Castles and Countryside: Viking Sun Sails the Rhine River
April 11, 2005
Viking River Cruises is celebrating the launch of a new vessel and yet another fascinating option for American travelers to see Europe. The inaugural launch of its new ship, the Viking Sun, took place on the Rhine River as the ship embarked on its first Belgium to Switzerland tour. The celebration hosted dignitaries and entertainers including Norwegian ambassador to Germany, Mr. Bjorn Tore Godal, and Norwegian entertainer, Wenche Myhre, who was named Godmother to the ship. River cruising is becoming the most popular and hassle-free way to explore Europe and Viking Sun delivers the highlights of Europe as well as its hidden treasures.
"The launch of Viking Sun reinforces Viking River Cruises continued commitment to providing our passengers with engaging, intimate travel experiences, while transporting them in style and comfort," said Torstein Hagen, chairman of Viking River Cruises. "Viking Sun features deluxe accommodations and amenities, as well as the quality service, gourmet cuisine and captivating itineraries that are the standard of all Viking River Cruises vacations."
Designed by world-famous architects Yran & Storbraaten, the Viking Sun is a state-of-the-art river cruising vessel. The size of the ship, which carries about 198 passengers, is intimate enough to allow for the casual camaraderie that river cruising creates. Panoramic windows are featured throughout the ship including the restaurant, lounge and library/game room. The ship is 433 feet long and offers 99 outside cabins, 37 with floor to ceiling opening French windows; 30 with opening large windows; 22 with fixed picture windows; and 10 standard cabins with windows. Viking Sun was designed to provide the level of comfort and service found in any fine land-based hotel with the added pleasure of gorgeous, ever-changing views.
Viking Sun sails a 12-night itinerary from April to December, along the Rhine River between Antwerp and Basel. Guests experience everything from castles to countryside featuring port lectures and demonstrations of silversmithing and cuckoo clock making, folkloric entertainment, brewery and winery visits, a Black Forest excursion, cathedrals, and much more. Ports of call include Antwerp, the medieval city of Brugge, Delft, Schoonhoven and Gouda. Experience the canals and fabulous museums of Amsterdam, Arnhem, gothic cathedrals in Cologne as well as the picturesque castles built mightily along the Rhine. Stop in ports like Koblenz, Rudeshiem, Heidelberg, Speyer, Strasbourg and the mythical Lorelei rock, all before ending in beautiful Basel, Switzerland.
Honored as the top river cruise line in Travel & Leisure's "World's Best" Awards as well as having appeared on Conde Nast Traveler's "Gold List" in 2004 and 2005, Viking River Cruises is a world leader in river cruising. Since 1997, they've grown to a fleet of 25 and continue to provide a unique, affordable vacation upon Europe, Russia and China's majestic rivers to travelers with interests in geography, culture and history.
SOURCE: Viking River Cruises, http://www.vikingrivercruises.com
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