Viking has grown from four river ships in Russia into one of the best known names in river cruising. Its Longships are a familiar sight on the Rhine and the Danube, and its formula of included tours, free Wi-Fi and wine with dinner suits a lot of British travellers very well.
River cruising the Viking way
Viking River Cruises is the first cruise line we feature on River Cruise World, and there is a good reason for starting here. Viking describes its river fleet as the most extensive of any cruise line, and it sails most of the major rivers on the continent, from the Rhine, Main and Danube to the Seine, the Rhône, the Douro in Portugal and the Elbe through eastern Germany.
The ships are built around one clear idea, which is that the destination should take centre stage. Interiors are calm and Scandinavian in style, with pale wood, plenty of glass and nothing too showy. Every stateroom faces the river, there are no inside cabins, and the public spaces are designed to give you a view whenever the ship is moving.
On board, the atmosphere is relaxed and grown up. Viking only takes guests aged 18 and over, and you will not find a casino, art auctions or formal nights. Evenings tend to involve a talk about tomorrow's port, a glass of wine with dinner and perhaps a local musician in the lounge, with most people in bed in good time for the next morning's walking tour.
We book Viking as an agent, so your contract is with Viking and you get exactly the same ship, itinerary and inclusions. What we add is independent advice. We can help you choose between rivers, explain which stateroom grade is worth paying for and point out where the Seine, Douro and Elbe ships differ from the standard Longships. Email us and we will take it from there.
Explore Europe with Viking
Video: Explore Europe with Viking (Viking Cruises)
What your fare includes
Return flights
Return flights from London and selected regional airports, with ground transfers included when you fly with Viking.
A shore excursion in every port
One included shore excursion in each port of call, usually a guided walking or coach tour, with optional extras to buy.
All meals on board
Breakfast, lunch and dinner every day you are on board, including al fresco dining on the Aquavit Terrace.
Drinks with lunch and dinner
Beer, wine and soft drinks served with lunch and dinner, plus specialty coffee, tea and bottled water at any hour.
Free Wi-Fi
Wi-Fi is included on board at no extra charge, though speeds can vary as the ship moves along the river.
Port taxes and fees
Port taxes and fees are built into the fare, so there are no extra charges waiting at the end.
Onboard gratuities
Gratuities for the crew on board are included in the fare.
Enrichment and performances
Talks on the history and culture of your route, plus local performers who bring the destinations to life on board.
Viking river cruises in Europe
Every itinerary below has its own page with a full day by day description, what is included and lead-in fares (checked in October 2026). Christmas market sailings, the 2030 Oberammergau Passion Play cruises and Viking's Nile, Mekong, India and Mississippi voyages will follow soon.
Rhine, Main and Moselle
Rhine Getaway
Eight days down the Rhine from the Swiss border to the canals of Amsterdam, with Alsace, the castle country of the Middle Rhine and Cologne along the way.
NewCastles, Vineyards & Villages
Eight days from Bavaria to Amsterdam, along the vine-covered Main and through the castle country of the Middle Rhine.
Rhine & Main Explorer
Eleven days from Nuremberg to Basel, through the wine towns of Franconia and down the Rhine to Alsace and the Swiss border.
Rhine & Moselle Discovery
Eight days from Roman Trier to Basel, following the winding Moselle to the Rhine and sailing south through the castle country of the Rhine Gorge.
A Tale of Three Rivers
Eight days through Germany on the Main, the Rhine and the Moselle, from beer-loving Bamberg to Roman Trier.
Paris to the Swiss Alps
Start with two days in Paris, cruise the Moselle and Rhine through vineyards and castle country, and finish beside the lake in Zürich.
Cities of Light
Twelve days from Paris to Prague, following the Moselle, Rhine and Main through Roman Trier, wine country and the old towns of Franconia.
The Danube
Romantic Danube
Eight days on the Danube from Budapest to medieval Regensburg, with two full days in Vienna and a slow sail through the vineyards of the Wachau.
