Condé Nast Traveler Readers Name Viking The #1 River Cruise Line

LOS ANGELES, Oct. 17, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Currently celebrating its 20^th anniversary, Viking® (www.vikingcruises.com) has been 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. With the #1 winning score, Condé Nast Traveler readers voted Viking higher than any other cruise line. Also, after only two years of operating ocean cruises, Viking was again named one of the Best Ocean Cruise Lines.

More than 300,000 readers submitted millions of ratings and more than 100,000 comments as part of the 30^th annual Readers' Choice Awards survey. Viking will also be featured in the magazine's Readers' Choice issue, which will be on shelves in October; the full results of the awards can be found at www.cntraveler.com/travel-awards/readers-choice-awards. 

"Twenty years ago, we launched Viking with a vision that travel could be more destination focused. Our vision has resonated, and as we have led the industry in this direction, we have become as much known for what we are as what we are not. We offer a travel experience with no casino, no children, no umbrella drinks and no nickel-and-diming," said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. "We also believe that focusing on the destination should be included in the price, which is why Viking offers more included amenities and a better value than any other cruise line. Earlier this year, we were named the #1 Ocean Cruise Line, and now we are the #1 River Cruise Line. I want to thank our guests and the readers of Condé Nast Traveler for this honor."

20 Years of Award-Winning Tradition

Acclaimed for its innovation, distinctive modern Scandinavian design, inclusive value and immersive destination-focused offerings, for the past 20 years Viking has amassed awards from industry experts and the travel trade. In the last year alone, Viking was named the #1 ocean cruise line in Travel + Leisure's 2017 World's Best Awards, and Town & Country named Viking's ocean cruises "Best for Design" and "Best Overall, Contemporary Luxury" in the magazine's recent Cruise Awards. It also named Viking's river cruises "Best for Suites" and "Best for Design." The company's ocean ships won the top two placements in nearly every category where they were eligible in Cruise Critic's 2017 Cruisers' Choice Awards, including "Best Overall" and "Best for First-Timers." Viking was also voted "Best River Cruise Line" in USA Today's 10Best Readers' Choice Awards and earned second-place honors for "Best Ocean Cruise Line." Viking Star® and Viking Sea® also took second and third place honors, respectively, in the "Best Cruise Ship for Dining" category.

In the past two decades, Viking has been honored multiple times on Condé Nast Traveler's Gold List and Readers' Choice Awards and in Travel + Leisure's World's Best Awards, including being named #1 River Cruise Line in 2013 and 2015. Viking was also recognized by the editors of Cruise Critic as "Best Luxury Ocean Cruise Line for Value" and "Best New Ocean Ship" for Viking Star and "Best River Cruise Line" and "Best River Itineraries," with the entire Viking Longships® fleet being named "Best New River Ships" in the website's Editors' Picks Awards. Additionally, Viking is an 11-time winner of "Best River Cruise Line" from Recommend, Travel Weekly and TravelAge West, as well as many other award wins from respected industry experts.

As Viking rounds out its 20th anniversary year, it also closes on 12 months of significant expansion. Earlier this year, the company welcomed two new Viking Longships on Europe's rivers. With the launch of its third ocean ship, Viking Sky®, in the spring ? and the launch of its fourth ocean ship, Viking Sun® this month ? Viking has doubled its ocean fleet in one year. Viking's fifth ship, Viking Orion®, will join the fleet in 2018, and will sail itineraries in Australia, Asia and Alaska. A sixth, yet-to-be-named sister ship will be delivered in 2019 and will mark Viking as the largest small ship ocean cruise line. The company has also placed orders for two additional sister ships to debut in 2021 and 2022, respectively.     

The Viking Difference

Designed for discerning travelers with interests in history, art, music and cuisine, Chairman Torstein Hagen often says Viking offers guests "the thinking person's cruise" as an alternative to mainstream cruises. Ships are small to get guests closer to their destination, with more time in port and more overnights. Onboard, guests find serene Scandinavian spaces, where every room is beautiful and functional, quiet and filled with light. With the most al fresco dining on the rivers and at sea, featuring regional cuisines and always-available American classics, Viking's guests can truly dine in their destination. A focus on cultural enrichment brings immersive experiences onshore and onboard. And only The Viking Way of Exploration brings guests itineraries that feature Local Life, Working World and Privileged Access experiences.

In addition, Viking Inclusive Value provides a small ship experience and no nickel-and-diming ? with every cruise fare including an exterior stateroom, a complimentary shore excursion in each port of call, all onboard meals, and all port charges and government taxes. Guests also enjoy many complimentary amenities as part of their fare, including: beer and wine with lunch and dinner service; Wi-Fi; and coffee, tea and bottled water available 24 hours a day. Viking's ocean guests also enjoy additional complimentary amenities, including: alternative restaurant dining, self-service laundry; access to the Thermal Suite in the LivNordic Spa; and 24-hour room service.

Booking Details

From now through October 31, 2017, Viking is offering U.S. residents 2-for-1 cruise fares on select 2017 and 2018 ocean and river cruise itineraries, with additional savings on international air. Call Viking toll free at 1-855-8-VIKING (1-855-884-5464) or contact a travel agent.

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About Viking

Viking was founded by Chairman Torstein Hagen in 1997 with the purchase of four ships in Russia. Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2017, Viking is the leader in river and small ship ocean cruising, offering destination-focused itineraries designed for experienced travelers who have an interest in geography, culture and history. In its first two years of operation, Viking has been rated the #1 ocean cruise line in Travel + Leisure's 2016 and 2017 "World's Best" Awards. Viking currently operates a fleet of 63 vessels, offering scenic cruising on rivers and oceans around the world. By 2022 the company will operate eight 930-guest ocean cruise ships and will be the largest small ship ocean cruise line. In addition to the Travel + Leisure honors, Viking has also been honored multiple times by Condé Nast Traveler's "Gold List" and Readers' Choice Awards. The company has also been recognized by Cruise Critic as "Best Overall" Small-Mid size ship in the 2017 Cruisers' Choice Awards, "Best River Cruise Line" and "Best River Itineraries," with the entire Viking Longships® fleet being named "Best New River Ships" in the website's Editors' Picks Awards. For additional information, contact Viking Cruises at 1-855-8-VIKING (1-855-884-5464) or visit www.vikingcruises.com.

SOURCE Viking