EXPLORING THE WORLD IN COMFORT

Transcription

1 EXPLORING THE WORLD IN COMFORT

2 FOREWORD BY DOUGLAS WARD After more than four and a half decades in the cruise industry, I m confident of one thing: a great cruise is found in the details. Prior to Viking, river cruising was little known to travelers. The phrase conjured up images of a steamboat on the Mississippi à la Mark Twain, or helping to paddle a canal barge through England or France. Sure, there were a few companies cruising down the great rivers of Europe, but it was with Viking that the current industry was really created. Why? Because during his tenure at Royal Viking Line, Torstein Hagen found a mentor and ally in cruising legend Warren Titus who knew the importance of putting the customer first. Today, Mr. Hagen and Viking River Cruises now own and operate the largest fleet of river vessels in the world and Viking continues to lead the industry by remaining focused on the details. For example: X Combining maximized stateroom space with the up-close experience of the river X Green ships with fuel-efficient hybrid engines X Enriching itineraries featuring visits to cultural and historic landmarks, onboard demonstrations and lectures, language lessons, and expert local guides in each destination These details add up to a travel experience focused on the customer and uniquely Viking. As Viking enters this new chapter in its storied history, I invite you to pay attention to the details that Torstein Hagen and his team of experienced professionals are providing for their guests. This is your glimpse of a river cruise company doing what it does best; it is where the industry is headed. Douglas Ward is known as the guru of the cruise industry. He is the author of the respected Berlitz Complete Guide to Cruising and Cruise Ships. He penned the first edition of the book in 1985 and has not stopped since. He serves as President of the Maritime Evaluations Group, an independent international agency that evaluates and rates cruise ships and river ships worldwide. TORSTEIN HAGEN, CHAIRMAN VIKINGRIVERCRUISES.COM 1

3 THE HEART OF THE MATTER EXPLORING THE WORLD IN COMFORT. OUR MOTTO RINGS AS TRUE TODAY AS IT DID BACK WHEN THE COMPANY STARTED. Intimate vessels with all the amenities of a fine hotel a room with a view, fabulous food and outstanding service provide the ideal opportunity to unpack once and comfortably be transported each day to and from your exciting destinations. And since civilizations were built around rivers, those destinations will always be the heart and soul of the regions you re visiting, whether they be quaint towns or cosmopolitan cities with rich histories to explore. In other words, over time we ve fine-tuned the art of exploring the world in UNDERSTATED ELEGANCE. VIKINGRIVERCRUISES.COM 2 VIKINGRIVERCRUISES.COM FREYA ON THE RHINE 3

4 IN 2001 VIKING RIVER CRUISES REINVENTED THE EUROPEAN RIVER CRUISE VESSEL AND INNOVATION BECAME ONE OF OUR TRADEMARKS. The goal was to take everything we knew about river cruising and put it into a new class of cruise vessel, delivering the best experience for our Viking traveler. Four ships launched in 2001 featuring the first Promenade Deck to wrap around the vessel. This design allowed our guests the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors throughout their journey, even during transit under low bridges when the Sun Deck is unavailable. And our goal remains true even more than a decade later because the launch of the Viking Longships marked the next step in our MORE INVENTIVE AND INNOVATIVE FUTURE. VIKINGRIVERCRUISES.COM 4 ENJOY THE VIEW FROM YOUR PRIVATE VERANDA VIKINGRIVERCRUISES.COM 5

5 SETTING A NEW STANDARD IN 2012, WE DEBUTED THE VIKING LONGSHIPS VESSELS EXPERTLY CRAFTED WITH YOU IN MIND TO SAIL EUROPE S WATERWAYS. Designed by legendary naval architects Yran & Storbraaten, the team behind The Yachts of Seabourn, in conjunction with the internationally acclaimed architectural design firm, Rottet Studio, these new vessels showcase state-of-the-art engineering, design and luxury. X Aquavit Terrace with a revolutionary indoor/outdoor viewing area at the bow of the ship X Two Explorer Suites featuring a private wraparound veranda with spectacular 270 views X All Suites feature two rooms with a veranda off the living room and a French balcony in the bedroom X More full-size verandas and full-size rooms than on any other ship in Europe X Solar panels and an organic herb garden X Energy-efficient hybrid engines that reduce vibrations for a remarkably smooth ride Since their launch, the Viking Longships have received international media recognition and have been awarded for their DESIGN, INNOVATION AND IMPACT ON THE RIVER CRUISE INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE. VIKINGRIVERCRUISES.COM 6 SPACIOUS VIKINGRIVERCRUISES.COM TWO-ROOM EXPLORER SUITES 7

