Sydney (14 July, 2009) – Viking River Cruises today announced its lineup of 20 2010 river cruise itineraries through northern and southern France, central and eastern Europe, Russia, Ukraine, China and Egypt. To launch the 2010 season, Viking offers an unprecedented Early Booking Discount, available through 18 December 2009. The suite of discounts includes:
• Save $2300 per person on Waterways of the Czars on Viking Surkov and Viking Kirov, book and pay in full by 31 August 2009.
• Save $1500 per person on any 2010 itinerary, book and pay in full by 18 December 2009.
• Complimentary wine with dinner included with the Early Booking Discounts.
“Viking is committed to making these outstanding river cruise itineraries affordable for every traveler,” said Viking River Cruises Chairman Torstein Hagen. “We have always provided excellent value for guests’ travel dollars—but now more than ever people are looking for an affordable travel experience and to be in control of exactly how much they are spending.”
For 2010, Viking will launch three new itineraries:
• Danube Waltz is an 8-day itinerary sailing through four of Europe’s most enchanting countries—Germany, Austria, Hungary and Slovakia—along the storied Danube River, which includes a tour of the 900-year-old baroque Benedictine abbey at Melk and an all-day excursion to the scenic city of Salzburg.
• China Discovery is a 10-day cruisetour featuring all the imperial treasures of Beijing plus a 6-day Yangtze River cruise through the Three Gorges; guests on this itinerary enjoy a final afternoon and evening adjacent to Beijing’s Olympic Village, where they can see some of the distinctive venues constructed for the 2008 Summer Games.
• Nile Explorer is a 9-day itinerary that showcases the highlights of Cairo and features a 5-day Aswan-to-Luxor cruise rich with comprehensive tours and experiences.
The 2010 season will also feature Viking Legend, Viking’s much-anticipated ship making its debut in July 2009—boasting the largest suites on Europe’s rivers and an innovative, energy-efficient propulsion system, Viking Legend joins the fleet on Grand European Tour, the line’s most popular itinerary. In total, Viking offers 19 ships to the North American market for 2010. In France, guests will enjoy the hospitality of Viking Sprit and Viking Neptune, featuring deluxe staterooms with hotel-style beds; in Russia, the fully renovated Viking Kirov and Viking Surkov set the standard; and the five-star Viking Century Sun is the most sumptuous ship in China, where every stateroom has a river view and private balcony.
Viking River Cruises itineraries provide excellent value for guests, because they are all-inclusive. The cruise fare covers accommodations, all onboard meals, shore excursions each day and cultural enrichment activities such as lectures, discussions, workshops, demonstrations of handmade crafts like glassblowing, embroidery and ceramics, and local food and wine tastings. And if air is purchased through Viking, transfers are included as well.
“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. There is truly something for everyone. We hope that our past guests will choose to join us again in 2010—perhaps traveling to a different region—and that we can introduce Viking to new guests as well. With our Early Booking Discount, there has never been a better time to take a river cruise,” declared Mr. Hagen.
For more information on Viking River Cruises, visit www.vikingrivercruises.com.au
*Viking offers travellers an Early Booking Discount of saving of A$1500 per person as well as complimentary wine (two glasses with dinner on board) for all of its 2010 river cruise itineraries booked and paid in full by 18 December, 2009. Travellers can save $2300 on sailings on Viking Surkov and Viking Kirov on the Waterways of the Czars, if booked and paid in full by 31 August 2009.
About Viking River Cruises
About Viking River Cruises: Viking River Cruises, the world’s largest river cruise company, offers quality service, gourmet cuisine and comfortable scenic cruising along the majestic rivers of Europe, Russia and China. The company has been honoured multiple times as the top river cruise line on Condé Nast Traveler’s “Gold List” and Travel + Leisure’s “World’s Best” Awards. Since its 1997 inception, the company has grown to a fleet of 19 vessels, owned by Viking River Cruises and operated by Viking River Cruises’ own Swiss hotel management and staff and provides unique, deluxe vacations to travellers with an interest in geography, culture and history. Viking River Cruises is a member of International Cruise Council Australasia. For more information contact Teresia Fors, Managing Director Australia & New Zealand, +61 405 644 550 or teresia.fors@vikingrivercruises.com