Viking River Increases Longship Order

ADDING 14 SHIPS IN 2014

Viking Cruises announced that they have increased their Viking Longship order from 12 to 14 vessels for delivery in 2014.  The new ships will sail the line's most popular European itineraries.  The increased order reflects the popularity of river cruising as the fastest growing-segment of the travel industry and the leadership position of Viking, the world’s leading river cruise line.

With the addition of these new Longships,Viking River Cruises will have increased its fleet by 30 ships since 2011.  This is the most rapid expansion the industry has seen.  If one were to add all the ships of their competitors together, they would still rank #1.

“We are working hard to match supply with demand, and with these new builds, we have the best designed, newest and most extensive offer of ships on the rivers – more than double all our competitors combined,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking Cruises. “More than ever, travelers want experiences that bring them closer to the destination, which is why we continue to design ships and itineraries with destinations and enrichment as the focus.”

For those that are unfamiliar with river cruising, it brings an entirely new dimension to the cruise experience.  Due to the size of the vessels, it is possible for them to dock right in the heart of the destination's town.  There is no need for an elaborate pier infrastructure.  The ship could even tie up to a tree, as they due in some of the remote parts of the globe.

Walk off the ship and right into the center of action. In most cases, there is no need for a long bus ride to begin seeing the sites.   Due to the size of the ships, there are much fewer guests onboard as well, making for a more intimate experience as you get to know your fellow passengers during the cruise.

Since the number of cabins is limited on the ships, the only way for Viking River to satisfy demand is by adding additional ships.  If you'd like to try this method of cruising, you need to plan early.

RIVER CRUISING GUIDE - Discover the Beauty of River Cruising Watch videos about the Longships: World Record Ship Launching Viking River Cruises 2012 Fleet Upgrades Viking Longboats Christened Viking River Cruises Longships Update A Cruise Line is Born (Viking Cruises)

World Record Ship Launching

Amsterdam Christening Ceremony     Courtesy Viking River Cruises

Viking River Cruises
Christening


Viking marks a historic day in cruising as they become the first company to christen 10 ships at one time.

Their new state-of-the-art Viking Longships—recently named "Best New River Ship" by Cruise Critic—feature the largest suites in Europe, full-size Veranda Staterooms and the Aquavit Terrace, a Viking exclusive, for al fresco dining.


10 New Longships

Four of the new vessels -- the Viking Aegir, Viking Embla, Viking Bragi and Viking Skadi -- were docked at the terminal during the ceremony. The other six ships -- Viking Atla, Viking Forseti, Viking Jarl, Viking Rinda, Viking Tor and Viking Var -- remained at the Neptun shipyard in Rostock, Germany where all 10 vessels were built. Christening attendees could see the latter six ships in a live video feed from the shipyard projected on large screens.

GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™

Christening of 10 new Viking Longships on March 20, 2013 was a proud day for Viking and for river cruising. Guests at the christening ceremony were treated to a presentation on the growth of river cruising & enjoyed remarks by each of the 10 distinguished Longships godmothers. To the delight of the entire Viking family and the guests in attendance, the ceremony was topped off when Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking Cruises, was presented with a certificate for 'The Most Ships Inaugurated in One Day by One Company,' by a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ adjudicator.

VIKING RIVER CRUISES SMASHES WORLD RECORD; INAUGURATES MOST NEW SHIPS IN A SINGLE DAY 

(Press Release - Read about the Godmothers)

Watch the video of the Christening Events:   Watch other videos about the Longships:

Viking Suites

Explorer Suites offer a private wraparound veranda with spectacular 270° views. Combined with a living room and a large bedroom that features a French balcony, the Explorer Suites provide the most lavish stay.

Whichever stateroom you choose, one thing is certain: hotel-style beds topped with European linens and duvets provide the perfect place to turn in after a full day of exploring Europe's great towns and cities.

The Aquavit Terrace

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 of the outdoors.

RIVER CRUISING GUIDE - Discover the Beauty of River Cruising Viking River Cruises 2012 Fleet Upgrades Viking Longboats Christened Viking River Cruises Longships Update

Congratulations Viking River Cruises 

on this Fantastic Accomplishment

Viking Njord Delayed Again

Viking River's Njord

Longships Overdue

Delays Cancel 

April 24th Sailing

Viking Njord - God of the Wind

Viking River Cruises has cancelled the April 24 departure of the Viking Njord due to continuing construction delays at the Neptun Werft shipyard in Rostock, Germany. The April 24 “Tulips & Windmills” departure becomes the latest cancellation which included March 28 and April 6 sailings.

First Sailing Now May 3rd

The ship is now scheduled to enter service May 3, 2012. As we reported in our previous blog post, Viking Longboats Christened, four of the longboats were scheduled to be christened at the same time and begin sailing in March.  Two ships were named in Amsterdam while the Viking Freya and Viking Njord were named the same day in the shipyard in Rockstock instead.

