Viking Legend To Be Christened
Viking will officially launch its newest ship, Viking Legend, with a christening in Amsterdam on November 23. Viking has selected Stevi M. Tracas as Viking Legend’s godmother; Ms. Tracas will break the traditional bottle of champagne across the ship’s hull in a ceremony that is thought to bring good luck to the ship, its guests and crew. Stevi Travas, a travel industry veteran, is married to Steve Tracas, president and CEO of Vacation.com, one of Viking’s marketing partners. “Stevi is the perfect choice as Viking Legend’s godmother,” said Michele Saegesser, Viking’s vice president of sales for North America and the South Pacific. “For three consecutive years, Vacation.com has recognized Viking River Cruises as Specialty Cruise Line of the Year during their annual Power of Partnership (POP) Awards. It seemed only fitting for us to honor the Vacation.com team for their ongoing support and for being our top-producing travel marketing organization.”
Steve Tracas commented, “The entire Vacation.com team is sincerely appreciative and honored by the selection of my wife, Stevi, as the godmother of this fabulous ship,” said Steve Tracas. “Stevi is proud to represent Vacation.com, its member agencies, Viking River Cruises and the fabulous Viking Legend during this celebration.”
Viking Moves Up Travel + Leisure Rankings
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 especially thrilled to have moved up to #6 on the list this year.”
The annual “World’s Best” survey allows readers to recognize their favorite travel providers in categories like hotels, airlines, destinations and cruise lines; the “small ships” category is for vessels which carry 600 or fewer passengers. Cruise lines are rated on cabins, food, service, itineraries/destinations, activities and value. Nancy Novogrod, editor-in-chief of Travel + Leisure, said, “This year’s results reflect our readers’ travel interests in this challenging economic reality—value, intimacy, service, and discovery are top priorities.”
Viking Legend Launched
Viking is proud to announce that Viking Legend has embarked on its inaugural cruise. The ship sailed out of Amsterdam in early July on its way to Budapest with nearly a full complement of 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. “This ‘green’ cruise ship, with its hybrid diesel engines and advanced emission control protocols, represents the future of cruise ships.”
Viking Legend’s new diesel-electric hybrid engines use an estimated 20% less fuel. Her two engine rooms, one fore and one aft, are both completely noise-insulated, ensuring a very quiet ship. Viking Legend has additional features that help reduce its impact on the environment, including its own membrane water treatment plant, and it is among the first to be certified under new EU guidelines regulating greenhouse gas emissions.
Viking Announces 2010 Season
Viking River Cruises has announced its lineup of twenty 2010 river cruise itineraries through northern and southern France, central and eastern Europe, Russia, Ukraine, China and Egypt. And to launch the 2010 season, Viking is offering an unprecedented Early Booking Discount, including:
• 2-for-1 pricing on the cruise portion of every itinerary, for every stateroom category (single staterooms receive a 50% discount)
• A $200-per-person discount on international roundtrip air purchased through Viking, for a total savings of $400 per stateroom
• Complimentary wine with onboard dinners for guests
“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,” declared Mr. Hagen. “And with this unprecedented Early Booking Discount, there has never been a better time to take a river cruise.”
If you like ocean cruising, you will love river cruising…
River cruising is the fastest-growing segment of the travel industry, expanding at more than three times the rate of ocean cruising. Many guests have found that river cruising is an even better way of experiencing the world than ocean cruising, but some people have still not discovered this comfortable, all-inclusive way to travel. To encourage more people to discover the joys of river cruising, Viking is offering a special $1,000 discount per couple on any 2009 Viking itinerary for travelers who have taken an ocean cruise (not combinable with 2-for-1 offers). Offer expires December 18, 2009.
The best river fleet gets even better
Our biggest news is the launch of Viking Legend, sailing the popular Grand European Tour itinerary. Debuting in 2009, this state-of-the-art and environmentally friendly vessel transports 189 guests in deluxe staterooms with either French balconies or large picture windows, both that open. Staterooms will have hotel-style beds, a 26-inch flat-panel Sony television, refrigerator and 115v outlets.We have also upgraded our Russian fleet. After a full renovation, Viking Surkov offers deluxe staterooms throughout, plus suites and singles. In 2009 Viking Kirov joins her, sailing the Waterways of the Czars with staterooms featuring hotel-style beds, a flat-screen Sony television and a refrigerator.Our China ship, Viking Century Sun, remains the best on the Yangtze. All staterooms have a balcony—so you never miss the view—and our Swiss hotel management brings the Viking standards of service, cleanliness and excellence to the Far East.
Recognition by Travel Trade
Viking River Cruises has once again been honored by the readers of two prestigious travel trade publications, Agent @ Home and Recommend. In the annual Agent @ Home Readers’ Choice Awards, Viking was named Best River Cruise Line, and in Recommend’s annual reader survey Viking was named Best Cruise Line – River Cruise for the third year running. “We are dedicated to supporting our valued travel agent partners, whether they are working in a large office or their home office,” said Torstein Hagen, Viking’s Chairman. “And we are grateful that they feel the same way about working with us.”