50% off published fares – with just one room. Our team of 23+ expert advisors, many with real cruise ship experience, provides personalized stateroom selection advice, itinerary planning, and loyalty program strategy. We perform weekly price monitoring on every booking and automatically adjust your rate if the price drops. Plus, we never charge booking, consultation, or change fees – ever. With 365-day support, you’re never on your own from the moment you inquire to the moment you disembark.

Get Started

Ready to Explore Europe’s Great Rivers?

Discover the culturally rich, beautifully designed world of Viking River Cruises. When you’re ready to sail the Rhine, Danube, Seine, or any of the world’s legendary waterways, speak with our expert advisors at Cruise Help. With exclusive group rates, weekly price monitoring, and no fees – ever – your dream river cruise begins with us!