Viking River Cruises

Europe’s legendary waterways, one intimate Longship at a time. Viking’s award-winning river fleet carries just 190 guests per ship, pairing elegant Scandinavian design with culturally rich itineraries where you wake up somewhere new almost every morning – and a guided excursion is already included in every port.

Or call us at 1-800-444-1560 or email info@smartcruiser.com

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

Cruise Search

A scenic river cruise ship navigates past the charming town of Braubach on the Rhine River

Longships built for Europe’s greatest rivers

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 experienced agents 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 experienced agents have walked these decks and can recommend exactly which stateroom category and deck placement will give you the best experience for your voyage.

A Viking Longships river cruise vessel navigates the Danube River past Schönbühel Castle
A stunning Antarctic seascape featuring a large blue-and-white iceberg in the foreground floating

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.

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.

A river cruise ship operated by Viking River Cruises navigates the Douro River in Porto, Portugal

Staterooms & Suites on the River

Viking Longships offer five stateroom categories. Standard Staterooms on the lower deck keep the fare down while you spend your days ashore. French Balcony Staterooms add floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors that open to the river breeze. Veranda Staterooms feature Viking’s patented full private balcony – a genuine rarity on European rivers. Veranda Suites add a separate living area, while the 445-square-foot Explorer Suites are the largest suites on Europe’s waterways, complete with wraparound veranda. Wondering whether the step up to a veranda is worth it for your itinerary? Our experienced agents can compare categories, deck placement, and upgrade costs to find the best value for your sailing.

Gallery

Our Fleet

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 SmartCruiser.com, you also benefit from our exclusive group rates and value-added amenities such as onboard credits where available – booking through us costs nothing extra versus booking direct.

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 experienced agents can help you choose the right 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 experienced agents at SmartCruiser.com have sailed these itineraries and can help you choose the right 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. Your dedicated SmartCruiser agent 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 experienced agents at SmartCruiser.com 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 agents can help you find the ideal length and itinerary for your schedule and interests.

When you book Viking River Cruises through SmartCruiser.com, Division of Oasis Travel Network, you work with a dedicated, experienced agent – never a random reservations line. We’ve been under the same management for over 30 years, and our agents know these itineraries firsthand. You get access to exclusive group rates and amenities, with savings of up to $1500+ depending on the time of year and destination, plus value-added extras like onboard credits. See a lower price elsewhere? Ask and we’ll do our best to price match. Your dedicated agent stays with you from your first inquiry through disembarkation and beyond.

Ready to Explore Europe’s Great Rivers?

The culturally rich, beautifully designed world of Viking River Cruises is closer than you think. When you’re ready to sail the Rhine, Danube, Seine, or any of the world’s legendary waterways, our experienced agents at SmartCruiser.com, Division of Oasis Travel Network are here to find the right sailing for you. With exclusive group rates, valuable amenities, and a dedicated agent guiding every step, your next river cruise starts with a conversation. Call us at 1-800-444-1560 to get started.