Danube Waltz
A week on the Danube from Budapest to Passau, taking in four countries, two capitals that rarely get the attention they deserve and the vineyards of the Wachau.
Passage to Eastern Europe
Eleven days on the lower Danube, from Bucharest to Budapest, through the gorges of the Iron Gate and across five countries, several of which most river cruisers never reach.
Capitals of Eastern Europe
Seventeen days down the Danube from Vienna to Bucharest, with five capital cities, the Iron Gate gorges and a final run towards the Black Sea.
Grand journeys across Europe
Grand European Tour
Fifteen days across the continent by water, from the bridges of Budapest to the canals of Amsterdam, linking the Danube, the Main and the Rhine.
NewRhine, Main & Danube Odyssey
Eighteen days by river from Budapest to Basel, crossing the heart of Europe on the Danube, the Main and the Rhine.
European Sojourn
Twenty-three days and three rivers, from the canals of Amsterdam to the boulevards of Bucharest, crossing eight countries without changing your style of travel.
Lyon, Provence & the Rhineland
Fifteen days from the papal city of Avignon to the canals of Amsterdam, sailing two great wine rivers and crossing four countries on the way.
France
Paris & the Heart of Normandy
Eight days on the Seine, starting and finishing in Paris, with Monet's garden, medieval Rouen and the Normandy beaches along the way.
London, Paris & D-Day
Twelve days of remembrance, from the wartime bunkers of London and the codebreakers of Bletchley Park to the Seine, Rouen and the beaches of Normandy.
Lyon & Provence
Eight days on the Rhône from the papal city of Avignon to Lyon, the capital of French gastronomy, through Roman Provence and terraced wine country.
France's Finest
Fifteen days, two rivers and the best of France, from Paris and the Normandy beaches to the vineyards of the Rhône and the Roman towns of Provence.
Châteaux, Rivers & Wine
A week on the rivers of Bordeaux, sailing round trip from the city to the vineyards of Saint-Émilion, the Médoc and Sauternes.
Holland and Belgium
Holland & Belgium
Ten days on the canals and rivers of the Low Countries, from Amsterdam's gabled waterfronts to the chocolate shops and diamond streets of Antwerp.
Tulips & Windmills
A spring round trip from Amsterdam through the Dutch waterways and into Belgium, timed for the tulips, the windmills and the long light evenings.
Portugal and the Douro
Portugal's River of Gold
Ten days from Lisbon to Porto, with a round-trip Douro cruise through terraced port wine country and a day across the border in Salamanca.
Douro's Valleys & Vineyards
Eight days on Portugal's river of wine, from the riverside lodges of Porto to the Spanish border and the golden university city of Salamanca.
The Elbe
The story of Viking
Viking was founded in 1997 by Torstein Hagen, a Norwegian businessman, and began life in St Petersburg with four river ships bought in Russia. From those Russian beginnings the company spread across the rivers of Europe and beyond. Hagen has long argued that curious travellers want to understand the places they visit rather than simply be entertained, and that thinking still shapes the way Viking runs its cruises.
The big change came with the Viking Longships. The first four, Viking Odin, Viking Idun, Viking Freya and Viking Njord, were named in March 2012, two in Amsterdam and two at the Neptun shipyard in Germany. Ten more were named on a single day in 2013, and the Longship design has been the backbone of the European fleet ever since. Viking went on to launch ocean cruises in 2015 and expedition voyages in 2022.
On 21 October 2025 Viking named nine new river ships in one linked ceremony, led from Viking Honir in Basel, Switzerland, with the other ships taking part from Germany, France, Portugal, Vietnam and Egypt. The ceremony took the company past 100 ships across its river, ocean and expedition fleets. In 2026 Leah Talactac was appointed chief executive, with Torstein Hagen becoming executive chairman.
