Viking River Cruises

A rich tradition of exploration guides Viking River Cruises. Chairman Torstein Hagen, the company's founding chairman, is a Norwegian of Viking descent. An industry veteran, Torstein Hagen first tried river cruising after many years of world travel by land, air and sea. He found this up-close exploration of culture, heritage and historic sites to be his favorite way to see a destination. Thus, this "voyage of discovery" played a key role in the establishment of Viking River Cruises in 1997.

Today, the company boasts the world's largest fleet of deluxe river cruisers, including the newest and most luxurious ships on China's Yangtze River. While gourmet meals are found on all Viking river cruise itineraries, in China in particular, you can enjoy Western meals and Chinese menus from renowned chef Martin Yan of "Yan Can Cook." In Europe, regional specialties are typically featured on the multi-course dinner menu.

Accommodations on board vary depending on your destination. But you can rest assured your spacious stateroom will have river views with a private bathroom and air-conditioning and heat. Most cabins have windows that open and hotel-style beds.

Viking consistently receives awards and accolades from its passengers and travel agents. The company is a multi-year recipient of Travel+Leisure's "World Best" award, and has been named to Condé Nast Traveler's "Gold List" multiple times.