Ever dreamed of taking a Zeppelin airship experience? Effectively, now you’ll be able to. And to make it much more great, the Zeppelin journey will probably be a part of a Viking cruise.
Viking has introduced a variety of recent European river voyage expertise with highlights together with scene Zeppelin airship excursions in Germany.
The airship flights will supply visitors on choose Rhine River itineraries aerial views of Cologne and the Ruhr Valley. The cruises additionally will characteristic new culinary and cultural shore excursions, small group shore excursions and expanded choices for land extensions throughout Europe.
“Europe stays a favourite vacation spot for our visitors—significantly these taken with experiencing a river voyage for the primary time,” Torstein Hagen, Government Chairman of Viking, stated in a press launch.
“As we proceed to increase our o?erings in Europe, we’re happy to introduce new experiences that enable our visitors to interact with their vacation spot within the Viking manner—via native meals, tradition and traditions, and even from the air in a Zeppelin,” Hagen stated.
The Viking Longship Hlin on the Rhine River close to Katz Fort above the city of St. Goarshausen in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany.
New Shore Excursions
Starting within the 2026 season, Viking has added to its in depth shore tour o?erings with a set of experiences for its Rhine, Danube, Seine and Elbe river itineraries. Highlights of the brand new excursions embody:
Zeppelin Flight Over the Ruhr Valley – Board a Zeppelin airship to view the picturesque Ruhr Valley from a brand new perspective. Drive to Essen/Mülheim Airport, the place your Zeppelin awaits. First conceived in 1893 by Depend Ferdinand von Zeppelin, these outstanding airships turned a well-liked mode of journey throughout the early Twentieth-century.
Soak up beautiful views because the Zeppelin gently ascends to simply over 1,000 ft. Glide via the air over lush forests and Lake Baldeney, watching because the panorama unfolds beneath you.
Soar above the Ruhr Valley, as soon as Germany’s financial powerhouse, and see the Zeche Zollverein—a UNESCO World Heritage Web site generally known as the “Ei?el Tower of the Ruhr”—earlier than returning to the airport. (Accessible on choose Rhine River itineraries.)
Zeppelin Flight Over Cologne – Take flight on a Zeppelin airship and revel in a chicken’s-eye view of Cologne’s hanging monuments. Drive to the Bonn-Hangelar Airfield, the place your Zeppelin awaits.
As you compromise into your seat, the airship will slowly ascend to its cruising altitude of 1,000 ft. Glide via the sky above the Rhineland, watching because the panorama unfolds beneath you. Soar over Cologne, seeing its Commerce Honest advanced and the Lanxess enviornment.
Comply with the arches of the Hohenzollern Bridge to the Cologne Cathedral, a UNESCO-listed website and a formidable instance of Gothic structure. In your return, you’ll spot Cologne’s fashionable landmarks, together with the Musical Dome and the Mediapark, earlier than descending. (Accessible on choose Rhine River itineraries.)
Dinner at Nikolaihof Vineyard – Go to Austria’s Wachau Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Web site and famend area to discover Nikolaihof Vineyard, one of many oldest wineries in Austria.
Be taught the way it was one of many first in Europe to implement a biodynamic course of and go to its cellar, the place you’ll be able to see its oak wine barrels and pattern a few of its wine.
Lastly, sit down for a dinner of seasonal dishes created from regionally sourced sport and produce, a few of it grown proper on the vineyard’s grounds. (Accessible on choose Danube River itineraries.)
Sights & Flavors of Belgrade – Take within the sights of Belgrade as you go to an area market and be part of a cooking class to arrange your individual lunch. Set o? along with your information on a drive via town to see a few of its most iconic sights. Go to the Kaleni? Market, Belgrade’s largest open-air market, the place you’ll be able to stroll via stalls and buy elements on your upcoming cooking class the place you’ll put together and revel in conventional Serbian dishes. (Accessible on choose Danube River itineraries.)
Pink Stone Fort & Wine Tasting – Uncover the center of Slovakian wine nation with a go to to the picturesque Linle Carpathians and the well-preserved Pink Stone Fort, a former Sixteenth-century fortress remodeled into an aristocratic residence.
Be taught the historical past of the realm within the Previous Market Sq., the place Joan of Arc was burned on the stake. Pause at varied boulangeries and patisseries to pattern native treats and take within the environment of Rouen’s café tradition. (Accessible on the Christmastime in Paris & Normandy itinerary.)
Flavors of Berlin – Expertise Berlin throughout the Christmas season, sampling the flavors of Germany’s capital metropolis. Together with your information, go to a number of the metropolis’s culinary establishments.
