Viking's newest longships have been designed to respond to current travel trends, offering guests more open spaces and al fresco dining. Accommodating 190 guests in 95 staterooms, the ships include two Explorer Suites, the largest river cruise suites in Europe, seven two-room Veranda Suites, 39 Veranda Staterooms, and 22 French Balcony Staterooms. The Viking Hild and Viking Herja have also been designed with sustainability in mind, boasting onboard solar panels, organic herb gardens, and energy-efficient hybrid engines.

Viking: The Thinking Person’s Cruise

This sustainable ethos works well with Viking Cruise’s positioning statement as “The Thinking Person’s Cruise”, where they promote their itineraries as the opportunity to travel the world to explore, learn and understand. Viking cruises are designed to bring you closer to the cultures of the world, with itineraries that help you get to the heart of your destination: its food, culture, people and customs.

The Rhine meanders through the greenest and most picturesque German landscape, with the odd fairytale castle alongside this beautiful river. (Image courtesy of Getty)

Immersive Culture

These immersive cultural experiences are made possible with the Viking Longships that have all the amenities of an upmarket hotel but able due to their small ship design to access much smaller bays and little coves. This provides an added bonus of being able to comfortably be transported each day to and from each destination— often just a short walk from the ship right into the centre of the village or town.

Enriching Education Opportunities

The education just doesn’t happen in-destination but Viking’s onboard programs bring local history to life with lectures on history and art; foodies will be delighted with the menus featuring locally sourced wine and produce; informative port talks; guests are also treated to performances featuring folkloric shows and musicians playing regional and classical music. On board, Viking ships have well stocked libraries with specially curated books designed to provide more enrichment opportunity for each destination.

Light and Airy Scandinavian Design

The Viking fleet of river vessels have been thoughtfully engineered by nautical architects to bring the outside in, with cabins featuring large, expansive windows. Guests can choose from a range of graceful staterooms and suites that are designed for ultimate stylish comfort. Scandinavian design is very on trend right now and has been incorporated in the ships’ finishes for the light airy spaces to enhance the feeling of serenity.

Travel the world in comfort is Viking's mantra. (Image courtesy of Viking)

Destination Inspired Dining

Whatever your tastes, dining is a very important part of any journey. Viking has ensured that it has recruited highly trained chefs who are passionate about food and enthusiastic about guests sampling authentic regional specialties. The ships’ dining areas—from the elegant Restaurant to the Sun Deck and Aquavit Terrace, the al fresco dining area at the bow of the ship— provide just the right atmosphere to enjoy the delicious cuisine.

Locally sourced wine and produce is enhanced with these kind of dining spaces. (Image courtesy of Viking)

Viking Inclusive Value

Viking recognises that one of the beauties of cruising is that you should not have to open your wallet every time you want a cup of coffee, a glass of wine or an excursion ashore. Your cruise fare with Viking includes everything you need, from meals and beverages to shore excursions and Wi-Fi. Wallets and purses are mostly needed just for mementos and souvenirs from the locations visited.

The Viking Hild will sail the Rhine River this April on Viking’s new Paris to the Swiss Alps itinerary, and later this year both new ships will sail Viking’s popular Danube Waltz and Rhine Getaway itineraries. Bookings are now open for guests wishing to experience the new Longships.