Viking River Cruises Offers Best Deals of the Year on 2007 Sailings
Viking River Cruises, today announced their Early Booking Discount offering travelers the best savings of the year – $900 off per cabin – on any newly-released 2007 sailings. Travelers can choose among 17 itineraries from the new 2007 Europe, Russia and China schedules, and sail the famous rivers of the world with included tours of landmarks like Beijing’s Forbidden City, Moscow’s Kremlin or Paris’s Eiffel Tower.
Travelers can save $900 on 2007 Vacations Through Early Booking Discounts
Viking River Cruises offers a 3-tiered Early Booking Discount, available by asking for “EBD Offer.” When passengers book and pay for a cruise in full by:
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July 31, 2006: They save $450 per person ($900 savings per cabin maximum)
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October 18, 2006: Save $350 per person ($700 per cabin maximum)
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December 18, 2006: Save $250 per person ($500 per cabin maximum)
Click "more" to find out about European and Chinese River cruise tour offerings, or call us at 888-286-9827 for more information about Viking River Cruises.
2007 European Offerings and New Escorted Extensions
Viking River Cruises offers 14 different itineraries in 2007 ranging from 7 to 14 nights along the Rhine, Main, Danube, Seine, Saône, Rhône, and Elbe Rivers, plus Russia’s Waterways of the Czars and Ukraine’s Dnieper River. Various itineraries highlight Amsterdam, Vienna, Paris, Budapest, Berlin, Prague and much more plus quaint smaller European towns and villages along the rivers, and all feature included tours with English-speaking guides, non-smoking shipboard environments, gourmet food, and an English-speaking crew. In addition, passengers can take advantage of NEW escorted extensions in Amsterdam, Budapest, Prague, Vienna, Krakow, Paris, and Helsinki accompanied by English-speaking guides.
China Cruisetours Introduce Travelers to Beijing, Shanghai, and the Yangtze’s Famed Gorges
Viking Century Sun and Viking Century Sky, 5-star sister ships each carrying 306 passengers, are the newest and most deluxe ships on the Yangtze. Viking River Cruises offers 3 different China cruisetour itineraries, each including a Yangtze River cruise plus overnight 5-star hotel stays in Beijing, Xian (home of the Terra Cotta Warriors) and cosmopolitan Shanghai.
China cruisetour offerings for 2007 are:
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Imperial Jewels of China (9 or 10 nights): 5-star hotel stays for 3 nights in Beijing (including tours of the Forbidden City, Great Wall, Summer Palace, and Tiananmen Square); 1 night in Xian plus Terra Cotta Warriors visit; 2 nights in Shanghai, plus a 3- or 4-night luxury Yangtze River cruise featuring the Three Gorges, Lesser Three Gorges, and Yangtze Dam.
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China’s Cultural Delights (15 nights): Features all the above plus a 9-night luxury Yangtze River cruise from Chongqing to Nanjing highlighting the above Gorges and Yangtze Dam plus tours to sacred Buddhist mountain temple Mt. Jiu Hua; the gardens of Suzhou; Jingdezhen, birthplace of Chinese porcelain; and China’s ancient capital, Nanjing.
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Roof of the World (13 nights): Features all the tours and highlights of Imperial Jewels plus 3 nights in Lhasa, Tibet, including visits with English-speaking guides to Portola Palace, Sera Monastery, Jokhang Temple and Barkhor Market.
Travelers can add to China cruisetours a 4-night Shopper’s Paradise extension with 5-star accommodations for 3 nights in Hong Kong and 1 night along the Li River in Guilin plus all tours.
Additional details about China itineraries are featured in the new 2007 China Expeditions brochure, and Europe and Russia itineraries are detailed in the new 2007 European & Russian River Cruise Journeys brochure
Eigth Silversea Voyages to Showcase Asian Ports
From cosmopolitan Hong Kong's vibrant harbor and colorful markets to the ethereal beauty of Vietnam's Ha Long Bay, Silversea is offering travelers the chance to explore the fascinating cultures of the Far East from the private veranda of a luxurious six-star ship. From December through February, the intimate, all-suite ships Silver Cloud and Silver Whisper will offer a collection of eight voyages, ranging from nine to 14 days, showcasing some of the world's most enchanting and exotic destinations.
