Viking Cruises announced it would restart European river operations in July 2021 with select itineraries on rivers in France, Portugal (Douro) and Rhine.
Offered exclusively for vaccinated passengers as part of Viking’s Welcome Back collection, the first 5 European river itineraries now offered in July are among the line’s most popular: 8-day Rhine Getaway from Amsterdam to Basel, 10-day Portugal’s River of Gold from Lisbon to Oporto, 8-day Paris City & the Heart of Normandy roundtrip from Paris, 8-day Lyon & Provence from Avignon to Lyon, 15-day France’s Finest combining the northern and southern France itineraries.
This announcement comes after the European Union agreed to reopen its borders to vaccinated Americans and other travellers.
Viking Cruises' restart of European river operations follows the launch of Welcome Back cruises exclusively for vaccinated passengers in Bermuda, England, Iceland, and the Mediterranean. Earlier this week the company named its newest ocean cruise ship, Viking Venus, in England. Viking is actively working on developing its additional Welcome Back itineraries in various destinations, with the goal of announcing further 2021 voyages as soon as possible.
Those who sail these new voyages Viking guests will also experience the line’s industry-leading health & safety program developed via a partnership with an international team of medical advisors.
Utilizing a full-scale laboratory on every Viking ocean cruise ship as well as a strong network of dedicated shoreside labs for the line's river ships in Europe, all passengers and crew members receive quick and easy non-invasive saliva PCR tests. An air purification technology has been installed on all Viking Cruises' ships, which have always offered independent air handling units for all passenger staterooms. Additional health checks, physical distancing measures, and sanitization provide further protection.