Friday 7 December 2012

Viking plans eight-ship order for 2014


Viking plans eight-ship order for 2014

By Michelle Baran
As part of a newbuild order that appears to be growing without end, Viking River Cruises said it plans to launch eight Longships in 2014 in addition to the 10 ships it will launch next year.

When the first two 190-passenger Longships, Viking's newest class of river cruise vessel, launched in March, the company revealed plans to launch six Longships each in 2012 and 2013 with the option for six more in 2014. Those plans have grown to 10 in 2013, and now eight in 2014, for a total of 24 new ships in three years. 

"The river cruise segment is rapidly growing, as more travelers are inspired to experience old destinations in a new way," Viking Chairman Torstein Hagen said in a release.

He added that Viking has had an "overwhelmingly positive response" during the first season for the new Longships, and stated that "we are pleased to continue our expansion to meet that demand."

Viking will simultaneously inaugurate eight Longships in a christening ceremony in late March in Amsterdam. The two additional Longships ordered for 2013, the Viking Baldur and the Viking Magni, will join the fleet in late August and September, respectively.

The ships are all being built at the Neptun Werft shipyard in Germany, part of the Meyer Neptun group.

No comments:

Post a Comment