Viking River Cruises' Viking Neptune

Viking Neptune *Viking River Cruises' newest ship was created specifically for the American passegers representing a new breed of river cruise ships* Stefano Fermi (September 17, 2002) Viking River Cruises The company was established in 1997 and in March, 2000 with the purchase of KD River Cruises of Europe became the world's largest river cruise line. KD River Cruises has a long track record of excellence as Europe's oldest passenger line. Viking River Cruises presently maintains a fleet of 24 ships boasting over 3,700 berths. The aim of the line's strategy is to attract American customers, and thus a U.S. office was established in Los Angeles in March 2000. Hotel and ship operations are handled in Basel, Switzerland, the company's headquarters, while the California office focuses on sales and marketing to American passengers. The company has the largest share of the American passengers for river cruising in Europe - with a 28% share of the market. In its expansion plan Viking River Cruises added 7 new ships in the last three years. The line's newest, state-of-the-art river cruisers contain 75 outside cabins with standard cabins averaging 120 square feet and deluxe staterooms measuring a spacious 154 square feet, which are as large as many outside cabins on ocean cruise vessels. River Cruising Rivers have traditionally been critical to a country's trade and transport, and much activity, life and culture has been built around these waterways. River cruising offers passengers the experience of traveling through Europe on a floating hotel; a consistently changing panorama through Europe's heartlands and is particularly attractive to those looking to see a lot without having to unpack more than once. The American travel market has seen notable growth in the river cruise category as travelers look for new and different ways to explore Europe and Russia. Viking River Cruises' recent market research data shows that river cruising is one of the hottest emerging segments in the U.S. travel industry with an average annual growth rate of 29 percent since 199. Nearly 85,000 U.S. passengers have experienced the adventure and intimacy of a river cruise during the 2001 season alone. Of all the Americans who took a river cruise last year, 43% traveled on European rivers with the Rhine, Main and Danube the three most popular cruise routes. "Viking River Cruises has made significant strides in building awareness for the river cruising category, especially among American travelers," said Torstein Hagen, Chairman, Viking River Cruises . "Our goal is to increase knowledge for the industry and produce a new generation of river cruise enthusiasts all over the world." The desire for greater discovery and exploration has prompted many U.S. travelers to search for a more in-depth means of travel. Those looking to visit the heart of Europe and experience the diverse cultures offered in each port have found river cruising to be a unique and satisfying alternative. With pricing competitive to European bus tours and significantly less than an ocean cruise, Viking provides a value-packed and stress-free vacation experience. The ships are floating hotels - with European crew - where travelers unpack once and enjoy their voyage amidst ever-changing scenery. Sailing effortlessly from bustling cities to quaint villages, the ships dock in the center of town for easy access to sightseeing and planned excursions. The Viking Neptune Viking River Cruises launched its newest vessel, Viking Neptune, to meet the growing demand of American travelers who want to explore the "real" Europe. The Viking Neptune, the company's fourth vessel introduced in 2001, was christened in Mainz, Germany on August 9, 2001, and represents the 23rd ship in the company's ever-growing elite fleet. Her sister ships Viking Spirit, Viking Pride and Viking Europe were christened in Amsterdam in April 2001. These floating hotels, created specifically for river cruising, represent a new breed of river cruise ships. They were designed by Yran and Storbraaten, the designers of several small luxury ships of companies like Silversea, NCL, RCI, Seabourn, Hapag Lloyd's and Residensea. The ship is 370 feet long and features a lounge, a restaurant, a library and the sundeck. Passengers embark on the Middle Deck where they find a wide Lobby that separates the Lounge and bar area. On the entrance side of the Receptions there is a small Library. This part of the ship offers one of Viking River Cruises' newest features the Promenade Deck, an outside covered walkway on the Middle Deck forward, which wraps around the lounge. Moving from the Lobby backwards, we find cabins - on two decks, and at the back of the ship the Restaurant that can accomodate all 150 passengers. Contrary to ocean-going liners the public areas haven't been given any names. Windows in the restaurant area are not as wide and high as the ones in the Lounge and this penalized the view during lunches when the ship is sailing. Furthermore the rear of the ship is completely occupied by the kitchen. Sighseeing is great from the lounge but unfortunately passengers stay there mainly in the evenings because mornings and afternoons are dedicated to the excursions. The 75 outside cabins are on three decks. Designed with U.S. passengers in mind, standard cabins average 120 square feet, while the deluxe staterooms measure a spacious 154 square feet, equivalent to many outside cabins on ocean cruise ships. The categories are three: 63 Deluxe cabins with 2 hotel-syle beds and 12 Standard with 1 sofa bed and 1 pullman bed. The Deluxe are then divided in A/B and C category depending on the type of window which can be panoramic, can be opened, or picture window. Picture windows that open and hotel-style beds are amenities not found on most river cruise vessels. The sun deck occupies the full length of the ship but there are only two stairs: one is outside just beside the entrance of the ship and the second, a very narrow one, at the entrance of the restaurant. Moving up and down the Sun deck is often in contrast with movement of the passegers in and out the two main common areas, the Lounge and the Restaurant. The Cruises From April through October Viking River Cruises offersa variety of all-inclusive 5 to 17-night cruise packages created exclusively for English-speaking passengers; packages include roundtrip airfare as well as all meals, daily sightseeing tours, shipboard lectures and folklore entertainment. Viking River Cruises presently maintains a fleet of 24 ships offering sailings from spring through fall on Europe's most scenic rivers including the Danube, Elbe, Rhine, Rhone, Seine, Main and Moselle as well as on Russia's Waterways of the Czars. Beginning this year Viking Neptune hosts the 14-night Amsterdam to Budapest Grand European cruise holiday and the 7-night Romantic Danube cruise from Budapest to Nuremberg, with an option of extending the vacation with three nights in Prague. For further information: Viking River Cruises