VIKING RIVER CRUISES RETURNS TO ITS ROOTS WITH REVAMPED RUSSIAN OFFERING
2012 Sailings Will Feature Fully Refurbished Fleet and Exclusive Experiences; New Microsite Showcases “The Real Russia”
Los Angeles (October 5, 2011) – Nearly 15 years ago, Viking River Cruises was established with four Russian river cruise vessels and a company name to honor the Vikings that first traveled by longship to explore Russia’s waterways. Since then, the company has grown to become the world’s leading river cruise line, offering passengers the opportunity to intimately experience destinations across Europe, Asia and Egypt like no other style of travel. As Viking River Cruises prepares to celebrate its 15th anniversary next year, the company today announced major enhancements to its Russian offering and a new microsite designed to inspire travelers to experience “the real Russia.”
Following dramatic bow-to-stern renovations, 2012 will mark the complete refurbishment of Viking’s four owned and operated Russian ships that set a new standard as the best river cruise ships in Russia and the only fleet entirely Western-managed. To commemorate the transformations and to honor Viking’s heritage, the ships will be renamed—Viking Rurik, Viking Helgi, Viking Ingvar and Viking Truvor. In addition to multiple itinerary updates, new for 2012 is an eight-day program, The Glories of the Hermitage, that features exclusive access and private tours at one of the world’s greatest museums. Also launching today is a new microsite, found at www.TheRealRussia.com, which takes visitors on a video tour of the country through a series of inspiring, behind-the-scenes “webisodes.”
“Of all places in the world, we started in Russia. In fact, the idea for our company was born because my daughter had traveled along the Volga with her mother and grandmother,” said Torstein Hagen, Founder and Chairman of Viking River Cruises. “We’re immensely proud of our Russian roots, and we continue to build upon our longstanding relationships and intricate knowledge of this captivating country so that we can share it with new travelers year after year.”