Everything You Need to Know About the Latest River Cruises. Featuring The River Cruise Experience tm

Experience the essence of a place and its people. Discover the world around you. Awaken your senses. Immerse your spirit. Indulge your dreams...

We travel to explore, to learn, to understand. We believe travel should be more than just a trip, it should be a doorway to cultural insight & personal enrichment. These intimate, inclusive river cruise itineraries are designed to help you explore nuances of your destination: its food, culture, people & customs.

Welcome to Raye & Marty Trencher's River Cruise INSIDER Report.

Your Ultimate River Cruise Guide.

Further your knowledge and insights of The River Cruise Experience tm, plus learn the many ways for you to save on your next vacation with the number #1 Voted River Cruise Cruise Line.

The River Cruise INSIDER Report is one of a series of reports featuring The River Cruise Experience, tm highlighting the best river cruise companies operating all over the world.

The River Cruise Experience tm report this month features Viking River Cruises® 

Unforgettable Experiences & Extraordinary Offers
Enjoy an exquisite voyage along Europe’s spectacular waterways as you explore the breathtaking castles, scenic vineyards and stunning landscapes of the great rivers of Europe. The River Cruise Experience tm lets you make the most of your travel on elegant river cruise ships with savings options that provide you with the best values available : 2-For-1 Fares plus limited-time early book savings, free or reduced airfare savings, plus ongoing opportunities to save with payment options and past guest savings, and so much more. Exceptional values to experience personal connections, timeless luxury and far-off discoveries. That's The River Cruise Experience tm.

Browse a wealth of information you will need to know, before you go. Plus you'll find special promotions, unique finds, great deals. You can also hear from other like-minded river cruise travelers, whose discoveries you can read about in the pages of Viking guest comments and reviews. Find out what fellow guests have to say about their river cruise journeys. 

News : Discover How Viking Became the King of River Cruises in Europe

Learn more about Viking® river ships and read the reviews.

Learn what's new at Viking® River and Ocean Cruises.

Learn what's the best time to take a European river cruise.
► Read our Rhine Getaway Destination Report & Viking IDI Ship Review.

What Are The Best USA River Cruises For Retirees In America?

 

Coming Soon The USA Mississippi River Cruise Experience®

 


Enriching itineraries to the Most Rewarding and Fascinating Places

 River cruises are designed so you can experience the essence of a place and its people. You can truly explore each destination, immersing yourself in its history, music, art and cuisine. River cruises include excursions led by knowledgeable local guides in every port of call, and provide onboard entertainment and enrichment lectures that bring history and culture to life.  From the most intimate rivers to Europe's iconic cities and towns, horizons shimmering with possibility, there are waterways to explore, cultures to welcome you and fantastic natural beauty to behold. A glimpse into the world of river cruising reveals enriching itineraries over much of the world in some of the most rewarding and fascinating locations.

Trending Now
When it comes to river cruises, the latest trends in river cruising cater to active travelers, food and wine enthusiasts, wellness seekers, and those interested in one's past or family history.

Here is just a small sample of where a  2023 -2024 river cruise will take you:
Vienna's elegant boulevards and Hapsburg treasures :: Budapest's historic Castle District :: The lush vineyards of France :: Storybook villages and hilltop castles of Germany :: The charming windmills of The Netherlands :: Glittering palaces of St. Petersburg, Russia :: Germany's spectacular Saxon Switzerland region :: Portugal's rolling vineyards of the Douro Valley :: Ancient temples along Egypt's timeless Nile River :: China's breathtaking Three Gorges of the Yangtze :: Cambodia's sprawling Angkor Wat complex :: Vietnam's lush and fertile Mekong Delta.

Find Viking River & Ocean Cruises®  2023-2024 Dates, Rates, Schedules and Itineraries.

See special offers on the most popular itineraries. Sail on elegant, award-winning Viking Longships®. Experience the world's #1 river cruise line.

INSIDER SEARCH RESULTS

We found special rates, exclusive amenities & bonus extras for Viking River & Ocean Cruises Click here to browse all offers.

Top 25 Viking Cruises for 2023 - 2024. Over 300 cruise itineraries to choose from.

New River Cruise Scenery: All Day, Every Day. Imagine fairytale palaces, towering gorges carved through millennia, and tiny villages nestled in the still preserved beauty of the landscape. Enjoy breathtaking scenery that’s constantly changing through panoramic windows in the restaurant and lounge and stunning 360° views from the sun deck.

