Viking River Cruises

When you choose Viking River Cruises, you’ll travel with the leader in river cruising. As the world’s largest river cruise line, we have more ships going to more destinations than any other river cruise line.

We sail the rivers of Europe, Russia & Ukraine, and China. With Viking River Cruises, you’ll experience both cosmopolitan cities and charming villages. Your journey will bring you up close to historic sites and natural wonders. And you’ll come home with an intimate understanding of the people and cultures you’ve encountered along the way.

We’ve consistently received awards and accolades from our passengers and Travel Agents. We’re a multi-year recipient of Travel + Leisure’s "World’s Best" award, as well as being named to Condé Nast Traveler’s "Gold List" multiple times. We’ve also been cited as the "Best River Cruise Line" by cruisecritic.com two years in a row, and our ships are consistently listed among the best in cruising.

A rich tradition of exploration guides Viking River Cruises. Chairman Torstein Hagen, the company's founding chairman, is a Norwegian of Viking descent. He extends his Viking legacy of exploration through the enriching travel experience Viking River Cruises offers its guests.

An industry veteran, Torstein Hagen first tried river cruising after many years of world travel by land, air and sea. He found this up-close exploration of culture, heritage and historic sites to be his favorite way to see a destination. Thus, this "voyage of discovery" played a key role in the establishment of Viking River Cruises in 1997.

Beginning with the purchase of four ships in Russia, the company's expansion continued with the purchase in 2000 of Europe's KD River Cruises—a company with a heritage of more than a century of river cruising, making Viking River Cruises the world's most knowledgeable and experienced river cruise line. The company has now grown to be the world's largest, with a fleet of deluxe ships built to accommodate discerning travelers.

River cruising is one of the fastest-growing trends in travel—perfect for experienced travelers or neophytes. Once you’re settled aboard your Viking River Cruises ship, you’ll glide along the world’s most legendary rivers and watch the world come to you.

You’ll see exciting destinations in Europe, Russia & Ukraine, or China up close. With each of our trips, you’ll enjoy a varied itinerary and unparalleled opportunity to immerse yourself in local cultures and traditions. And you’ll experience it all without the "work" of travel.

Unlike a bus tour where you spend more time on the road than in your destination, or an ocean cruise with endless hours at sea, with Viking River Cruises you’ll visit a port a day on virtually every itinerary. You’ll be surrounded by ever-changing scenery right in the heart of your destination. And our intimate ships (averaging just 150 guests) often dock right in the town center—allowing you to walk off your ship into the heart of your destination.

When you come onboard one of our modern, deluxe ships, you’ll find:
Your knowledgeable Cruise Manager and English-speaking crew
The highest standards of friendly, attentive service consistently throughout our fleet
Fine gourmet dining featuring traditional favorites and regional specialties
Accommodations in an outside, river-view cabin with private bathroom and shower
Many cabins with hotel-style beds and large picture windows that open
Beautifully appointed public areas with a single-seating restaurant, bar and lounge
And a non-smoking environment
Viking River Cruises brings more than 175 years of river cruising experience to every cruise. Since our merger with European-based KD River Cruises in 2000, we’ve become the world’s most knowledgeable and most experienced river cruise line.