Condé Nast Traveler: The Best Cruise Lines in the World: 2018 Readers' Choice Awards

October 9, 2018 - River Ship Line #1: Viking River Cruise: Parent company Viking Cruises has expanded feverishly in recent years, with 64 river ships and five ocean ships in its fleet; 51 of those are considered “longships” designed with Scandinavian–style influences just for Viking. Under Viking River Cruises, the company's riverboats explore familiar waters like the Danube and Rhône in Europe, as well as faraway itineraries on the Volga in Russia, and the Irrawaddy River in Myanmar.

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Food & Wine: How to Eat Like the Real Countess of the Real Downton Abbey

September 24, 2018 - I attended Heroes at Highclere as a guest of the event's title sponsor, Viking—which has also sponsored Downton Abbey for all the years the show aired on PBS. It turns out, Viking also has a close relationship with Highclere Castle and the Carnarvon family in real life and, as a result, cruise guests electing a pre- or post-cruise "Oxford and Highclere Castle" extension on select river and ocean journeys are allowed privileged access to Highclere.

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OC Register: Bavarian cruise is a trip through German history

August 28, 2018 – For half of Viking’s 15-day “Grand European Tour,” we’re in Germany, eyeing countless hilltop fanciful castles and strolling cobbled lanes of UNESCO heritage-listed cuckoo clock-chirping storybook villages.

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Just Luxe: Viking Gets A Gold Star For Their "River of Gold" Cruise

August 22, 2018 – Since Viking River Cruises and Portugal both scored top awards at the 2018 World Travel Awards ceremony, it made perfect sense to join Viking for their 10-day “Portugal’s River of Gold” cruise. During my research I learned that the Douro, one of Europe’s most pristine, unspoiled rivers, was named the River of Gold because back in the day the Douro served as the main thoroughfare for transporting Portugal’s culinary riches, which included olives, almonds, grapes and, of course, their famous Port wine.

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The Epoch Times: Russia’s Golden Ring Cities Along the Volga River

August 16, 2018 – When I think of Russia I think music, literature, dance; horse-drawn sleds in romantic snowy landscapes; golden-domed churches; opulent palaces of the Romanovs; and borscht (beet soup). During our Viking River Cruise in Russia, we had a chance to experience all that and more.

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Upscale Living Magazine: Cruising the Rhine with Viking River Cruises

July 2018 – While traveling north on the Rhine River from Basel, Switzerland, to Amsterdam, The Netherlands, I asked guests on the Viking Ingvi, “Why did you choose a Viking River cruise?” The resounding answer was, “I don’t have to worry about anything, they take care of it all!”

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TravelAge West: What to Know About Viking's Combination Cruises

May 16, 2018 – By uniting the river and ocean experiences, Viking is offering passengers a very rich experience of regional culture. The cruises combine a 190-guest Viking Longship river cruise with a cruise on Viking’s fast-growing fleet of nearly identical 930-guest ocean ships. Agents’ main complaint is that the first two itineraries (setting sail in 2018) were already full when they heard about the product.

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Getting Stamped: Christmas Market Cruising Down The Danube River

May 11, 2018 – Christmas markets in Europe on your bucket list? Want to see the best of the best, and as many as you can in a one-week vacation? Well, you’re not alone! That was exactly what we wanted, and we were able to check European Christmas markets off our bucket list this year by taking a Christmas Market cruise with Viking River Cruises down the Danube River!

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Canada.com: By ocean or river, Viking fleets keep on growing

April 18, 2018 – It was about this time six years ago that I stood on the pier in Amsterdam, on a cold and blustery Dutch day, and watched as Viking Cruises launch its first set of Viking Longship riverboats. The 190-passenger Viking Odin and her three sisters were total game-changers; no one company had ever designed anything like them before, and passengers were immediately taken with their charming, Scandinavian-inspired decor, excellent service, and quality cuisine.

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Forbes: Surprising Detour Off A Viking Cruise: The French Village That Saved Thousands Of Jews During WW II

April 11, 2018 – I recently traveled on a delightful, relaxing Viking cruise from Lyon to Avignon. Our ship took us to villages, vineyards, gorges and historic sites along the Rhone River.

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Chicago Tribune: Viking doubles down on ocean cruises, Chinese market

March 30, 2018 – When Viking Sun was christened here to great fanfare in March, the big reveal wasn’t so much the influencer Viking has become in small-ship ocean travel but its powerful connection to China. Viking — yes, that Viking — is best known for its river ships in Europe. What you probably didn’t know: This year, Viking is offering 100 sailings on the Rhine and Danube exclusively for Chinese travelers. Mandarin is the official onboard language.

