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 took my first trip to Disney when I was six and haven't stopped traveling since. I fell in love with It’s a Small World. How great was it to visit numerous countries on a joyous boat ride! Since then, I've traveled to 50+ countries on six continents. In 2017, I traveled around the world and visited 23 countries – I spent more than a month in Italy and England and also enjoyed time in Israel, Japan, France and Morocco. While I spent a lot of time traveling solo, I also enjoyed time with my family and friends. Seeing their joy discovering new places helped me discover the joy that comes from planning a magical trip. From then, I decided to turn my passion into a profession.
Some of my favorite places to go include Italy, London, Paris, New York City, Boston, The Grand Canyon, The Galapagos Islands, Israel and Japan.
Combining more than 15 years' experience in travel planning with the real-world experience of visiting 50+ countries, traveling around the world and taking the top c ...