TORONTO — With the arrival of spring, Viking is celebrating the launch of its 2025 European river cruise season as its award-winning fleet of Viking Longships set sail across some of the continent’s most scenic waterways.
This year, Viking is expanding its destination-focused offerings with the addition of seven new sister ships, each accommodating 190 or fewer guests and designed specifically for European river cruising. The cruise line is also introducing three new itineraries, alongside its popular existing voyages.
Last week, Viking took delivery of its newest river vessel, the Viking Nerthus, built to sail the Seine River. The company continues to grow its fleet, with plans to take delivery of 25 additional river ships by 2028 and nine new ocean ships by 2030. With these orders, Viking will have 109 river ships by 2028 and a total of 21 ocean and expedition ships by 2030.
New and Returning European River Itineraries
Sailing from March through December, Viking will introduce the following new itineraries in 2025:
- Rhine & Main Explorer (11 days; Nuremberg – Basel): Discover southern Germany, Switzerland, and France, exploring cities like Frankfurt and Basel while admiring medieval towns and vineyard-covered hills.
- Christmas on the Rhine & Main (11 days; Nuremberg – Basel): Experience Europe’s festive Christmas markets along the Rhine and Main rivers, including stops in Basel, Strasbourg, and Nuremberg.
- Christmastime in Paris & Normandy (8 days; roundtrip from Paris): Celebrate the holiday season with visits to Rouen and the Christmas markets of Normandy, returning to Paris for its iconic holiday illuminations.
Viking’s most popular itineraries are also returning for the 2025 season, including:
- Rhine Getaway (8 days; Basel – Amsterdam)
- Danube Waltz (8 days; Budapest – Passau)
- Romantic Danube (8 days; Budapest – Regensburg)
- Paris & the Heart of Normandy (8 days; roundtrip from Paris)
- Grand European Tour (15 days; Amsterdam – Budapest)
- Portugal’s River of Gold (10 days; Lisbon – Porto)
LOOKING AHEAD TO 2026
Viking has also announced its 2026 river cruise season, which will include four additional Viking Longships and new immersive Pre- and Post-Extensions. These fully guided three- and four-night extensions will offer exclusive access to museums, vineyard visits, scenic train travel, and authentic culinary experiences. New extensions include:
- Best of Holland – Explore Delft, Gouda, and The Hague, with a visit to the Rijksmuseum.
- Best of Belgium – Discover the historic charm of Brussels, Bruges, and Antwerp.
- Reims & Champagne – Visit UNESCO-listed Champagne vineyards and the iconic Reims Cathedral.
- St. Moritz, Lombardy & Alpine Train – Travel aboard the Bernina Express through the Swiss Alps and explore Milan.
- Swiss Alps & Scenic Train – Journey through Switzerland’s mountain landscapes, including the Jungfrau region.
