To take a fresh look at the ships of Viking River Cruises we recently traveled to Germany to create Viking Longships Illustrated: A Resource For Your Cruise Planning Pleasure.
The occasion: the christening of two new Viking Longships at a riverside ceremony in Koblenz, a favorite stop I enjoyed first on Viking’s Grand European Tour several summer’s ago.
The need: Lisa and I have that same itinerary scheduled for June of this year.
The better need: Viking’s Grand European Tour, 14 days from Budapest to Amsterdam (or reverse), is the most asked-about itinerary by readers.
The authenticated need: Several regular readers of this space have Viking’s Grand European Tour booked and crave information, as the culturally curious travelers gravitating to Viking uncommonly do. So let’s dive in with Viking Longships Illustrated: A Resource For Your Cruise Planning Pleasure

Right up front I have to tell you:  the Viking River Cruises website is loaded with high quality resources not found here.  Photos, Videos, Recipes, Ship Profiles, Itineraries and more are easy to navigate.  If that’s not enough, printed Viking brochures have information you can hold in your hand or allow to grace a counter or shelf in your home.  In reality, the accurate representation of what Viking does, provided by the Viking organization is about all most buyers need to make an informed decision.  We’ve checked all Viking resources, compared them to actual experiences on a number of Viking offerings and found them to be meticulously accurate.

Still, there is value in exploring what third-party sources have to say about any product we might buy.  That’s what we have for you here in our collection.   We begin with the selection of accommodations available on Viking Longships

 Viking Longships Illustrated
Explorer Suites

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Aft-facing Explorer’s Suites capitalize on ship design by turning areas normally used for public spaces on other river cruise lines into 445 square foot two-room suites.

Also featured in Explorer Suites:

• Hotel-style beds 79 inches x 63 inches (with optional twin-bed configuration)
• Private wraparound veranda off the spacious living room offers 270-degree views
• Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors, known as a French balcony, in the bedroom
• Large bathroom with shower, heated mirror & floor, premium bath products
• Telephone, refrigerator, safe, hair dryer & bottled water replenished daily
• Bathrobe and slippers available upon request
• Individual climate control
• Space under bed for storing suitcases
• Roomy wardrobe with wooden hangers
• Voltage: 220V and 110V in stateroom
• Two Sony 40-inch flat-panel TVs with premium entertainment package including: BBC News, CNBC, CNN, National Geographic, TNT Series, Sky Sports, videos on demand and “View From the Bridge”
• Early check-in (no later than 12 PM)
• Complimentary Silver Spirits Beverage Package, Viking Air Plus services, laundry service & room service (during breakfast)
• Private airport transfers in Europe
• Welcome champagne, daily fruit basket, mini-bar with wine, beer & soft drinks (replenished daily)
• In-suite premium bathrobes & slippers, binoculars, coffee brewer, cashmere blanket & complimentary shoe shine service

 

Viking Longships Illustrated
Category AA Suites

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To Viking River Cruises chairman Torstein Hagen, defining spaces that will be considered ‘suites’ is simple: they have two rooms. On the unique fleet of Viking Longships, two types are offered. Aft-facing Explorer’s Suites capitalize on ship design by turning areas normally used for public spaces on other river cruise lines into 445 square foot two-room suites, the subject of a different gallery.  Here we see details of Vikings category AA Veranda Suites which come in at 275 square feet and feature two distinctly separate rooms. Each has it’s own entertainment center and unique views of the river and places ships pass along the way on a book of interesting itineraries.

In the living room, a sliding glass door opens onto a veranda with two chairs and a table. Also included, welcome champagne, daily fruit basket, mini-bar with wine, beer, soft drinks that are replenished daily.

In the bedroom, a hotel-style beds are a roomy 79 inches x 63 inches (with optional twin-bed configuration). Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors make what is called a French balcony. A larger than average private bathroom with shower features premium bath products, a heated floor and more.

