December 11, 2020 – Viking Cruises will test all guests and crew for COVID-19 with daily PCR tests when sailings resume, as part of the company’s new Viking Health & Safety Program, the cruise line recently announced.
October 5, 2020 – As Viking.TV celebrates six months of offering award-winning programming this week, four astronauts will host a special panel discussion on Friday sharing what it’s like to live and work in space.
On a Seine River cruise, it's understandable that Paris, where voyages begin and end, seems like the marquee attraction when you're booking your trip. And no question, it's a fascinating place where we heartily recommend you extend your vacation to spend additional days there if you can.
October 1, 2020 – December is already known as the “most wonderful time of the year,” but it’s about to get a lot better for cruise lovers. Viking is bringing its signature Scandinavian style to the U.S., and just released details of its holiday-themed voyages along the Mississippi River. Set to launch in December 2022, highlights of the sailing include light displays, Cajun cuisine, and VIP access to Graceland.
It's not the longest or the widest, but of all the rivers coursing through France, the Rhone is a marquee star, one of only three major European rivers emptying into the Mediterranean. Since the time of the Greeks and Romans, the Rhone has served as a route for trade and transportation between the Mediterranean and the French city of Lyon. Those early traders left their marks along the river, at ports like Arles, Avignon and Vienne, where ancient theaters and temples stand proudly.
September 24, 2020 – Viking.TV will feature Mississippi sailings during the week of September 28, 2020, including the chance to join Richard Riveire as he shares the design and inspiration behind the Viking Mississippi.
The storied waters of the Rhine River offer visitors the best of Europe. From cathedrals to castles to authentic cuisine, you can find it all along its shores. A Viking river cruise is the best way to explore this legendary landscape, letting travelers see the terrain from the river that has driven its history. The trip provides an easy jumping-off point to scenic vineyards, bustling cities and ancient lore.
September 1, 2020 – You’d be hard-pressed to find a renowned river that Viking doesn’t ply. Make like Mark Twain on the Mississippi, taste the best of Portugal’s port wines on the Douro, see the pyramids on the Nile, or go deep into the Mekong Delta—all while enjoying sleek staterooms and regional dining.
July 23, 2020 – Plan ahead for sailing along the mighty Mississippi with Viking. The company’s first custom vessel, Viking Mississippi, makes its debut in August 2022, though with many of its first voyages sold out, Viking has made additional 2023 sailings available for booking now.
Viking River Cruises' three most popular Danube River itineraries range from a 15-day Grand European Tour from Amsterdam to Budapest to two eight-day sailings, one from Passau, Germany, to Budapest, and the other from Budapest to Nuremberg, Germany.
July 8, 2020 – Often credited with popularizing river cruising globally, Viking has in recent years expanded dramatically; the company now has 63 ships sailing in Europe, with additional vessels in Asia and Egypt, and is coming soon to the United States. That growth means they’re also finding new fans, like one guest who traveled aboard the Viking Tor: “It was my Cinderella vacation,” said this reader.
April 5, 2020 - Viking’s long-awaited entry into the domestic river cruise market will bring not only a new player but also a whole new type of sailing experience. To be built in Louisiana and set to launch in August 2022, the Viking Mississippi is the company’s first U.S. river ship and will be the largest ship plying its storied namesake.
April 5, 2020 - As with other travel entities turning to web-based content during COVID-19 related cancellations, Viking Cruises has set a new course with the launch of Viking.TV. This digital library, created by the river and ocean cruise company, will showcase experiential programming that Viking guests have access to onboard their respective cruises, on deck levels or their cabin TV. Its culturally-focused content will feature appearances by the Viking executives and crew and subjects relating to its at-sail and at port ventures, plus live video of happenings from around the world.
Paris, the eternal City of Light, is a cosmopolitan superstar. And, it's natural to assume that a Seine River cruise is strongly focused on la capitale. Whether you've traveled to Paris before or this is your first visit, the big surprise, I promise you, is what a marvelous voyage it is beyond the city limits, with its focus on culinary arts, impressionist masters, World War II history, Gothic cathedrals and the pastoral countryside of Normandy.
April 3, 2020 - Viking just announced details of the purpose-built, 386-passenger cruise ship it will bring to the Mississippi River by 2022. The new ship, aptly named Viking Mississippi, will sail between New Orleans and St. Paul, Minnesota, with the inaugural trips slated for August
Come along with us on this seven-night Lyon and Provence journey (it’s also offered by Viking in the reverse direction), as I share my day-by-day report on a trip with mom. The itinerary explores some of France’s most beloved territory — from Lyon, the culinary capital of France, through cherished wine regions of Beaujolais and Côte Rôtie, with stops to discover 2,000-year-old architectural treasures along the way.
