Q: What’s new and exciting at Viking River Cruises these
days?
A:A couple of things. We’ve just received word that one of our
two ships in China, Viking Century Sky, has been awarded a
five-star rating from the China National Tourism Office. It’s a
great honor, and really cements our leadership role there.
Q: Are you making any changes to your China product for next
year?
A: Yes, we’re offering three- and four-night Yangtze cruises as
part of our “Imperial Jewels” itinerary. It’s a sampler that gives
people the opportunity to experience the Yangtze. Our “China
Cultural Delights” itinerary offers a nine-night cruise on the
Yangtze, all the way from Chongqing to Nanjiing. It really provides
an amazing overview of what China has to offer. We decided to do
away with seven-night cruises because everyone was booking the nine
nights instead. In general, the reaction to our China cruises has
been great. We continue to take passenger feedback so we can evolve
the product. And, agents should know that we just won an award for
our China DVD.
Q: What about Europe. Any news there?
A: As far as destinations go, we’re actually adding capacity on
our Elbe River cruises in the former East Germany. It’s sort of an
undiscovered part of Europe, a less-traveled area that people are
paying attention to now.
Q: What is that itinerary like?
A:It’s really unique, because it includes an overnight in Berlin
and an overnight in Prague, offering full days to visit both
cities. It also includes Dresden, which is so historic. We’re
getting very high reviews on the itinerary from passengers. We
offer the itinerary from April through October, using one of our
smaller vessels.
Q: Anything new in your Russia cruises?
A: We’ve added capacity in Russia, which continues to be a very
popular destination. River cruising is a great way to see Russia,
because everything is taken care of for you, and it’s such a
comfortable way to travel. We offer overnights in St. Petersburg,
Moscow and some smaller villages in between. One of the highlights
is the island of Kizhi, which features traditional wooden buildings
from all over Russia. It really conveys a sense of what Russia was
like.
Q: Any booking trends you’ve noticed for 2007?
A: We’re seeing bookings farther out. People are realizing that
if they wait too long they have limits on the places they can go.
More people are also taking our extensions, which are now fully
escorted. Some of the most popular ones are Helsinki, offered in
connection with our Russia cruises. We’ve beefed it up and included
more features. We also offer a pre- or post-cruise extension in
Krakow in connection with Vienna sailings.
In general, what we’re seeing is that people are really catching
on to river cruising. They’re coming over from ocean cruising. They
get it.