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Travel + Leisure: The Best River Cruises for Exploring Europe This Summer

April 3, 2018 – Perhaps the best known of the river cruise companies, Viking promotes their “longships,” which include large suites and inviting verandas for outdoor dining. Guests enjoy Viking’s destination-focused dining while viewing the scenery along the rivers. Viking offers a variety of staterooms and itineraries with a wide range of prices.

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USA Today 10 Best: This is the best of cruising for 2018

March 27, 2018 – Founded in 1997, Viking River Cruises plies the waterways of Europe, Russia, China, Southeast Asia and Egypt with its fleet of more than 60 vessels. While Viking has also launched an award-winning ocean cruise line, the company built its reputation in river cruising. These all-inclusive cruises feature outside staterooms, WiFi, wine and beer with meals, shore excursions in every port and Viking’s signature Culture Curriculum program.

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USA Today: River cruise giant Viking soon could dominate upscale ocean cruising, too

March 12, 2018 – A warning to Oceania, Azamara, Seabourn and all the other lines that are in the business of selling upscale ocean cruises: The Vikings are coming for you. After gobbling up the lion's share of the river cruise market over the past decade, Norwegian-rooted Viking, it is now clear, is aiming to dominate the market for upscale ocean cruises, too.

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Travel + Leisure: The Viking Hild Is One of the Sleekest River Cruise Ships in Europe

February 1, 2018 – Viking — a T+L World's Best Winner in 2017 — is constantly coming out with new vessels, like the Viking Hild, which is virtually identical to the 40-plus other longships in Viking's fleet. And that is a very good thing: These are the ships, after all, that sparked America's crush on river cruising, and everything about them continues to feel fresh, vibrant, and impeccably thought out, from the generous number of cabins with balconies to the no-fog mirrors in the cabin bathrooms — a miraculous touch if you happen to be the last person in the shower in the morning.

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Huffington Post: 6 Reasons to Take a River Cruise in 2018

January 15, 2018 – Take my advice, ocean liner cruise veterans and cruise neophytes alike, if you are searching for a way to see the world and sail through some of the most beautiful scenery (up close!), the way to do it is on a river cruise, and especially on a river cruise with Viking.

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CNN: Cruise Critic picks world's best cruise ships for 2017

December 12, 2017 – Viking Cruises dominated the 10th annual Cruise Critic Editors' Picks Awards with five wins. Viking won three river cruise awards (best enrichment, best for first timers and best shore excursions) and two ocean luxury awards (best spa and best value for money). Viking also dominated the website's Cruisers' Choice Awards in February, which are chosen by reviews posted by travelers registered with the site.

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Toronto Star: A final mother-daughter river cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest

December 12, 2017 – Drifting down the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers, this duo enjoyed all the sites, food, friendships — and precious time shared — the Grand European Tour had to offer.

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TravelPulse: Get Ready for New Viking Longships in 2019

December 8, 2017 – The company best known for its river cruise itineraries will debut seven new river ships during 2019, including six new Viking Longships®, which will sail along the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers in Europe… Sail on a Viking Longship, and you’ll see why they are so popular with global travelers.

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Los Angeles Times: Viking plans to add 10 new river and ocean-going cruise ships

October 31, 2017 – The cruise industry is growing by leaps and bounds, with companies regularly announcing the upcoming launch of new ships. But none can compete with the marathon efforts of Viking, which is adding two new ships to its fleet in 2018, another ship in 2019 and seven new river boats. Viking, which currently operates a fleet of 62 vessels, offers scenic cruising along the rivers and oceans of the Americas, Europe, Russia, Egypt, China and Southeast Asia.

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USA Today: Viking River Cruises to add seven new ships in 2019

October 26, 2017 – It's expansion time again at Viking River Cruises. The California-based line on Tuesday officially announced it had placed an order for seven new river ships to arrive in 2019. Viking said six of the vessels will sail on Europe's Rhine, Main and Danube river system. The seventh ship will debut on Portugal’s Douro River.

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Condé Nast Traveler: The Best Cruise Lines in the World: Readers' Choice Awards 2017

October 17, 2017 – Viking was voted the Best River Cruise Line by Condé Nast Traveler in the publication’s 2017 Readers’ Choice Awards. Viking has scored in the top of the list every year since the river cruise category was introduced. Also, after only two years of operating ocean cruises, Viking was again named one of the Best Ocean Cruise Lines.

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Fox Business: Viking Cruises to take passengers to Cuba

October 5, 2017 – Viking Cruises CEO Torstein Hagen weighs in on cruise line business.

