Anyone who has sailed on one of Viking’s Longships knows how special they are. The river vessels’ unique cabin corridors ensure spacious guestrooms, and their distinct blunt bows accommodate the alfresco Aquavit Terrace. Also remarkable is how many Longships are currently available to clients, and how many more will be ready to whisk them away on marvelous journeys.
The cruise line now operates 65 riverboats; 48 are Longships, launched since just 2012. The company had previously announced that seven more Longships are scheduled to be introduced in Europe in 2019 — and now, we know the number is planned to increase further into the future.
While in Shanghai in early March for the naming ceremony for the company’s newest ocean ship — Viking Sun — Torstein Hagen, chairman of Viking, hosted a press conference outlining the company’s upcoming river endeavors. He showed a slide displaying two-dozen new riverboats to come. (No launch dates have yet been given.)
“We have 65 of these, and we have another 24 in the pipeline,” he said.
Prior to this, Viking’s expansion had slowed some — relative to its own brisk pace — with only two new Longships unveiled in 2017 and none planned for this year. The line debuted Viking Ra earlier this year in Egypt, but it was a different class of vessel. The company cites strong demand as the reason for its upcoming growth.
For now, those looking to dream ahead have the following ships to anticipate next year: Viking Longship Einar, Viking Longship Sigrun, Viking Longship Sigyn, Viking Longship Tir, Viking Longship Ullur and Viking Longship Vali. Viking Helgrim will be a slightly smaller version designed specifically for the Douro River.
The Details
Viking
www.vikingcruises.com
