VIKING RIVER CRUISES NAMED ‘BEST RIVER CRUISE LINE’

VIKING RIVER CRUISES NAMED ‘BEST RIVER CRUISE LINE’
#1 River Cruise line wins three such titles in one year

LOS ANGELES (January 3, 2007) - Travel agents nationwide cast their votes for the best in travel, and Viking River Cruises was again named the number one river cruise line this past December. Travel Weekly readers were invited to submit nominations for ‘Reader’s Choice Awards” in a variety of categories during open voting this past summer. Finalists were selected from the leading submissions, followed by a second round of voting, with winners announced in New York City this past December.
"We are delighted to receive this recognition from the industry," said Torstein Hagen, Founding Chairman, Viking River Cruises. "We continue our strong support of the travel trade, and are constantly ensuring our Viking standards exceed the expectations not only of travel agents but also their clients."
Viking River Cruises received similar recognition from the trade this past year when they were named "Best Overall Cruise Line for River Cruising" by Travel Age West, as well as being named the #1 River Cruise Line by Recommend, a key monthly trade publication. The company was also honored by consumers this past August when it received Travel + Leisure’s "World’s Best" Awards; and in November with a listing on Condé Nast Traveler’s "Reader’s Choice" Awards; CruiseReport.com named Viking "Best River Cruise Line" as well.
About Viking River Cruises
Viking River Cruises, the world leader in river cruising, offers quality service, gourmet cuisine and comfortable scenic cruising along Europe, Russia and China’s majestic rivers. The company has been honored multiple times on Condé Nast Traveler’s "Gold List" and Travel & Leisure’s "World’s Best" Awards. Travel agents have recognized Viking River Cruises as "Best Overall Cruise Line for River Cruising" (TravelAge West); "Best Cruise Line – River Cruise" (Recommend), and "Best River Cruise Line" by Travel Weekly. Additionally, the company was named "Best River Cruise" twice by CruiseReport.com. Since its 1997 inception, the company has grown to a fleet of 21 vessels, and provides a unique, affordable vacation to experienced travelers with an interest in geography, culture and history. For additional information, contact Viking River Cruises at 1-877-66VIKING (1-877-668-4546) toll-free or visit the company online at vikingrivercruises.com

VIKING RIVER CRUISES NAMED TO CONDE NAST TRAVELER GOLD LIST

VIKING RIVER CRUISES NAMED TO

CONDE NAST TRAVELER GOLD LIST
Cruise line recognized for excellence among cruise ships
LOS ANGELES (January 15, 2007) - Viking River Cruises, the world leader in river cruising, announced today its recognition by Condé Nast Traveler’s Gold List, as featured in the January 2007 issue of the magazine. Unique among travel “best of” lists, the Gold List is one of only two major lists based entirely upon consumer recommendations.
In naming a travel company to the Gold List, Condé Nast Traveler reevaluates the rankings given to the magazine’s annual “Readers’ Choice” issue based upon more general categories and asks readers to give specific commentary about each of the nominees. Viking River Cruises, which was on the “Best Small Ship Cruise Lines” in the November 2006 “Readers’ Choice” issue, was one of only three river cruise companies to be promoted this year.
“Recognition as part of the Gold List is a great honor,” says Torstein Hagen, Founding Chairman of Viking River Cruises. “It is the ultimate endorsement by travelers in the know – and although it has gained much attention in the past few years, river cruising is still a specialized niche. It’s extremely gratifying to see that the quality of our product is competitive with even the best ocean cruise lines.”
Viking River Cruises, the world's leading river cruise line®, offers quality service, gourmet cuisine and comfortable scenic cruising along Europe, Russia and China’s majestic rivers. The company has been honored multiple times as the top river cruise line on Condé Nast Traveler’s "Gold List" and Travel & Leisure’s "World’s Best" Awards. Travel agents have also recognized Viking River Cruises in 2006 as "Best Overall Cruise Line for River Cruising" by TravelAge West and "Best Cruise Line: River Cruise" by Recommend and Travel Agent magazines. Since its 1997 inception, the company has grown to a fleet of 21 vessels, and provides a unique, premium vacation to experienced travelers with an interest in geography, culture and history. For additional information, contact Viking River Cruises at 1-877-66VIKING (1-877-668-4546) toll-free or visit the company online at vikingrivercruises.com

Discover The Yangtze aboard Viking