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Viking Announces Fleet Development Program

Viking River Cruises has announced an ambitious fleet development program, which includes eight new ships and two comprehensive refurbishments, for the next three years. The program is estimated at $250 million US. The first new ship, Viking Prestige, will premier in Europe in 2011. Also making its debut in 2011, Viking Emerald will sail in China as a replacement for Viking Century Sun. Additional European vessels will follow in 2012 and 2013. Viking Schumann will receive a full renovation, as will the Russian vessel Viking Pakhomov.

“Over the past decade, Viking has established river cruising as a mainstream means of travel,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking River Cruises. “At the same time, we believe that river cruising is still in its infancy, and has tremendous growth potential. Our fleet plans will benefit the industry as a whole, by increasing supply in a marketplace in which demand is exceeding available inventory.”

Viking Sails Into 2011

Viking River Cruises has rolled out its full lineup of 2011 river cruise itineraries through northern and southern France, central and eastern Europe, Russia, Ukraine, China and Egypt. For the 2011 season, Viking is offering a tempting Early Booking Discount of up to $2,000 per person if you book and pay in full by 31 October 2010, plus complimentary wine with onboard dinners!

“Viking offers river cruises in four of the world’s regions, from 8 to 17 days in length, visiting anywhere from one to eight countries throughout the year. There is truly something for everyone,” declared Mr. Hagen. “And now, more then ever, we take pride in offering great travel value, wherever you go with us.”

Viking Legend Christened

Viking River Cruises officially christened its newest ship, Viking Legend, on the November 23, 2009 in Amsterdam. Stevi M. Tracas, Viking Legend’s godmother, broke the traditional bottle of champagne across the ship’s hull and delivered a heartfelt blessing: “May you sail the great rivers of Europe with impeccable style and with a special respect for our environment. May you be the setting for the delight and joy of travelers seeking new and enriching vistas, and may your journeys promote understanding and harmony amongst all cultures. I now christen this legendary ship Viking Legend. May you hold safe your dedicated crew and honored guests.” Ms. Tracas, a travel industry veteran, is married to Steve Tracas, president and CEO of Vacation.com, one of Viking’s leading marketing partners.

Viking Legend carries 189 guests in 97 deluxe staterooms. “We have launched not only a beautiful new ship but a new era of European river cruise travel,” said company chairman Torstein Hagen.

Traveling With the Stars

Alex Trebek, the Emmy-winning host of the popular game show Jeopardy!, loves to travel. He was interviewed by USA Today about recent memorable trips he has taken, and had this to say about a China river cruise he took with Viking:

Q: What’s the most surprising/unexpected place you’ve ever visited?
A: China. I never had a desire in visiting China. Didn’t want to support that government. All of a sudden, a couple of years ago I arranged a trip to China with my family. We took a cruise on the Yangtze River and all of us thoroughly enjoyed it. Forget just about visiting the Great Wall of China. All tourists do that. But visit the digs at Xian, the Emperor’s Terracotta Army, and the Three Gorges Dam. One of the things I always enjoy doing was each day (when) the ship would stop in a different city we’d get off the boat and walk through the streets. We would usually go one street off the main drag to where the local folks shopped, particularly the food markets...it’s fascinating.

Best River Fleet Keeps Getting Better

Viking operates the largest fleet of our own river cruise vessels, and is proud to offer the best ships in each region where we travel. In Europe, the recently launched Viking Legend joined the award-winning Viking Sun and Viking Helvetia. From Viking Primadonna with its private balconies to the intimate “purpose-built” Viking Fontane and Viking Schumann—both recently refurbished—our guests always enjoy the hospitality of the right ship in the right place.

We have dramatically upgraded our Russian fleet: the fully renovated Viking Surkov and Viking Kirov offer deluxe staterooms throughout, plus suites and singles, and Viking Pakhomov joins them for the 2011 season. In China, travel on the beautiful, all-balcony Viking Century Sun in 2010, or book passage on Viking Emerald, under construction for the 2011 season.

