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Viking River Cruises

Viking River Cruises

Choose from 55 Viking river cruises and read 98 verified Viking reviews from past clients of Global Journeys. When you book your Viking river cruise with us you'll enjoy exclusive online savings, a dedicated travel advisor to look after your booking and the best price guaranteed!
CRUISE DEPARTURES: 5,525
FLEET SIZE: 74
KNOWN FOR: Scandinavian Design
98 Reviews (4.6/5)
CRUISE STYLES:
River Cruises
DESTINATIONS:
Asia Europe Mississippi Nile

Featured River Cruises View all

15 Days Amsterdam to Budapest

Operator: Viking

From 6,925
Save 2,566

15 Days Budapest to Amsterdam

Operator: Viking

From 6,628
Save 2,566

8 Days Amsterdam to Basel

Operator: Viking

From 3,361
Save 1,311

8 Days Regensburg to Budapest

Operator: Viking

From 3,361
Save 1,334

Popular Destinations View all Explore the following regions on one of 5,525 river cruises with Viking

Viking Asia River Cruises
Asia

2 River Cruises

Viking Europe River Cruises
Europe

48 River Cruises

Viking Mississippi River Cruises
Mississippi

4 River Cruises

Viking's River Cruises on the Nile
Nile

1 River Cruise

Cruise Fleet View all Inclusions, itineraries, onboard facilities & deck plans of each Viking cruise ship.

Viking Tonle
Ship Class: Mekong River Ship

The Viking Tonle, named after the Khmer word for "fresh water," was designed to navigate the Mekong River. This ship blends understated elegance with the clean, Scandinavian design principles for which Viking is known. Explore one of the...

Viking Sobek
Ship Class: Nile River Ship

Viking Sobek is a fresh addition to the fleet, proudly owned and managed by Viking. This elegant vessel, a sibling to Viking Osiris, Viking Aton, and Viking Hathor, all renowned as the most luxurious ships in Egypt, has been meticulously...

Viking Hathor
Ship Class: Nile River Ship

The recently unveiled Viking Hathor stands as a sister ship to the Viking Osiris and Viking Aton, both esteemed for their luxurious appeal in Egypt. Tailored precisely for navigating the Nile, this state-of-the-art vessel embodies the...

Viking Aton
Ship Class: Nile River Ship

Owned and operated by Viking, Viking Aton is a brand new sister ship to Viking Osiris, the most upscale ship in Egypt. Specifically built to navigate the Nile, she is a state-of-the-art vessel - designed in the clean, elegant Scandinavian...

Viking River Cruises Reviews View all

4.6
AVG. RATING 4.6 / 5
98 Reviews
5 Star
71%
4 Star
21%
3 Star
2 Star
1 Star
Perfect way to see Europe   1 , QLD, Australia, Dec 2023
Two weeks aboard Viking River Ships is the most relaxing way to explore a beautiful part of Europe. To wake up in the morning and look out the floor to ceiling window and see the stunning river and scenery go past is magical. Viking made everything so seamless (including a ship swap due to flooding rivers). The staff were incredible and the ship was ...read more so comfortable and beautifully decorated for Christmas. Each town and city offered something different and we had plenty of free time in each place. A truly perfect way to travel.
Viking Grand European River Cruise     0 , NSW, Australia, Nov 2023
Our first river cruise with Viking did not disappoint! We enjoyed the excellent experience and attention we received from the staff onboard. They welcomed us onboard around 10:30am even though our boarding time was 4:00pm. We were able to leave our luggage and continue to explore Budapest. Viking provided our lunch on the first day and if we needed ...read more we could have had lunch on the last day of our cruise after checking out of our cabins at 9:00am. Viking will hold your luggage as well if you have a late flight and want to continue to see the sights after leaving the cruise. This was a thoughtful gesture.

We had a couple of things that did not go to plan. Our ship the Viking TIR had some damage because a log hit a part of the propeller and it was causing vibrations so we had an unscheduled stop in Linz so they could repair the damage. The rivers were in flood which made it difficult for the nautical crew and when we reached Passau we were advised the water level was too high for us to continue. Viking had a sister ship coming from the other side of the river and we had to pack up our things and they transferred them to the Viking VALLI whilst they put us on a bus for the planned excursion and then onto the Vali docked in Nuremberg. Because all their ships are the same we were allocated the room and we continue on without further disruption.

