Destination focused. Culturally enriching. Carefully curated.
Posted on 11/25/2024
Viking® believes in offering you extraordinarily well-designed voyages that bring you closer to the cultures of the world. Its intimate vessels sail into the heart of your destination—where new discoveries are just a short walk from your ship.
One of the best ways to immerse yourself in new cultures is to explore the world by river. That is why Viking designed elegant, intimate ships that evoke a sense of comfort akin to a floating hotel. Their small ships boast a serene atmosphere with light-filled spaces and a quiet, understated elegance—the Viking version of modern luxury. Their innovative Viking Longships® feature premium amenities, all-outside staterooms with floor-to-ceiling windows and the most al fresco dining on Europe’s rivers. Their ships gently carry you to the world’s greatest cities, deliver you to the center of charming towns and villages and connect you to your destination.
Viking’s destination-focused itineraries are designed to help you explore and engage with your destination through its food, culture and customs. Sail with like-minded travelers on The Thinking Person’s Travel Experience, a culturally rich, immersive experience with onboard and onshore experiences that bring culture and history to life. Plus, the Viking Inclusive Value covers just about everything—port charges, Wi-Fi, all onboard meals, lectures, onboard activities, a complimentary shore excursion in every port of call and so much more—so all you have to do is relax and enjoy a great journey.
In addition to being known for all that they do, Viking stands apart for all that they do not do:
• No children under 18
• No casinos
• No nickel and diming
• No charge for Wi-Fi*
• No charge for beer & wine at lunch & dinner
• No umbrella drinks
• No photography sales
• No art auctions
• No inside staterooms
• No smoking
• No waiting in lines
• No formal nights, butlers or white gloves
Experience the convenience of unpacking just once as you join like-minded guests and enjoy impeccable service on a journey with us while relaxing to an ever-changing canvas of breathtaking landscapes. Arrive in the center of town—often at Viking-owned dock locations¬— and stroll right off and begin exploring. Designed to take you closer, The Viking® Way, Viking delivers behind-the-scenes insights and opportunities that set them apart from other travel companies. While they feature the expected and iconic—such as visits to renowned museums and notable landmarks—they also offer our guests Local Life, Working World and Privileged Access® experiences, opening doors to places otherwise difficult to visit.
For history and cultural enthusiasts alike, watch history unfold before your eyes on a voyage along Europe’s great rivers. Viking invites you to discover the fascinating stories behind iconic landmarks when you join them on an enriching journey. Immerse yourself in the storybook villages, vibrant cultural centers and picturesque landscapes of The Netherlands, Austria, Germany, France, Hungary, Switzerland and more, and unlock a whole new world of discovery.
Here is a sample of what you will see on one of Viking’s European river voyages:
• Visits to Germany’s charming wine-producing villages
• Culinary delights in Lyon, France
• Medieval Prague, “City of a Thousand Spires”
• The elegant boulevards and grand monuments of Paris
• Historic Wittenberg, home to Martin Luther
• Fairytale windmills of The Netherlands
• Wine tastings in the quintas of Portugal’s Douro Valley
• Budapest’s regal Parliament building and Chain Bridge
• Vienna’s inspirational legacy of classical music
• France’s famed wineries in Beaujolais, Bordeaux and beyond
For those who wish to travel closer to home, Viking also has several thoughtfully curated itineraries on both the Lower and Upper Mississippi from which to choose. Experience the diversity of the south as you discover vibrant urban centers, historic battlefields, acclaimed museums, charming small towns and more. Here, you will celebrate the literature, music, cuisine and hospitality of the varied peoples whose contributions have become part of America’s national identity. Immerse yourself in the region's rich history and culture with an included excursion in every port. All of this is complemented with Mississippi’s newest and most modern ship with all outside staterooms, private verandas and Viking’s Signature Scandinavian Design, reimagined for the Mississippi River.
Here are a few highlights Viking reveals to you along the Mighty Mississippi:
• Festive French Quarter and Creole cuisine in New Orleans
• Cajun heritage in Baton Rouge
• Civil War history at Vicksburg National Military Park
• Memphis BBQ, Graceland and appreciation of the Delta Blues
• Steamboat sailings with diverse wildlife sightings
• Mark Twain's boyhood home and America’s literary history
• Up close look at America’s national symbol, the bald eagle
• Gateway Arch in St. Louis and the pioneering spirit of the Midwest
• Norwegian cultural experience at Vesterheim
• Intricate locks and dams of the Upper Mississippi
Wherever you choose to go—Europe, Egypt, Southeast Asia, the Mississippi or beyond—Viking takes you to places you can only fully appreciate by river and takes you there in comfort.
