Viking River Cruises Smashes World Record; Inaugurates Most New Ships in a Single Day
River cruising is the hottest segment of travel right now, and in a fitting feat for the world’s leading river cruise line, Viking River Cruises today set a world record with the christening of 10 new Viking Longships™. The first-of-its-kind simultaneous christening ceremony in Amsterdam debuted the ships – Viking Aegir, Viking Atla, Viking Bragi, Viking Embla, Viking Forseti, Viking Jarl, Viking Rinda, Viking Skadi, Viking Tor and Viking Var – and was certified by a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ adjudicator as ‘The Most Ships Inaugurated in One Day by One Company.’ Playing an integral role in the event were 10 distinguished women from around the world, representing the key Viking brand pillars of history, art, education, exploration and discovery, to serve as ceremonial godmothers for the new ships.
Viking River Cruises Christens First Four New Viking Longships
Marking a landmark year of innovation and expansion, Viking River Cruises, the world’s leading river cruise line, proudly christened the first four of its new Viking Longships on the 21st of March 2012 at a spectacular event in Amsterdam, The Netherlands and Rostock, Germany. Rebecca Eaton, executive producer of the PBS series “Masterpiece,” which includes the hit show “Downton Abbey,” and Joanna Lumley, the British actress famous for her role as Patsy Stone on “Absolutely Fabulous,” joined the celebration as the ceremonial godmothers for Viking Freya and Viking Odin. Renowned Harvard physicist Dr. Lisa Randall and Viking’s most-traveled passenger, Gail Wiswedel, served as godmothers for Viking Idun and Viking Njord. See videos and photos from the event
Viking River Cruises Announces Six More Viking Longships for 2013
Viking River Cruises, the world’s leading river cruise line, announced today that it has commissioned six more Viking Longships for delivery in 2013. The six vessels will be joining Viking Freya, Viking Idun, Viking Njord, Viking Odin, which were christened on March 21, 2012, and Viking Embla and Viking Aegir, which will be delivered later in 2012. The Viking Longship series has been designed by celebrated maritime architects Yran & Storbraaten and Los Angeles–based Rottet Studios. They are all being built at the Neptun Yard in Germany, part of the Meyer Neptun group. With the six additional vessels, Viking will have invested over $400 million in its fleet development program over three years. Learn more
Discover the Douro—Portugal’s River of Gold
Viking River Cruises announces a fabulous new European itinerary featuring two days and nights in the Portuguese capital of Lisbon and a cruise along the Douro River. See some of Europe’s most pristine vistas: terraced vineyards, baroque mansions, historic monasteries. Includes a day trip to Salamanca, Spain, one of this itinerary’s four UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and several visits to wineries to see the process and sample the port and tawny wines. Learn more
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 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.”