Viking Unveils New European River Cruise Experienc...

• Historic Zeppelin Excursions: Vacationers on choose Rhine River routes can e book a uncommon flight aboard a Zeppelin airship, taking in panoramic views of historic landmarks from 1,000 ft within the air.
• Biodynamic Wine Tastings: New Danube itineraries function unique dinner pairings on the Nikolaihof Vineyard, a UNESCO World Heritage web site in Austria acknowledged for its historic cellars and early adoption of biodynamic winemaking.
• Immersive Strolling Excursions: Enhanced night excursions in Dürnstein mix a historic strolling tour centered on medieval castles with conventional eating inside a former monastery cellar.
• Localized Culinary Courses: The cultural rollout consists of interactive hands-on experiences, comparable to visiting regional markets in Belgrade to buy contemporary components alongside skilled cooks earlier than cooking a conventional lunch

Viking has unveiled an array of latest European river voyage experiences, open for reserving forward of the upcoming journey seasons. Tailor-made primarily for vacationers trying to expertise an iconic river cruise for the primary time, these premium additions broaden upon the corporate’s signature cultural enrichment applications. The curated choices span throughout the Rhine, Danube, Seine, and Elbe river itineraries, introducing groundbreaking aerial excursions, deeper culinary interactions, and expanded land extensions.

The undisputed highlights of the brand new roster are the scenic Zeppelin airship excursions over Germany. Accessible on choose Rhine River itineraries, company can ascend to a cruising altitude of 1,000 ft to expertise chicken’s-eye views of the Rhineland. One flight pathway glides over Cologne, giving passengers a perspective of the Hohenzollern Bridge and the UNESCO-listed Gothic Cologne Cathedral. A second Zeppelin flight route hovering over the Ruhr Valley showcases lush forests, Lake Baldeney, and the historic Zeche Zollverein coal mine complicated.

Past the aerial journeys, Viking has enriched its conventional shore excursions with immersive cultural and gastronomic occasions. On the Danube River, company can bask in a regional wine tasting and farm-to-table seasonal dinner on the historic Nikolaihof Vineyard in Austria’s Wachau Valley, which is well known as one of many oldest and first biodynamic wineries in Europe. For a extra energetic night, vacationers can be a part of a guided strolling tour by the medieval streets of Dürnstein, studying about its ties to Richard the Lionheart earlier than eating in a transformed former monastery cellar. From native market cooking lessons in Belgrade to those premium land-and-sky adventures, the growth emphasizes extremely localized, small-group interactions.

Key Highlights to Know

PRESS RELEASE

New Extensions and Shore Excursions, Together with Scenic Zeppelin Flights Over Germany, Now Open for Reserving

LOS ANGELES–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Viking^® (www.viking.com) (NYSE: VIK) immediately introduced a spread of latest European river voyage experiences that at the moment are open for reserving. Highlights embody scenic Zeppelin airship excursions in Germany, providing company on choose Rhine River itineraries aerial views of Cologne and the Ruhr Valley, together with new culinary and cultural shore excursions, small group shore excursions and expanded choices for land extensions throughout Europe.

This press launch options multimedia. View the total launch right here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260605500367/en/

Viking immediately introduced a spread of latest European river voyage experiences that at the moment are open for reserving. Pictured right here, Viking Govt Chairman Torstein Hagen on board a Zeppelin airship, an expertise featured in two new tour choices on choose Rhine River itineraries. For extra data, go to www.viking.com

“Europe stays a favourite vacation spot for our company—notably these inquisitive about experiencing a river voyage for the primary time,” mentioned Torstein Hagen, Govt Chairman of Viking. “As we proceed to broaden our choices in Europe, we’re happy to introduce new experiences that permit our company to have interaction with their vacation spot within the Viking means—by native meals, tradition and traditions, and even from the air in a Zeppelin.”

