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Mediterranean Cruises
From ancient Rome to Moorish Spain, classical Greece to the Holy Land, the empires of the Mediterranean left a remarkable historic legacy—set amid unmatched beauty. Admire the turquoise splendor of the Greek Isles, the vineyards of Provence, the élan of Barcelona and more.
Iconic Western Mediterranean
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Journey to Antiquities
Ancient Mediterranean Treasures
Mediterranean Odyssey
Empires of the Mediterranean
NEW! Malta, Morocco & the Mediterranean
Trade Routes of the Middle Ages
Greek Odyssey
Venice, the Adriatic & Greece
Italian Sojourn
NEW! Cities of Antiquity
Cities of Antiquity & the Holy Land
Mediterranean & Italian Sojourn
Italy, the Adriatic & Greece
Ancient Adriatic Treasures
Mediterranean Antiquities
Ancient Mediterranean Antiquities
Mediterranean’s Iconic Shores
NEW! Iberian & Mediterranean Odyssey
Iceland, British Isles & Iberia
Iberian Explorer
Iconic Mediterranean Treasures
Mediterranean & Adriatic Sojourn
Adriatic & Mediterranean Sojourn
Passage to India
Voyage of Marco Polo
NEW! Australia, Asia & the Mediterranean
NEW! Viking World Cruise
NEW! Viking World Journeys
NEW! Viking World Voyage I
NEW! Viking World Voyage II
NEW! The Mediterranean & South Atlantic
Atlantic Crossing & Mediterranean
NEW! Atlantic & Mediterranean Horizons
NEW! Mediterranean to Caribbean Sojourn
Southern Atlantic Crossing
Atlantic Crossing
Atlantic Ocean Passage
West Indies to Iberia
NEW! Mediterranean Discoveries
Highlights of mediterranean cruises.
Join Viking and discover a region awash in culture and history. Civilization is said to have begun and evolved on these shores, whether as the birthplace of democracy or science or with the refinement of wine or art. From the sun-soaked shores of Spain and Sicily to the ancient past of Greece and Israel, Viking reveals millennia of history to you during our many journeys along these fabled waters. Here is a sample of what you can look forward to on a Mediterranean voyage:
- Rome’s monumental Colosseum and Pantheon
- Vatican City’s glorious St. Peter’s Basilica
- Tuscany’s hilltop medieval towns
- Classical Athens, birthplace of democracy
- The architectural brilliance of Antoni Gaudi in Barcelona
- The fine flavors of Italy’s Chianti and Portugal’s port
- Venice’s romantic, car-free lanes and alleys
- The magnificently preserved walled city of Dubrovnik
- Breathtaking beauty of the Greek Islands
- The holy city of Jerusalem
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A cruise line for every type of traveler: How to choose the right one for you
- Cruise lines have their own identities and areas of focus, and some lend themselves more to certain vacation types than others.
- Royal Caribbean International, Norwegian Cruise Line and Disney Cruise Line are solid options for families.
- Aurora Expeditions, Celebrity Cruises and Silversea Cruises offer trips with a spirit of exploration at their core.
No matter what kind of vacation you're planning , there's likely a cruise for you.
Whether you want to spend your trip kayaking and scuba diving or prefer to lounge on a sun deck sipping a cocktail, cruise lines have a wide range of offerings. But not every line or ship is right for every passenger.
Cruise brands have their own identities and areas of focus, and some lend themselves more to certain vacation types than others (amenities can also vary from ship to ship within the same line). Here's what to know:
Best cruise line for families
◾ Royal Caribbean International ships have an array of onboard offerings for kids and adults. For example, the line's most recent addition, Icon of the Seas, has been billed as the ultimate family vacation .
The vessel – the largest cruise ship in the world – has an entire neighborhood designed for young families, a large water park and activities ranging from a FlowRider surf simulator to Crown's Edge, where guests can walk more than 150 feet above the ocean. The line's Bahamas private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay, offers plenty of thrills and places to chill , too.
◾ Norwegian Cruise Line also offers a range of activities like free-fall dry slides, go-kart tracks, and high-caliber stage shows. Disney Cruise Line draws on a huge catalog of stories to bring magic to life on the water, with character appearances, themed dining and special events like Marvel Day at Sea .
◾ Carnival Cruise Line and MSC Cruises also cater to families, and Princess Cruises and Holland America Line are solid options for multigenerational travelers. Mainstream cruise lines generally have kids clubs that are included in the fare, as well.
Best cruise line for adventure and expeditions
Adventure seekers may want to consider expedition ships and lines that offer sailings to less common destinations such as Antarctica .
◾ Aurora Expeditions offers a range of activity-centric itineraries, including Zodiac boat outings, kayaking, snowshoeing and more. Celebrity Cruises, meanwhile, has a vessel designed especially for the Galapagos Islands .
◾ Operators like HX (formerly Hurtigruten Expeditions) , Lindblad Expeditions and Silversea Cruises also offer trips with a spirit of exploration at their core.