In addition to savings of up to 50%, guests will enjoy spacious, ocean-view accommodations, most with private veranda, award-winning gourmet cuisine, personalized service, warm Italian hospitality, and Silversea’s unmatched selection of all-inclusive shipboard amenities, including complimentary beverages, wines and spirits served throughout the ship, 24-hour room service, stocked in-suite beverage cabinet and all gratuities.
Highlighting the Far East program are two complimentary tours in Vietnam. Guests aboard Silver Whisper's January 14 cruise from Hong Kong to Singapore will be treated to a free "Scenic Wonders of Ha Long Bay" excursion, offering a chance to sail aboard a traditional red-sailed boat to discover the many fascinating islets rising from the misty waters of this Unesco World Heritage Site. And on Silver Whisper's following voyage to Bangkok, departing Singapore on January 23, the line is offering a complimentary "Evening of Vietnamese Cuisine and Culture" in Ho Chi Minh City.
Click "more" to find out about the optional land extensions available on these special voyages. Visit Cruise Planners or call us at 888-286-9827 for more information about these or any other Silversea Cruises itinerary.
OPTIONAL LAND EXTENSIONS
Guests can extend their voyage with optional pre- and post-cruise land programs featuring deluxe accommodations, all transportation, transfers, guided sightseeing and some meals. Prices start from $1,735 per guest. Highlights include:
** From Mumbai (Bombay), the six-night "Realm of the Tiger Safari" introduces you to Rajasthan's premier wildlife refuge, where tigers prowl ancient ruins. Ranthambore National Park is also home to leopards, sambar deer, langur monkeys, boars, gazelles, and a host of other wildlife. Enjoy a tour of New Delhi, Agra Fort, morning and evening game drives, plus an optional elephant safari.
** From Singapore, guests on the six- or seven-night "Vistas of Vietnam" extension will tour Ho Chi Minh City, including the colorful Binh Tay market, Thien Hue temple and a traditional lacquerware factory. Enjoy drinks at the Vietnam war-era Rex hotel. Explore the Cu Chi Tunnels, the Cao Dai temples, Hoi An and the imperial city of Hue. Voyage on the Perfume River to ancient sites.
** From Bangkok, the five-night "Exotic Laos" program offers an in-depth exploration of the ancient royal capital of Luang Prabang, one of the world's oldest centers of Buddhist teachings. Cross the Mekong by boat to view the mysterious caves of Pak Ou, and watch a panoramic sunset from Phu See Mountain. Sample traditional Laotian cuisine and Lao Lao -- a native rice whisky. Explore the golden temple of Xieng Thong and the National Museum, once the Royal Palace.
** From Bangkok, the five- or six-night "Siam Sojourn" offers cultural riches and exotic sights with a gracious hospitality. Guests visit an elephant training camp, orchid and butterfly farm and savor traditional Khan Toke Thai cuisine. Other highlights include the famous Golden Triangle in Chiang Rai and a tour of Bangkok's Grand Palace.
CRUISE SAVINGS OPPORTUNITIES OF UP TO 50%
Following is a list of the Far East voyages offering exceptional value with special savings opportunities from 15 to 50 percent:
-- Silver Cloud departs December 11, 2006 on an 11-day “Indian Ocean Discovery” voyage (1635) from Mumbai to Singapore with calls in Cochin, India; Colombo, Sri Lanka; Phuket, Thailand; Penang and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Silver Sailing fares start at $3,597 per person (50% savings).
-- Silver Whisper departs December 22, 2006 on a 14-day “Burmese Interlude” voyage (4641) from Singapore to Singapore with calls in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; Phuket, Thailand; Belawan, Indonesia; Penang and Malacca, Malaysia, plus a special 3-night visit to Yangon, Myanmar. Early Booking Incentive fares start at $8,495 per person (15% savings).
-- Silver Whisper departs January 5, 2007 on a 9-day “Spirit of the South China Sea” voyage (4701) from Singapore to Hong Kong with calls in Kuching, Malaysia; Ho Chi Minh City and Nha Trang, Vietnam; and Guangzhou (Canton), China. Advance Payment Bonus fares start at $4,496 per person (25% savings).
-- Silver Whisper departs January 14, 2007 on a 9-day “Vietnamese Rhapsody” voyage (4702) from Hong Kong to Singapore with calls in Haiphong, Ha Long Bay, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Advance Payment Bonus fares start at $4,796 per person (20% savings).
