Embark on journey of discovery on Viking Cruises
Twenty years ago, it was a seldom-heard notion: taking a cruise ship along rivers around the world. Today, as the company celebrates its 20th anniversary, Viking Cruises has led the way in making this elegant, educational, relaxing and amazing vacation choice popular. Viking Cruises, offered on rivers as well as the sea, focuses not on the cruise itself but the destinations. Each trip — be it along the famed Douro river in Portugal, through France, along rivers in Russia (where the cruise line debuted 20 years ago) or a wealth of other choices — centers around where you’re going and what you can learn. Call it the “Thinking Person’s Cruise.” The voyages are about immersion in lands and cultures.
Cruise “curriculums” (read: itineraries) don’t just embrace the many port visits while you are there. On board and on the way, you’ll have interactive educational experiences to learn about the tastes, times and treasures of each port.
River cruises, for the most part, take place on the fleet’s longships, whose award-winning designs are about comfort and functionality.
The Scandinavian design means sleek lines, light colors and lots of common areas, all with modern, clean, under--
stated elegance. Rooms in the ship are a delight even to cruise veterans. Those same light colors and simple lines make up the decor. In the bathrooms, you’ll find heated floors and — get this — roomy showers. Best of all, every room on a longship is outward facing, meaning everyone in every cabin gets a water view.
Bill Walsh of Cruise Travel Outlet (cruisetraveloutlet.com) has been booking Viking Cruises for years.
“When you think of river cruises, you think of Viking,” he said.
Clients love that the river cruises take passengers to places most have never heard of, he said.
“They head into the small towns that you may not have heard of, but are incredible to explore.”
When in port, Viking Cruises makes the visit more than worthwhile. First, as a smaller cruise ship, the longship can stay in port later into the evening, allowing more time to explore and experience. (Large cruise ships, in almost all cases, must depart by 5 p.m.)
And Viking has the connections to get its guests insider looks at amazing spots. Thanks to Viking’s Privileged Access, you don’t just visit museums, you get behind-the-scenes
tours. You don’t just explore towns, you get a peek inside what life there is really like.
An amazing Viking program called Home Visits does just that: Small groups of Viking guests are invited into the homes of locals at various destinations to get a firsthand feel for life in the region. Translators are sent when needed. Imagine visiting a home in Asia for tea or visiting a vodka house in Russia. The idea is that, rather than meandering in a port and seeing things peripherally, guests take a deep dive into what life there means.
Viking makes sure to take care of guests on board, too. Wi-Fi is free on both ocean and river cruises. At meal time, beer, wine, soda, coffee and tea are included in your package. Daily excursions are included in the price as well, and at sea, so is a visit to the thermal spa.
Viking Cruises are very much an adult experience. On the river, no one under 16 is allowed on board. At sea, passengers must be 18 and older.
River cruises are growing in popularity, and Viking currently owns 50 percent of the U.S. market share. A big reason why may just be the focus on the destination.
Viking ships spend much time in port. Sometimes, your next port is a small town just 30 minutes away. As you cruise along to your next stop, you’ll float by castles, historic sites and breathtaking landscape.
Booking via Cruise Travel Outlet has added advantages as well. Named a Platinum Circle Agency by Viking, the agents know each cruise inside and out and can help guests pinpoint exactly what they want to do.
When you book with Cruise Travel Outlet, the company is on your team from the time you do your research, to the airport and well after you come back to shore. Cruise Travel Outlet also can provide thirdparty insurance.
Viking allows you to book your reduced-cost flight well before or after your cruise (for a $100 fee), and Cruise Travel Outlet can help you book your onland itinerary if you choose to add time to your trip. Anything from where to go to where to stay, Cruise Travel Outlet serves as one-stop shopping.
Throughout your trip, Cruise Travel Outlet is available to help smooth out anything. “One call or one text and we take care of it,” Walsh said.
Viking Cruises, on river or at sea, offer a modern, comfortable, sophisticated yet leisurely way to explore the world; one river, one town, even one house at a time. Learn more at vikingcruises.com.