When you decide to cruise with Viking Cruises you're choosing the world's leading River Cruise company. Inspiring destinations, beautifully crafted itineraries, expert tour guides, luxurious ships, fine cuisine, excellent service, remarkable value - Viking's success is defined by all of these things and the personal attention to every detail.
The Viking difference is the way the bartender has your drink ready for you, at just the right time. It's the handwritten directions from your concierge to the best coffee house in Vienna. At Viking Cruises, they never forget that looking after their guests is why they have become the world's favourite river cruise line, and why guests return to cruise with them again and again.
Nothing compares to a European River cruise. How else but on a river can you journey into the very heart of the world's greatest cities and most charming towns in Europe, discovering the true nature of the land and its people?
Where else but on a river cruise could you be gently carried along on an elegant, intimate ship, docking right in the heart of town, strolling off to begin your exploration? How else but on a river would you travel with such ease, unpacking just once and enjoying the ever-changing scenery along the banks? Comfortable and convenient, European river cruising offers a greater variety of destinations than you can find any other way. Spend less time getting there, and more time being there. Small wonder so many people have fallen in love with this relaxing, immersive and thoroughly enjoyable form of travel.
Just 20 years ago, the modern river cruise industry didn't exist. Of course, there were privately owned river ships available to sail down a few rivers in Germany, and a few paddle wheelers along the Mississippi, but generally trips were prohibitively expensive or operated by barges with only a handful of intrepid passengers and few amenities. But in the last decade, river cruising's popularity has grown dramatically, and more than 500,000 people now take a river cruise each year. Destinations range from the United States to Europe, Russia, Ukraine, Egypt and even China and Southeast Asia; and many ships are recently built and designed for comfortable travel, with amenities like hotel-style beds, spacious public areas, verandas and even suites. Also, as ocean ships have grown larger and larger, many travelers are discovering river cruising provides an intimate, comfortable alternative.
River Cruising - Travel with Ease & Convenience
River cruising offers a uniquely comfortable way to explore new destinations. Unlike a bus tour or driving on your own, you unpack just once and settle into a comfortable home away from home. You get your own room, indulge in meals that are included as part of your fare, and enjoy the camaraderie of fellow passengers on an intimately scaled ship. There's no packing and unpacking, switching hotels, or lugging baggage around. Also, unlike an ocean cruise, there's an ever-changing mural of breathtaking scenery from your ship, so the journey itself becomes part of your discovery. Because a river has no waves, sea sickness is never a concern. In addition, because each river cruise ship's scale is limited so it will fit into the locks and canals along the river, ships are always small in scale, with typically just under 200 guests. These are just a few of the reasons why river cruising is truly the most relaxing way to travel.
The Most Award-Winning River Cruise Line
Viking Cruises has consistently placed high on competitive rankings like Conde Nast Traveler's Gold List, Reader's Choice and Best Small Ships awards; and Travel + Leisure's World's Best; they have been honored by prestigious international organizations like the World Travel Awards. And Viking Cruises is featured in National Geographic's The 10 Best of Everything.
Choice. Service. Value. Viking.
Viking offers the largest and best fleet of deluxe river cruise ships, more awards than any other river cruise line, choice in every aspect of your vacation and incredible, all-inclusive value. It's no wonder that more than half a million people have joined Viking Cruises on a magical, enlightening journey along some of the World's greatest waterways.
Rhine, Main, Danube, Elbe, Douro (Spain & Portugal) & France
Viking Cruises offers you the most river cruise itineraries and departures of any other cruise line - with 48 ships to choose from!
A selection of spacious, stylish accommodations, all with an outside river view. An exceptional variety of mouth-watering meals, from traditional dishes to contemporary cuisine. Tours that touch on topics from history and culture to art and architecture. And exciting extensions to maximize your time abroad.
Viking Cruises are the most all-inclusive of all river cruise lines. The price covers just about everything: accommodations, meals, port charges, WiFi, lectures, activities, and shore excursions.
European River cruises are the hottest travel trend!
Small ships take travelers along the rivers in Europe to experience cities up-close. River cruises include walking tours in every city included on your itinerary. In fact, virtually every expense is included in your cruise price; accommodations, guided tours in every city, meals, and beverages. All you have to decide is what river you want to cruise!
