Viking River Cruises has revealed details of its 2019 programme, including excursions along the River of Gold, the Danube and the Rhine.
Other highlights of the cruise programme will include new journeys to Lisbon, Prague, Salzburg, Budapest, and Beijing. Here is a list of some of the new itineraries on offer to groups:
Portugal's River of Gold: This itinerary will take guests on a ten-day journey experiencing the renaissance of Lisbon, to enjoy traditional cuisine, wine and fado singing. Passengers will explore Iberia's oldest university towns, Coimbra in Portugal and Salamanca in Spain, while also encompassing the Douro River Valley.
Elegant Elbe: This is a ten-day cruise from Berlin to Prague. The voyage will visit Wittenberg, and the birthplace of the Protestant Reformation, and include the chance to admire delicate Meissen porcelain, view Saxon Switzerland's monoliths, and celebrate the city of Dresden.
Rhine Getaway: Guests will travel from Amsterdam and Cologne to Basel. The eight-day journey will discover the various culinary traditions of Alsace, explore the Black Forest and visit a local workshop to see a cuckoo clock-making demonstration.
Romantic Danube: This cruise begins in Budapest where you can visit the Castle District and cross the famous Chain Bridge. Passengers will also explore Gottweig Abbet, one of Austria's most revered monastic centres and make dumplings with Wachan Valley apricots, among other activities.
Passage to Eastern Europe: A voyage that will allow you to see Bucharest's 3,000-room Palace of Parliament. You can make banitsa bread with a home cook in Vidin and explore Belgrade's Ottoman and European treasures, including a 6th century Kalemegdan Fortress. View the Danube's Iron Gate or visit a Croatian family's Osijek home and witness Hungary's daredevil Puszta horsemen.
Imperial Jewels of China: An itinerary encompassing walks along the Great Wall and through Beijing's old hutong neighbourhoods. Contrast the stylised sculpted beasts guarding the Sacred Way of the Ming Tombs with the lifelike statues of Xian's Terra Cotta Army.
Other itineraries include Grand European Tour; Chateaux, Rivers & Wine; Waterways of the Tsars; Pharaohs & Pyramids; Magnificent Mekong; and Kiev to the Black Sea.
Group organisers can call 0800 319 66 60 for more details on taking a group.
For more information, visit www.vikingcruises.co.uk.
