Viking River Cruises Returns to Its Roots with Revamped Russian Offering
Viking River Cruises was established with four Russian river cruise vessels and a company name to honor the Vikings that first traveled by longship to explore Russia’s waterways. As Viking River Cruises prepares to celebrate its 15th anniversary next year, the company today announced major enhancements to its Russian offering and a new microsite designed to inspire travelers to experience “the real Russia.” Click here to learn more about our new offering.
Viking introduces the next generation of river cruising vessels
In 2012, Viking will debut six spectacular sister ships—Viking Aegir, Viking Embla, Viking Freya, Viking Idun, Viking Njord and Viking Odin—in Europe, with another four to be built by 2014. Expertly designed by Yran & Storbraaten, these new vessels offer state-of-the-art engineering, design and comfort. The ships will feature more full-size verandas and full-size staterooms than on any other ship in Europe.
The company had originally announced four new Longship class vessels for 2012. “Ever since we announced the Viking Longships earlier this year, the response has been overwhelming,” stated Torstein Hagen, Chairman and CEO of Viking River Cruises. “To accommodate the demand, we have decided to accelerate the new builds schedule and bring two more Viking Longships into the fleet for the 2012 season.”
Integrating cutting-edge technology with amenities that reflect guest preferences and travel trends, Viking River Cruises is changing the industry once again with this class of vessels by setting a new standard in onboard amenities, energy efficiency and guest comfort. The Viking Longships are currently available for booking. Click here for more information about our stellar Europe fleet.
Viking to Sponsor Masterpiece on PBS
Viking has undertaken a national corporate sponsorship for the celebrated PBS television series, MASTERPIECE. Viking joins MASTERPIECE corporate funder Franklin Templeton in supporting America’s longest-running weekly primetime drama series beginning in the fourth quarter of 2011. “With demographics that match so closely and research showing that the series ranked among our customers’ favorites, we knew MASTERPIECE was a perfect partnership,” commented Richard Marnell, Viking’s Senior Vice President of Marketing. See the press release for more information.
Viking Honored by Travel + Leisure in Two Categories
Viking River Cruises has been recognized once again by readers of top travel magazine Travel + Leisure in the publication’s 16th annual “World’s Best” awards. Viking is one of the World’s Best River Cruises, and was also included in a newly launched category, Top River Cruising for Families. “Over the past several years we have seen some growth in families cruising together—multi-generational travel where adult children are traveling with their parents,” said Torstein Hagen, chairman of Viking River Cruises, “and to be recognized for this form of family travel by Travel + Leisure readers is very exciting and fulfilling.” Read about Viking and other winners in the August issue of Travel + Leisure.
Viking Prestige Christened
On the 30th of June Viking River Cruises, the world’s leading river cruise line, held a christening ceremony for Viking Prestige in Amsterdam. Janice Farrar-Titus, wife of the late renowned cruise industry innovator Warren Titus and the ship’s godmother, blessed the ship as follows: “May you begin your cruising days under a rainbow and sunny skies, and may you follow that rainbow around the bends in the river to the pot of gold,” said Mrs. Farrar-Titus.
The 188-passenger Viking Prestige will embark on its inaugural voyage, the 15-day Grand European Tour, on July 2. It will then begin its regular service on the ever-popular 8-day Romantic Danube itinerary which travels between Budapest and Nuremberg, visiting ports in Hungary, Austria and Germany. The launch of Viking Prestige represents the first phase of Viking’s $250 million fleet development program and will be the first European ship in a series of ten new builds to follow for the 2012, 2013 and 2014 seasons. Learn more about this beautiful new ship here.
Magnificent Mekong reveals the wonders of Southeast Asia
Viking River Cruises, the world’s leading river cruise line, has announced a new itinerary in a new region. With the addition of this fabulous cruisetour, Viking now travels to destinations in six regions throughout the world. From the Mekong’s bustling floating markets to the stunning architecture of Angkor Wat, this 15-day Magnificent Mekong itinerary is a comprehensive and unique journey that explores Vietnam and Cambodia’s premier destinations.
All-inclusive pricing for this itinerary will reflect the current offer of 2-for-1 cruise and land pricing. To extend their Southeast Asia vacation, guests can add one or both of the Explore More™ land extension programs visiting either Ha Long Bay, Vietnam or Bangkok, Thailand.
Viking Awards Go International
Viking River Cruises is delighted to have been named World’s Leading River Cruise Operator in the prestigious World Travel Awards. Winners of the 16th Annual Awards were announced at a ceremony in London November 7, 2009. The awards were described by the Wall Street Journal as the “Oscars” of the global travel and tourism industry. World Travel Awards President Graham Cooke commented, “This year’s winners can display the official World Travel Awards symbol with pride on their sales and marketing literature, offering travelers a cast-iron assurance that what they are buying is a guarantee of travel excellence.”
In related news, Viking won the title of “Best River Cruise Line” at this year’s British Travel Awards ceremony. The 2010 awards were announced at a gala dinner, also held in London, on November 4.
Recognition by the Trade Media
Travel industry awards Viking has recently received include:
• Luxury Travel Advisor’s Awards of Excellence – Best River Cruise Line for Luxury River Cruises
• Travel Weekly’s Readers’ Choice Awards – Best River Cruise Line
• TravelAge West WAVE Winner – Best River Cruise Line for Travel Agent Support
• TravelAge West WAVE Winner – Best Overall Cruise Line for River Cruising
• Travel Weekly’s Magellan Awards – Gold & Silver Winner
• Recommend’s Readers’ Choice Awards – Best River Cruise Line
• Performance Media’s Leisure Travel Leaders Awards – Best River Cruise Line
“These awards are very important to us as a company,” adds Mr. Hagen. “From our call center’s Travel Consultants and District Sales Managers to the onboard staff, waiters and crew, these awards further substantiate that each and every Viking River Cruises employee goes out of his or her way to truly make a difference…and it shows.”