Viking has opened dates for all 2025 European river voyages in response to “an unprecedented level of demand from UK travellers”.
As well as opening bookings for 2025, the cruise line has also announced a new Paris & D-Day 80th Anniversary cruisetour for the 2024 European river season.
Wendy Atkin-Smith, Managing Director of Viking UK, said:
“The start of 2023 has been incredibly busy and successful for us – so much so that our European river sailings and other itineraries including the Nile are almost fully booked this year.
“Whilst 2024 European river itineraries still have some availability, UK guests have been planning ahead and booking for next year already, so in order to meet demand, we have made the decision to open 2025 sailing dates across a wide range of destinations earlier than we ever have before.
“My advice to both returning and new guests would be to book early so that you have the best chance of securing your preferred itineraries, on dates that suit you best and in your stateroom of choice to match.”
To celebrate the launch of its 2025 river voyages, Viking has announced an early booking offer.
If guests book their 2025 European river journey by 31 December 2023 they will save £1,000 per person and receive a complimentary Silver Spirits beverage package.
Viking’s most popular European river itineraries include Rhine Getaway; Romantic Danube; Grand European Tour; Lyon and Provence; and Portugal’s River of Gold.
With departure dates running from March through to November 2024, the new Paris & D-Day 80th Anniversary cruise tour is special 12-day cruisetour from London to Paris.
It will commemorate Operation Overlord and the historic battles of Normandy, which took place nearly 80 years ago and served as the catalyst for the liberation of Western Europe from German occupation.
Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking, said: “Many of our guests, particularly those with family members who served in the armed forces, have a keen interest in World War II history.
“In keeping with our commitment to offer experiences for The Thinking Person, we are pleased to unveil this special voyage that commemorates the 80th Anniversary of D-Day, one of the most significant milestones in modern history.”
Guests booked on Viking’s new Paris & D-Day 80th Anniversary voyage begin their journey in London to visit historic World War II sites.
This includes the Churchill War Rooms, where the D-Day landings were prepared in England, and Bletchley Park, the home of the World War II codebreakers.
Guests will also learn about Britain’s Special Forces and its allies during a visit to the Imperial War Museum London and experience Gunwharf Quays, the D-Day Museum and Southwick House.
After four days in England, guests continue on to Paris to embark on an award-winning Viking Longship®. Sailing roundtrip from Paris.
Guests can explore Giverny and visit the garden and farmhouse where Claude Monet lived and worked, trace the footsteps of Joan of Arc in Rouen, and walk the hallowed ground at Normandy’s American Military Cemetery and World War II beaches.
Hosting 168 guests in 84 staterooms, Viking Longships on the Seine River are built specifically to navigate into the heart of Paris.
The ships feature an Aquavit Terrace and a wide variety of stateroom choices, as well as Viking’s signature Scandinavian design aesthetic.
The vessels also have a hybrid propulsion system with batteries and are also equipped for shore power to reduce reliance on fuel while in port. Onboard solar panels further contribute to the ships’ energy efficiency.
Now travelling to all seven continents, Viking has welcomed 15 new ships to its fleet since 2020 including eight new Viking Longships on the rivers of Europe, new purpose-built vessels on the Mekong, Nile and Mississippi rivers; two new, identical ocean ships; and Polar Class expedition vessels.
For more information, visit viking.com.
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