Viking has opened bookings for additional India river voyages scheduled for 2027, 2028 and 2029, expanding its presence in the country’s emerging river cruise market. The newly released departures will include sailings aboard the forthcoming Viking Ganges, a purpose-built vessel currently under construction for operations on the Brahmaputra River. The ship is expected to enter service in 2028, joining its sister vessel, the Viking Brahmaputra, which is scheduled to begin operations in late 2027.
Both ships will operate between Guwahati and Nimati Ghat in the northeastern Indian state of Assam as part of the 15-day Wonders of India itinerary. The programme combines an 8-day river voyage with a guided land component designed to provide broader cultural and historical context.
According to the company’s chairman and chief executive, Torstein Hagen, the cruise line has recorded strong interest since announcing its river voyages in India. He indicated that the introduction of a second vessel on the Brahmaputra in 2028, together with the release of 2029 departures, would allow the company to accommodate more travellers interested in exploring the region through the company’s river cruise product.
The two sister ships will each accommodate 80 guests in 40 staterooms and follow Viking’s established Scandinavian-influenced design approach. All accommodation will feature floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors and private verandas, consistent with the company’s river fleet standards.
The Wonders of India itinerary operates roundtrip from Delhi and integrates hotel stays in Agra and Jaipur before and after the river voyage, creating a programme that links India’s Golden Triangle with the landscapes and communities of the Brahmaputra Valley. Guests can visit sites such as the Taj Mahal and the Palace of Winds before joining the river cruise segment.
During the sailing portion of the itinerary, the vessels travel through Assam, where excursions include visits to local riverside communities and wildlife areas such as Kaziranga National Park, known for its population of one-horned rhinoceroses. The itinerary also includes cultural experiences on Majuli, one of the world’s largest inhabited river islands.
To broaden the programme further, the company is also offering optional pre- and post-cruise extensions, including additional stays in Delhi as well as fully guided itineraries in Dubai, Kathmandu and a longer extension visiting Cochin and Mumbai.
The expansion will effectively double Viking’s capacity on the Brahmaputra River once the second vessel enters service in 2028, strengthening the company’s commitment to developing river cruise operations in India.