Many of you have asked why we don’t talk about Viking Cruises more. Viking Cruises is our top vendor in terms of sales and number of people that travel with them on both river and ocean. They also have a very effective direct to consumer strategy and most of you are on Viking’s mailing list, meaning you already get A LOT of info from them.
So here’s a peek at WHAT’S NEW, and what you can expect from VIKING in the next few years:
The FUTURE is GROWTH at VIKING CRUISES: From FOUR Ships to over 100 Ships
- Viking started in 1997 with only 4 ships, and now has over 100 vessels.
- Viking operates on 21 rivers, 5 oceans and all 7 continents.
- Viking LIBRA joins the ocean fleet in a few days, and will be the world’s first hydrogen powered, zero-emission cruise ship. She’ll be followed by ASTREA next May.
What’s NEW on the RIVER for VIKING CRUISES:
- OBERAMMERGAU: The Passion Play is back in 2030, but it will sell out long before that.
- INDIA: Viking announced 15-day round-trip Delhi itineraries on the Brahmaputra River starting in 2027.
What’s NEW on the OCEAN for VIKING CRUISES:
- JAPAN: 2-weeks RT Tokyo with 9 port stops in Japan (overnights in Tokyo & Shimizu).
- MEDITERRANEAN: there are 20 new itineraries that include longer combination voyages, and stops in Northern Africa and new European ports.
- UK & IRELAND: London to Belfast with an extension to Highclere Castle for 15-days.
- There are 26 NEW Ocean Itineraries: https://www.vikingcruises.com/oceans/cruise-destinations/specialty/new/index.html
What’s NEW on VIKING EXPEDITION. Viking Cruises goes to more remote places too, with their two purpose built expedition ships. There are also TWO MORE Viking Expedition ships coming:
- NORTHWEST PASSAGE: Round-trip Nuuk (Greenland) for 13-days.
- LONGDITUDINAL WORLD CRUISE: Greenland to Antarctica for 81-days OR Buenos Aires to Milwaukee over 63 days.
- GREENLAND & CANADA: Toronto to Nuuk for 15-days
- Here’s a look at all the new Expedition Itineraries: https://www.vikingcruises.com/expeditions/search-cruises/index.html
What VIKING Cruises Does WELL:
- Consistency. They hook people on river cruises, and then move them to ocean and expedition. The experience and design of the ships is familiar across their huge fleet.
- Shore-Ex in every port. Not unusual on the River, but a differentiator on the ocean.
- What Viking is NOT. No kids, no casinos, and a focus on the destination – not the ship.
Viking RIVER made the brand famous. Viking OCEAN expanded the concept to the world’s oceans. Viking EXPEDITION brings the same approach to more remote destinations.
Our team has travelled on Viking River, Ocean, and Expedition, and love the product, so we’re ready to help you with your Viking plans at any time.
The PODCAST: Dream-Travel-Share UNPACKED
In this episode of UNPACKED, Bob and Kim take a closer look at Viking Cruises across all three major parts of the brand: Viking River Cruises, Viking Ocean Cruises, and Viking Expedition Cruises
In Case You Missed It:
Our TRAVEL Moments: Life is a series of moments and cherished memories. Here are a few of ours that might inspire some of your own:
https://pamperedcruiser.com/bucket-list-trips-our-best-travel-moments/
MOROCCO: A common add-on for travels to Spain & Portugal, MOROCCO has a wide diversity of things to experience and discover:
https://pamperedcruiser.com/morocco/
Travel Credit Cards: Chasing credit card points has turned into an obsession for some. Here’s some thoughts on the questions you should ask before you get caught up in the hype.
https://pamperedcruiser.com/travel-credit-cards-the-devils-in-the-details/
Featured YOUTUBE Video:
We have several VIKING videos on our YouTube channel:
Viking Ocean Ship Tour:
Viking Expedition Ship Tour
Viking River Ship Tour
Remember to SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube Channel while you’re there. It really helps us, and we can produce more content for you!
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Today’s Travel Opportunities
VIKING RIVER
Viking is larger than all the other river cruise operators combined, and you probably already know many of their itineraries. Here are some newer river cruise options:
Oberammergau – The Passion Play
Every ten years since the 1630s, the residents of this small Bavarian town put on this play to give thanks for being spared from the Bubonic Plague in the 17th Century. Your next chance to see it will be in 2030, but it will sell out long before that. Viking has river cruise itineraries on the RHINE and the DANUBE that include Oberammergau and tickets to the Passion Play:
Oberammergau, Innsbruck & the Rhine from Amsterdam to Munich for 13-days
- Board your ship in Amsterdam, and visit Kinderdijk, Cologne, Koblenz, Rhine Gorge, Rudesheim, Speyer, Strasbourg, Breisach and Basel. Next transfer to Innsbruck, and then to Oberammergau for 2-nights where you’ll see the Passion Play. Finish in Munich for 2 nights.
- Optional land extensions to Amsterdam, Belgium, Munich or Prague.
- Departures May to September 2030 from $8299.
Oberammergau & Salzburg on the DANUBE: Oberammergau to Budapest for 12-days
- Start with 2-nights at Oberammergau where you’ll see the Passion Play, and then head to Salzburg for 3-nights. Next board your river boat in Passau, and visit Linz, Wachau Valley, Krems, Vienna, Bratislava and finish in Budapest (overnight).
- Optional land extensions to Munich, Prague, Budapest or Croatia/Slovenia.
