Viking has strengthened its European river cruise offering with the delivery of two new vessels, the Viking Annar and Viking Fjolvar, as the company continues an ambitious fleet expansion program.
The ships join Viking’s award-winning fleet of river vessels and will operate on some of the company’s most popular European itineraries across the Rhine, Main, Danube and Seine rivers.
New ships boost capacity in Europe
Built at Meyer’s Neptun Werft shipyard in Germany, the 190-guest Viking Annar has been designed specifically for sailings on the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers.
The vessel will operate itineraries including Rhine Getaway, Grand European Tour, Passage to Eastern Europe, European Sojourn and Christmas on the Rhine.
Meanwhile, the 168-guest Viking Fjolvar has been purpose-built for the Seine River and will sail roundtrip itineraries from Paris, including Paris & the Heart of Normandy and the new Christmastime in Paris & Normandy cruise.
Both ships feature Viking’s signature Scandinavian-inspired design, including the line’s Aquavit Terrace and patented square bow design, which maximises onboard space and allows for larger suite accommodation.
Continued growth across the fleet
Viking President and Chief Executive Officer Leah Talactac said the new additions support the company’s continued focus on river cruising.
“We are proud to welcome the Viking Annar and the Viking Fjolvar to our growing fleet of award-winning river ships,” she said.
“Exploring by river offers an unmatched way to discover a destination’s history, culture and local life, and these new vessels allow even more curious travellers to experience Europe in Viking comfort.”
More ships on the way
The delivery forms part of Viking’s long-term growth strategy, with the company planning to take delivery of 22 additional river ships by 2028.
The cruise line also has nine ocean ships and two expedition vessels on order through to 2031.
Based on its current order book, Viking expects to operate 114 river ships by 2028 and a combined fleet of 26 ocean and expedition vessels by 2031.
The latest additions reinforce Europe’s importance to Viking’s river cruise strategy as demand for immersive destination-focused travel experiences continues to grow.
