POINT OF VIEW
Opulent Aqua
Adventures
Opulent Aqua Adventures
Experience a new side of Europe with Viking’s best-in-class river journeys.
Travelers are seeking out more intimate and culturally immersive experiences—which is one reason why small-ship river journeys are on the rise. In 2024, for the second year in a row, Viking swept Condé Nast Traveler’s “World’s Best” awards, with readers naming it the number-one in each of the Oceans, Rivers, and Expeditions cruise categories. The staff’s dedication and meticulous attention to detail are a few favorite features—along with these five reasons to sail with Viking on its European itineraries through France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, and the Netherlands.
1. That sought-after “small ship” experience
Viking ships are designed to access smaller ports, bringing travelers closer to the heart of each destination. And with no more than 190 guests per ship, travel is luxuriously intimate and comfortable. With the freedom of open-seating dining arrangements, enjoy a cocktail and admire the spectacular scenery in a spacious, light-filled stateroom or dinner al fresco on the Aquavit Terrace as the ship gently navigates past windmill-dotted waterways of Holland from Amsterdam to Budapest on Grand European Tour, or the turreted medieval castles along the UNESCO-protected Middle Rhine from Basel to Amsterdam on the Rhine Getaway.
2. Inclusive pricing
Viking’s all-inclusive approach is customized to make travel luxuriously seamless and carefree, with Wi-Fi, wine, beer, and soft drinks with onboard lunch and dinner, and port fees and taxes built into the fare. Itineraries include one complimentary shore excursions at every port, inviting travelers to discover not only Europe’s must-sees but also its lesser-known marvels. Inclusive pricing removes any worries about hidden fees so the focus is spent on incredible experiences, from a wine tasting in Alsace’s terraced vineyards that date to Roman times, to a lesson in dumpling-making with Wachau Valley apricots.
3. Thoughtful, curated experiences
Onboard programming provides cultural and historical context designed to enrich the journey for thoughtful travelers. Curious guests can, for example, dig into Nuremberg’s WWII history in an expert historian’s lecture before exploring its art and cuisine on shore.
4. Destination-driven culinary excursions
Dining with Viking is meant to be a cultural exploration in itself, with menus inspired by local ingredients and traditions. Pair Austrian schnitzel not only with Wachau Valley wines, but also with sweeping views of the region’s verdant hillsides.
5. Stress-free travel and ease
Having to unpack just once, guests explore destinations across the continent, and rest easy knowing the details are already in place. With thoughtful attention from their Swiss-trained, English speaking staff, Viking’s award winning service provides warm hospitality to guests, ensuring everyone feels at home onboard.
Discover the world of Viking.
POINT OF VIEW
Opulent Aqua
Adventures
Opulent Aqua Adventures
Experience a new side of Europe with Viking’s best-in-class river journeys.
Travelers are seeking out more intimate and culturally immersive experiences—which is one reason why small-ship river journeys are on the rise. In 2024, for the second year in a row, Viking swept Condé Nast Traveler’s “World’s Best” awards, with readers naming it the number-one in each of the Oceans, Rivers, and Expeditions cruise categories. The staff’s dedication and meticulous attention to detail are a few favorite features—along with these five reasons to sail with Viking on its European itineraries through France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, and the Netherlands.
1. That sought-after “small ship” experience
Viking ships are designed to access smaller ports, bringing travelers closer to the heart of each destination. And with no more than 190 guests per ship, travel is luxuriously intimate and comfortable. With the freedom of open-seating dining arrangements, enjoy a cocktail and admire the spectacular scenery in a spacious, light-filled stateroom or dinner al fresco on the Aquavit Terrace as the ship gently navigates past windmill-dotted waterways of Holland from Amsterdam to Budapest on Grand European Tour, or the turreted medieval castles along the UNESCO-protected Middle Rhine from Basel to Amsterdam on the Rhine Getaway.
2. Inclusive pricing
Viking’s all-inclusive approach is customized to make travel luxuriously seamless and carefree, with Wi-Fi, wine, beer, and soft drinks with onboard lunch and dinner, and port fees and taxes built into the fare. Itineraries include one complimentary shore excursions at every port, inviting travelers to discover not only Europe’s must-sees but also its lesser-known marvels. Inclusive pricing removes any worries about hidden fees so the focus is spent on incredible experiences, from a wine tasting in Alsace’s terraced vineyards that date to Roman times, to a lesson in dumpling-making with Wachau Valley apricots.
3. Thoughtful, curated experiences
Onboard programming provides cultural and historical context designed to enrich the journey for thoughtful travelers. Curious guests can, for example, dig into Nuremberg’s WWII history in an expert historian’s lecture before exploring its art and cuisine on shore.
4. Destination-driven culinary excursions
Dining with Viking is meant to be a cultural exploration in itself, with menus inspired by local ingredients and traditions. Pair Austrian schnitzel not only with Wachau Valley wines, but also with sweeping views of the region’s verdant hillsides.
5. Stress-free travel and ease
Having to unpack just once, guests explore destinations across the continent, and rest easy knowing the details are already in place. With thoughtful attention from their Swiss-trained, English speaking staff, Viking’s award winning service provides warm hospitality to guests, ensuring everyone feels at home onboard.
Discover the world of Viking.
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I have always been a Geography and Map Fanatic. I own a very large and well-utilized National Geographic Atlas in which I have recorded many notes and personal trips and routed out my journeys by ships, planes, trains, and cycling. I refer to it frequently in putting together my clients' trips and itineraries, as well as my own.
Going back to the time when I was a little girl, I have either lived just a few yards from the ocean or relatively close to it. I liked watching ships and wanted to know what life was like on the other side of the ocean. I was fascinated that my Grandmother came to the US on a ship as a teenage girl together with her sister from Ireland. Before my grandparents met in the US, my Grandfather from Ireland worked as a cowboy and copper miner in Montana at the turn of the 20th Century. They had many National Geographic issues at their home which I loved looking at. These impressions, plus taking my first cruise, all eventually led me to the cruise and travel ...