January 22, 2020 – Tear into fresh-baked bread, pulled from an ancient oven fueled by wood and grapevines, in one of the last old-school bakeries in tiny Favaios. In Marialva (near the Spanish border), enjoy a picnic in the castle’s shadow of this 2,500-year-old town. Since this is Viking, where experiences are everything, you’ll learn the secrets to fine Port wine-blending at a quinta, and taste wine and popular regional delicacies, like bola de carne, an irresistible bread filled with a combination of meats and smoked sausage.
When I floated the idea of sharing a week-long Viking cruise down the Danube River with my longtime pal Jayne, we conjured similar takeaways: tantalizing glimpses of fairytale castles from a sun deck lounger, the chance to visit three capital cities and five separate countries in the heart of Europe, and plenty of pastries and pretzels - both on and off the ship.
January 9, 2020 – Number 1: Founded in 1997, Viking River Cruises plies the waterways of Europe, Russia, China, Southeast Asia and Egypt with its fleet of more than 60 vessels. While Viking has also launched an award-winning ocean cruise line, the company built its reputation in river cruising.
December 9, 2019 – Lined by castles and cathedrals, the Rhine area is best visited by river cruise because the waterway brought life, trade and culture to the region, and remains the source of much its history today. Viking’s eight-day journey between Basel and Amsterdam dazzles visitors with medieval scenery and regional cuisine.
December 4, 2019 – Viking Cruises dominated the 12th annual Cruise Critic Editors' Picks Awards for the third year in a row with five wins in 2019.
November 19, 2019 – If you're a guest of Viking, you’ll be able to explore the Christmas markets of Europe while on port and visit some of the most beautiful locations. This Viking fleet also provides exceptional luxury and top tier service.
November 19, 2019 – Viking touts that central docking locations in Europe get guests closer to their destinations, often docking right in the heart of a city. This makes it easy for independent exploration, which younger guests might prefer.
October 30, 2019 – Viking is seeing an increased interest from travelers with adult children throughout the year, but especially during the holiday season. Its European Christmas market itineraries are a big hit with these types of families.
October 21, 2019 – Thanks to a sponsorship with Viking, fans of the show, movie, and those fabulous costumes can head to the UK for privileged, private access to Highclere Castle, the real Downton Abbey — home to the fictitious Crawley family on screen, and the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon in real life.
September 20, 2019 – When you travel north by boat up the wide, calm Rhône River, you are following the route of the ancient Romans and so tracing the lifeline of French wine. Julius Caesar’s army brought wine with them, lots of it, because who wants to subdue barbarians without a little liquid courage? Then the conquerors settled and began making their own. Their vines arrived via the Rhône, too, albeit at a time when the river had no dams—those vines would have had a much wetter and bumpier ride than my own glide from Avignon to Lyon aboard the Viking Buri on the eight-day Lyon & Provence itinerary. Unlike the Romans, I had the good fortune of sleeping in a cleverly constructed stateroom, complete with a balcony from which to admire the changing landscape and time-bleached cities along the banks.
September 16, 2019 – No filming location, of course, is more heavily associated with the series than the estate that became Downton itself: Highclere Castle. And as it's the central filming location, themed tours here abound. Viking Cruises offers special access tours for its river cruise guests.
September 12, 2019 – As we get closer to the movie's long-anticipated September 20 release date, a number of tour packages have been announced to get travelers to the filming sites. Viking recently announced that cruise guests can get access to Highclere Castle as part of a special Great Homes, Gardens & Gin excursion.
September 10, 2019 – When the lights finally went down in the theater, in typical film-premiere style, the audience clapped just as loud for the film’s production companies and for Viking Cruises, the series’ longtime sponsor, as they did for the Dowager Countess’s cutting zingers.
August 19, 2019 – The Romanovs left behind a legacy of palaces and residences throughout Russia that in the following years continued to live storied and unusual lives. Take your own self-guided tour to these famous former czar residences that you can still visit in Russia today.
August 8, 2019 - Consider booking one of Viking River Cruises' excursions. Viking was a sponsor of Masterpiece, when Downton Abbey was on the air, and now, Viking has taken that partnership one step further, offering trips to Highclere Castle as an add-on to a number of their existing itineraries.
July 22, 2019 – European river cruising seems to increase in popularity every year, and trips along the Danube, Rhine, and Seine are apparently the most popular; however, I’ve just discovered a fantastic cruise, run by Viking, between Prague and Berlin, along the Elbe River. And it’s definitely worthwhile.