- Departures May to September 2030 from $8799.
Learn More HERE: https://www.vikingrivercruises.com/cruise-destinations/specialty/oberammergau/index.html
INDIA: Wonders of India I: Delhi round-trip for 15-days departures September through April
- Start in Delhi and visit Agra, Jaipur, Guwahati, sail the Brahmaputra River, Kaziranga National Park, Biswanath Ghat, Majuli, Nimati Ghat, and finish in Delhi.
- Fares from $9,499
Other Overlooked VIKING River Itineraries
- MISSISSIPPI RIVER: if you want to sail closer to home
- MEKONG RIVER: Vietnam & Cambodia is described by many as a life-changing experience.
- ELBE RIVER: this itinerary operates between Berlin and Prague.
VIKING OCEAN ITINERARIES
Reservations are now open on 17 ocean ships, with Viking adding on average one new ship per year. They operate everywhere, but here are some newer itineraries that might be of interest:
JAPAN: Tokyo round-trip for 15-days: departures May through September starting in 2028
- Start in Toyko and visit Sapporo, Aomori, Niigata, Sail the Sea of Japan, Busan, Hakata, Hiroshima, Osaka, Shimizu, and finish in Tokyo.
- Fares from $9,999
NORTH AFRICA: Med, Malta & North Africa round trip Rome for 16-days.
- Departures March, April, May, October & November starting in 2028
- Start in Rome and visit Valletta (Malta), Tunis, sail the Mediterranean, Algiers, Casablanca, Seville, Granada, Barcelona, Marseille, Corsica, and finish in Rome.
- Fares from $9,999
VIKING REMOTE ITINERARIES
The idea of an EXPEDITION CRUISE puts some people “off”, but it’s really just a smaller ship to more remote locations. Viking’s expedition ships carry only 378 guests, and will feel very familiar to Viking Ocean clients.
GREAT LAKES: Toronto to Milwaukee for 8-days
- Traverse the Welland Canal (there are locks in North America, too!), then visit Niagara Falls, Point Pelee NP, Detroit, Alpena MI, Mackinac Island, Milwaukee (overnight).
- Optional pre/post cruise extensions to Toronto, Muskoka Lakes (Ontario), Milwaukee, Chicago
- Departures April through October with fares from $7499
Here’s the itinerary video we make when we did the Great Lakes with Viking: https://youtu.be/uDeGzBDb0mM
If you’re “collecting” continents, or are a scenery/wildlife enthusiasts, then Antarctica should be on your list:
ANTARCTICA: Buenos Aires round-trip for 13-days
- Start in Buenos Aires, and then fly to Ushuaia (included) to board your ship. Traverse the Drake Passage, and have 6-days of scheduled landings on the continent, before returning to Ushuaia.
- Optional pre/post to Buenos Aires, Iguazu Falls, Easter Island, Atacama Desert, Patagonia, or Peru.
- Departures November through March from $14,999
If you’re unsure about Expedition Cruising, here’s a video we made on HOW VIKING EXPEDITION IS DIFFERENT THAN VIKING OCEAN:
NATIONAL PARKS with TAUCK
Here are some ideas for travel closer to home. You COULD explore our National Parks on your own, but why not let someone else take care of all the details. Here’s a summary of TAUCK’S itineraries to our National Parks:
- Canyonlands — Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon, Zion, March to October from $5290.
- Death Valley & Joshua Tree – from Las Vegas to San Diego for one week from $6690.
- Yellowstone & Grand Teton – Jackson to Rapid City (also includes Mt. Rushmore) for one week from $5390.
- Canyonlands & Arches NP – from Salt Lake City to Denver for 1-week from $7990.
- Sequoia & Yosemite – RT from San Francisco for 1-week from $7290.
- Grand Canyon, Zion, Arches, Bryce Canyon, & Canyonlands – from Grand Junction (CO) to Las Vegas for 10-days from $8690
Because of Tauck’s long-term relationships and partnerships within the parks, you’ll stay at hotels and lodges INSIDE the parks, and you’ll visit the must-see places at the best time of day and with fewer crowds. Tauck takes care of all the details, so there’s no planning, no organizing… and best of all, no driving.
Do You Have an Upcoming Viking Cruise?
Viking’s BON VOYAGE incentive allows you to book your next Viking cruise in the 35 days BEFORE you board, and get some extra goodies for doing so:
- $100 per person on board credit
- 6-month final payment date
- $100 per person OFF one-week cruises, and bigger discounts for longer itineraries.
We made a short video about the Bon Voyage Program if you’d like more details:
https://youtu.be/gBM8IvjIb3U?si=Vy9UDiSqZQYHWR32
Contact us to book your NEXT VIKING CRUISE
Recently booked a Viking Cruise?
Viking makes it really easy to book direct, either online, by phone, or on board. Our clients worry that if they book on-line, that they’re cutting us out, but if you let us know after you’ve booked, then we can still help you with your reservation (even if you booked ON BOARD).
We’ll check over your reservation to make sure you’re getting the best possible deal, and we will also add some onboard credits that are not available on direct bookings.
We can add at least $100 per person onboard credit to any direct Viking reservation made in the last 60 days.
There is never a situation where you’ll get a better deal by booking directly with Viking (or any other cruise line).
If you recently booked a Viking Cruise, please let us know as soon as possible.
If you’re planning a trip, I’d love to help! Click here or call 800-876-0168 to get in touch today.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Sue Bradley
Sue Bradley
