From Buenos Aires to Barcelona · South America & Antarctica · 21 nights
From Buenos Aires to Barcelona
Viking’s hugely successful river cruise operation expanded into ocean cruising with a fleet of ten contemporary 930-guest ocean ships featuring attractive inclusive pricing and interesting itineraries. A slightly larger ship joined the fleet in 2024 with two additional ships scheduled in 2025 and 2026 each carrying 998 guests.
The airy contemporary style of the ships, with fresh Nordic
décor, is most appealing. Add to that the huge choices in dining
and other facilities, and veranda staterooms throughout, not to
mention included shore excursions and an excellent spa, and you
have a winner. In 2024 Viking Vela joined the fleet which is very
slightly larger, carrying 998 guests, yet identical in all other
respects to her predecessors. Two further 998-guest ships, Viking
Vesta and Viking Mira, launch in 2025 and 2026 respectively.
The streets of Buenos Aires are redolent of a grand old European capital, lined with elegant architecture that wouldn't look out of place in Madrid or Paris. There is also plenty of Latin passion on display: Argentina is the home of tango, that most electrifying of dances, and the central Plaza de Mayo has played host to countless revolutions and rallies over the years. Food is an important part of life here, and carnivores shouldn't pass up the opportunity to try the world's finest beef at one of the many steakhouses, known as parrillas. Other attractions include the beautiful Recoleta cemetery, the grand Teatro Colón and the colourful, arty district of La Boca.
Located just across the Río de la Plata from Buenos Aires, Uruguay’s underrated capital is a cosmopolitan and eclectic mix of colourful colonial architecture and high rise modernity. The 14-mile waterfront promenade, La Rambla, is a popular and pleasant place to be on a summer’s evening.
The carnival capital of the world, Rio de Janeiro needs little introduction. We can think of few cities in the world that are able to compete when it comes to location: hugging the beautiful sandy shore and surrounded by jungle-clad islands and mountains, including the iconic Corcovado, the setting for Brazil’s most vibrant city is simply breathtaking.
Recife is a big and bustling metropolis on Brazil’s north east coast, with a historic core that has been mostly swallowed up by the urban sprawl. The nearby town of Olinda is a more appealing place to spend your day ashore, with an arty vibe and some lovely colonial architecture.
The dry and barren volcanic island of São Vicente is home to Cape Verde’s most appealing port, the charming city of Mindelo. The cobbled streets and colonial architecture are a real pleasure to explore, and the city plays host to a raucous carnival in February.
Bustling and modern, fizzing with industry and commerce, Casablanca is often overlooked in favour of Morocco’s better known tourist draws. But then this is part of its appeal: it’s an authentic and unvarnished city, and it’s also home to the spectacular modernist architecture of the Hassan II Mosque.
Málaga boasts plenty of chic restaurants and bars where you can ease into the rhythms of life in southern Spain, before exploring sights including the intriguing, unfinished Gothic cathedral, and a museum devoted to the city's most famous son, Pablo Picasso.
From the warren-like medieval streets of the Barri Gòtic to the fantastical modernist architecture of Antoni Gaudí, from the dizzy heights of Mount Tibidabo to the golden sands of Barceloneta, there’s never a dull moment in Barcelona.
