Viking Orders Seven New River Cruise Ships for 2019

River cruising is very popular with baby boomer travelers.  And there is no company that has done more to promote river cruising into the American travelers’ psyche than Viking River Cruises.

While Viking River Cruises isn’t a “one size fits all” option, they do cater to a very large swath of the boomer traveling public.  In fact, they have grown to become the 800-lb gorilla in the river cruise industry commanding a market share north of 50%.

Carol and I have sailed twice with Viking River Cruises, and we look forward to another journey sometime in the future.

Before I  share with you the details of Viking’s new river ships, take a peek at one of our most popular Viking articles:

• How to Choose the Right Stateroom on a Viking River Cruise

Viking Cruises Press Release

Los Angeles (October 24, 2017) – Viking® (www.vikingcruises.com) the world’s leading river cruise line, today announced it has placed an order for seven new river ships that will debut in 2019. The newbuild order includes six additional award-winning Viking Longships®, which will sail the company’s most popular itineraries on the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers, and one additional vessel, inspired by the Longships and specifically designed for Portugal’s Douro River. This announcement comes on the heels of Viking being named the #1 River Cruise Line by Condé Nast Traveler in the publication’s 2017 Readers’ Choice Awards. With the addition of the new river ships, Viking will operate a fleet of 69 river vessels around the world in 2019. Also by 2019, Viking will welcome its sixth ocean ship and will become the largest small ship ocean cruise line.

“We knew there was an opportunity to do things differently when we started this company 20 years ago,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. “In the last two decades, we have led the industry to define what modern river cruising looks like today. We continue to lead the industry with the largest fleet, the widest selection of itineraries and stateroom categories, and the most awards of any river cruise line. The Viking way of exploration has resonated with our target audience of experienced travelers, and this new ship order is a reflection of strong demand for more destination-focused cruises.”

New Viking Longships for 2019

Of the seven vessels on order for 2019, six are Viking Longships, which have amassed a long list of prestigious awards since their debut. Viking’s accolades include recognition by the editors of Cruise Critic as “Best River Cruise Line” and “Best River Itineraries,” with the entire Viking Longships fleet being named “Best New River Ships” in the website’s “Editors’ Picks Awards.” More recently, Viking topped USA Today’s annual Readers’ Choice Cruise Poll for “Best River Cruise Line,” and was named “Best Danube River Cruise Operator” in AFAR magazine’s 2017 Travelers’ Choice Awards.

Viking Longships integrate a patented corridor design and cutting-edge technology with comfortable amenities that reflect guest preferences and current travel trends. These features include a revolutionary all-weather indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace that reinvents the onboard lounge experience by bringing the panoramic outdoor river scenery indoors with retractable floor-to-ceiling glass doors and allows guests to enjoy the views and dine al fresco.

Accommodating 190 passengers in 95 staterooms, Viking Longships have a patented layout that allows for two Explorer Suites – the largest river cruise suites in Europe – as well as seven two-room Veranda Suites with a full-size veranda in the living room and a French balcony in the bedroom; 39 Veranda Staterooms with full-size verandas; and 22 French Balcony Staterooms. Staterooms include comfortable amenities such as hotel-style beds, heated bathroom floors, mini-fridge, and both U.S. and EU outlets. Additionally, all Viking Longships have sustainability upgrades, such as onboard solar panels and organic herb gardens, and energy-efficient hybrid engines that also reduce vibrations for a remarkably smooth ride.

New Ship for the Douro River in 2019

Viking’s additional ship on order for 2019 will be designed specifically for the company’s Portugal’s River of Gold itinerary. As a result of high customer demand, the new sister ship will join Viking’s existing fleet of three ships on the Douro. Hosting 106 passengers in 53 staterooms, the Douro ships are smaller than Viking Longships but feature many of the same popular features – including an Aquavit Terrace, a wide variety of stateroom choices, onboard solar panels, and an organic herb garden, as well as Viking’s signature Scandinavian design aesthetic.

The Viking Difference

Designed for discerning travelers, Viking offers guests “the thinking person’s cruise” as an alternative to mainstream cruises. The Viking Difference is providing guests with extraordinarily well-designed cruises that bring them closer to the cultures of the world. Itineraries are designed for maximum time in port, often with late evenings or overnights, so guests can experience local culture at night or evening performances. And only The Viking Way of exploration brings guests itineraries that feature Local Life, Working World and Privileged Access experiences.

Link: Viking River Cruises

Carol and I are the #1 Viking booking agents out of 16,000 in Virtuoso, and we’re one of the top five Viking booking agents in the world.  Not only can we help you obtain a flawless booking, we have perks to share with you above and beyond Viking’s best offers. To book a fun Viking River Cruise, call Roaming Boomers Travel Services at (480) 550-1235 or use our convenient online information request (click here) and we will reach out to you. 
 
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