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The Kitchn: I Went on a River Cruise & This Is How It Went

September 21, 2017 – We depart Budapest, aboard Vilhjalm, a Longship named for the second ruler of Normandy who followed in his father's leading footsteps. For seven nights our home is a calming, two-room Veranda Suite stocked with Freyja toiletries, as Vilhjalm glides across the more murky-green-brown-than-blue Danube depicted by composer Johann Strauss II in his eponymously named waltz.

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Cruise Business Review: Viking Cruises Goes from upstart to leader in 20 years

September 2, 2017 – Few people would ever have predicted that river cruises could overtake the ocean market to become the fastest-growing segment of the industry. Yet, founded just 20 years ago with four modest riverboats and a home office consisting of two cell phones, Viking River Cruises has successfully leveraged the river market to achieve industry-leading growth. Now it is poised to become the world’s largest small-ship cruise line. Cruise Business Review traces the rapid growth of Viking Cruises.

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Ask Chef Dennis: My Culinary Experience on a Viking River Cruise #MyVikingStory

August 24, 2017 – Of course, we knew this would be the trip of a lifetime as we sailed down the Blue Danube, what we hadn’t counted on was having our own 5-star restaurant on board the ship. Being on a small ship makes all the difference in the world. Viking River Cruises hold about 180 passengers which means a more intimate atmosphere and make life much easier for the staff to get to know you.

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Cruise Fever: Viking Cruises Adds New Partnerships Focused on Cultural Enrichment

August 9, 2017 – Viking Cruises has announced new partnerships that will continue the cruise line’s focus on cultural enrichment. Viking has signed on to sponsor the United States tour of the acclaimed English boys choir, LIBERA, and the Ballet Sun Valley international festival this summer. The company has also extended its sponsorship of the Los Angeles Philharmonic at The Hollywood Bowl for the fifth consecutive season.

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Huffington Post: River Cruises Aren’t Just For ‘Old’ People

August 2, 2017 – If you are looking for and expect that big cruise ship feel, don’t book your ticket on Viking because that is not what a cruise like this is about. What it is about is that feeling of being ‘home’, it is small without all the distractions, guests will mingle with each other more and the staff is pretty entertaining. They spend time with you and do the little things that you don’t get on a huge cruise ship.

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Toronto Sun: Rolling on the Rhine: Cruise along storied river full of unexpected discoveries

July 21, 2017 – The award-winning Viking Cruises has always put an emphasis on discovery. To encourage exploration on shore, there is an included excursion -- usually a guided walking tour -- in every port its longships visit. Recently they have expanded their lineup of optional shore trips with some delightful -- and in many cases exclusive -- experiences for an extra fee.

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The Daily Meal: Viking River Cruises Turns Its Rhine River Getaway Into a Culinary Adventure

June 21, 2017 – As river cruising grows and grows in popularity, Viking River Cruises, the giant of the industry and its most award-winning cruise line, has added something new. Its world-wide itineraries now feature culinary tours, wine tastings, and multiple opportunities to sample local cuisine on board and ashore, at virtually every port.

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Cruise Fever: Viking Cruises Chairman Torstein Hagen Celebrates 20 Years of Award-Winning Exploration

May 25, 2017 – Acclaimed for its innovation, distinctive modern Scandinavian design, inclusive value and immersive destination-focused offerings, for the past 20 years Viking Cruises has amassed awards from industry experts and the travel trade.

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Seatrade Cruise News: Viking sponsors Nat Geo's 'Genius' as Hagen appears in new brand campaign

April 19, 2017 – A lifelong admirer of Einstein, Torstein Hagen, also a physicist, shares Einstein’s interest in the concept of time and often refers to time as 'the only scarce commodity.' The campaign debuts today and will roll out across additional marketing channels throughout the show’s 10-part global event series on National Geographic.

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Sher She Goes: Review: What It’s Really Like Aboard Viking River Cruises

May 24, 2017 – In May 2017, we sailed up the Rhine River exploring Switzerland, Germany, France and The Netherlands on a Viking river cruise. The entire trip was calm and relaxing and we felt like it struck the perfect balance of sightseeing and leisure.

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Los Angeles Times: Here's what Viking's Egyptian river cruise ship will look like

May 12, 2017 – Viking River Cruises on Tuesday revealed the design of a ship that will sail the Nile River on a 12-day cruise-tour of Egypt that will begin next year. The Viking Ra, named for Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl’s primitive boats, will carry 48 guests on the all-suite ship.

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San Antonio Express-News: Peaceful, picturesque Portugal

May 11, 2017 – Travels throughout Europe have given my wife Shelley and me some magnificent memories, but we took great care in selecting our latest European destination because of security concerns. We carefully researched possibilities and opted for Portugal and a peaceful Viking River Cruise on its picturesque Douro, also known as the River of Gold.