New Shore Excursions

Starting within the 2026 season, Viking has added to its intensive shore tour choices with a set of experiences for its Rhine, Danube, Seine and Elbe river itineraries. Highlights of the brand new excursions embody:

• Zeppelin Flight Over the Ruhr Valley – Board a Zeppelin airship to view the picturesque Ruhr Valley from a brand new perspective. Drive to Essen/Mülheim Airport, the place your Zeppelin awaits. First conceived in 1893 by Rely Ferdinand von Zeppelin, these exceptional airships grew to become a well-liked mode of journey throughout the early Twentieth-century. Absorb gorgeous views because the Zeppelin gently ascends to only over 1,000 ft. Glide by the air over lush forests and Lake Baldeney, watching because the panorama unfolds beneath you. Soar above the Ruhr Valley, as soon as Germany’s financial powerhouse, and see the Zeche Zollverein—a UNESCO World Heritage Website referred to as the “Eiffel Tower of the Ruhr”—earlier than returning to the airport. (Accessible on choose Rhine River itineraries.)
• Zeppelin Flight Over Cologne – Take flight on a Zeppelin airship and revel in a chicken’s-eye view of Cologne’s placing monuments. Drive to the Bonn-Hangelar Airfield, the place your Zeppelin awaits. As you agree into your seat, the airship will slowly ascend to its cruising altitude of 1,000 ft. Glide by the sky above the Rhineland, watching because the panorama unfolds beneath you. Soar over Cologne, seeing its Commerce Honest complicated and the Lanxess enviornment. Comply with the arches of the Hohenzollern Bridge to the Cologne Cathedral, a UNESCO-listed web site and a formidable instance of Gothic structure. In your return, you’ll spot Cologne’s fashionable landmarks, together with the Musical Dome and the Mediapark, earlier than descending. (Accessible on choose Rhine River itineraries.)
• Dinner at Nikolaihof Winery – Go to Austria’s Wachau Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Website and famend area to discover Nikolaihof Vineyard, one of many oldest wineries in Austria. Study the way it was one of many first in Europe to implement a biodynamic course of and go to its cellar, the place you may see its oak wine barrels and pattern a few of its wine. Lastly, sit down for a dinner of seasonal dishes created from regionally sourced sport and produce, a few of it grown proper on the vineyard’s grounds. (Accessible on choose Danube River itineraries.)
• Dürnstein on Foot & Local Dinner – Discover Dürnstein, a city that dates to the 12^th century, on a guided strolling tour by its historic streets to find out about its wealthy historical past together with the citadel’s 13^th-century building and connection to Richard the Lionheart, adopted by a dinner at Alte Klosterkeller, a former monastery cellar, to take pleasure in regional dishes paired with native wine. (Accessible on choose Danube River itineraries.)
• Sights & Flavors of Belgrade– Take within the sights of Belgrade as you go to an area market and be a part of a cooking class to arrange your personal lunch. Set off together with your information on a drive by the town to see a few of its most iconic sights. Go to the Kalenić Market, Belgrade’s largest open-air market, the place you may stroll by stalls and buy components to your upcoming cooking class the place you’ll put together and revel in conventional Serbian dishes. (Accessible on choose Danube River itineraries.)
• Red Stone Castle & Wine Tasting– Uncover the center of Slovakian wine nation with a go to to the picturesque Little Carpathians and the nicely‑preserved Crimson Stone Fort, a former sixteenth‑century fortress reworked into an aristocratic residence. Discover its grand interiors and cellar complicated earlier than visiting an area vineyard to pattern the area’s specialty white wines. (Accessible on choose Danube River itineraries.)
• Sights and Tastes of Rouen – Discover Rouen throughout the Christmas season and uncover a few of its iconic landmarks and style the native fare. Start on the Rouen Cathedral, a construction that has advanced over 800 years and contains a mix of early Gothic and Renaissance architectural kinds. Study the historical past of the world within the Previous Market Sq., the place Joan of Arc was burned on the stake. Pause at numerous boulangeries and patisseries to pattern native treats and take within the ambiance of Rouen’s café tradition. (Accessible on the Christmastime in Paris & Normandy itinerary.)
• Flavors of Berlin – Expertise Berlin throughout the Christmas season, sampling the flavors of Germany’s capital metropolis. Together with your information, go to a number of the metropolis’s culinary establishments. At Lindner, the town’s famend high quality meals store celebrated for its house-made butter, you’ll take pleasure in a style of Berliner Boulette—a flat meatball flavored with onions—together with different delicacies. Admire Berlin’s colourful road artwork en path to EAT Berlin, situated amid a community of picturesque artwork nouveau courtyards. Native cheeses, mustards, pestos (sauces) and extra are offered right here, with numerous objects to pattern. On the well-liked Curry 61, order currywurst, a metropolis favourite. No meals tour of Berlin could be full and not using a style of conventional espresso and cake from one of many metropolis’s many cafés. (Accessible on the Christmas Along the Elbeitinerary.)

New Small Group Experiences

Starting in 2026, Viking has additionally launched new Small Group Experiences throughout choose European river itineraries, providing company much more intimate and immersive methods to discover iconic landmarks and native tradition, together with:

New Pre and Submit Land Extensions

Viking additionally introduced new totally guided land extensions starting in 2026 and 2027, which will be added earlier than or after river voyage itineraries to supply company deeper immersion in Italy, France, Croatia, Slovenia, Belgium and the Netherlands. Highlights of the brand new land extensions embody:

• NEW in 2026 St. Moritz, Lombardy & Alpine Train – Board the Bernina Categorical for a surprising rail journey alongside a UNESCO World Heritage Website route by the majestic Alps and Northern Italy. Discover the previous city of Chur and admire placing views from atop an alpine mountain in St. Moritz. Expertise Milan, the cultural middle of Northern Italy.
• NEW in 2026 Croatia & Slovenia – Expertise the colourful cultures of Slovenia and Croatia. In Ljubljana, discover the town and go to scenic Lake Bled and charming Radovljica. Stroll the streets of Zagreb’s medieval previous city and go to the stately Festetics Palace in Keszthely on a journey that blends historical past and picturesque landscapes.
• NEW in 2026 Best of Belgium– Expertise the wealthy historical past, gorgeous structure and vibrant tradition of Belgium throughout visits to a few of its most charming cities. Immerse your self within the picturesque UNESCO-listed charms of Brussels and medieval Bruges, and discover bustling Antwerp, Europe’s famend diamond capital.
• NEW in 2026 Best of Holland – Uncover Holland’s wealthy cultural heritage, scenic magnificence and iconic sights. Discover Delft’s Royal Dutch Delftware Manufactory and Gouda’s historic websites, and partake in a stroopwafel workshop. See The Hague’s landmarks and admire the masterpieces on show on the Mauritshuis Museum and Rijksmuseum.
• NEW in 2027 Turin & Barolo– Uncover Turin, Italy’s first capital, famend for its elegant Baroque structure, vibrant piazzas and Piedmont wines. Go to Alba, the gateway to the Langhe Wine Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Website, and discover Chambéry, the historic seat of the Dukes of Savoy.
• NEW in 2027 Seville & Cordoba – Uncover the spirit of southern Spain, the place Moorish and Roman legacies create a wealthy cultural tapestry. Uncover Seville’s structure at its stately cathedral. Go to the royal Alcázar palace and Córdoba’s Mosque-Cathedral, two of the area’s spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Websites.

Oberammergau Ardour Play 2030

Moreover, Viking will return to Bavaria in 2030 with its Oberammergau Passion Play 2030 and is now accepting sign-ups for company inquisitive about studying extra as soon as departures are formally open for reserving. Viking has been privileged to host company for this cherished occasion since 2010 and is the #1 North American associate of the Ardour Play organizers. This long-standing relationship permits Viking to plan years forward and to combine the Ardour Play seamlessly into thoughtfully designed itineraries.

Reserving Particulars

From now by June 30, 2026, Viking’s Summer time Sale presents North American vacationers decreased fares and as much as free worldwide airfare on choose all-inclusive river, ocean and expedition itineraries—and a $25 deposit for all itineraries. Name Viking toll-free at 1-855-8-VIKING (1-855-884-5464) or contact a journey advisor for particulars.

About Viking
Viking (NYSE: VIK) is a world chief in experiential journey with a fleet of greater than 100 ships, exploring 21 rivers, 5 oceans and all seven continents. Designed for curious vacationers with pursuits in science, historical past, tradition and delicacies, Govt Chairman Torstein Hagen typically says Viking presents experiences For The Considering Individual™. Viking has greater than 450 awards to its title, together with being rated #1 for Rivers and #1 for Oceans 5 years in a row by Condé Nast Traveler within the 2025 Readers’ Alternative Awards. Viking can be rated a “World’s Finest” by Journey + Leisure—no different journey firm has concurrently acquired such honors by each publications. For added data, contact Viking at 1-800-2-VIKING (1-800-284-5464) or go to www.viking.com.