Viking® has announced it has placed an order for seven new river ships that will debut in 2019. 

The newbuild order includes six additional Viking Longships®, which will sail the company’s most popular itineraries on the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers, and one additional vessel, inspired by the Longships and specifically designed for Portugal’s Douro River.

With the addition of the new river ships, the cruise line will operate a fleet of 69 river vessels around the world in 2019. Also by 2019, it will welcome its sixth ocean ship.

“We knew there was an opportunity to do things differently when we started this company 20 years ago,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. “In the last two decades, we have led the industry to define what modern river cruising looks like today. We continue to lead the industry with the largest fleet, the widest selection of itineraries and stateroom categories, and the most awards of any river cruise line. The Viking way of exploration has resonated with our target audience of experienced travelers, and this new ship order is a reflection of strong demand for more destination-focused cruises.”