By
Alex Smith |
Viking is to add 10 more Viking Longships to its European river fleet, the cruise company has announced.
To meet strong demand for European river voyages, eight new vessels will sail Viking’s itineraries on the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers, while two more will sail on the Seine River. The total order includes one Viking Longship for the Seine River previously announced in February 2023.
A keel laying ceremony was held at Neptun Werft shipyard in Rostock, Germany, to mark the start of construction for all 10 ships. Five of the new vessels will be delivered in 2025, with the remaining five to be delivered in 2026.
“Ever since we started Viking 26 years ago, our mission has been to help our guests explore the world in comfort,” said Torstein Hagen, chairman of Viking. “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’s river fleet currently includes 80 ships, the majority of which are Viking Longships. The vessels accommodate 190 or fewer guests and feature Viking’s Scandinavian design aesthetic across its staterooms and public spaces. The newest iterations of the ship design feature a hybrid propulsion system with batteries, as well as being equipped with onboard solar panels and the ability to connect to shore power while in port.
In November, Viking also celebrated the float out of its newest ocean ship, Viking Vela, which will debut in December 2024. The cruise company also announced a new ship to sail on the Mekong River in 2025, Viking Tonle.