There are just six Category AA Veranda suites on each Viking Longship that also include a special bonus: Complimentary Viking Air Plus & laundry services.

 

Viking Longships Illustrated
French Balcony Staterooms

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While Veranda staterooms are the most plentiful on Viking Longships (39 out of 95 are Veranda), also popular are French Balcony Staterooms which appear in several categories.
All of deck two has Category D French Balconies on the port (left) side across the hall from Veranda B staterooms. Move up to deck three on the port side an and we see a few category C French balconies aft. On the same side, French Balconies are part of category AA Veranda Suites which have balconies as well. The other side of deck three are category A Verandah staterooms.

Basic difference between a Verandah Stateroom and a French Balcony: the sliding glass door is still there but there is not balcony. Also the interior space is less. French Balconies are 135 square feet while Veranda staterooms are 205 square feet.

Considerations on either deck when selecting a stateroom:

Deck three is right under the top deck. On a big ship cruise, considering what is just above staterooms there is important. Right under a public dining venue or fitness center can be noisy. That’s far less of a concern on a Viking Longship. Above is a walking track, shuffleboard, mini golf, herb garden and solar panels. At the point where there are tables and chairs most apt to be moved around above, below is the observation lounge and Aquavit Terrace. Walking forward on deck three goes through the atrium, right past the 2 hour coffee stations, into the observation lounge and ends in the Aquavit Terrace.

Deck two features the balconies that are closest to the water. On a big ship that might be a solid requirement for some travelers, not so much on a river cruise. About mid-way on deck two is a staircase that goes to deck one where Standard (window) Staterooms are located. This is also as far down as the elevator no one uses goes.

Viking Longships Illustrated
Standard Staterooms

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The majority of Viking Longships have 25 standard staterooms, what might be called an “entry level” accommodation on other cruise lines.  Again though, Viking River Cruises is not like other cruise lines beginning with standard staterooms with half-height picture window at river level.  There are no windowless staterooms to be had.  They do not exist here.

150 sq ft Standard Staterooms in identical categories E and F are on the lowest, main deck.  There is no deck below this.  Access comes via a stairway one deck up on the middle deck which is also where The Restaurant is located.  Like all other categories, Standard Staterooms have hotel-style beds 79 inches x 63 inches with an optional twin-bed configuration.  Standard staterooms also have the same appointments as other one room accommodations as well:

• Private bathroom with shower and premium bath products
• Telephone, refrigerator, safe, hair dryer & bottled water replenished daily
• Bathrobe and slippers available upon request
• Individual climate control
• Space under bed for storing suitcases
• Roomy wardrobe with wooden hangers
• Voltage: 220V and 110V in stateroom
• Sony 40-inch flat-panel TV with premium entertainment package including: BBC News, CNBC, CNN, National Geographic, TNT Series, Sky Sports, videos on demand and “View From the Bridge”

Viking Longships Illustrated
360-degree LongshipTour

 Viking Longships Illustrated
Flickr Photo Albums

• Viking Longships- Library & Internet Cafe
• Viking Longships- Atrium
• Viking Longships- Observation Lounge
• Viking Longships- Top Deck
• Viking Longships- Standard Stateroom
• Viking Longships- French Balcony Stateroom
• Viking Longships- Verandah Stateroom
• Viking Longships- Explorer’s Suites
• Viking Longships- Aquavit Breakfast
• Viking Longships- Aquavit Terrace
• Viking Longships- Exteriors
• Viking Longships- The Restaurant

Viking Longships Illustrated
ChrisCruises Articles

• Viking Longships Favorite Features
• Viking Longships Christenings Through Time
• Viking Longships: A Lot To Like
• Viking Longships: A Capstone Experience

Viking Longships Illustrated
Facebook Photo Albums

Viking Longships Atrium
Viking Longships Top Deck Attractions
Viking Longships Explorer Suites
Viking Longships Verandah Staterooms
Viking Longships 2017
Viking Longships French Balconies

Viking Longships Illustrated
Exposure Photo Storybook

Viking Longships by CHRIS OWEN on Exposure 

 

 

 

Viking Longships Illustrated
Pinterest Boards

 Viking Longships Illustrated
The Entire Fleet Of Viking Longships

1. Viking Longship Aegir
2. Viking Longship Alruna
3. Viking Longship Alsvin
4. Viking Longship Atla
5. Viking Longship Baldur
6. Viking Longship Bragi
7. Viking Longship Buri
8. Viking Longship Delling
9. Viking Longship Egil
10. Viking Longship Eir
11. Viking Longship Embla
12. Viking Longship Forseti
13. Viking Longship Gefjon
14. Viking Longship Gullveig
15. Viking Longship Heimdal
16. Viking Longship Herja
17. Viking Longship Hermod
18. Viking Longship Hild
19. Viking Longship Hlin
20. Viking Longship Idi
21. Viking Longship Idun
22. Viking Longship Ingvi
23. Viking Longship Jarl
24. Viking Longship Kadlin
25. Viking Longship Kara
26. Viking Longship Kvasir
27. Viking Longship Lif
28. Viking Longship Lofn
29. Viking Longship Magni
30. Viking Longship Mani
31. Viking Longship Mimir
32. Viking Longship Modi
33. Viking Longship Njord
34. Viking Longship Odin
35. Viking Longship Rinda
36. Viking Longship Rolf
37. Viking Longship Skadi
38. Viking Longship Skirnir
39. Viking Longship Tialfi
40. Viking Longship Tor
41. Viking Longship Var
42. Viking Longship Ve
43. Viking Longship Vidar
44. Viking Longship Vilhjalm
45. Viking Longship Vili

 

 

Viking Duro River Ships

Inspired by Viking Longships, these ships were custom built to sail Portugal’s Douro River, with state-of-the-art engineering, deluxe accommodations and streamlined Scandinavian interiors. Like the Viking Longships, each has a variety of stateroom classes, all with sweeping river views.

1. Viking Hemming
2. Viking Torgil
3. Viking Osfrid

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Viking Elbe River Ships

Also inspired by Viking Longships, new Elbe ships feature state-of-the art engineering, deluxe accommodations and streamlined Scandinavian interiors. Their customized hulls and engines are specially built to navigate the historic, but shallow, Elbe river.

1. Viking Astrild
2. Viking Beyla

 

Viking Russia Ships

Twenty years ago, Viking River Cruises began in Russia and continues today.  Taking culturally curious travelers to Russia’s great landmarks and welcoming heartland includes the chance to take in the colorful sights of Red Square, the royal retreats of St. Petersburg and quaint Golden Ring towns like Yaroslavl and Uglich.

1. Viking Akun
2. Viking Helgi
3. Viking Ingvar
4. Viking Truvor

 

Viking Ukraine Ships

Viking Sineus sails on the Dnieper River from Kiev to the Black Sea, an ancient and splendid trade route lined with rich cultural treasures, onion-domed churches and rural folkways that recall the days of Vikings, Tatars and Cossacks. Featured: Kiev’s Cave Monasteries, the riding skill of Cossack horsemen and tracing the footsteps of history at Odessa’s Potemkin Steps.

• Viking Sineus

Viking Asia Ships

Sailing on the Mekong, Irrawaddy or China’s deluxe Yangtze River cruise, Viking explorers sail past unforgettable scenery, visit destinations rich in history, enjoy wonderful cuisine and meet the region’s fascinating, friendly people.

1. Viking Emerald
2. Viking Mekong

 

Viking Egypt Ships

Float along the life-giving Nile or cruise across Lake Nasser, enjoying comfort and style the ancient pharaohs could only dream of, while witnessing the monuments of ancient civilizations.

1. MS Mayfair
2. MS Omar El Khayam

 

More To Come

Consider Viking Longships Illustrated a work in progress.
I will add more to this collection over time