Best cruise line for letting loose
◾ Virgin Voyages offers adults-only sailings and a unique onboard atmosphere with its immersive Scarlet Night celebration and innovative performances . There is also no main dining room or buffet, with a focus on a variety of different food and drinks instead.
▶◾ Guests can also find parties on other lines, such as Carnival . But the length of the sailing and the time of year play a role in a cruise's vibe. Spring break cruises, for instance, may be rowdier than times when school is in session.
◾ Parties can take different forms, too. Cunard Line , for example, hosts formal gala nights .
Best cruise for rest and relaxation
Upscale cruise lines can lend themselves to a more relaxed and pampering experience. Guests are less likely to encounter rock-climbing walls or ice-skating rinks but will find amenities like pools and carefully curated dining. The following operators are all in that category:
◾ Silversea
◾ Regent Seven Seas Cruises
◾ Oceania Cruises
◾ The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
However, even on mainstream lines, guests can often get away from the bustle of the ship in onboard spas and adults-only areas. Luxe ship-within-a-ship concepts like Norwegian's The Haven or MSC's Yacht Club can also offer a more intimate, laid-back experience.
What should I pack for a cruise?: Here are 5 essential items to bring
Best lines for river cruising
River cruising tends to be small-scale and destination-focused.
▶◾ European river itineraries from lines like AmaWaterways, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises and Viking often stop at a mix of marquee and less-visited ports, so guests aren't fighting crowds the whole time.
▶◾ In the U.S., American Cruise Lines offers a diverse selection of itineraries, from sailings on the Columbia and Snake Rivers to round-trip cruises from Washington, D.C. Viking also has a ship purpose-built for the Mississippi River .
Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].
The Key Points at the top of this article were created with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and reviewed by a journalist before publication. No other parts of the article were generated using AI. Learn more .
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AmaWaterways Opens Reservations on 2026 River Cruises
R iver cruise line AmaWaterways has opened its 2026 season early today due to popular demand for its 2024 and 2025 cruise seasons, offering its full slate of river cruises and pre- and post-cruise land packages for travelers and their travel advisors to book now.
A dedicated brochure for travel advisors and their clients featuring the 2026 river cruise season will be available later this summer.
In 2026, the river cruise line will add two new ships to its fleet . The AmaSofia will sail the Danube River beginning May 24, 2026, while the AmaMaya will sail the Mekong River in August.The river cruise line is also offering two new land packages for those booking a seven-night Taste of Bordeaux sailing in 2026. Guests can choose a new four-night pre-cruise land package featuring two nights in Madrid and two nights in San Sebastián, or enjoy three nights in Paris.
Those cruising along the Rhine and Moselle rivers in Europe will also enjoy new excursions in 2026, including a visit to Utretcht, a walking tour of Baden-Baden and a visit to France’s oldest Christmas market in Strasbourg on Rhine itineraries. Those sailing the Moselle will enjoy a visit to Wiesbaden, home to Roman-era thermal hot springs.
AmaWaterways will become the first major river cruise line to sail Colombia’s Magdalena River in 2025. With many already sold out for 2025, the 2026 sailings offer more opportunity for interested travelers. Pre- and post-cruise optional land packages visit Panama City and Medellín, Colombia. The new itineraries were previously expected to debut in 2024, but have been pushed back to debut in January, 2025 .
Additionally, the line offers one 11-night itinerary in Egypt onboard the AmaDahlia and the newly launched AmaLilia ships. It combines a seven-night voyage along the Nile with three nights pre-cruise and one night post-cruise in Cairo. The itinerary offers optional land packages to Dubai and Jordan.
The cruise line’s five Chobe River itineraries offer incredible ways to visit Victoria Falls, Table Mountain and the incredible wildlife of South Africa, Tanzania and other countries in southern Africa. Guests can now reserve their spots on the 28-guest Zambezi Queen river ship for 2026.
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Viking River Cruises boasts the most extensive fleet of river cruises vessels, and we are proud to offer you the best ships in each region where we travel. Viking ships are specially designed to navigate the world's great rivers and provide convenient daily access to a plethora of destinations and experiences. Enjoy all the comfort and ...
Viking Longships. Our award-winning Viking Longships® showcase innovative engineering, streamlined Scandinavian design and understated elegance. Thoughtfully engineered to get you closer to your destination, they provide unprecedented levels of comfort, including spacious staterooms with full-size verandas, the largest suites on Europe's ...
11 tours. 6 countries. $7,398 from. learn more. request a quote. compare. Find your perfect cruise on board our elegant, award-winning Viking Longships®. 100% owned and operated. The best docking locations in Amsterdam, Budapest and Paris.
The American South's historic cities—from New Orleans to Memphis. America's heartland—from bustling St. Louis to distinctive St. Paul. Stay current with special offers, news and destination-focused content. Find a river cruise on Viking River Cruises and get all the details you need. See brochures, read travel details, and book your ...
Viking offers a variety of itineraries on Europe's rivers -- but what doesn't change much are the cruise ships themselves. Known as "Longships," Viking's fleet of river cruise ships on most rivers ...