6 SETTING A NEW STANDARD... A FLEET OF AWARD-WINNING VIKING LONGSHIPS VIKINGRIVERCRUISES.COM 8 VIKINGRIVERCRUISES.COM 9

7 DESIGNING INNOVATION A WELL-DESIGNED SHIP IS BOTH AN ARCHITECTURAL ACCOMPLISHMENT AND A WORK OF ART. And a river vessel is a unique challenge, with bridges and locks limiting ship size. So, in order to make substantial changes to the structure and layout, endless amounts of practical creativity are required. Designing an innovative ship like this calls for expertise, insight and the ability to forget what you think you know about river cruising and DREAM A LITTLE. WE ARE TAKING A QUANTUM LEAP FORWARD. TORSTEIN HAGEN, CHAIRMAN VIKINGRIVERCRUISES.COM 10 VIKINGRIVERCRUISES.COM 11

8 Instead of 4 standard-size staterooms, the new Viking design gives you 2 full-size staterooms and 1 true Suite, all 3 with full-size verandas. THINKING OUTSIDE THE BOX A DISTINCTIVE FEATURE OF A VIKING LONGSHIP IS ITS TRUE SUITES VERANDA SUITE AND STATEROOMS WITH FULL VERANDAS, EACH SPACIOUS AND COMFORTABLE WITHOUT COMPROMISING STATEROOM SIZE. Because of an exclusive patented ship design, * our Viking Longships offer river cruising s first-ever true Suite: two full-size rooms complete with a full-size veranda and French balcony. Additionally, our unique Veranda Staterooms feature full-size rooms with full-size verandas. It s just one more way our innovative thinking provides VERANDA STATEROOM MORE CHOICE AND A BETTER EXPERIENCE FOR OUR GUESTS. In order to fit through locks, a European river cruise vessel can only be 11.4 meters wide. Industry standard has a corridor running symmetrically through the middle of the ship, with rooms of equal size on each side. *Corridor configuration designs European Community Design # to VIKINGRIVERCRUISES.COM 12 To provide our guests with more choice of stateroom and an enhanced experience we Shifted the corridor asymmetrically one meter to the side Used the extra space on one side provided by the shift to include a full-size veranda while maintaining stateroom size Rotated the orientation of the rooms on the now shorter side of the shift and combined them into one true Suite, complete with 2 full-size rooms, a full-size veranda and a French balcony WE WILL BE THE ONLY RIVER CRUISE LINE IN EUROPE WITH REAL BALCONIES AND REAL SUITES. WHEN WE AT VIKING SAY SUITES, WE MEAN TWO FULL ROOMS, NOT JUST ONE LARGE ROOM. TORSTEIN HAGEN, CHAIRMAN VIKINGRIVERCRUISES.COM 13

9 WE HAVE REINVENTED THE LOUNGE, WHICH IS OFTEN A GUEST FAVORITE ON ANY SHIP. It s where friendships are formed, lectures take place and relaxing during scenic cruising is a daily occurrence. Now, with Viking s advanced design, a portion of the floor-to-ceiling windows in the Lounge can be rolled aside to create a unique area that combines the comfort of the indoors with the fresh air and exhilaration of the outdoors. Here you can cruise through the early morning light as you sip a frothy cappuccino and watch as the mist rolls off the river. Unwind in the late afternoon with a pint of beer or glass of wine, chatting with friends and enjoying a delicious light bite. Or step out from the Lounge to the Aquavit Terrace to enjoy the views while sampling its namesake, Aquavit. This Scandinavian distilled beverage gets its name from aqua vitae, Latin for WATER OF LIFE. VIKINGRIVERCRUISES.COM 14 VIKINGRIVERCRUISES.COM AQUAVIT TERRACE 15