July 10, 2019 – Many companies on the list operate on major rivers in South Asia and Southeast Asia, and a few are also expanding into China with new ships. “If you want to see China, the Viking cruise is the way to go — great value, service, food, everything,” wrote one respondent, of this year’s fourth place cruise line.
July 8, 2019 – This 12-day Nile tour sails on the Viking Ra, a ship launched in 2018 that was specifically built for the longest river in the world. You won't spend all of your time on the ship; instead, you'll start with three days in Cairo before flying to Luxor to disembark officially. With room for just 52 travelers, this cruise offers an intimate look at Egyptian history—and plenty of face time with the on-board Egyptologists as you stop in Luxor, Edfu, Aswan, and more.
May 23, 2019 – Viking River cruises are an excellent option for retirees who want an intimate journey to smaller ports throughout the world. Guests can choose from itineraries that include exclusive destinations larger cruise ships typically cannot access, such as UNESCO world heritage sites and smaller, riverside towns throughout France, Russia, Austria, Portugal, Germany, Spain, Asia, and Egypt.
May 21, 2019 – Aboard Viking’s new luxury River ship, Viking Osiris, you will see some of the remaining wonders of the world sailing the Nile River. Though the river is beautiful, the real exploration happens when you disembark the ship.
April 15, 2019 – As the sparkling blue waters and red-roofed towns of Croatia drift by, Torstein Hagen makes his way through the minimalist, Scandinavian-style lobby of the Viking Jupiter cruise ship, explaining what makes Viking’s voyages successful. The secret is in what the ships don’t have. There are no casinos, no kids, no umbrella drinks, no formal nights, no waterslides and absolutely no butlers. Hagen has been in the cruise industry long enough to know what he doesn’t like.
April 15, 2019 - Torstein Hagen, the founder and CEO of Viking Cruise Lines, shows no signs of slowing down and has embarked on his biggest endeavor yet: To make a name for himself in ocean cruises.
March 19, 2019 – With christening ceremonies that spanned Germany, Portugal and Switzerland, Viking River Cruises added seven new ships to its continuously growing river fleet. A group of Viking employees, journalists, travel agents and other invited guests gathered pierside Tuesday in Basel, Switzerland, for the event, which saw two ships christened live and an additional five christened in other countries; those namings were simulcast on large screens in Basel.
March 13, 2019 – Virtually identical, the company's 190-passenger Longships possess a contemporary Scandinavian design, emphasizing natural wood, neutral hues, and windows. Enthusiasts praise the alikeness, preferring the same onboard experience wherever they go. With such uniformity, Viking cruises purr along like Bentleys.
March 6, 2019 – Viking has conquered the small to mid-sized cruise ship market. Viking Ocean Cruises, which was established in 2015, racked up 10 first-place awards in the 9th annual Cruise Critic Cruisers' Choice Awards on Wednesday. Viking's long-established river cruise line also earned top honors, with Viking Vidar named best for river cruises in a new category.
March 5, 2019 - Viking River Cruises Passage to Eastern Europe itinerary aboard the Embla takes passengers from Bucharest to Budapest (or vice versa), stopping in your less-than-typical, but still completely spectacular, European cities – which is exactly what’s to love about this river cruise.
February 23, 2019 – Paris, Prague, Berlin, London, China, Japan and more are all exciting but different destinations today — perhaps because of the events of 75 years ago. Visiting these places with the added insight of historians and military experts can provide once-in-a-lifetime experiences, as well as memorable vacations. River cruises on Europe’s narrow waterways allow guests to understand the landscape of the countries as they pass, and shore excursions with expert guides bring history to life.
January 6, 2019 - Looking for a relaxing, yet horizon-stretching vacation that gently steers you to enchanting, enriching and entertaining destinations chock full of culture, history and nature? Add to that wish list deluxe accommodations, gourmet cuisine and attentive service by polished staff — plus no-fuss planning and booking. A best bet? River cruising. This growing travel trend is a friendly, easy way to explore the world. An industry leader, Viking River Cruises deftly navigates more than 60 Nordic-style vessels on rivers around the globe — in Europe, Russia, Egypt, Southeast Asia and China — and orchestrates passengers' trips from start to finish, including air flights.
January 5, 2019 – Founded in 1997, Viking River Cruises plies the waterways of Europe, Russia, China, Southeast Asia and Egypt with its fleet of more than 60 vessels. While Viking has also launched an award-winning ocean cruise line, the company built its reputation in river cruising. These all-inclusive cruises feature outside staterooms, Wi-Fi, wine and beer with meals, shore excursions in every port and Viking's signature Culture Curriculum program.