The included tours were informative and because we have traveled to Europe many times before we didn’t do any of the optional tours offered. I will say that I found the price of the optional tours expensive as we had been to most of the places offered and at a much cheaper cost. The food was restaurant quality and you could have as much as you wanted. The one thing I didn’t like was that lunch and dinner were at set times. The laundry was expensive however we were able to do everything except our jeans in the bathroom which had a heated floor and most things dried overnight. Most of the other passengers were in their seventies with a sprinkling of a few younger and older. Overall the experience was great and we were able to see the Christmas markets in Budapest, Vienna, Nuremberg, Kolbenz, Cologne and Amsterdam. Global Journeys and Georgie always give exceptional service and advice and we look forward to making our future travel plans with them.
Viking's France's Finest Adventure   0 , QLD, Australia, Nov 2023
We booked Viking's France's Finest river cruise with Georgie after previously sailing on their Amsterdam to Budapeat river cruise. It was fantastic. Top class cabins, tours, food, drinks and staff. We cannot praise Viking and their staff highly enough. Very pleasant and helpful. There was a problem with high water and strong current on the first half ...read more of the cruise but the staff organised for buses to take us on our tours and return us to the ship after it sailed without passengers to our next port. Everything went without a hitch.
Like many others, we have another cruise waiting for us in a few months time. Global Journeys Georgie does a great job with our bookings.
8 DAY CHATEAUX, RIVERS & WINE     0 , VIC, Australia, Nov 2023
Our Viking river cruise far exceeded our expectations. The crew provided exceptional service, the food was sensational the tour guides were professional, fun & informative, and the comfortable cabins were spacious and cleaned regularly. We will only book with Viking for future cruises and definitely recommend them to our friends. We also wanted to ...read more thank Georgie from Global Journeys for her great communication and help with our Viking holiday including organising our flights to ensure we have a seamless experience.😊
Grand European Tour     0 , SA, Australia, Oct 2023
Tracey and Global Journeys made the whole trip fit together! Viking was an excellent company to travel with and although getting late into Autumn, we didn't have all the crowds to contend with and the autumn colours were magnificent. From the moment you stepped on board, the staff were there to help you with any queries, magnificent meals, touring and ...read more just generally taking care of you. The peace of floating down the rivers and looking out were soothing. We had a main deck cabin but spent our time in the lounge or on the Aquavit Terrace. There were times on the sundeck, but fresh. The included tours were great and well organised, and then there was still a little time to explore yourself. Well worth it.
Relaxing river cruise     1 , Queensland , Australia, Oct 2023
We set off from Australia at the end of August on an almost 10 week European adventure. On our last 2 weeks we did Viking’s France’s Finest 15 day river cruise, which is in fact 2 cruises marketed as one trip. We did the Avignon to Lyon cruise first, followed by a round trip from Paris for the second. Viking transfers you via train from Lyon to Paris ...read more to do the second cruise. Both cruises were a wonderful, relaxing way to end our sometimes exhausting 10 week journey! We were blessed with pretty good weather and the itineraries on both ships were interesting .

Everything onboard was amazing, from the friendly staff, the wonderful food & wine to the included tours, complete with excellent local guides. We couldn’t fault it. It was the perfect way to end a long trip abroad. France in Autumn was beautiful with the trees changing colour and the scenery we saw from our ship was spectacular. We chose the lower deck cabins as we were travelling with a group, so not in cabins much. Perfectly fine for our needs. Many thanks to Georgie for organising this part of our holiday. Nothing was too much trouble and she happily answered all our queries!😄
Average River Cruise   1 , NSW, Australia, Sep 2023
The itinerary for this cruise was excellent. Ports of call and guides were excellent. This ship was too crowded and and the lounge could not accommodate passengers for port talks. Folding chairs needed to be found to accommodate the overflow. All passengers were Americans except for my husband and myself. Feel there needed to be more of a mix. Hotels ...read more used at each end of the tour were not that great. Hotel in Paris was supposed to be 5 star, but our fridge did not work, power outlet over desk was broken and there were cracks in the hand basin.
Everything went smoothly! Great Trip     0 , NSW, Australia, Aug 2023
Global Journeys and Jemma handled our booking process well. We loved our Viking France’s Finest cruises. We made some new friends and found the staff excellent. Loved the onshore excursions particularly Monet's Garden, and all the walled medieval villages, especially Viviers night walk. Accommodation was lovely and cruising enjoying the view was perfect. ...read more The crew of the Heimdal were particularly outstanding.

