Viking Names Seven River Ships for Europe and Egypt

Seven new ships, one Amsterdam ceremony, and a fleet that now numbers 109. Viking officially welcomed its latest river vessels on Thursday, strengthening its position as the world’s largest cruise company by ship count, according to The Points Guy. But there’s an important distinction behind the celebration: Two of those ships were still finishing construction.

For travelers, the useful news is where these vessels are headed. Four will sail the Rhine, Main and Danube, two are assigned to Egypt’s Nile, and one will cruise France’s Seine, The Points Guy reported.

Where Viking’s seven new river ships will sail

The largest share of the additions is headed to Viking’s most popular European river itineraries. According to The Points Guy, Viking Rota, Viking Haki, Viking Halogi and Viking Sjofn will sail the Rhine, Main and Danube.

Viking Rota and Viking Haki each accommodate 190 passengers. They were also the only two ships physically present in Amsterdam for the ceremony. Their itineraries often begin or end in the city, the publication reported, making the waterfront setting more than a convenient backdrop.

Egypt gets Viking Ptah and Viking Sekhmet, both assigned to the Nile. Viking Fjolvar will sail the Seine in France, according to The Points Guy. If you’re specifically interested in sailing aboard one of these additions, the ship name and river assignment are the details to match against an itinerary.

A naming ceremony, not a simultaneous service launch

Welcoming seven ships didn’t mean lining up seven hulls along Amsterdam’s waterfront. The Points Guy reported that three vessels were already on the Nile and Seine, while two remained at the Neptun Werft shipyard in Rostock, Germany, in the final stages of construction.

The captains and godparents of all seven ships attended the Amsterdam event, with video feeds connecting the ceremony to the vessels elsewhere. Each ship was named with Norwegian aquavit smashed against its hull, rather than Champagne, according to The Points Guy. The choice nodded to Viking’s Norwegian heritage and its Norwegian founder, Torstein Hagen.

Aquavit instead of Champagne? That’s one way to give a familiar maritime tradition a distinctly Viking accent.

All seven godparents were owners or senior executives of travel advisor companies that sell Viking cruises, the publication reported. The celebrations began beside the pier and concluded with a gala dinner at Amsterdam’s historic Koepelkerk.

For travelers, the distinction is that the naming ceremony included ships still under construction, rather than marking a simultaneous passenger-service launch for all seven.

What Viking’s 109-ship milestone actually measures

Viking’s fleet now comprises 94 river ships, 13 traditional ocean ships and two expedition vessels, according to The Points Guy. Its nearest competitor by total ship count is Carnival Corporation, which operates 92 vessels across eight brands, including Carnival Cruise Line, Princess Cruises and Holland America.

That makes Viking the leader by number of ships, not by every measure of cruise industry size. The Points Guy noted that Viking carries significantly fewer passengers annually than Carnival Corporation and Royal Caribbean Group because its average vessel is considerably smaller.

It’s a distinction worth keeping. A 190-passenger river ship contributes one vessel to the tally, just as a much larger ocean ship does; the fleet ranking doesn’t tell you how many people a company carries.

The scale of Viking’s expansion is nevertheless substantial. In 2012, it had 29 river ships and no ocean ships, The Points Guy reported. The publication also puts Viking’s share of the North American river-cruise market at 52%, underscoring how central river cruising remains to its business.

More ships are planned, with orders and options in the pipeline

“We are very proud to celebrate our seven newest river ships, and as we approach Viking's 30th anniversary in 2027, our best years are still ahead of us,” said Leah Talactac, CEO and president at Viking, according to The Points Guy.

During a media briefing before the ceremony, Viking executives outlined 36 additional river ships on order or under option for delivery by 2032, The Points Guy reported. They also described 17 ocean ships on order or under option for delivery by 2034. That latter figure includes two expedition ships ordered for delivery in 2030 and 2031.

The wording deserves attention: On order or under option is not the same as a list of entirely firm orders, so the full pipeline shouldn’t be presented as guaranteed deliveries.

Viking is expanding as other cruise companies pursue river cruising, too. Travel Weekly has reported that Celebrity Cruises plans a fleet of 20 European river ships, while Explora Journeys intends to open river-cruise sales in 2027. That provides context for Viking’s expansion, although Thursday’s ceremony concerns its own additions, not a change to those competitors’ plans.

Choose the river first, then the ship

For anyone considering these vessels, Viking’s broader approach remains relevant. According to The Points Guy, its cruises emphasize destinations, longer port stays and included tours in every port. The publication describes the ships’ Scandinavian-influenced interiors as modern, upscale and residential in feel.

There’s also a clear eligibility rule: All Viking cruises are adults-only, with no passengers younger than 18 permitted, The Points Guy reported. Although the company aims its product at travelers 55 and older, that’s its target audience, not its minimum passenger age.

These seven ships will sail in Europe and Egypt; the worthwhile question is which destination you want to explore, and whether the specific vessel is scheduled for your sailing. A naming ceremony is a milestone. Your departure date is the one that matters.