Viking announces the reopening of France and Portugal to American travelers. Starting this week, both countries are allowing vaccinated visitors from the United States to enter without further restrictions. In addition, the European Union today recommended that its member states begin lifting restrictions on American travelers. These positive developments come as Viking prepares to restart its European river cruise operations in July 2021, beginning with some of its most popular itineraries in Portugal and France. Offered exclusively to vaccinated guests as part of Viking’s Welcome Back collection, limited space is still available on these river cruises departing as early as July 2021.
“We applaud the governments of France and Portugal for encouraging international travel while maintaining public health as their top priority,” said Torstein Hagen, president of Viking. “Our guests are eager to return to Europe, with France and Portugal at the top of many travel lists. We look forward to welcoming guests back aboard our Longships in France and Portugal in just a few weeks.”
Viking successfully restarted operations in May and has been sailing in England with British guests since May 22. Nearly 100% of guests on these sailings provided exceptionally high ratings. The company has also welcomed American guests back on board in Bermuda for the first of eight Bermuda Escape sailings. Later this month, Viking will launch welcome-back voyages to Iceland and the Mediterranean
With new sailing dates for summer and early autumn 2021 now available, Viking's Welcome Back river cruises in France and Portugal include:
River departures – Trips starting in July 2021
- Portugal's River of Gold (10 days; Lisbon to Porto) – Experience Lisbon's renaissance, recently revitalized with trendy galleries and restaurants. Explore two of Iberia's oldest university cities: Coimbra (Portugal) and Salamanca (Spain). Tour Porto's port warehouses. Savor traditional cuisine, wine, and fado songs. Cruise through the Douro River Valley, the world's oldest wine-growing region and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Our 10-day cruise includes a Lisbon hotel stay and an added visit to Spain. Multiple sailing dates from July to October 2021.
- Paris and the Heart of Normandy (8 days; Paris to Rouen and back) – Explore Giverny and visit the beautiful gardens and charming farmhouse where Claude Monet lived and worked, the setting that inspired many of his masterpieces. Follow in the footsteps of Joan of Arc in Rouen. Walk the hallowed grounds of the Normandy American Military Cemetery and the World War II beaches. Savor Normandy's cuisine. This 8-day cruise on the Seine celebrates history, art, food, and customs in the country's most stunning urban and pastoral settings. Multiple sailing dates from July to December 2021.
- Lyon and Provence (8 days; from Avignon to Lyon) – Unleash your inner Van Gogh with a painting class in Arles. Discover Roman Provence at the Les Arènes amphitheater and the Pont du Gard. Explore the Palace of the Popes in Avignon. Delight your palate in Lyon, the gastronomic capital of France. Savor Beaujolais wines. Hunt for truffles and see how chèvre cheese is made. Witness the beauty that inspired artists like Cézanne and Chagall on this 8-day Rhône River cruise. Various departure dates between July and November 2021.
- France's Finest (15 days; Paris to Avignon) – Pay your respects on the World War II beaches of Normandy. Follow in the footsteps of Joan of Arc in Rouen. Enjoy the sophistication of Paris. Savor the culinary heritage of Lyon. Toast the vineyards of Beaujolais. Explore the Palace of the Popes in Avignon. Celebrate the Provençal way of life. Art, cuisine, style, joie de vivre: if you love all things French, this is for you: a 15-day trip combining our popular Paris and the Heart of Normandy and Lyon and Provence cruises into one journey. Multiple departure dates in August and September 2021.
Those who sail on Welcome Back voyages will also experience Viking's industry-leading health and safety program.
