Find the ship that fits your kind of trip.

If you’ve seen a Viking commercial with a long white ship gliding past a castle, you already have a pretty good picture. The familiar Longship design is the starting point for much of Viking’s European fleet, especially on the Rhine, Main, and Danube. The ships share a layout, so the itinerary and cabin choice usually matter more than which Norse name is painted on the bow.

Light, open rooms with the scenery in view

These are long, low ships built for rivers and locks. Inside, the look is Scandinavian: light wood, neutral colors, clean lines, and large windows. The lounge is a place to sit with a drink and watch the riverbanks, rather than a dark theater where you forget you’re on a ship.

• A familiar size: the standard Rhine–Main–Danube Longship carries up to 190 guests in 95 outside staterooms.
• The lounge and bar: a central gathering place for a drink, conversation, and the next day’s briefing.
• The Aquavit Terrace: an indoor/outdoor area at the front of the ship, useful when you want to sit closer to the passing scenery.
• The restaurant: large windows keep the river in sight while you eat.
• The Sun Deck: open views and seating above the enclosed decks. Access can be restricted while the ship passes beneath low bridges.

You won’t find the sprawling decks of an ocean ship here. That is part of the appeal: getting from your cabin to the lounge is a short walk, and you’re spending much of the trip exploring ashore.

The cabin names can be confusing. Here’s the difference.

On the standard 190-guest Longships, the main choices are below. These are published total category sizes; veranda and suite figures include their outdoor space. They are not all measurements of indoor living area.

• Standard — 150 sq ft: on the lower deck, with a half-height picture window. A good category to compare if your priority is the itinerary rather than a balcony.
• French Balcony — 135 sq ft: a floor-to-ceiling sliding glass door with a railing, but no outdoor space to step onto. Despite the name, this cabin is smaller than the Standard.
• Veranda — 205 sq ft including the veranda: a sliding door opens to a real outdoor balcony. Choose this if sitting outside with your coffee is part of what you’re looking forward to.
• Veranda Suite — 275 sq ft including the veranda: separate sitting and sleeping rooms, with a veranda off the sitting room and a French balcony in the bedroom.
• Explorer Suite — 445 sq ft including the veranda: a separate living room and bedroom, plus a wraparound balcony at the rear of the ship.

The cabins keep the same light, uncluttered look as the public rooms. Useful touches on the standard Longships include under-bed suitcase storage, a small refrigerator, a safe, and a bathroom with a shower and heated floor.

For photos and a closer comparison, see Travel Shark’s Viking room-category guide. Before choosing a cabin, look at the deck plan for the actual ship on your booking.

What we’d check before picking a room

• Do you want to sit outside, or just open the glass door? This is the quickest way to decide whether a French balcony will do what you want.
• Look above and beside the cabin. Check its position relative to the lounge, stairs, and Sun Deck rather than choosing by deck number alone.
• Ask about steps early. On the standard Longships, the elevator serves the Middle and Upper Decks, not the lower-deck Standard cabins or Sun Deck. Let us know about mobility needs before you book.
• Don’t pay extra for a guaranteed view that isn’t guaranteed. River ships may dock alongside another ship, which can block the view while you’re in port. A veranda is lovely, but it will not always face an open riverbank.
• Choose the route first. If two sailings use similar Longships, compare the time in port, flight arrangements, and cabin availability before getting attached to a particular ship name.

Not every European Viking ship is the same

The Seine, Douro, and Elbe have ships designed for their own waterways, with differences in capacity, layout, and cabins. Do not use the 190-guest Longship numbers as a promise for every European sailing. The same caution applies to Viking’s river ships in Egypt, Asia, and on the Mississippi.

Use Viking’s standard Longship layout and features and official cabin details as examples. We can help match those details to the vessel on your quote.