Viking River Cruises, the world’s largest river cruise line, provides travelers with a wide selection of itineraries on the majestic waterways of Europe, Russia and China. With their new Custom Air Program, passengers can now customize their international flights to and from their river cruise.
Passengers can select their choice of airline carrier, routing, and connection cities to make travel easier. Additionally, passengers can choose their most convenient arrival and departure times; direct flights can be confirmed to ensure speedy travel, and the Custom Air Desk staff can assist with seat assignments and meal requests for most carriers.
Custom Air Program services are available to all passengers purchasing brochure-price air from Viking River Cruises. A $75 service fee applies to coach air reservations; business class traveler’s fees are waived. Passengers are responsible for any additional costs to the air ticket based on customized changes, and some restrictions may apply.
This week we bring you stories from Carnival, Crystal, MSC, Royal Caribbean, The Yachts of Seabourn, and Viking River Cruises.
On this week’s news show:
- Crystal’s 2007 European Season
- Seabourn cancels Libya stops
- Royal Caribbean expands kids programs
- Norovirus onboard Freedom of The Seas
- Norovirus information
- Carnival Freedom to offer two Trans-Atlantic sailings in 2008
- Scotty Bowman to sail onboard MSC Opera
- MSC Poesia keel laid
- Viking River Cruises guarantees your satisfaction
This week we’ll be talking about Hawai’i in our feature show, so our Deal of The Week is a different itinerary to Hawai’i.� Normally we spotlight NCL America when it comes to Hawai’i, but for a change of pace we find a terrific deal from Holland America Line.� Be sure to check it out.
Customers of Viking River Cruises have always been a top priority and their valuable feedback allows the company to continually improve its ships, service and programs. Now for all 2007 sailings, Viking River Cruises increases its commitment to customers by providing the Viking Service Guarantee, guaranteeing service onboard and ashore. “As the world’s leading river cruise line, Viking River Cruises sets the standard for customer service,” said Torstein Hagen, chairman and founder of Viking River Cruises. “With our new service guarantee, we are telling our passengers they are our first priority. Because of our integrated operations, we ensure their service will be excellent wherever they travel with us.”
Viking River Cruises Service Guarantee states: “Should you be dissatisfied with our service upon first check-in (hotel or onboard ship) including food, personnel or shore excursions, notify us within 24 hours of the start of your cruisetour. We then have 24 hours to correct the situation. In the unlikely case that a solution is not possible, you can then depart as soon as you can and we will refund 100% of your cruise price.”
The Service Guarantee also notes Viking River Cruises can assist with departure arrangements, but costs for the return trip and/or alternate travel plans are the passenger’s responsibility.
For more information about Viking River Cruises call us at 888-286-9827.
Viking River Cruises was recognized by readers of the leading travel publication Condé Nast Traveler in the “Top 10 Small Ship Cruise Lines” for the magazine’s annual Readers’ Choice Awards. Condé Nast Traveler magazine’s annual survey allows its readers to rate hotels and resorts, cities and islands, cruise lines and more to determine the best of the best in travel.
“We are honored to be recognized as one of the “Top 10 Small Ship Cruise Lines” by Condé Nast Traveler readers,” said Torstein Hagen, Founding Chairman, Viking River Cruises. “As the world’s leading river cruise line, we own and manage all aspects of our passenger’s experience, from our reservations department to our ships to our onboard Swiss hotel management, giving our passengers an excellent travel experience. Our listing in the top 10 Small Ships, along with the high numbers of passengers who return to us year after year for another cruise, confirms our leadership in the industry.”
The Readers’ Choice Awards results appear in the November issue of Condé Nast Traveler, and are also available online. In 2006, more than 283,657 subscribers were provided with the questionnaire to vote on cities, islands, hotels, resorts, safari camps, cruise lines, airlines, and car rental agencies that they had visited or traveled within recently. Addition information about the methodology is available on Condé Nast Traveler’s website.
For 2007 vacations, river cruisers can choose from 17 different Viking River Cruises itineraries that travel along the majestic rivers of Europe, Russia and China. Additional details about China itineraries are featured in the 2007 China Expeditions brochure, and Europe and Russia itineraries are detailed in the 2007 European & Russian River Cruise Journeys brochure; both are available from Cruise Planners by calling toll-free 1-888-286-9827.
For the third consecutive year, Viking River Cruises was honored by readers of top travel publication Travel + Leisure as one of the “Top 10 Small Ship Cruise Lines” in their 11th annual “World’s Best Awards.” Travel + Leisure magazine’s annual “World’s Best Awards” allows its readers to provide insights on their favorite cities, hotels and cruise lines “We are extremely honored to be included on the 2006 list, and for the past three years,” said Torstein Hagen, Founding Chairman, Viking River Cruises. “As the world’s largest river cruise line, we provide our passengers with diverse and in-depth experiences on the majestic rivers of Europe, Russia and China. Our inclusion on the list indicates that we’re doing something right …and we’re committed to continuing to surpass our customers’ expectations.”
2007 European Offerings
Viking River Cruises offers 14 different itineraries in 2007 ranging from seven 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 plus quaint small European towns and villages along the rivers. All feature included tours with English-speaking guides, non-smoking shipboard environments, gourmet food, and an English-speaking crew.
2007 China Offerings
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 River. Viking River Cruises offers three different China cruisetour itineraries, each including a Yangtze River cruise plus overnight five-star hotel stays in Beijing, Xian (home of the Terra Cotta Warriors) and cosmopolitan Shanghai.
From favorite cities and islands to favorite domestic airlines and car-rental agencies, Travel + Leisure uncovers the best in travel. For each category in the “World’s Best Awards,” readers weighed in on their travel experiences and provided feedback in a number of areas. Cruise lines in particular are rated on cabins, food, service, itineraries/destinations, activities, and value. Cruise lines are also divided into two categories based on passenger capacity. The majority of small cruise lines have a maximum capacity of 400 per ship. Viking River Cruises falls into this category, with a typical passenger capacity of 150 passengers in an intimate, comfortable setting.
“The World’s Best” list appears in the August issue of Travel + Leisure, and is also available online at www.travelandleisure.com/worldsbest.
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