If 2012 has been a banner year for Viking River Cruises, next year is poised to be just as exciting, as the line announced its complete 2013 lineup of river cruises, offering more itineraries, new land tour extensions, and the launch of another six of the company’s highly successful Viking Longships.
These six new vessels will be named Viking Bragi, Viking Forseti Viking Rinda, Viking Skadi, Viking Tor and Viking Var.
“We take pride in the way we design experiences for our guests — from carefully-crafted itineraries that focus on the destination to excursion choices that allow travelers to set their own pace each day,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking River Cruises. “By providing guests with the opportunity to tailor every aspect of their cruise, we ensure they have the most personal and unforgettable vacation possible.”
New itineraries for next year include a 22-day Grand Rivers of Europe voyage sailing from Basel to Budapest that combines the one-week Rhine Getaway from Basel to Amsterdam with Viking’s popular Grand European Tour from Amsterdam to Budapest.
Also new for next year is a brand-new adventure along Portugal’s famed Douro River. Portugal’s River of Gold spans 10 days along the pristine Douro, where guests can soak in the sights and tastes of this distinct region, famed for its port wine production.
For guests with time to spend “on the continent,” it’s difficult to beat Viking’s new, 23-day European Sojourn itinerary. Departing from Amsterdam to Bucharest, guests will be able to experience the famed canals of Amsterdam, the great castles of the Rhine Valley, and the culturally important cities of Vienna and Budapest. A highlight of the trip: a transit of the full length of the Main-Danube Canal and its numerous locks.
In China, Viking has launched a comprehensive 18-day China Explorer voyage that visits six UNESCO World Heritage sites, including a tour of Beijing’s Forbidden City and a visit to the famous Terracotta Warriors.
Guests sailing with Viking to Russia next year will find much to like, following the completion of the line’s stem-to-stern refurbishment of its Russian fleet. The only ships to be owned outright by a Western company, Viking’s Russian-based fleet will see the restructuring of public rooms to allow for significantly larger staterooms and the addition of private verandas on all staterooms located on Upper and Middle decks.
These revamped ships will sail Viking’s classic 13-day Waterways of the Czars itinerary between Moscow and St. Petersburg, or the reverse.
Full details on Viking River Cruises, the Viking Longships and the company’s entire fleet can be found by viewing our comprehensive Viking River Cruises overview right here on River Cruise Advisor.