Just About Everything is Included: The last thing you want to do on vacation is worry about costs. When you travel on a river cruise, there are no surprises or hidden fees. The price you pay covers just about everything including port charges, meals, lectures, activities and shore excursions, as well as hotel accommodations on most river cruise itineraries. So all you have to do is relax and enjoy a great vacation that is also a great value. All aboard for affordable cruising!

Worldwide choices:  Journey into the heart of Europe, China, Southeast Asia and Egypt. Traveling by river, beyond the reach of roadways, you’ll discover the true nature of these fascinating lands and the people who call them home. You’ll travel with ease, unpacking just once and enjoying the ever-changing scenery along the banks as you are gently carried aboard an elegant, intimate ship to your next destination. Nothing compares to a river, and no experience compares to a Viking river cruise.

Promotions, Discounts & Deals based on your interest In river cruises. Check out these river cruise deals : Rhine River CruisesDanube River CruisesBordeaux CruisesDouro River CruisesDutch & Belgian CruisesElbe River CruisesMain River CruisesMosel River CruisesRhone River CruisesSaone River CruisesSeine River CruisesVolga River CruisesYangzi River Cruises

Europe River Cruises. Traverse the vineyard-lined Moselle and Main Rivers to quaint Western European towns. In France, savor specialty cuisine and fine wines along Normandy’s Seine and Provence’s Rhône River. Or behold the splendor of the Elbe, one of Central Europe’s most unspoiled rivers. As the world’s leading river cruise line, no one shows you Europe like Viking.

 

Featured River Cruise Line of the Month

From thoughtfully designed itineraries to vessels that showcase state-of-the-art engineering and streamlined Scandinavian design, Viking River Cruises® continuously seeks new ways to delight travelers. Feel the majesty of sweeping landscapes. Embrace intriguing cultures and traditions. Marvel at grand expressions of art, architecture and engineering. Viking River Cruises lets you discover the world around you. Awaken your senses. Immerse your spirit. Indulge your dreams. Journey into the heart of Europe, Asia, Russia and beyond. Explore the scenic banks of the romantic Danube, the vineyards and castles along the Rhine, the rich cultures along France's Rhone and Seine, and the splendid vistas along Portugal's Douro and Germany's Elbe. Traveling by river, beyond the reach of roadways, you will discover the true nature of fascinating lands and the people who call them home. You will travel with ease, unpacking just once and enjoying the ever-changing scenery along the banks as you are gently carried on board an elegant, intimate ship to your next destination.

Browse : Viking River Cruise Destinations  -  Viking River Cruise Ships  - Viking River Cruise Deals

Texas School of Photography explored Windmills,

Castles & Cathedrals.

Twenty Four Photographers experienced the highlights of the legendary Rhine in just 8 days. In Germany, they sailed past castles commanding the riverbanks, and toured both Marksburg Castle and the ruins of Heidelberg Castle. They admired Cologne, the jewel of the Rhine, with its awe-inspiring Dom, and witnessed the lush landscape of the Black Forest region. They also explored Holland’s famous windmills and waterworks, and encounter multicultural Strasbourg in France. They travel again with Cruise Direct Online* for another Viking River Cruise, this time on the Danube

Home -  River Cruises:  Europe - Russia - Southeast Asia - China.  Rates, Dates, Destinations & Deals - About Us  

Contact Us 800.365.1445  

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Featured River Cruise Ship of the Month

Sailing Europe’s storied rivers, the award-winning Viking Longships® offer a variety of stateroom categories and true (two-room) suites with full-size verandas. Onboard amenities include a restaurant, bar and lounge, library and expansive sun deck. The ships feature al fresco dining on the Aquavit Terrace, an elegant Scandinavian design and “green” features, such as solar panels, an onboard organic herb garden and energy-efficient hybrid engines for a remarkably smooth ride.

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Featured Destinations of the Month

This just in - travelers love these top-rated experiences.

Rhine Getaway - Viking River Cruises

Rhine Getaway
“Old Father Rhine” is one of Europe’s most spellbinding rivers. Hillside castles, lush vineyards and storybook villages take center stage, particularly along the Middle Rhine, a UNESCO World Heritage Site of remarkable beauty and culture, and along its winding tributaries, the Main and Moselle Rivers. The Lower Rhine boasts its own delights as it flows into The Netherlands and the Rhine Delta, from charming windmills to canal-laced cities. Select your Rhine River Cruise

Waterways of the Tzars - Viking River Cruises

Waterways of the Tsars
See the swirling onion domes and stout towers of Moscow’s Red Square. Share stories at the kitchen table of an Uglich family. Savor Russian caviar with your blini pancakes. Soak up the steam in a traditional banya in riverside Mandrogy village. Envision Peter the Great luxuriating in massive Peterhof Palace, then see how multiple families shared living space at a Soviet-era kommunalka.
From Moscow to St. Petersburg, this 13-day voyage reveals the real Russia as never before.

