Viking opens the books on 2026 European river cruises early

Viking's 2026 season of its European river voyages is now open for reservations. 

With many 2024 dates already sold out and the 2025 season selling well, strong demand among North American travellers has led to an early opening of all 2026 departures, the company said Monday (Dec. 11).

“Our guests are curious travellers who are interested in history, art and culture, which is why Europe remains our most popular destination,” said Torstein Hagen, chairman of Viking. “The idea of a modern river voyage is still new to many, even to some of the most well-traveled individuals. But make no mistake; there is no better way of exploring the heart of Europe than sailing its historic waterways on an elegant Viking Longship. We look forward to welcoming more guests, both returning and new, on board our state-of-the-art vessels in the coming years.”

READ MORE: Viking to add 10 additional river ships in Europe

Some of company’s most popular itineraries in Europe include the Danube Waltz (8 days; Budapest—Passau); Rhine Getaway (8 days; Amsterdam—Basel); Paris & the Heart of Normandy (8 days; Paris roundtrip); Lyon & Provence (8 days; Lyon—Avignon); and Portugal’s River of Gold (10 days; Lisbon—Porto). 

Viking also recently announced it will welcome an additional 10 Viking Longships to its river fleet by the end of 2026. 

Currently under construction, eight of the new vessels will sail Viking’s itineraries on the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers, while two additional Viking Longships will join the fleet on the Seine River. 

To meet the demand, five of the new vessels will be delivered in 2025, with the remaining five to be delivered in 2026.

Don't miss a single travel story: subscribe to PAX today!  Click here to follow PAX on Facebook.