If there’s one word that defines the Viking cruise line, it’s simple. I knew my way around as soon as I stepped aboard Viking’s newest ship and its 100th, Viking Honir, for the Naming Ceremony in Basel, Switzerland. Having been on several Viking cruises, I easily navigated Viking Honir because all of Viking’s longships are nearly identical.
As Viking Founder and CEO Torstein Hagen explained during an earlier press event, the company’s design reflects Viking’s broader philosophy of functional simplicity: no unnecessary extras, just thoughtful, practical comfort.
I never thought of Viking as simple, but I see his point.
Editor’s Note: The author was hosted
About Viking
The Naming Ceremony took place onboard the Viking Honir and was connected virtually to eight additional new ships located across five other countries. The captains, godmothers and godfathers of all nine ships, designed for river cruising, were onboard Viking Honir.
The addition of the nine vessels marks a milestone for Viking, which now has over 100 ships, more than any cruise line, including Carnival Corporation.
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Founded in 1997, Viking operates 88 river ships around the world, as well as 12 traditional ocean ships and two expedition cruise vessels. There’s also a chartered river vessel on the Mississippi River.
In total, Viking ships explore 21 rivers, five oceans and all seven continents.
Are you ready to explore off the beaten path? Let us inspire you!
Where the New Ships Will Sail
Viking Honir, Viking Annar, Viking Dagur and Viking Eldir will sail along Europe’s Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers. Viking Nerthus, Viking Gyda and Viking Tonle will sail the Seine, Douro and Mekong Rivers. And the two other new ships Viking Thoth and Viking Amun will sail the Nile.
Viking Celebrates 100th Ship – And Counting
Expect to see more Viking ships in the near future. The company has 31 more river ships on order for delivery by 2030, and 14 ocean ships on order for delivery by 2033.
What Viking Is and Isn’t
At the press event I attended, Hagen said there are two words he doesn’t use in describing Viking: cruise and luxury. He describes Viking as an experiential travel company, not a traditional cruise line, and deliberately refers to “voyages” or “journeys.”
And while Viking is a premium experience, it does not brand itself as luxury. Hagen said Viking’s luxury is in the travel experience, comfort and destination immersion rather than opulence or status. “We are a place for people to learn,” he said.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Keeping simplicity in mind, don’t expect a fitness center, spa or swimming pool on a Viking river ship. However, you’ll find such amenities on Viking ocean ships.
About Viking Honir
The simple yet elegant ship accommodates up to 190 guests in 95 staterooms. Built specifically to navigate the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers, Viking Honir will spend her inaugural year sailing popular itineraries that include Passage to Eastern Europe, Rhine Getaway, and Christmas on the Rhine.
Viking Honir Staterooms
Sleeping on a brand new ship is exciting. I couldn’t help wondering if I was the first to sleep in my comfortable queen bed aboard Viking Honir. My stateroom on deck three was compact but well-appointed. I enjoyed my French balcony, heated bathroom floors and storage space.
Staterooms vary and include standard rooms with a window, staterooms with a French balcony, rooms with a Veranda and suites.
Stateroom Details
- Queen-size Viking Explorer Bed (optional twin-bed configuration) with luxury linens & pillows
- Private bathroom with spacious glass-enclosed shower, heated floor, anti-fog mirror & hair dryer
- Premium Freyja® toiletries
- Plush robes & slippers (upon request)
- Telephone, safe, refrigerator
- Individual climate control
- Bottled water replenished daily
- Stateroom steward & twice-daily housekeeping
- Under-bed suitcase storage space
- Roomy wardrobe with wooden hangers
Dining on Viking Honir
Dining choices are simple: there’s the main restaurant and the indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace. The main restaurant serves regional and classic meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I enjoy the diverse menus and made-to-order breakfast items.
The Aquavit Terrace offers al fresco dining for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I often grab breakfast here if I have a morning excursion and not enough time for a sit-down breakfast in the restaurant.
Viking provides complimentary beverages, beer and wine with lunch and dinner.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Viking’s Silver Spirits drink package ($25 per person, per day) offers premium wine, champagne, cocktails and aperitifs that I find worthwhile.
Enriching Excursions
Viking offers at least one included excursion with a local guide on each cruise. Additional special excursions are available for a fee.
While in Basel—Switzerland’s art capital—we visited the Kuntsmuseum, one of Europe’s largest art museums. It’s among more than three dozen museums found in Basel.
Later, on a walking tour, we visited the Jean Tinguely-designed Carnival Fountain, a collection of mechanical sculptures in constant motion. Made from recycled parts, the sculptures stand where the old city theater once stood.
Onward to Swiss Cheese & Chocolate
After Basel, we did the Viking Alpine Backdrops of Lake Lucerne post-cruise extension to Lucerne. Viking offers pre- and post-cruise extensions for a fee. I like these fully guided land-based extensions because they offer a deeper look into a destination. And once you’re in Europe, why not spend more time there?
From Basel, we traveled by coach bus with our Viking guide, Catherine, to Lucerne. She said that there are three things one must experience in Switzerland: mountains, chocolate and cheese. And so we did.
On a city walking tour of historic sites, our guide pointed out chocolate shops. I love all Swiss chocolate but Läderach tops my list and I made sure to stock up. I also followed a budget tip from my guide and bought a bag of assorted Halba chocolates for $10 from Coop, a popular Swiss market.
SheBuysTravel Tip: Pre-cruise extensions offer an opportunity to recover from jet lag and feel refreshed for your cruise.
Adventures on Mt. Stanserhorn
On a chilly fall day with intermittent rain, we set sail aboard a ferry on Lake Lucerne to Stans, a lakeside village and the gateway to Mt. Stanserhorn. From there, we rode a funicular railway dating to 1893 before loading onto the world’s only CabriO aerial cableway. The double-decker aerial tramway has an open upper deck. Despite the strong winds, the cableway felt solid as we ascended to the summit at 6,227.
Initially, clouds obscured the views but during lunch in the revolving restaurant the skies cleared, revealing the fingers of Lake Lucerne and surrounding towns.
Farms & Cheese
As our bus rolled up to the Betschart Family Dairy in Einsiedeln, we had views of green pastures and the distinct smell of cows. Yvonne Betschart, a mother of four, showed us around her family’s milk production facility. The family also breeds cattle. We saw a generation of cows from adorable calves to teen and adult cows. At the end of the tour we sampled fresh milk, which was actually quite good.
The Betscharts are among area farmers who supply milk to the local milk manufacturer for cheese making. That was our next stop.
Milchmanufaktur Einsiedeln
After a delicious lunch of cheese fondue, served with a side of cherry schnapps and glasses of white wine (to aid in digestion), we learned to make cheese at the Milchmanufaktur Einsiedeld. First, we watched a hands-on demonstration followed by a production tour. Then we had an opportunity to stir the Einsiedeln hay milk and form it into small round cheeses. It takes about a month for the ripening period.
So while we couldn’t take home the cheese we made, I bought several chunks from the gift shop.
Mandarin Oriental Palace Lucerne
While in Lucerne, we stayed at the five-star Mandarin Oriental Palace. Situated on the banks of Lake Lucerne, the location couldn’t be better, with proximity to shops, restaurants and a bus stop across the street. A lovely tree-lined walkway leads to the city center.
My corner room on the second floor had two balconies—one facing the lake and Mt. Pilatus, and the other the city.
On my departure day, Catherine greeted me in the lobby at 6:30 a.m. and introduced me to my driver who would bring me to Zurich International Airport.
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