Viking River Cruises·Viking Longship

Viking Longship - Paris & the Heart of Normandy

4.6(82 reviews)
via U.S. News & Cruise Critic · Jun 2026
|7 Nights|6 Ports|0 Sea Days

A Seine roundtrip from Paris that trades big-city pace for Normandy's river towns: Monet's gardens at Giverny from Vernon, Joan of Arc's Rouen, and Richard the Lionheart's Chateau Gaillard above Les Andelys. The emotional center of the week is a full-day excursion from Rouen to the D-Day landing beaches and the American cemetery.

History BuffsSeniorsCouplesFirst-Time Cruisers

Price Range

$$$

Premium

DepartureParis, France
Dress CodeCasual
MealsIncluded
WiFiIncluded

*Prices vary by cabin type, sailing date, and availability. Confirm rates with Viking River Cruises before booking.

Ship Details — Viking Longship

View full Viking Longship details

Year Built

2015

Tonnage

2,400 GT

Passengers

190

Crew

45

Decks

4

Class

Longship

Itinerary & Route Map

Loading map…

Onboard Amenities

Aquavit Terrace
Panoramic Lounge
Sun Deck
Walking Track
Organic Herb Garden
Restaurant
Library
Fitness Center
Putting Green
Complimentary Wine at Dinner
Aquavit Terrace (indoor/outdoor al fresco dining at the bow)
Main restaurant with open seating
Forward lounge with bar and pianist
Sun Deck with 360-degree views and shaded seating
Putting green and walking track
Organic herb garden and solar panels
Library / book corner
Veranda, French balcony, and Explorer suite staterooms
Free Wi-Fi
Complimentary beer, wine, and soft drinks with lunch and dinner
Self-service laundry

Cruise Highlights

Full-day D-Day excursion to Omaha Beach, Pointe du Hoc, and the Normandy American Cemetery
Monet's house and water-lily gardens at Giverny, a short ride from the Vernon dock
Rouen's Gothic cathedral and the old market square where Joan of Arc was executed
Two full days docked in Paris bookending the cruise

About the Ship

What Travelers Say About Viking Longship

Reviews of the ship itself — the same for every Viking Longship sailing. Based on 650 discussions.

The Viking Longship class is the vessel that arguably remade modern European river cruising, and it still sets the template. These near-identical ~190-guest ships trade the casino-and-waterslide bustle of ocean megaships for a calm, design-forward, adults-only experience: clean Scandinavian lines, plenty of glass, and an unhurried atmosphere aimed squarely at well-traveled North American couples in their 50s and up. The signature feature is the Aquavit Terrace at the bow — an indoor/outdoor lounge and dining space where floor-to-ceiling glass folds back so you can watch castles, vineyards, and river towns drift by while you eat or sip a drink.

What People Love

  • Bright, airy Scandinavian design that genuinely revitalized river cruising — open public spaces and lots of glass make the 190-guest ships feel modern and uncramped
  • Service is the single most-praised element: attentive, warm crew who learn your name within a day or two
  • The Aquavit Terrace is a standout — an indoor/outdoor space at the bow where you can eat or have a drink while scenery glides past

Common Complaints

  • Very limited onboard amenities and entertainment — no pool or real gym, and evening entertainment is typically just a pianist plus an occasional local act
  • Dinner times are relatively fixed and run late (often 7 pm), which some older passengers find inconvenient
  • Low-water disruptions are a recurring risk on European rivers — itineraries can turn into long bus transfers or ship swaps, sometimes with little advance notice
See the full Viking Longship ship page — all 16 pros & cons, review & FAQs

More River Cruises

View all River cruises