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.

Viking Recognized by Travel + Leisure Once Again

Viking River Cruises has been recognized by readers of top travel magazine Travel + Leisure as one of the “Top 10 Small-Ship Cruise Lines” in the periodical’s 14th annual “World’s Best” awards. “This is the fifth time we have appeared on this prestigious list,” stated Torstein Hagen, chairman of Viking River Cruises, “and we are very pleased to be in the Top 10 once again.”

Recognition by the Trade Media

Travel industry awards Viking received in 2009 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.”

The Passionsspiele in Oberammergau

The year was 1633. The Thirty Years’ War, a religious conflict involving a great many European powers, was in its 15th year, and was being fought principally in Germany. Extensive destruction, famine and disease—including the dreaded bubonic plague—swept through the region.

Suffering heavily from the effects of war and illness, residents of the small Bavarian town of Oberammergau prayed for salvation. They made a promise to God that if their town were spared, they would perform a Passion Play—“the play of the suffering, death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ”—every ten years, forever.

In 2010 you have a very special opportunity to witness the 41st Passionsspiele from the best seats in the house, and enjoy a Romantic Danube cruise as well. Click here for details.

The Shanghai World Expo/World’s Fair

Shanghai has become a dynamic, sophisticated world capital—and in 2010 it will host the World Expo/World’s Fair, whose theme is “Better City, Better Life,” from May through October. You can be there for 2 full days as an extension of your China’s Cultural Delights or Imperial Jewels of China itinerary (select departures). Your visit includes 2 extra nights at your Shanghai hotel, daily breakfasts, and two all-day passes plus transportation to and from the World’s Fair/Expo. See details here.

Yaroslavl’s 1,000th Birthday

Yaroslavl is one of Russia’s famed Golden Ring Cities—living museums of this fascinating country’s long and mysterious past. Stretching 18 miles along both banks of the Volga amidst a region of forests, Yaroslavl was founded in 1010 by Prince Yaroslav the Wise of Kiev. Now you can be there during its 1,000th anniversary year on a 2010 Waterways of the Czars cruise. Click here to learn more.

Now, some of these astounding performers will take to a different stage aboard two of Viking’s vessels sailing the Waterways of the Czars. For an engaging and uniquely personal experience in Russian culture, join Viking and the Mariinsky musicians for intimate performances of classic pieces and Russian favourites. Best of all, you will sail through the heart of Russia and share your journey with some of the country’s premier performers—a once-in-a-lifetime experience! Click here to learn more about this exciting program.

China’s Terra Cotta Warriors Complete Tour at National Geographic Museum

The National Geographic Museum was the final venue of the four-city U.S. tour of Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of China’s First Emperor. The exhibition included 15 terra cotta figures, the largest number to travel to the U.S. from the tomb of China’s First Emperor. Emperor Qin Shihuangdi laid the foundation for modern China by defeating six neighboring warring states and declaring himself emperor of the unified territory in 221 B.C. Considered one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the 20th century, the tomb complex contains thousands of terra cotta warriors intended to protect and serve Emperor Qin in the afterlife.

The National Geographic Museum features a variety of changing exhibitions as well as permanent and interactive displays that reflect the richness and diversity of our world. Founded in 1888 and one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations, National Geographic works to inspire people to care about the planet.

Terra Cotta Warriors: Guardians of China’s First Emperor was open November 19, 2009–March 31, 2010. Viking also helped sponsor the exhibition’s earlier stops at the Bowers Museum in Orange County, California; the Houston Museum of Natural Science; and Atlanta’s High Museum of Art.

“We have been taking travelers to see the Terracotta Army in Xian, as well as other key attractions in China, for the past five years,” said Torstein Hagen, founding chairman of Viking. “Our guests always tell us that seeing the Terracotta Warriors is one of the highlights of their China experience. We are thrilled to have helped Americans see some of China’s treasures that they may not otherwise have had the opportunity to see.”