Six Additional Longships Ordered

On March 14, 2012, Viking River Cruises announced that it has commissioned six more Viking Longships for delivery in 2013.  The Longship series have been designed by celebrated maritime architects Yran & Storbraaten and Los Angeles based Rottet Studios. They are all being built at the Neptun Yard in Germany, part of the Meyer Neptun group.

Refunds & Future Credits

These delays, caused by local strikes at the shipyard, are costing the company money.  Impacted passengers, on the cancelled cruise, have been contacted and offered a full refund plus credit for a future European cruise worth 25 percent of the amount paid.

Related Blog Posts

Viking Longboats Christened 

Viking River Cruises Longships Update 

Viking River Cruises 2012 Fleet Upgrades

Viking River Cruises Longships Update

Setting a New Standard - Viking River Cruises Longships
Viking Freya, Viking Idun, Viking Njord, and Viking Odin

About a year ago, we wrote about Viking River Cruises plans to build four new river cruise vessels debuting Spring 2012 in Europe with six more ships planned to be built by 2014. The cost of those new ships for 2012 was $120M out of a total budget of $250M for the project.

(see:  Viking River Cruises 2012 Fleet Upgrades)

Viking Freya and Viking Njord Delayed

Viking had planned to release the four ships simultaneously this March, a very ambitious endeavor. Unfortunately, two of the ships, Viking Freya and Viking Njord, will not be ready until mid-April forcing Viking to cancel several sailings.

'Tulips and Windmills'  Sailings Impacted


Five 'Tulips and Windmills' round-trip sailings from Amsterdam on Viking Freya and Viking Njord have been cancelled as follows:

Viking Freya - March 22, 31, April 9        Viking Njord - March 28, April 6

Guests impacted by the delay are being offered the chance to rebook a similar itinerary on a different ship and receive up to a 50 percent credit on a future cruise booking; or if they choose not to rebook, a full refund.

Viking Idun and Viking Odin

The remaining two longships scheduled to be released in 2012, Viking Idun and Viking Odin, will be named on March 21st as planned.   Their sister ships will not have the same splashy launch party when they emerge in mid-April, but rather will start sailing their itineraries as soon as they are completed.  UPDATE:  Viking Longboats Christened

PHOTOS (Click links below):

Introducing for 2012, the Viking Longships

Sneak Preview: 3D renderings of the new Viking Longships, debuting in Europe in 2012. Viking Freya, Viking Idun, Viking Njord and Viking Odin.

THE NEW VIKING LONGSHIPS...IN 3D! (click here)

Watch this video to learn more about the new Viking River Cruises Longships... 
(click HERE to Start Video)

Viking River Cruises 2012 Fleet Upgrades

Next Generation of River Cruising

Viking River Cruises Longships

Viking has announced plans to build four new river cruise vessels which will debut in 2012 in Europe.  Six more ships are planned to be built by 2014.   The cost of this venture is $120 million out of a total expansion budget of $250 which they announced last year.

UPDATE:  February 23, 2012 - Viking River Cruises Longships Update

Viking Freya, Viking Idun, Viking Njord and Viking Odin

Expertly designed by Yran & Storbraaten, designers of Disney Dream and several Yachts of Seabourn ships, these new vessels offer state-of-the-art engineering, design and luxury. The most notable difference will be true 2-room suites and full balconies.

If you have never done a river cruise before, you may not be aware that the river cruise ships are long, low, and narrow.   This design is necessary so that the vessels can navigate the various rivers and the lock systems that are along the way.    Because of this design, true balconies with a sitting area have been out of the question.   The balconies on existing river cruise ships are French Balconies.   Watch the video to see how the designers overcame obstacles to add full balconies to some of the staterooms.

PHOTOS (Click links below):

Introducing for 2012, the Viking Longships


Sneak Preview: 3D renderings of the new Viking Longships, debuting in Europe in 2012. Viking Freya, Viking Idun, Viking Njord and Viking Odin.

THE NEW VIKING LONGSHIPS...IN 3D! (click here)

Here are some of the highlights of the new Longships:

• Aquavit Terrace with an indoor/outdoor viewing area at the bow of the ship
• Two Explorer Suites with a private wraparound veranda and 270° views
• Veranda suites and staterooms with full outdoor balconies
• French balcony staterooms featuring floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors
• Deluxe amenities like L'Occitane bath products and premium in-room entertainment packages—all included
• Quiet, environmentally friendly hybrid engines, plus solar panels and an organic herb garden
• The same fine cuisine, exemplary service and immersive, culture-rich itineraries you have come to expect from Viking

The Longhsips are 443-foot-long and will have 95 cabins each. They'll sail four of Viking's most popular European itineraries spanning the Rhine and Danube rivers.