07 Oct 2020
London, 6 October 2020: Viking® has been voted the Best River Cruise Line by Condé Nast Traveller in the publication's 2020 Readers' Choice Awards. With the number one winning score, Condé Nast Traveller readers voted Viking higher than any other river cruise line. Also, after five years of operating ocean cruises, Viking was again named one of the best cruise lines in the world in the medium ship category.
More than 715,000 readers submitted ratings and tens of thousands of comments as part of the 33rd annual Readers' Choice Awards survey. Viking will also be featured in the November issue of Condé Nast Traveller UK and US print editions; the full results of the awards can be found at https://www.cntraveller.com/gallery/readers-choice-winners-2020.
“We are honoured to be voted the number one river cruise line and one of the best ocean cruise lines again this year,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. “During this unusual time when many of us are staying at home, we are pleased that our guests continue to fondly recall their Viking voyages and have cast their votes for us. Thank you to our guests and the readers of Condé Nast Traveller for this honour; we look forward to welcoming you back to the familiar comfort of Viking.”
Today's announcement from Condé Nast Traveller builds on the impressive list of recent accolades for Viking. Just recently, Viking's new digital platform, Viking.TV, won the 'Silver-i Breakthrough Award for Innovation' at the 2020 Silver Travel Awards. Viking was also named winner of the 'Best Luxury River Cruise Line Award' which was based on public votes.
Viking UK, represented by Guest Services Manager, Sue Martin, has been shortlisted for the 2020 Which? Consumer Champion Awards. Viking has also been nominated for the Best River Cruise Holiday Company and Best Consumer Travel Magazine for Explore More in the 2020 British Travel Awards, one of the largest and most influential polls of consumer opinion in the UK.
Viking continues to expand its award-winning fleet of river and ocean vessels. In 2021, the company will welcome new 168-guest Seine Ships and new 190-guest Viking Longships® on its popular European river itineraries, as well as the new 80-guest Viking Saigon℠ which is scheduled to debut on the popular Magnificent Mekong cruisetour.
Also next year, Viking's seventh 930-guest ocean ship, Viking Venus® is scheduled for debut and will join the award-winning ocean fleet of small ships which include Viking Star®, Viking Sea®, Viking Sky®, Viking Sun®, Viking Orion® and Viking Jupiter®.
Earlier this year, the company also announced Viking Expeditions, with two purpose-built 378-guest vessels, Viking Octantis® and Viking Polaris®, debuting in 2022 to sail voyages in the Arctic, Antarctica and North America's Great Lakes. Additionally in 2022, Viking will launch its highly anticipated U.S. river cruises, with the debut of the 386-guest Viking Mississippi®, sailing between New Orleans and St. Paul.
To make a booking or for more information about Viking call 0800 319 66 60 or go to www.vikingcruises.co.uk
ENDS
Media contacts:
Viking UK Press Office: ukpressoffice@vikingcruises.com
Bryony Gammon: bryony.gammon@vikingcruises.com
Carmen Walker: carmen.walker@vikingcruises.com
Telephone: +44 208 780 7945
About Viking
Viking offers culturally enriching, destination-focused river and ocean cruises for travellers curious about the world, its rich culture and varied history.
Viking takes its guests on curated, elegant voyages to some of the most iconic rivers in Europe, Africa and the Far East, allowing a unique window on inspiring destinations and rewarding experiences. Viking revolutionised river cruising with the introduction of its state of the art Viking Longships which, since their introduction in 2012, now make up 80 percent of its river fleet.
Viking is quickly expanding its fleet and portfolio of river cruise itineraries to meet demand, and launched seven new river vessels in 2019, including six Viking Longships and an additional ship specifically designed for Portugal's Douro River. Viking is soon launching seven new river ships including Viking Osiris on the Nile, two new Longships for the Rhine, Main and Danube and four new ships designed for the Seine.
In 2015 Viking debuted its maiden season of ocean cruising and in February 2019 Viking took delivery of its sixth ocean ship, Viking Jupiter, making it the largest small ship ocean cruise line. Viking Venus is launching in early 2021. The sophisticated state-of-the-art Viking ocean ships can accommodate 930 guests on itineraries all across the world.
Viking recently announced it will expand its destination-focused travel experiences with the launch of new expedition voyages. Viking Expeditions will begin sailing in January 2022 with its first vessel, Viking Octantis, embarking on voyages to Antarctica and North America's Great Lakes. A second expedition vessel, Viking Polaris, will debut in August 2022, sailing to Antarctica and the Arctic. Viking has also just announced that its custom-built vessel, Viking Mississippi, will debut in August 2022 and will sail voyages on the Lower and Upper Mississippi, between New Orleans and St. Paul.
Join Viking online at:
https://www.facebook.com/VikingCruisesUK/
https://twitter.com/VikingCruises