10 TWO-ROOM SUITES WITH A PRIVATE FULL-SIZE VERANDA AND A FRENCH BALCONY VIKINGRIVERCRUISES.COM 16 VIKINGRIVERCRUISES.COM 17

11 THINK OF YOUR VIKING STATEROOM AS YOUR PRIVATE SANCTUARY ON THE RIVER. X 2 Explorer Suites located at the aft of the ship, featuring two large rooms and a private wraparound veranda with 270 views X 7 Veranda Suites located on the Upper Deck, featuring two large rooms, a full-size veranda and a French balcony X 39 Veranda Staterooms a full-size room with a full-size veranda X 22 French Balcony Staterooms featuring floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors, known as French balconies X 25 Deluxe Staterooms a water-level room with a smaller window Whichever stateroom you choose, one thing is certain: your hotel-style bed topped with European linens and duvets provides the perfect place to turn in after a full day exploring Europe s great towns and cities. Preparing for the next day the next destination is a pleasure in a bathroom that features heated floors and mirrors, premium bath products and plenty of storage. Comfortable and spacious, with special little touches like Sony flat-screen televisions, complimentary bottled water provided daily and a doorway to the fresh air outside, our staterooms truly are YOUR HOME AWAY FROM HOME. WE WANTED TO GIVE OUR GUESTS A CHOICE SOMETHING FOR EVERY TYPE OF PASSENGER, EVERY POCKETBOOK SO THEY CAN CREATE THEIR CRUISE OF A LIFETIME. TORSTEIN HAGEN, CHAIRMAN VIKINGRIVERCRUISES.COM 18 VIKINGRIVERCRUISES.COM STATEROOM 19

12 VIKING SUITES A VIKING SUITE IS A TRUE SUITE: TWO FULL-SIZE ROOMS OF ABSOLUTE LUXURY. Our two Explorer Suites, situated at the aft of the ship, each boast a private wraparound veranda offering spectacular 270 views unlike any other stateroom. With a living room and a large bedroom that features a French balcony, the Explorer Suites provide the most lavish stay you can have ON ANY EUROPEAN RIVER SHIP. VIKINGRIVERCRUISES.COM SPACIOUS TWO-ROOM EXPLORER SUITES 20 VIKINGRIVERCRUISES.COM 21

13 THE ART OF DINING GREAT FOOD AND WINE GO HAND IN HAND WITH NEW PLACES AND WONDERFUL FRIENDS. EXPERIENCING FOOD, TASTING THE FLAVORS OF THE REGION, IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF TRAVEL. In tasting local delicacies, you have a place s history, present and future, all right there. And because we experience cultures with all of our senses, a Viking meal whether it be contemporary cuisine or traditional regional specialties will always feature fresh local produce that is elegantly prepared. Wine is an integral part of rounding out an exceptional dining experience, which is why Viking partnered with a fifth-generation vineyard in Austria s Wachau Valley to produce several exclusive varieties. We are the only cruise line with our own winemaker and our culinary team happily makes frequent visits to the winery to talk with the vintner, taste the wines and make sure EVERYTHING IS PERFECT. VIKINGRIVERCRUISES.COM 22 VIKINGRIVERCRUISES.COM 23

14 THE VIKING EXPERIENCE DISCOVER THE UNPARALLELED PLEASURES OF SEEING EUROPE BY RIVER WITH ENRICHMENT ONLY VIKING CAN OFFER. Imagine gliding along the tranquil rivers of romantic Europe, docking right in the center of ancient towns and stepping ashore to stroll to museums, shop in open air markets, attend music and dance performances, and linger in cafés. You ll also enjoy special privileged access to palaces and castles, behind-the-scenes tours of museums and even be invited into the homes of locals. Then, at day s end, return to your ship to relax with a glass of local wine out on deck and savor an exquisite dinner. With Viking, you will enjoy a personalized experience of the very best cultural offerings, both on board and ashore, from the luxuriously comfortable perspective of our new state-of-the-art Viking Longships. IT S ALL ABOUT THE MOST RELAXING, AUTHENTIC WAY TO GET TO THE HEART OF EUROPE. VIKINGRIVERCRUISES.COM 24 FRANCISCAN CHURCH OF PEST, BUDAPEST VIKINGRIVERCRUISES.COM 25

