Los Angeles, Calif. (September 2, 2009) – Viking River Cruises, the world’s leading river cruise line, has added three new holiday season cruises to its 2009 European offerings to meet the anticipated seasonal demand. These itineraries provide a far richer holiday lineup featuring the Rhine region, including multicultural Strasbourg, and magical Prague in the Czech Republic. The new cruises are:
• Christmas on the Rhine begins and ends in Cologne, Germany, taking guests on six guided tours with Christmas markets in Cologne, Strasbourg, Baden-Baden and Mainz. Guided tours of Cologne, Rüdesheim, Strasbourg, Baden-Baden, Mainz and the Alsatian Wine Country round out this 8-day journey on Viking Helvetia in late November or December.
• Danube & Prague Discovery begins in Nuremberg and features both a 4-night cruise on Viking Sky through Germany’s Bavarian region and a 3-night stay in glorious Prague, capital of the Czech Republic. Guests visit three of Germany’s Christmas markets and have ample opportunity to enjoy a more Bohemian experience at Prague’s Christmas markets—plus they enjoy guided tours of Nuremberg, Regensburg, Passau and Prague and the services of their Program Director to help them plan their time in Prague. All departures are in December.
• Holiday in the Rhineland is a unique, 9-day journey from Amsterdam to Cologne that will only happen once. Departing on November 22, guests sail on Viking Helvetia from Amsterdam to Cologne, then continue south as far as Mannheim for a visit to Heidelberg’s castle and Christmas market, finally returning to Cologne for their journey home. Shop five Christmas markets along the way: Cologne, Rüdesheim, Heidelberg, Mainz and Koblenz.
These cruises join Viking’s two other holiday season offerings along the Danube:
• Danube Explorer takes guests on Viking Pride through the Wachau Valley and the Bavarian countryside, including visits to Vienna, the baroque abbey at Melk, Linz, Passau, Regensburg and Nuremberg, stopping at a minimum of four Christmas markets (if timed to occur in late November or December).
• Danube Holiday Delight takes guests on Viking Pride or Viking Europe through four central European countries—Germany, Austria (including a full day in lovely Salzburg), Slovakia and Hungary—with an optional day trip to Ceský Krumlov in the Czech Republic. Travelers enjoy comparing holiday traditions as they visit Christmas markets (if timing is right) in various countries.
Viking’s holiday gift to travelers is 2-for-1 pricing on all five holiday season itineraries, per offer 61 (details available on Viking’s website). Enjoy a 2009 Christmas markets cruise for as little as $1,214 per person (based on double occupancy) if purchased and paid in full by September 30.
“We have enjoyed tremendous success in the past with our Danube holiday cruises,” said Viking Chairman Torstein Hagen. “Our guests love to see for themselves how so many holiday traditions began in Europe. So, we decided to create additional opportunities for our guests to experience the Advent season along the Rhine River, and in one of Europe's most magical cities, Prague.”
For more information on Viking River Cruises, visit vikingrivercruises.com.
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, China and Egypt. The company has been honored multiple times as the top river cruise line on Condé Nast Traveler’s “Gold List” and Travel + Leisure’s “World’s Best” Awards. Travel agents have also recognized Viking River Cruises in 2006 and 2007 as “Best Riverboat Cruise Line” by Travel Weekly, “Best River Cruise Line” by Recommend and Travel Agent magazines, and in 2006, 2007 and 2008 as “Best Overall Cruise Line for River Cruising” by TravelAge West. Since its 1997 inception, the company has grown to a fleet of 21 vessels, and provides unique, deluxe vacations to experienced travelers with an interest in geography, culture and history. For additional information, contact Viking River Cruises at 1-877-668-4546 (1-877-66VIKING) toll-free or visit the company online at vikingrivercruises.com.