Select your Waterways of the Tsars Cruise

Danube Waltz
Admire the Wachau Valley's beauty from your Viking Longship. Learn to waltz at a Viennese dance school. Witness daily life in an abbey on an exclusive visit to Göttweig. Savor Austro-Hungarian cuisine in Vienna and Budapest. Explore lesser-known Central European cities like Bratislava. Soak up soothing steam at a Budapest thermal bath. This 8-day itinerary reveals the highlights of Passau, Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest, while cruising leisurely through spectacular scenery.
Select your Danube Waltz Cruise

8 Best River Cruises in Europe

Selected by our editors.

Where do Viking River Cruises go?
River Cruise Destinations. Journey into the heart of Europe, Asia, Egypt and beyond. Explore the romantic Danube, the vineyards and castles along the Rhine, the rich cultures along France's Rhone and Seine, and the splendid vistas along Portugal's Douro and Germany's Elbe.
How many passengers on a Viking Longship
®?
Viking's European Longships carry 190 passengers; its Russian ships' just over 200 and its China ship carries up to 256.
What is the best month to take a European river cruise?
Best time for a European river cruise:  From late June to mid-October when the climate is warm and dry. Most affordable time for a European river cruise:  River cruises are cheaper during October, November and December.

Insider Savings
Unlock incredible, exclusive offers sailing with Viking Cruises. Check Out This Week's Top Offers.  These offers above may be combinable with your Viking Explorer Society benefits.

 

Certified Master Viking River & Ocean Cruise Experts

Learn more about these cruise and ocean planning professionals.

Recommended Read : The Ultimate river Cruise Guidebook. Learn More

What A River Cruise Is & Is Not!   

What Is A River Cruise

Packing For A River Cruise

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VIKING INCLUSIVE VALUE

Your cruise fare includes everything you need—and nothing you do not. Learn More About it.

Want a preview of our best 2023 -2024 cruise offers? Go here.

 

Related Stories

 
Discovery
Discovery
 

Best Ocean Cruises Of 2023 -2024

On a Viking ocean cruise, you will sail into the heart of your destination. From prime, central berths in the world’s great cities such as Venice, London, Hong Kong and Sydney, and in seldom-visited ports like Kotor, Montenegro and Scotland’s Shetland Islands, enriching cultural discoveries are just a short walk from your ship. Further, you will spend more time in port, with overnight stays in virtually all ports of embarkation and disembarkation. Here is a small sample of where a Viking ocean cruise can take you:
•Majestic fjords from Norway to Chile
•Up the Thames River for easy access to historic London
•Into the mighty Amazon River
•New Zealand’s magnificent Milford and Doubtful Sounds
•Great canals of the world: from the Panama to the Suez
•Small and stunning ports such as Norway’s Lofoten Islands
•Remote islands such as Easter Island and Mauritius
•Among the soaring karst islands of Vietnam’s Ha Long Bay

Cruise with Viking on new, elegant ships. One complimentary shore excursion in every port of call. Free Wi-Fi. Alternative restaurant dining at no extra charge. 24-hour room service. Beer, wine & soft drinks with onboard lunch & dinner.

Ocean Cruise Destinations
Experience the world in depth, and at a relaxed pace. The small size of elegant, 930-passenger ships gives you access to fascinating ports that larger ships simply cannot reach. Ocean and world cruises traverse six continents and offer enriching cultural experiences.