15 EXCELLENT SERVICE: A VIKING STANDARD WHEN YOU HAVE THE BEST PEOPLE YOU ALSO HAVE THE BEST SERVICE AND VIKING HAS BOTH. Our experienced team of professionals from our executive team to our Program Directors, our Travel Specialists to the smiling faces of our dining staff, and our Customer Service representatives to the many wonderful chefs who have been with us for years are the very best in the business. Striving to delight every guest, we proudly stand behind our product and our people with our Viking Service Guarantee. Viking is the most celebrated river cruise line, winning more consumer and industry awards than any other river cruise line. We also lead the industry in customer satisfaction ratings, with 99% of our guests commenting that we have met or exceeded their expectations oftentimes telling us that by the end of their journey, their Viking staff has come to feel like friends, even family. The overall result is THE VERY BEST TRAVEL EXPERIENCE. VIKINGRIVERCRUISES.COM 26 VIKINGRIVERCRUISES.COM 27

16 UNPRECEDENTED AWARDS VIKING LONGSHIP #1 RANKED RIVER CRUISE SHIP ON CONDÉ NAST TRAVELER'S READERS' POLL. Since their launch in 2012, the Viking Longships have received acclaim for their innovative design, outstanding quality and state-of-the-art engineering. In an unprecedented move, Cruise Critic editors recognized the entire Viking Longships fleet as the year s Best River Cruise Ship, marking the first time this award has been presented to an entire class of ship. Our ships were also listed as the top ships in Travel + Leisure s World s Best Awards, and topped Condé Nast Traveler s 2014 Readers' Poll for Best River Cruise Ships, SCORING HIGHER THAN TOP OCEAN CRUISE SHIPS!* 2014 Editors Picks VIKINGRIVERCRUISES.COM 28 *See Condé Nast Traveler s Readers Poll, 2014 VIKINGRIVERCRUISES.COM 29

17 A LINEAGE OF SEAFARING STEEPED IN LEGEND, HEROISM AND MYTHOLOGY Solar Panels Solar Panels Solar Panels Solar Panels Herb Garden Herb Garden Herb Garden Herb Garden Walking Track Walking Track Walking Track Walking Track Walking Track Walking Track Walking Track Walking Track Sun deck Sun Sun deck deck WE AT VIKING ARE PROUD OF OUR HERITAGE. AND SO WHEN IT CAME TIME TO NAME EACH VESSEL IN OUR FLEET OF VIKING LONGSHIPS, WE LOOKED NO FURTHER THAN NORSE MYTHOLOGY. Few cultures can boast the same seafaring heritage as Scandinavia. For centuries, the Vikings were synonymous with powerful ships, bold explorers and ocean adventure. Today, Viking River Cruises is synonymous with the best experience in river cruising. Explorer Suite (ES) Veranda (B) Standard (E) Main deck Upper deck Herb Garden, Middle deck Sun deck Solar Panels VIKINGRIVERCRUISES.COM 30 And our Viking Longships represent a leap forward in innovation and comfort, with a longstanding tribute to the rich legacy invoked by our name. We think of the ships as the Norsemen of today. And so they were named for pillars of Norse mythology Odin, ruler of Asgard, home of the gods; Njord, god of wind, the sea, good fortune and prosperity; Idun, goddess of rejuvenation; Veranda Suite (AA) French Balcony (C) Standard (F) Veranda (A) and Freya, daughter of Njord, goddess of love. Plus, Aegir, representing the power of ocean; Embla, the first human woman; Shop, Reception Library, Internet French Balcony (D) and Tor, god of thunder and strength. These are but a few in a fleet of Viking Longships sailing in the present and into the future. Bridge Observation lounge Restaurant Aquavit Terrace Sun deck VIKING Explorer Suite Explorer Explorer Suite Suite French balcony French French balcony balcony Explorer Suite 445 sq. ft Veranda Suite 275 sq. ft Veranda Stateroom 205 sq. ft French Balcony Stateroom 135 sq. ft Standard Stateroom 150 sq. ft Suite with veranda French balcony Suite Suite with with a veranda veranda & French French balcony balcony Stateroom with veranda Stateroom Stateroom with with a veranda veranda French balcony French French balcony balcony Stateroom with veranda Stateroom Stateroom with with a veranda veranda Internet Internet Internet Internet Library Library Library Library Shop Shop Reception Shop Shop Reception Reception Reception Water-level staterooms have smaller windows Water-level Water-level staterooms staterooms have have smaller smaller windows windows X Explorer Suites and Veranda Suites both have separate sleeping & sitting quarters, a full veranda and a French balcony, 2 flat-panel Sony TVs with an infotainment system and movies on demand X All Upper & Middle Deck staterooms have either a full balcony or French balcony (sliding glass doors) Elevator Elevator Elevator Elevator Elevator Elevator Elevator Elevator Upper deck Upper Upper deck deck Observation lounge Observation Observation lounge lounge Bar Bar Bar Middle deck Middle Middle deck deck Restaurant Restaurant Restaurant Buffet Buffet Buffet Main deck Main Main deck deck X Observation Lounge & bar with panoramic windows that lead to an open air Aquavit Terrace X Restaurant with panoramic views Buffet Buffet Buffet X Sun Deck with bar & shaded sitting area Aquavit Aquavit Terrace Aquavit Terrace Terrace Grills Grills Grills Grills Kitchen Kitchen Kitchen X Ecologically friendly hybrid engines producing less vibration for a smoother ride VIKINGRIVERCRUISES.COM 31

