With the official start of Spring in Europe, Viking is celebrating the start of its 2025 European river season as its award-winning fleet of Viking Longships embark on their journeys 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 its popular Viking journeys.
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.
Please see additional details about the new river offerings in 2025 and beyond. For images, feel free to download from the Media Center here (credit: Viking).
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 savouring 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. Savour 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 centres, 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.