Baltic & Northern Europe
Immerse yourself in the rich Viking heritage, remarkable maritime history and colorful cultures that have shaped some of the most scenic shores in the world. Learn More
The Americas & Caribbean
Cruising the eastern seaboard of North America provides a fascinating glimpse of legacies and traditions that date all the way back to Leif Eriksson. Learn More
Mediterranean & Adriatic 
Experience up close the sun-soaked cultures, romantic cities steeped in an ancient past and the rich culinary and wine-making traditions of the fabled Mediterranean. Learn More
Quiet Season Mediterranean
Join Viking in the storied Mediterranean during the quiet season. Fewer crowds mean more meaningful, relaxed culture immersion. And low-season airfares stretch your travel dollar. Learn More
Asia & Australia
Uncover the secrets of Asia’s enigmatic cultures. Take in the cultural pleasures of Australia and New Zealand. Learn More
World & Grand Voyages
Sweeping, epic and enlightening, Viking’s Grand Voyages open doorways to more of the world’s cultures, whether traversing oceans, bridging continents or sailing around the globe. Learn More
Ocean & River Voyages
Travel by both river and sea with enriching journeys that highlight the history, culture and seldom-seen sights of inland and coastal destinations on one seamless itinerary. Learn More

 


IN THE NEWS

According to The Telegraph, Viking Cruises is moving forward with Mississippi River cruises, scheduled to start in 2023. Viking is planning 11-stop cruises between St. Louis and St. Paul, Minnesota, from July through October. The first boat will be built in 2021 with a second set for 2023. Each will accommodate 390 people. The five-deck boats offer balcony accommodations. The aft of the vessel will feature an infinity pool while the bow will have ramps to easily land passengers. There are no inside rooms.

Viking Honored with 5 - Cruise Critic Editors' Picks Awards & 11 Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice Awards
Viking takes five categories, including Best Luxury Value for Money and Best Enrichment in 12th Annual Awards.

Learn More

Viking’s Ships Take 11 Categories, Including New Category “Best for River Cruises” in the

9th Annual Cruise Critic Cruisers’ Choice Awards

NEW Journeys to the Extraordinary
Experience the humbling effect of nature as you step foot where few have been before. Vikings' new purpose-built expedition ships coming in 2023, provide an unparalleled perspective on the world’s most remote locations, taking you to the dramatic landscapes of Antarctica and the Arctic. Viking has partnered with the world’s leading academic institutions to develop onboard lectures on geology, marine biology, glaciology and more. And, with custom-designed expedition equipment and onshore expertise, unique shore landings allow you to discover your destination up close.

Call us for a private preview*. 800.365.1445

 

*Open only to past Viking Guests at this time.

 

 


 

© 2023 Cruise Direct Online - Travel Direct Corporation - Fla. Seller of Travel Reg. No. ST-31254 - All Rights Reserved | 800.365.1445 Travel Direct may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice. NOTICE: Information posted on this web site was accurate when published, but rates, sailing dates, ports-of-call, discounts, special offers and amenities such as shipboard credit or cabin upgrades and all other aspects of any of the cruises listed at this web site can be changed by the cruise line or travel provider without notice. So, contact us or the cruise line to get the latest updated sailing schedule, itinerary, prices and availability BEFORE planning your cruise vacation. "Cruise Taxes, Fees, and Port Expenses" if charged, may include any and all fees, charges, tolls and taxes imposed on Viking, by governmental or quasi-governmental authorities, as well as third party fees and charges arising from a vessel's presence in a harbor or port. Cruise Taxes, Fees and Port Expenses may include U.S. customs fees, head taxes, Panama Canal tolls, dockage fees, wharfage fees, inspection fees, pilotage, air taxes, hotel or VAT taxes incurred as part of a land tour, immigration and naturalization fees, and Internal Revenue Service or the equivalent fees, as well as fees associated with navigation, berthing, stevedoring, baggage handling/storage, and security services. Cruise Taxes, Fees, and Port Expenses may be assessed per passenger, per berth, per ton or per vessel. Assessments calculated on a per ton or per vessel basis will be spread over the number of passengers on the Vessel. Cruise Taxes, Fees and Port Expenses are subject to change and Viking reserves the right to collect any increases in effect at the time of sailing even if the fare has already been paid in full. Shipboard Credit: Shipboard credit if offered, can be redeemed and used onboard the booked Viking cruise. The actual retail value (in USD) of the following: for one (1) to seven (7) nights on Viking vessel, $150 per guest; for eight (8) to fourteen (14) nights on a Viking vessel, $300 per guest and for fifteen plus (15+) nights on a Viking vessel, $500 per guest. ^The Published Rate may include a special limited time offer, such as a 2 for 1 fare, lower price, discount, or reduction in airfare reduction, authorized by Viking Cruises.

Special requirements
If you or a guest is pregnant or if there is a need to communicate a request for special meals, medical conditions or physical challenges, you must contact us or the cruise line, prior to booking. Failure to disclose If you or a guest is pregnant, or have any medical conditions or physical challenges may result in denied boarding and no refund will be issued. Minimum age requirements apply.

 

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