Viking River Cruises will launch six new Viking Longships at an Amsterdam christening ceremony on March 1 so we’re counting down the days until that event.  Examining just about every aspect of the Viking River Cruise experience, today we touch on three favorite parts of it all; the revolutionary Viking Longships design, The Aquavit Terrace and the variety of different stateroom configurations.

Revolutionary Design
One of the apparent secrets to the success of Viking Longships is a patented corridor design and cutting-edge technology with comfortable amenities that reflect guest preferences and current travel trends.

Interestingly, there are no top deck attractions to occupy the minds of Viking travelers.  Instead, a great amount of the experience is focused off the ship, at the interesting places and iconic landmarks Viking Longships visit.  Still, there is something to be said for an easy lifestyle on board with world class dining, included amenities such as bow to stern WiFi, a robust offering of en-suite entertainment, locally-sourced beer and wine served at meal times shared while engaging like-minded travelers and much more.

The Aquavit Terrace
A popular feature with Viking travelers,  the all-weather indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace®  reinvents the onboard lounge experience by bringing the panoramic outdoor river scenery indoors with retractable floor-to-ceiling glass doors that allow guests to enjoy the views and dine al fresco.

A favorite place for Lisa and I, a light lunch can be found at the Aquavit Terrace on embarkation day, when most people fall in love with the space.  Throughout the day and into the evening, attentive service is exceeded only by the breathtaking views that roll by as your Viking Longship makes its way along rivers of the world; the planet’s original highway.

A Variety Of Accommodations
Viking fans like that each Viking Longship accommodates just 190 passengers in 95 staterooms. That unique ship design allows a unique mix of stateroom features

• Standard Staterooms are nicely appointed riverview spaces with a picture window, 40″ flat-panel Sony TV with infotainment system featuring movies on demand plus CNBC, CNN, National Geographic, private restroom stocked with L’occitane bath products and more.
• French Balcony Staterooms are a step up that add a sliding glass door the opens for full view of riverside attractions.
• Veranda Staterooms add even more space, each with full-size verandas.
• Two-Room Suites- A personal favorite are two-room Veranda Suites with a full-size veranda in the living room and a French balcony in the bedroom.
• Explorer Suites are the largest suites in Europe. Each Viking Longship has two of them.

Additionally, all Longships have green upgrades, such as onboard solar panels and organic herb gardens, and energy-efficient hybrid engines that also reduce vibrations for a remarkably smooth ride.