VIKING EXPANDS ORDER FOR NEW VESSELS

Demand for river cruising has apparently never been higher. Viking Cruises has announced it has increased its order for additional Viking Longships in 2014 from 12 to 14 vessels. According to Viking, by the end of 2014 "Viking will have introduced a total of 30 new ships in a three-year period – the most rapid fleet expansion program the cruise industry has ever seen. The 14 new ships in 2014 will sail Viking’s most popular itineraries in Europe."

In March, Viking set a world record with the inauguration of 10 new Longships for the 2013 sailing season in a first-of-its-kind simultaneous christening ceremony in Amsterdam. Viking notes it is enjoying "its most successful sailing season, with more than 90 percent of all available staterooms sold during the spring and summer months and record sales for the holiday sailings."

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VIKING ORDERS 10 ADDITIONAL SHIPS

(Credit: Viking)

Need more evidence on the popularity of river cruising? Viking River Cruises announced it has placed an order for 10 additional Viking Longships. That brings the total number of new ships launching next year to 10 and the number launching in 2014 to eight. They report by the end of 2014, they will have introduced a total of 24 new ships in a three-year period.

"Viking plans to inaugurate the first eight Viking Longships of 2013 in a first-of-its-kind simultaneous christening ceremony in late March in Amsterdam," according to their release. "The two newest ships, Viking Baldur and Viking Magni, will join the fleet in late August and September, respectively. Both vessels will sail Viking’s 15-day Grand European Tour (Amsterdam-Budapest), with Viking Baldur also sailing the 8-day Rhine Getaway (Amsterdam-Basel) and Viking Magni also sailing the 8-day Danube Waltz (Passau-Budapest)."

Here's more from the company: