Viking has taken delivery of its newest river ship, the Viking Eldir, expanding a fleet that has helped define the modern river cruising experience in Europe.
Built at Meyer’s Neptun Werft shipyard in Rostock-Warnemünde, Germany, the 190-guest vessel is the latest addition to Viking’s signature Longship lineup. The ship will sail the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers — the same routes that turned Viking into the dominant name in European river cruising.
Like its sister ships, the Viking Eldir carries the hallmarks that Viking loyalists will recognize immediately: Scandinavian-influenced interiors, an indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace, a space-saving square bow and true two-room suites. It’s a formula Viking has refined over years of iteration, and at this point it works. The 95-stateroom ship will operate itineraries including Rhine Getaway, Grand European Tour, Passage to Eastern Europe, European Sojourn and Christmas on the Rhine.
“With our exclusive docking locations, we proudly bring our guests closer to destinations along the great rivers of the world,” said Torstein Hagen, Viking’s chairman and CEO.
The delivery is part of an aggressive expansion plan that shows no signs of slowing. Viking expects to add 22 more river ships by 2028, bringing its total river fleet to 112. On the ocean and expedition side, the company has 10 additional ocean ships and two expedition ships on order through 2031, pushing its combined ocean and expedition fleet to 25 vessels.
For travelers considering a European river cruise, that growth means more departure dates, more itinerary options and — in theory — more availability on a line that frequently sells out well in advance.
