By Anne Kalosh.
Viking River Cruises New Vessels.
Viking River Cruises plans to debut seven new vessels in 2019, resuming its impressive growth track after a slight pause.
The company has ordered six Viking Longships, each carrying 190 passengers, to sail on the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers, and one slightly smaller vessel for Portugal’s Douro.
With Viking River Cruises new vessels, Viking’s river fleet will number 69.
The six full-sized Viking Longships are being built at Neptun Werft in Germany. * Photo: Neptun Werft
Viking Longships integrate a patented corridor design and cutting-edge technology with comfortable amenities. Public areas include the all-weather indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace with its retractable floor-to-ceiling glass doors that allow travelers to enjoy the views and dine alfresco when the weather is fine.
Each Viking Longship sports two large Explorer Suites and seven two-room Veranda Suites with a full-size veranda in the living room and a French balcony in the bedroom. The 39 Veranda Staterooms each have full-size verandas, while 22 French Balcony Staterooms open to the air. Heated bathroom floors, a mini fridge and both U.S. and E.U. electrical outlets are found in all accommodations.
Additionally, all Viking Longships have features like solar panels and organic herb gardens, and energy-efficient hybrid engines that reduce vibration to give a smoother ride.
VIKING HILD and VIKING HERJA were inaugurated this year in Koblenz * Photo: Viking River Cruises
“Just” two Viking River new builds, VIKING HILD and VIKING HERJA, were introduced this year. A pair of new vessels would typically be a lot for any river operator, but Viking does things on a grand scale. In 2016, it introduced six Longships. That followed a dozen new river vessels in 2015, a whopping 18 in 2014 and 10 in 2013.
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