Viking Brochures Download the latest Viking brochures to read at your convenience.

River Cruises

River Cruises (2024-26)

Wherever you choose to go - Europe, Southeast Asia, Egypt, USA or beyond - Viking takes you to places you can only fully appreciate by river, and we take you there in comfort. Everything we do at Viking is focused on making your time with us truly memorable...more - for all the right reasons. Come and discover the Viking difference for yourself.
River Cruises

River Cruises (2023-25)

Wherever you choose to go - Europe, Southeast Asia, Egypt, USA or beyond - Viking takes you to places you can only fully appreciate by river, and we take you there in comfort. Everything we do is focused on making your time with us truly memorable - for...more all the right reasons. Come and discover the Viking difference for yourself.
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The Viking River Cruise Experience Choose to travel with Viking on your next adventure!

The Viking Experience
The Viking Experience

Inspiring destinations, thoughtfully designed itineraries, immersive cultural explorations, state-of-the-art ships, fine cuisine, excellent service and remarkable value. All created with personal attention to every detail.

We call this the Viking Experience. It's the way your bartender has your drink prepared at just the right moment. The gentle guidance from your Tai Chi master during your lesson in China. Or the handwritten directions from your concierge to the oldest coffeehouse in Vienna.

Every aspect of your time with Viking, from expertly prepared meals to carefully created enrichment programs and beautifully appointed ships, is planned to bring you closer to experiencing the most from your destination.

Viking All-Inclusive Packages
Viking All-Inclusive Packages

The last thing you want to do on your river cruise holiday is worry about costs.

When you travel with Viking, we make sure that there are no surprises or hidden fees.

The price you pay covers just about everything including port charges, Wi-Fi, meals, lectures, activities and shore excursions. So all you have to do is relax and enjoy a great vacation that is also a great value.

The Viking River Cruise Fleet
The Viking River Cruise Fleet

Elegant. Stylish. Exceptionally comfortable. The world's largest fleet of river cruise ships is also the most beautiful. And since Viking operate all the vessels in the fleet, there is no detail that goes unnoticed.

Leading the way in innovative design are Viking's Longships, with patented designs for both stateroom configuration and the ship's bow, these vessels have received acclaim for their cutting edge design, outstanding quality, and state-of-the-art engineering.

You can look forward to the most spacious staterooms, with French balconies and full verandas and hotel-style beds throughout. You will be pampered with quality linens, premium bath products, complimentary bottled water and an in-room entertainment system with a choice of channels and programs.

Viking Cuisine
Viking Cuisine

With Viking, you celebrate food in all its glory. On board and on shore, you discover that food is something to be sampled, savored and, above all, enjoyed. Greet the morning with a sumptuous breakfast buffet in the dining room. Or pick up a croissant and cappuccino and head off to the sun deck to watch the river come to life.

Lunch presents yet more choice with a selection of inspiring dishes. When evening falls, the artistry in the kitchen transforms into a masterpiece of a five-course dinner, with a menu that incorporates traditional influences as well as contemporary cuisine.

Explore More Explore more Your guide to travelling with Viking River Cruises

Explore Europe's Historic Rivers with Viking

21 February, 2020

Explore Europe's Historic Rivers with Viking

Viking is a highly awarded river cruise line — and with good reason. Boasting an impressive fleet of state-of-the-art river vessels, they offer an incredible range of scenic voyages along the waterways of Central Europe, Portugal and Russia, with bespoke itineraries designed to immerse you in...