Mississippi River Cruises. Stretching for 2,350 miles down the United States, from Minnesota's Lake Itasca to the Gulf of Mexico, our new cruises on the "Mighty Mississippi" offer a different type of cross-country journey for the curious explorer—one that allows you to be immersed in American history and culture.
Stay current with special offers, news and destination-focused content. SIGN UP. Call Viking at. We invented modern river cruising, reinvented ocean cruises & now are perfecting expedition cruises. Explore the world in comfort with Viking.
Europe Ships. Boasting many of the same popular design elements of our Viking Longships, our Douro, Elbe and Seine ships feature state-of-the art engineering, deluxe accommodations and streamlined Scandinavian interiors. Plus, these ships feature customized hulls and engines specifically built to navigate these historic rivers. Stay current ...
Call Viking at. 1-855-338-4546. *Free airfare on select departures of Grand European Tour, Capitals of Eastern Europe, Lyon Provence & the Rhineland and European Sojourn, plus select China, Panama Canal, Hawaii, Canada, Mississippi River, Great Lakes, South America and Antarctica itineraries. Cruise on our elegant small ships.
Destination. Show more filters. 1 - 10 of 9,595 Viking Cruise Reviews. A huge disappointment. Review for a Europe - River Cruise Cruise on Viking Gefjon. Piatravelgal. 6-10 Cruises • Age 70s.
Passengers on Viking River Cruises are generally English-speaking, well-traveled cruise veterans in the 55-plus bracket, although China and Southeast Asia attracts some younger travelers (think 40 ...
Viking Cruises by Don Bucolo April 25, 2024. While we have been on 80 ocean cruises, we share all the Viking River cruise tips we wish we had known before our first river cruise! Viking is synonymous with river cruises, with a fleet of over 70 ships sailing on 4 continents. Heidi and I have sailed on Viking Ocean and even one of the cruise line ...
Find cheap Viking River cruises on Tripadvisor. Search for great cruise deals and compare prices to help you plan your next Viking River cruise vacation.
A bumper year for Viking River Cruises, 2022 saw the launch of eight new ships in mainland Europe, plus the Nile and the debut of the line's eagerly-awaited Mississippi river ships.
Admire Rhine Valley vistas from a 900-year-old castle. Sample the culinary delights of Austria's Wachau Valley. Learn the Viennese waltz, visit Melk's Benedictine Abbey and delve into Nuremberg's World War II history. Indulge your senses on this 15-day journey spanning the best of Europe, tracing the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers between the windmill-dotted waterways of Holland and the ...
The best European Viking River Cruises balance art, culture, beautiful landscapes and wine. Check out our list of the top 5 European River Cruises on Viking.
See what 36 cruisers had to say about their Viking Mississippi cruises. Find candid photos and detailed reviews of the Viking Mississippi cruise ship.
From ancient Rome to Moorish Spain, classical Greece to the Holy Land, the empires of the Mediterranean left a remarkable historic legacy—set amid unmatched beauty. Admire the turquoise splendor of the Greek Isles, the vineyards of Provence, the élan of Barcelona and more.
An introduction to Viking cruise ships Viking has expanded enormously in recent years with the addition of dozens of new river and ocean ships. Founded in 1997 with four river vessels, the company ...
For booking details, contact Viking Cruises toll-free at 1-855-8-VIKING (1-855-884-5464). About Viking Cruises Viking Cruises offers destination-centric river and ocean cruising designed for experienced travelers with an interest in geography, culture and history.
However, if you're fitness-obsessed, Viking river ships may not be the best choice for your river trip. Related: The 12 cruise ships with the most spectacular attractions at sea
Ten months later, we were flying to Budapest, Hungary to begin our 11-day Passage to Eastern Europe on Viking Cruises. Here are 10 things we learned from our first river cruise: 1.
European river itineraries from lines like AmaWaterways, Uniworld Boutique River Cruises and Viking often stop at a mix of marquee and less-visited ports, so guests aren't fighting crowds the ...
Disappointed-don't believe the hype or commercials. Review for a Europe - River Cruise Cruise on Viking Vilhjalm. Dobey29. 2-5 Cruises • Age 50s. Read More. Sail Date: June 2024. Helpful ...
Viking Ocean Cruises is a unit of Switzerland-based Viking, which also operates a large fleet of river ships in Europe and elsewhere. Its ocean-going ships are categorized as small, by industry ...
Journey with the world's #1 river cruise line. Award-winning Viking Longships. Owned & operated fleet, with the best docking locations in Europe and across the globe.
When Viking launched its first purpose-built Nile River cruise ship in August 2022, voyages through the heart of Egypt immediately became more accessible, luxurious, and exciting. Viking also ...
Say hello to one of America's most spectacular lake cruises. Your mode of transport for this sail across Lake Tahoe will be the M.S Dixie II - the lake's biggest boat. The sunset dinner ...
For a more culture-forward cruise experience, take a trip on a Viking river or ocean cruise. The cruise line docks in smaller towns like Marksburg Castle in Germany or Porto in Portugal.
The AmaSofia will sail the Danube River beginning May 24, 2026, while the AmaMaya will sail the Mekong River in August.The river cruise line is also offering two new land packages for those ...