Viking Cruises

Viking River Cruises

Viking River Cruises is an international company based in Los Angeles, California that operates a fleet of 21 river cruising vessels along the rivers of Europe, Russia, Ukraine and China. Viking has offices in Germany, England, Australia, Switzerland, Russia, France and China as well as additional sales offices in the United States.

Company History

Viking River Cruises, a global corporation based in the United States, was established in 1997 by a Scandinavian and Dutch consortium with the purchase of four Russian ships. The following year, additional ships were purchased and the company continued to cater to European passengers. Viking River Cruises expanded into the American market in 2000, establishing U.S. headquarters in Los Angeles, California. As a result of additional purchases and new builds, today Viking River Cruises operates a fleet of 21 ships with nearly 3,800 berths.

In the mid-1990s the company’s cofounder and chairman, Torstein Hagen, took a river cruise through Russia and decided to create a river cruising company so that others could enjoy similar experiences. Educated at Norwegian Institute of Technology and Harvard Business School, Mr. Hagen was formerly CEO of Royal Viking Line, and has also served on the boards of Holland America Line and Kloster Cruise Ltd. The company’s Board of Directors includes prominent investors and financial leaders with background in the cruising and shipping industries.

The company started with the purchase of four Russian vessels in 1997. Then, in 2000, Viking purchased Europe’s KD River Cruises ("K" for Köln, "D" for Düsseldorf), founded in 1827. KD retained its Rhine Line passenger ferries, scheduled services and day-excursion operations. The takeover included the landing stages (docks), an extremely valuable asset. The combined fleet amounted to 26 river cruise vessels accommodating approximately 4,200 passengers, resulting in Viking becoming the largest fleet of river cruise vessels in the world.

The company expanded into China in April 2004 with Yangtze River cruises that also include hotel stays in various cities like Beijing and Shanghai. The company's latest acquisition, in 2006, was the UK river cruise specialist Travel Renaissance which is now marketed as Viking River Cruises in the UK.

Viking River Cruises currently operates a fleet of 21 vessels, some catering exclusively to North Americans and others serving European and international passengers. Most of its ships have been built or renovated since 2000 and have all outside staterooms with picture windows or sliding doors ("French balconies"). Other onboard amenities include restaurants, bars, lounges, libraries, sun decks, telephones and private bathrooms; some ships have additional in-room amenities like televisions and safes. According to Viking's detailed marketing materials, all ships are air-conditioned. A few also offer elevators or chair lifts.

Viking owns docks in many European cities, ensuring prime docking locations for easy passenger access and the ability to walk directly into town in many ports.

River Cruising with Viking

Viking's ships have an average capacity of approximately 150 passengers (in Europe—Russia ships hold an average of about 210 and China ships hold about 300). The cruises are marketed as being unique from other tours in that they provide vacationers views and access to areas that they otherwise could only visit by driving on their own or by taking a bus tour. Suggested advantage of the river tour is the chance to see the best of the big cities and villages, in a relaxing, affordable and scenic mode of travel. Travelers unpack just once and enjoy scenic cruising on wide, smooth rivers instead of extensive bus rides or long days at sea without scenery.

Viking vacations range from eight to 17 days along Europe’s Rhine, Main, Danube, Seine, Saône, Rhône, and Elbe Rivers; Russia’s Volga and Svir; Ukraine's Dnieper and China’s Yangtze. The China voyages and some of the Europe voyages are "cruisetours," which include both hotel stays and river cruising. All voyages include at least one shore excursion per day. Viking River Cruises vacation packages are typically all-inclusive, meaning that the cruise price includes accommodations, onboard meals, most shore excursions and cultural activities. Alcoholic beverages and soft drinks are usually not included. All ships have nonsmoking interiors with a smoking area available on the sun deck. Since the focus is on the river and the ports of call, onboard activities are minimal. Air travel, which includes transfers, can be purchased through Viking, but is not included in cruise prices.

Geared toward the North American tourist market, Viking provides English-speaking staff on its ships and fully escorted tours in China. Many of the tours are guided city walks that showcase history, culture, art and architecture of the visited cities.

Current Viking Fleet

Ships cruising in Europe

Ships cruising in Russia

Ships cruising in Ukraine

Ships cruising in China

References

1. ^ http://www.cybercruises.com/vicetwyeusapr02.htm
2. ^ http://www.vikingrivers.com/press/kit/2007Investors.pdf
3. ^ Lizz Dinnigan, Travel Agent magazine cover story, September 10, 2001
4. ^ Insight Guide to Great River Cruises, 2006, 2007, ISBN 978-981-258-397-0, p. 22
5. ^ http://www.sealetter.com/news/viking.html
6. ^ ^{a b c} Insight Guide to Great River Cruises, 2006, 2007, ISBN 978-981-258-397-0, p. 37
7. ^ Insight Guide to Great River Cruises, 2006, 2007, ISBN 978-981-258-397-0, pp. 112-13

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