Viking has more cruise ships sailing on rivers in Europe than any other cruise line. They are adding seven new Longships to their fleet this year that carry 190 or fewer guests.
One of those new seven river ships was Viking Nerthus, a ship built specifically to sail from Paris on the Seine River.
From March through December, Viking is offering three new itineraries on the Rhine, Main and Seine that range from eight- to 11-days in length.
New Viking Itineraries
Rhine & Main Explorer
The first new itinerary from Viking is an eleven-day cruise from Nuremburg to Basel on the Rhine and Main. The cruise will visit the hidden gems of southern Germany, Switzerland, and France.
The cruise will allow you to visit Basel, Switzerland’s capital of culture, explore Frankfurt’s vibrant cityscape, and admire the charming medieval towns of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria. You will see and visit turreted castles and rolling vineyards.
Christmas on the Rhine and Main
The second new cruise is also an 11-day voyage from Nuremburg to Basel but takes place during Christmastime so you can visit the Christmas markets along the two rivers.
You will be able to browse festive stalls in Basel and Karlsruhe, discover Strasbourg’s Alsatian traditions, and wander through Nuremberg’s world-famous Christkindlesmarkt while savoring mulled wine and handcrafted holiday treats.
Christmastime in Paris & Normandy
The third and final new cruise from Viking is an eight-day roundtrip sailing from Paris during the holidays.
You will celebrate the holiday season in the “City of Light” before setting sail through the serene landscapes of Normandy. You will have the opportunity to visit the charming riverside town of Rouen, soak in the festive atmosphere of Christmas markets, and return to Paris to enjoy its world-famous holiday illuminations.
New for 2026
Viking is adding four new pre- and post-cruise extensions in 2026. The new, fully guided, three or four-night extensions feature Privileged Access to museums, local cuisine for lunches and dinners, vineyard visits, cooking classes, as well as more time to personalize the trip with optional excursions.
They will be offered in Holland, Belgium, France, the Alps, Switzerland and Northern Italy.
Viking’s river cruises in Europe range from eight- to 15-days in length.
The cruise line currently has an additional 25 river ships on order/under construction and by 2028, they will have 109 river vessels in their fleet.