What makes Viking different
Viking is quite open about what it leaves out. There are no children under 18 on board, no casinos, no photography sales, no art auctions, no formal nights and no smoking. There are no inside staterooms either, so every guest has a river view. For many of our travellers this is exactly the point: a quieter, adult ship where the evenings are about good food and conversation.
The Longships themselves were designed with river cruising in mind. At the bow, the Aquavit Terrace is an indoor and outdoor space where you can eat breakfast or lunch in the open air as the scenery passes. The Explorer Suites at the stern have a wraparound veranda, and many of the standard grades have either a full veranda or a French balcony with a floor-to-ceiling sliding door.
Viking also puts real effort into what it calls enrichment. Expect talks on the history and culture of the places you visit, local performers coming on board and a guided tour in every port. It suits people who like to understand where they are, not just see it.
What is included in your fare
On Viking's European cruises sold in the UK, the fare covers a great deal. Return flights from London and selected regional airports are included, along with one shore excursion in every port of call, all meals on board, and beer, wine and soft drinks with lunch and dinner. Specialty coffee, tea and bottled water are available around the clock, Wi-Fi is free, and port taxes, fees and onboard gratuities are covered too.
Ground transfers are included when you take Viking's flights, and enrichment lectures and destination performances are part of the cruise. Extras you might pay for include optional tours, drinks outside mealtimes and anything you buy ashore. Inclusions can differ on some routes outside Europe, so we always confirm exactly what is covered when we send your quotation.
Who a Viking river cruise suits
Viking is a natural fit for adults who enjoy history, architecture, food and wine, and who like their holidays organised without being regimented. A typical day might be a guided walk in the morning, free time in the afternoon and a relaxed dinner as the ship sails on. Couples, friends travelling together and first time cruisers all tend to settle in quickly.
It is not the right choice for a family holiday, as no one under 18 can sail, and it will not suit anyone looking for nightlife, shows or a casino. If you are unsure whether it is for you, email us. We would rather help you choose the right holiday than sell you the wrong one.
Viking River Cruises: questions answered
Yes. Every guest on a Viking cruise must be 18 or over. The line raised its minimum age to 18 for new bookings from August 2018, and it is one of the main reasons people choose Viking for a peaceful, grown up holiday.
On Viking's European river cruises sold in the UK, return flights from London and selected regional airports are included, along with ground transfers when you fly with Viking. Ask us which airports are available for your sailing, as the choice varies by date and itinerary.
Beer, wine and soft drinks are included with lunch and dinner, and specialty coffee, tea and bottled water are available at any time. Drinks outside mealtimes, such as a cocktail in the lounge before dinner, are charged to your onboard account.
Yes, onboard gratuities are included in the fare on Viking's European river cruises booked in the UK, so there is no need to budget for crew tips at the end of the trip. Tipping local guides on excursions is up to you.
No. Viking has no casinos, no art auctions and no formal nights. Evening entertainment is low key, often a talk about the next port or a local musician in the lounge. Most guests prefer it that way.
Viking sails the Rhine, Main, Danube and Moselle, the Dutch and Belgian waterways, the Rhône and Saône in France, the Garonne and Dordogne around Bordeaux, the Seine through Paris and Normandy, the Douro in Portugal and the Elbe, on cruises between Berlin and Prague. It also offers river cruises in Egypt, Asia and on the Mississippi.
Yes, Viking has no inside staterooms. Depending on the grade you choose, you will have a window, a French balcony with a sliding glass door or a full veranda you can sit out on. Our Viking Longships page explains each grade in detail.
Yes, Wi-Fi is included at no charge. Speeds vary as the ship travels through valleys, locks and rural stretches, so it is fine for messages and email but may struggle with streaming. Your mobile phone will work along most European rivers too, so check your roaming charges before you go.
Email enquiries@rivercruiseworld.co.uk with the cruise you like, your preferred dates and the number of travellers. We will check availability, send you a written quotation and answer any questions. When you are ready, we make the booking with Viking on your behalf.