18 SO UNPACK ONCE AND JOIN US ABOARD A VIKING LONGSHIP, SAILING EUROPE S LEGENDARY WATERWAYS GRAND EUROPEAN TOUR Amsterdam to Budapest, 15 Days NEW GRAND EUROPEAN TOUR & BELGIUM Ghent to Budapest, 19 Days ROMANTIC DANUBE Budapest to Nuremberg, 8 Days NEW BAVARIA TO BUDAPEST Nuremberg to Budapest, 10 Days NEW IMPERIAL CITIES OF EUROPE Berlin to Budapest, 12 Days RHINE GETAWAY Amsterdam to Basel, 8 Days NEW SWITZERLAND TO THE NORTH SEA Basel to Amsterdam, 10 Days NEW RHINELAND DISCOVERY Bruges to Basel, 12 Days RHINE RHAPSODY Paris to Basel, 10 Days NEW CASTLES & LEGENDS Munich to Budapest, 12 Days CITIES OF LIGHT Paris to Prague, 12 Days TULIPS & WINDMILLS Amsterdam Antwerp Amsterdam, 10 Days PASSAGE TO EASTERN EUROPE Budapest to Bucharest, 11 Days EUROPEAN SOJOURN Amsterdam to Bucharest, 23 Days NEW LYON & PROVENCE Lyon to Avignon, 8 Days NEW PARIS, BURGUNDY & PROVENCE Paris to Avignon, with Dijon, 12 Days PARIS & THE HEART OF NORMANDY Paris Rouen Paris, 8 Days FRANCE S FINEST Paris to Avignon, 15 Days KEY N Bordeaux GARONNE LOIRE GIRONDE NORTH NETHERLANDS SEA Hoorn Amsterdam Gouda Arnhem GERMANY Bruges Antwerp RHINE Brussels Cologne MAIN-DANUBE Ghent Würzburg MAIN CANAL Kraków BELGIUM MOSELLE Koblenz LUXEMBOURG Prague Rouen Trier Mainz Nuremberg CZECH REPUBLIC Paris Rothenburg SLOVAKIA Strasbourg RHINE Kelheim Passau Munich Bratislava Salzburg Vienna Basel AUSTRIA Budapest Lucerne DANUBE SAÔNE SWITZERLAND HUNGARY FRANCE DORDOGNE Cruise embarkation & disembarkation Select cruise & tour destinations Saint-Emilion Tournon Lyon RHÔNE RHÔNE Avignon Arles Marseille CROATIA POLAND Osijek Warsaw Belgrade Belogradchik SERBIA TRANSYLVANIA ROMANIA DANUBE Bucharest Russe Veliko Tarnovo BULGARIA Constanţa BLACK SEA DANUBE WALTZ Passau to Budapest, 8 Days CHÂTEAUX, RIVERS & WINE Bordeaux Saint-Émilion Bordeaux, 8 Days VIKINGRIVERCRUISES.COM 32

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