Sarah Bretz, ContributorEarlier this week, premium cruise line Viking announced that it has taken delivery of its newest European longship Viking Nerthus. The vessel was presented to the line at Meyer Werft shipyard in Rockstock-Warnemuende, Germany.
The 168-guest Viking Nerthus will join the line’s fleet of vessels on the Seine River, and will sail Viking’s popular eight-day itinerary Paris & the Heart of Normandy and the new eight-day Christmastime in Paris & Normandy itineraries.
“We are proud to welcome the Viking Nerthus to our growing fleet of award-winning Viking Longships,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman and CEO of Viking. “France continues to be a destination of great interest for our guests, and with the arrival of our newest ship on the Seine River, we look forward to introducing even more curious travelers to the region’s rich history and cultural treasures in ‘the Viking way.’”
Viking Nerthus features 68 guest staterooms, featuring the line’s signature Scandinavian design that guests know and love. An identical sister ship to Viking Kari, Viking Radgrid, Viking Skaga, and Viking Fjorgyn, Viking Nerthus features familiar aspects such as a distinctive square bow, an Aquavit Terrace, and a variety of stateroom choices.
The vessels feature a hybrid propulsion system with batteries and exhaust gas aftertreatment, and they’re equipped for shore power to reduce fuel consumption while in port.
With two itineraries and sailings dates from March through December, Viking Nerthus will sail roundtrip from Paris, stopping in ports along the Seine. In Paris, Viking’s ships dock in an exclusive location at Port du Grenelle, a short walk from the Eiffel Tower.
Paris & the Heart of Normandy
Guests dock in the heart of Paris, with the ability to easily view the Eiffel Tower and a replica of the Statue of Liberty from the ship. Visits to the Normandy beaches and the ability to admire Rouen’s Gothic architecture bring history alive. Passengers are also able to explore Giverny and the house and gardens where Claude Monet lived and worked — the setting inspiring many of his masterpieces. Viking says that this itinerary “celebrates history, art, food and customs in France’s most alluring urban and pastoral settings.”
Christmastime in Paris & Normandy
This new itinerary allows guests to celebrate the sights of Paris and sail through beautiful seasonal landscapes of Normandy. Passengers can admire scenes of fairytale-esque villages and call at Rouen, the region’s vibrant cultural capital. The voyage meanders along the Seine, passing elegant residences and charming riverside cafés, returning to Paris to explore its iconic treasures.
Based on Viking’s committed orderbook, it expects to take delivery of 25 more river ships by 2028 and nine more ocean ships by 2030. With these orders, Viking will have 109 river ships in 2028 and 21 ocean and expedition ships in 2030.
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Have you ever taken a European river cruise? Which of these two itineraries on Viking Nerthus would you choose? Drop us an anchor below and let us know!
