Viking is building an additional 10 Viking Longships that will join its river fleet in the coming years. To meet strong demand for European river voyages, eight of the new vessels will sail Viking’s popular itineraries on the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers, while two additional Viking Longships will join the fleet on the Seine River. (The total order is also inclusive of one Viking Longship for the Seine River that was announced in February 2023.) Five of the new vessels will be delivered in 2025, with the remaining five to be delivered in 2026. To officially mark the start of construction on all 10 ships, a keel laying ceremony was held on December 5 at Neptun Werft shipyard in Rostock, Germany, where all Viking Longships have been built since their debut in 2012.
With a current fleet of 80 river ships and more than 50 percent of the market share for North American travelers, Viking is by far the industry’s largest river line. The Viking Longships, which comprise the vast majority of the company’s river fleet, host 190 or fewer guests. With a patented design, the vessels offer a wide variety of stateroom choices, the indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace and Viking’s signature Scandinavian design aesthetic.
Good to know: The new vessels will have a hybrid propulsion system with batteries and are also equipped for shore power to reduce reliance on fuel while in port. Onboard solar panels further contribute to the ships’ energy efficiency.
The announcement is the latest significant milestone for the company. Last month, Viking celebrated the float out of its newest ocean ship, the Viking Vela, which will debut in December 2024, and announced a new ship for the Mekong River in 2025, the Viking Tonle.
Related Articles
Silversea Unveils Summer 2026 Season in French Polynesia
Explora Journeys Launches Co-Branded Website for Travel Advisors