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Toronto Sun: Viking longship cruise a lovely way to explore the world

May 7, 2017 – To borrow a phrase from Viking chairman and CEO Torstein Hagen, who was aboard for the first few days of the sailing, we were "exploring the world in comfort." Much of that comfort is down to Hagen and his team, who have worked hard to refine the Viking experience during the company's 20-year history.

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USA Today: Viking River Cruises unveils plans for new Nile ship

May 9, 2017 – Viking River Cruises on Tuesday revealed details of an intimate new ship it's developing for the Nile River in Egypt. Scheduled to debut in March, the Viking Ra will feature spacious public areas and just 24 cabins — all suites with premium amenities.

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Los Angeles Times: On a European river cruise along the Danube, watch beauty glide by from your bed or go explore the sights

May 1, 2017 – A European river-cruise vacation last summer had brought me to this beautiful part of Austria. I was exploring the Danube, which crosses 10 countries as it snakes 1,770 miles from western Germany to its destination at the Black Sea. My weeklong trip aboard Viking Cruises' longboat Var traveled from Budapest to Nuremberg, Germany.

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Viking Cruises Partners with National Geographic to Sponsor New 'Genius' Series

Viking Cruises announced it has signed on to sponsor National Geographic’s first fully scripted global anthology series, “Genius,” which in its debut season tells the story of the 20th century’s most brilliant icon, Albert Einstein. The new premier partnership with National Geographic builds on Viking’s continued commitment to supporting enriching cultural programming, with current and past partnerships including PBS’ MASTERPIECE, the Los Angeles Philharmonic at The Hollywood Bowl, the Munch Museum and more.

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Cruise Fever: What Makes Viking Perfect For Your River Cruise

April 19, 2017 – Viking is a travel brand commonly thought of as synonymous with European river cruising, for a number of good reasons. Easy-to-navigate online Viking resources make planning easy. In price comparisons with other river cruise lines, Viking comes out ahead. Itineraries range from classic Rhine/Danube sailings to exotic China, Russia and Portugal offerings. Those are all good reasons to consider a Viking Viking River Cruise. But what makes Viking perfect? That’s another story that takes a bit more detail to tell.

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USA Today: First look: Viking River Cruises' new ship in Europe

April 18, 2017 – What's it like on a Viking river ship? See for yourself with a scroll through the carousel above, which offers a deck-by-deck look at one of the cruise company's two new river vessels, Viking Herja. Herja and sister Viking Hild were christened last month in Koblenz, Germany and are sailing this year in Europe on the Rhine and Danube rivers.

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Recommend: Eye on the World: Cruising the Rhine with Viking Hild

March 21, 2017 – Recommend jetted over to Germany to take a first-hand look at two of Viking River Cruises’ latest Longships to join the fleet: Viking Hild and Viking Herja. After a celebratory start during the christening ceremony in Koblenz, Germany (which included Champagne-filled gondola rides to a fortress and fireworks over town), we set off on a 4-day mini cruise along the Rhine on board Viking Hild.

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Cruise Critic: Live From Viking Hild: From the Oceans to the Rivers

March 9, 2017 – From the rivers to the oceans and back again, what we're learning after a few days on a brand-new Longship from Viking River Cruises is that the most recognizable river cruise line to North Americans keeps on improving.

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USA Today: Two More New Viking River Ships Debut in Germany

March 7, 2017 – At the confluence of the Rhine and Mosel rivers in Germany, near the French border, Viking River Cruises on Tuesday debuted its latest river cruise ships, Viking Herja and Viking Hild, just below an imposing fortress dating to the 12th century.

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Parade.com: Warm Up with a Cool Cookbook! Plus: Swedish Meatball Recipe & a Wise Woman's Words

February 18, 2017 – My new tasty talk spotlights Karine Hagen, senior vice-president of Viking Cruises, which navigates a fleet of 59 river vessels in Europe, Russia, Egypt, China, and Southeast Asia as well as two ocean ships (with another vessel to launch later this month and three more planned in the near future).

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USA Today 10Best: Bonjour, Paris: The Viking Cruise Adventure Begins

January 13, 2017 – Long a hub of French culture, architecture and cuisine, Paris is undeniably one of the most romantic destinations in the world. After checking into the luxurious Paris Pullman Hotel (steps away from the Eiffel Tower), Viking River Cruise guests enjoy a comfortable afternoon bus tour with a knowledgeable local guide. The famed avenue Champs-Élysées and the Arc de Triomphe, commissioned by Napoleon in 1806, are the first of many highlights on this city tour.

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