At Lindner, town’s famend effective meals store celebrated for its house-made butter, you’ll take pleasure in a style of Berliner Boulette—a flat meatball flavored with onions—together with different delicacies.
Admire Berlin’s colourful road artwork en path to EAT Berlin, positioned amid a community of picturesque artwork nouveau courtyards. Native cheeses, mustards, pestos (sauces) and extra are offered right here, with a number of gadgets to pattern.
On the standard Curry 61, order currywurst, a metropolis favourite. No meals tour of Berlin could be full and not using a style of conventional espresso and cake from one of many metropolis’s many cafés. (Accessible on the Christmas Alongside the Elbe itinerary.)
New Small Group Experiences
Starting in 2026, Viking has additionally launched new Small Group Experiences throughout choose European river itineraries, providing visitors much more intimate and immersive methods to discover iconic landmarks and native tradition, together with:
Small Group Expertise: The Palace of Versailles – Uncover the opulence and grandeur of Versailles throughout a extra intimate guided go to to the famed palace and gardens, studying in regards to the historical past, artwork and legacy of French royalty.
Small Group Expertise: ?eský Krumlov on Foot – Step into the Bohemia of outdated throughout a small group guided stroll via the Czech Republic’s fairy-tale city.
Small Group Expertise: Medieval Village of Colmar – Stroll via the charming Alsatian village of Colmar alongside a small group as you discover its cobblestone streets, half-timbered properties and picturesque canals steeped in medieval historical past.
Small Group Expertise: Picturesque Bratislava – Expertise the highlights of Slovakia’s capital throughout a small group exploration of Bratislava’s historic outdated city, baroque structure and native tradition.
New Pre and Submit Land Extensions
Viking additionally introduced new totally guided land extensions starting in 2026 and 2027, which may be added earlier than or after river voyage itineraries to supply visitors deeper immersion in Italy, France, Italy, France, Croatia, Slovenia, Belgium and the Netherlands. Highlights of the brand new land extensions embody:
NEW in 2026 Croatia & Slovenia – Expertise the colourful cultures of Slovenia and Croatia. In Ljubljana, discover town and go to scenic Lake Bled and charming Radovljica. Stroll the streets of Zagreb’s medieval outdated city and go to the stately Festetics Palace in Keszthely on a journey that blends historical past and picturesque landscapes.
NEW in 2026 Better of Belgium – Expertise the wealthy historical past, beautiful structure and vibrant tradition of Belgium throughout visits to a few of its most fascinating cities. Immerse your self within the picturesque UNESCO-listed charms of Brussels and medieval Bruges, and discover bustling Antwerp, Europe’s famend diamond capital.
NEW in 2027 Turin & Barolo – Uncover Turin, Italy’s first capital, famend for its elegant Baroque structure, vibrant piazzas and Piedmont wines. Go to Alba, the gateway to the Langhe Wine Area, a UNESCO World Heritage Web site, and discover Chambéry, the historic seat of the Dukes of Savoy.
NEW in 2027 Seville & Cordoba – Uncover the spirit of southern Spain, the place Moorish and Roman legacies create a wealthy cultural tapestry. Uncover Seville’s structure at its stately cathedral. Go to the royal Alcázar palace and Córdoba’s Mosque-Cathedral, two of the area’s spectacular UNESCO World Heritage Websites.
Oberammergau Ardour Play 2030
Moreover, Viking will return to Bavaria in 2030 with its Oberammergau Ardour Play 2030 and is now accepting sign-ups for visitors taken with studying extra as soon as departures are offcially open for reserving. Viking has been privileged to host visitors for this cherished occasion since 2010 and is the No. 1 North American associate of the Ardour Play organizers. This long-standing relationship permits Viking to plan years forward and to combine the Ardour Play seamlessly into thoughtfully designed itineraries.
About Viking
Viking is a worldwide chief in experiential journey with a fleet of greater than 100 ships, exploring 21 rivers, 5 oceans and all seven continents.
Designed for curious vacationers with pursuits in science, historical past, tradition and delicacies, Hagen typically says Viking o?ers experiences “For The Considering Particular person.”
Viking has greater than 450 awards to its identify, together with being rated No. l for Rivers and No. 1 for Oceans 5 years in a row by Condé Nast Traveler within the 2025 Readers’ Selection Awards.
Viking can be rated a “World’s Finest” by Journey + Leisure. No different journey firm has concurrently obtained such honors by each publications.
Photographs courtesy of Viking
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Editor’s notes:
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