Viking expands European rivers fleet with ten new ships

Viking is expanding its European rivers fleet with ten new vessels.

Half are due for delivery in 2025, with the reminder the following year.

Eight of the new vessels will sail itineraries on the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers, while two additional Viking Longships will join the fleet on the River Seine. 

The total order includes one Viking Longship for the French river that was announced in February.

With a current fleet of 80 river ships, Viking claims to be the industry’s leading river line. The Viking Longships, which comprise the vast majority of the company’s river fleet, have a capacity for up to 190 passengers.

To officially mark the start of construction on all 10 ships, a keel laying ceremony was held today at Neptun Werft shipyard in Rostock, Germany, where all Viking Longships have been built since their debut in 2012.

Viking chair Torstein Hagen said: “Ever since we started Viking 26 years ago, our mission has been to help our guests explore the world in comfort.

“We focus on the destination, and we build elegant, innovative ships. 

“We look forward to welcoming these new Longships to our European fleet and introducing The Viking Way of exploration to even more guests in the coming years.”

Viking last month marked the float out of its newest ocean ship, Viking Vela, which will debut in December 2024, and announced a new ship for the Mekong River in 2025.