Fun Facts About Viking

22 July, 2019

Fun Facts About Viking

Get to know Viking by numbers with these fun facts about their worldwide cruises....

Viking’s 2020 River Cruise Release Offers and New Itineraries

03 February, 2019

Viking’s 2020 River Cruise Release Offers and New Itineraries

Viking have just released their 2020 River cruising program with some new look itineraries. To celebrate the brochure release Viking have a range of offers for guests on select itineraries, including some of Viking’s most popular itineraries. One new itinerary we want to bring to your...

Book Your River Cruise with the Viking Explorer Sale!

27 December, 2018

Book Your River Cruise with the Viking Explorer Sale!

With the launch of the Viking Explorer Sale, now is the perfect time to get the best price on your Viking River cruise. Discover a range of exclusive offers on Viking’s award-winning river cruises and experience the Viking difference. Enjoy Fly Free Offers, Fly for $995, Complimentary Silver...

Viking River Cruise FAQ's Frequently asked questions for those considering travelling with Viking River Cruises

When will we receive our final documents?

Travel documents or itinerary details will be issued approximately 2-3 weeks prior to departure. If you will be away from home or need your documents sent to a different location for any reason, please be sure that you let your Global Journeys Travel Advisor know where to send them.

What should I bring?

Here is a short list of items you might want to bring with you:

  • Comfortable walking shoes
  • Dressier shoes
  • Collapsible umbrella/lightweight rain gear
  • Lightweight jacket/warm sweater/sweatshirt
  • Sunglasses, sun hat or visor
  • Toiletries (including medical remedies)
  • Warm coat, gloves and water-resistant footwear (as needed for cooler months)

Some other optional items to consider:

  • Electric converter/adapter appliances
  • Travel alarm clock, travel flashlight, binoculars, anti-bacterial wipes and/or hand sanitizer
  • Small calculator for foreign exchange calculations
  • Travel journal/notepad and/or reading material
  • Small, basic sewing kit/extra buttons; pack scissors in checked bags
  • Address list or pre-addressed labels for sending postcards

We suggest you bring copies of your key travel documents (passport information page, airline tickets, credit card numbers and insurance information) and carry them separately in case you lose your originals.

What time is embarkation?

You'll be able to access your stateroom at approximately 3:00 PM; should you arrive before this, you can relax in the Lounge or leave your luggage with the staff and explore on your own. A light lunch buffet will be available in the Lounge around midday for early arriving guests.

What is the dress code on board?

Dress is casual and comfortable, both on board and ashore. Because the weather can be unpredictable, it is best to bring layers. It is recommended that you have a sweater or light jacket for spring and summer, and a heavier jacket for chillier months. Rain can happen at any time, so a collapsible umbrella is a "must." You are likely to do a good deal of walking during shore excursions, so you will definitely want sturdy, comfortable walking shoes; but, since our ships are much smaller than ocean cruising vessels, you do not have to worry about too much walking on board.

There are no "formal nights" on board, but there is usually a Captain's Welcome Dinner and/or Farewell Dinner; on many itineraries, you will attend a concert, ballet performance or other dressier event. For these evenings, you might like to bring "dressy casual" wear. Consider dressing respectfully when visiting places of worship and other religious sites where you may be denied entry if wearing clothing considered to be inappropriate or too revealing. Your Tour Escort can assist you with any questions.

Is there internet access on board? Are there computers, or should I bring my laptop?

For your convenience, most Viking ships have internet access. Our ships in Europe have free Wi-Fi, so you can bring your laptop and get online at any time. Alternatively, each ship has a few computers and laptops in Europe that guests may use at no additional charge.

In China, there is an internet café with desktop stations for guest use free of charge. There is no on board wireless network in China or Southeast Asia, so you will not be able to get internet service on your personal computer while on the ship, although you may be able to do so during hotel stays. The ships also offer shipwide wireless internet access for guests who bring their own computer. Please note that shipboard service may be unreliable during certain parts of the journey. The internet connection functions via cellular service or satellite, and there may be times when reception is not possible and/or when the connection is quite slow. For this reason, we recommend only checking and sending email. We do not recommend surfing the Web or downloading large files.

