On August 29th, 2025, Viking Group formally received its newest river vessel, the Viking Gyda, constructed specifically for service on Portugal’s Douro River. The delivery ceremony was held at the WestSea shipyard in Viana do Castelo, marking the ship’s entrance into Viking’s fleet.
Torstein Hagen, Chairman and CEO of Viking, observed that the historic and cultural richness of Portugal, along with its winemaking traditions, continued to draw the line’s guests. He expressed pride in the arrival of the Viking Gyda and anticipated that it would introduce more curious travelers to the Douro—often referred to as the “River of Gold”.
The Gyda was conceived for the 10-day “Portugal’s River of Gold” itinerary and embodies Viking’s refined Scandinavian design ethos. She offers accommodation for 106 guests in 53 staterooms. Her commissioning brings Viking’s Douro-River fleet to five vessels, joining the sisterships Viking Helgrim, Viking Hemming, Viking Osfrid, and Viking Torgil.
This addition aligns with Viking’s broader ambitions in experiential travel. According to its current orderbook, the company plans to take delivery of 26 further river ships by 2028—raising the total river fleet to 112 vessels—and 10 additional ocean ships by 2031, which would yield a combined ocean and expedition fleet of 23 ships.