Viking Nerthus

The 2025-built Longship Viking Nerthus cruises on the Seine River in France’s Normandy region exclusively. The riverboat is year-round homeported in Paris City, departing weekly on 7-night/8-day roundtrip voyages.

This Viking longship is named after an ancient Germanic and Scandinavian female deity symbolizing fertility. Often referred to as Mother Earth, Nerthus was depicted riding a cow-drawn chariot.

The Longship Nerthus is one of the Viking riverboats specifically designed to navigate the Seine River and dock directly in downtown Paris. Her sisterships Nerthus, Fjorgyn, Kari, Radgrid, Skaga and Fjolvar are all smaller (passenger capacity 168, compared to 190) and feature customized hulls and different engines compared to standard Viking River Cruises Longship-class vessels.

The boat (ENI number 07002232) is currently Switzerland-flagged (MMSI 269057896) and registered in Basel.

Viking Nerthus was officially delivered on March 18, 2025, at Neptun Werft (Rostock-Warnemunde).

Viking officially christened the longship Nerthus on October 21, 2025. The naming ceremony was part of a group event welcoming a total of nine new riverboats worldwide into the fleet—Annar, Dagur, Eldir, Honir (the 100th), Nerthus, Gyda (Douro), Amun and Thoth (Nile), and Tonle (Mekong).

Cabins

Viking Nerthus has a total of 84 staterooms (including 9 Suites, 35 Balcony cabins, 18 French Balcony cabins, and 25 Porthole cabins with non-opening windows) across 8 cabin grades.

The Longship Nerthus features two aft-located Explorer Suites with wraparound balconies offering spectacular 270-degree views. Each of the seven Veranda Suites has two separate rooms and includes a step-out balcony (accessed from the living room) and a French balcony in the bedroom. There are also 35 Veranda Staterooms, each with a private step-out balcony.

Viking Nerthus accommodates 168 passengers, all enjoying complimentary modern hotel-style amenities and premium travel services.

Cabin Types/Categories (number, location), from highest to lowest:

• Suites - ES (x2, deck 3), AA (x7, deck 3)
• Balcony Staterooms - A (x18, deck 3), B (x17, deck 2)
• French Balcony Staterooms (with floor-to-ceiling sliding doors) - C (x3, deck 3 aft), D (x15, deck 2)
• RiverView Staterooms - E (x8, deck 1 forward), F (x14, deck 1 midship)

Shipboard facilities

All Viking Cruises Longships are fitted with solar panels (mounted aft on the Sun Deck) and hybrid (diesel-electric) powerplants based on energy-efficient marine engines. The Observation Lounge has floor-to-ceiling glass doors opening onto the Aquavit Terrace—an indoor-outdoor venue located at the bow and designed for relaxation and alfresco dining. The Sun Deck, located on the top deck, features a large shaded seating area (covered by a retractable awning) and offers 360-degree river views.

Onboard dining options include Nerthus Restaurant (main dining room) and Aquavit Terrace (alfresco dining). Additional facilities include the Atrium (lobby with a 24-hour Reception Desk), Library (Internet Lounge), Shop (gifts and souvenirs), Sky Bar, and a walking track.

The Nerthus Longship does not have a fitness/gym room, swimming pool, Jacuzzi (outdoor whirlpool), spa/beauty salon, or self-service laundry facilities (laundromats).

One elevator (passenger lift) connects only Decks 2 and 3. All decks are interconnected via stairs—forward (Grand Staircase in the Atrium), midship, and aft.

Unlike standard Viking Longships, Nerthus also lacks the aft sundeck’s putting green (mini-golf course), Herb Garden (organic herb garden), and deck games area (with shuffleboard).

Viking Seine River Cruise Itinerary

The Longship Nerthus operates Viking River Cruises’ signature itinerary “Paris and the Heart of Normandy”.

The 8-day Seine River cruise focuses on French traditions, cuisine, history, and art.

Below is an overview of the Viking Nerthus itinerary, including ports of call and shore excursions:

• (Day 1) Le Pecq (docking and embarkation) – This riverfront town is located in Paris’s western suburbs. After boarding and check-in, passengers can explore independently or join a guided walking tour.
• (Day 2) Paris City (Port de Grenelle) – After breakfast, a panoramic city tour includes landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, École Militaire, Musée d’Orsay, the Latin Quarter, Notre-Dame Cathedral, the Louvre, the Opera House, and the Champs-Élysées. In the evening, guests return to the ship to begin the cruise.
• (Day 3, docking in La Roche-Guyon) Giverny and Vernon – Vernon is a picturesque town with cobblestone streets and half-timbered houses. A guided tour includes Maison du Temps Jadis and the 11th-century Notre-Dame Church. In the afternoon, a visit to Claude Monet’s home and gardens in Giverny is offered.
• (Day 4) Rouen – Afternoon walking tour of the Old Town, including Notre-Dame Cathedral and the Gros Horloge (16th-century astronomical clock).
• (Day 5) Normandy Beaches – Full-day excursion to historic D-Day landing sites, including Gold Beach, Juno Beach, Omaha Beach, the American Military Cemetery, and Arromanches. Alternative excursion to Bayeux and Pegasus Memorial Museum is also available.
• (Day 6) Les Andelys – Afternoon excursion to Château Gaillard, a 12th-century fortress built by Richard the Lionheart.
• (Day 7) Mantes-la-Jolie – Morning excursion to Château de Malmaison, with an optional visit to the Palace of Versailles.
• (Day 8) Paris City (disembarkation) – After breakfast, passengers disembark. Transfers to Charles de Gaulle Airport are provided only when booked through Viking Air. Optional post-cruise hotel stays in Paris are available.

Viking Nerthus cruise deals include Wi-Fi, all excursions, ground transportation, live entertainment, daily lectures, food and wine tastings, 24-hour coffee and tea, and daily replenished bottled water.

Viking Nerthus Seine River cruise prices are per person, based on double occupancy. Rates are indicative and may vary depending on promotions, travel agencies, special offers, group bookings, or last-minute deals.

Transfers between the ship and the airport, as well as meet-and-greet services, are included only when airfare is purchased through Viking Cruises (Viking Air package).

Viking Nerthus is part of the new generation of Viking Cruises Longships. This patented river cruise ship design allows for larger passenger accommodations without reducing public space or compromising overall comfort.

Longship Nerthus represents Viking’s latest design, featuring energy-efficient hybrid engine technology, solar panels, and interiors developed by Yran & Storbraaten (Norway). The patented “Longship” concept (by Rottet Studios, USA) enables more spacious accommodations with full-size (step-out) balconies. The additional cabin space is achieved by shifting the deck corridor off-center by approximately 1 m (3.3 ft).

The vessel’s powerplant consists of two main Caterpillar marine diesel engines (model CAT32-ACERT) with a combined output of 2 MW. These are V12 engines (with 12 cylinders driving a single crankshaft). The propulsion system includes two Caterpillar marine engines (model CAT18-ACERT) with a combined output of 1 MW.

Note: You can view CruiseMapper’s list of all river cruise ships and riverboats in the “Itinerary” section of the River Cruises hub, where all companies and their fleets are listed.