-- Silver Whisper departs January 23, 2007 on a 10-day “Across the Gulf of Thailand” voyage (4703) from Singapore to Bangkok with calls in Muara, Brunei; Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Sihanoukville, Cambodia; and Ko Samui, Thailand. Advance Payment Bonus fares start at $5,276 per person (20% savings).
-- Silver Whisper departs February 2, 2007 on a 10-day “Far East Vistas” voyage (4704) from Bangkok to Singapore with calls in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; Muara, Brunei; Kuching and Malacca, Malaysia. Advance Payment Bonus fares start at $5,276 per person (20% savings).
-- Silver Whisper departs February 12, 2007 on an 11-day “Legend of the Golden Land” voyage (4705) from Singapore to Singapore with calls in Kuala Lumpur and Penang, Malaysia; Phuket, Thailand; and a special extended 3-night visit to Yangon, Myanmar. Advance Payment Bonus fares start at $6,200 per person (15% savings).
-- Silver Whisper departs February 23, 2007 on a 12-day “Indonesian Wonders” voyage (4706) from Singapore to Mumbai with calls in Phuket, Thailand; Colombo, Sri Lanka; Cochin and Murmugao, India. Advance Payment Bonus fares start at $5,356 per person (20% savings).
Princess Offering Up The Crown Jewels
When Crown Princess set sail for the first time on June 14, she was dripping in more than one million dollars in diamonds specially commissioned to commemorate her inaugural. An exclusive collection of diamond jewelry is showcased on board, the highlight of which is a showpiece, 100-carat matching set of four pieces, appropriately dubbed the "Crown Jewels." The pieces in this sparkling collection will be available for purchase aboard Crown Princess only for her first eight sailings, and during that time, four lucky women on each sailing will have the opportunity to "borrow" the Crown Jewels for a special portrait sitting on formal night. The entire million dollar collection will be on display for passengers to view (and purchase) in the ship's Facets jewelry salon.
The Crown Jewels made their debut among some very royal company. America's favorite pop princess Katharine McPhee, home and lifestyle expert Martha Stewart, and Scripps National Spelling Bee champion Kerry Close were all on hand for the ship's naming ceremony and helped unveil the jewels amidst a flutter of paparazzi flashes.
The elaborate ensemble features flawless diamonds and platinum, in settings reminiscent of the Victorian era, and the Crown Jewels pieces include a necklace, earrings, bracelet, and ring. Valued at $585,000 for the four-piece set, the Crown Jewels come with a diamond grading report from an independent gemological institute, authenticating the carat weight, color, cut, and value of the stones in each piece.
On each of the first eight sailings, Princess will offer a drawing to give four passengers the opportunity to wear the Crown Jewels pieces while sitting for a special keepsake portrait on formal night. "Diamonds are indeed a girl's best friend, and we are pleased to offer passengers the opportunity to truly feel like 'red carpet royalty'...right down to the borrowed jewels," says Jan Swartz, Princess' senior vice president of customer service and sales. "It seems appropriate to offer our own Crown Jewels aboard this spectacular new ship."
The Crown Jewels' home, 113,000-ton Crown Princess, introduces a number of new design innovations to the Princess fleet, including a dramatic new piazza-style atrium and new casual dining venues. Within the new street café environment of the atrium, passengers will find an International Café serving up fresh pastries and baked goods in the morning and assorted other offerings throughout the day, as well as a wine and seafood bar. Several signature Princess venues have been further enhanced, including an expanded Sabatini's Italian trattoria with a new piano lounge, and the Crown Grill, a new steak and seafood restaurant with an open, theater-style kitchen where chefs custom-prepare steamed shellfish and cooked-to-order steaks and chops.
The ship also showcases the many hallmark features that define the Princess experience, including the dramatic Movies Under the Stars poolside movie screen, multiple dining and entertainment options, a Lotus Spa fitness center, an extensive children and teen's center, a wedding chapel and nearly 900 staterooms with private balconies.
The inaugural 2006 summer season for Crown Princess features nine-day roundtrip voyages to both the Eastern and Western Caribbean, and marks the return of Princess visits to Bermuda, as well as the line's first-ever regular calls to Grand Turk. In the fall the ship will reposition to San Juan for winter Caribbean sailings.
For more information about the inaugural itineraries offered by Crown Princess visit Cruise Planners or call us at 888-286-9827
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