What is the electrical voltage in the stateroom?

Electricity on the ships is 220V. Our European ships have the German Schuko safety plug, which has two pins. In China the ships have a 3-pin blade safety plug; if you have an adapter with just the two slanted blades that will work fine. In Southeast Asia the ships use a two pin Europlug. Some of these plugs are grounded and some are not. For more details and pictures of the plugs, click below. Each stateroom will have one or two 115V razor plugs available, generally in the bathroom.

What forms of payment are accepted on the ship?

Items you purchase on board, together with any optional excursions you purchase, will be added to your shipboard account. You may settle your account in cash (local money, dollars or euros) or with a credit card (sorry, the ship is unable to accept travelers' checks). You can include gratuities for shipboard personnel to your shipboard account (except in Southeast Asia).

Will we be able to have laundry done on board?

Laundry service is available on board; unfortunately clothes cannot be dry cleaned.

Can you accommodate my dietary needs?

In most cases we can. Every meal has vegetarian options on the menu, and our chefs are able to prepare low-salt or gluten-free cuisine. If you require a liquid diet or strictly kosher foods, you may have your products shipped to your cruise ship and we will be more than happy to serve your special meals. Please be sure to make your requirements known when you make your reservation so we will be fully prepared when you begin your journey. Guests requiring special diets such as vegetarian, low salt, diabetic or low cholesterol meals must alert Viking River Cruises one month prior to departure and inform the Maitre d' when on board. The chefs will make reasonable efforts to accommodate these requests.

Are the ships non-smoking?

All Viking ship interiors and staterooms are nonsmoking. Each ship has an outdoor smoking area.

Is there fitness equipment on board?

While your ship does not have any fitness equipment, feel free to walk the Sun Deck for your daily exercise, or take part in our shore excursions and walking tours.

What is the tipping and gratuities policy?

Shipboard gratuities for shipboard personnel and local guides are included in your cruise fare on Viking Cruises Europe, Russia and Ukraine cruise / tour programs. Shipboard gratuities are included on our Chine itineraries. Gratuities and tipping is not included on our Mekong itinerary. Additional tipping is at the guests discretion.

Can I use my credit card throughout my journey?

MasterCard, Visa and American Express are accepted in major shops, restaurants and hotels as well as to settle your shipboard account. Notify your credit card companies that you will be traveling abroad to avoid holds on your account. American credit cards with magnetic stripes may not work in European automated ticketing machines (such as transit vending systems) as these require chip and pin cards; contact your credit card company for details.

Are ATMs (Automated Teller Machines) available?

Yes. ATM's are a good source of cash overseas; however, they may or may not be conveniently located in the larger cities and may be rare in smaller towns along the rivers. And, your itinerary may not always allow you sufficient time to locate one. Your Program Director or tour guide can probably help you.

When available, ATM's dispense local currency for internationally accepted ATM cards and/or credit cards, and have a service fee of approximately 3%. If you are planning to use ATM's, you should confirm with your bank prior to departure that your ATM/credit card and Personal Identification Number (PIN) will work abroad.

Transfers

When you purchase your flights in conjunction with Viking River Cruises, airport transfers are included in your air cost, if your arrival and departure dates coincide with the first and the last day and destination of the river cruise itinerary. If guests arrival and/or departure dates are different dates to these, then airport transfers are not included. Guests who are not arriving or departing to the destination on the first and the last date of the cruise/tour itinerary will have to make their own way to the hotel or vessel at their own expense. Passenger flight details must be given to Global Journeys 45 days prior to departure. Viking and Global Journeys will not be responsible for late arrivals or missed transfers due to delayed or cancelled flights, for missed cruise/trip days or for extra costs resulting from the foregoing.

Boarding Time

On turnaround day, the entire ship must be cleaned in preparation for your arrival. The facilities of the ship, including your cabin, will not be available before 4pm. We appreciate your understanding on this matter. Should you arrive early, you may leave your bags in the Reception area and take a walk into the city, or relax in the lounge.

Terms & Conditions All the boring small print. We recommend you read them, as no one likes surprises!