Viking Cruises increases new vessel order to 14

By Hollie-Rae Merrick 

Viking Cruises has increased its order for new Viking Longships as the river cruise line works to "match supply with demand".

Initially the river cruise line had ordered 12 new vessels, and has now added a further two. All will come into service in 2014.

By the end of next year, Viking will have launched 30 ships in a three-year period.

Torstein Hagen, chairman of Viking Cruises, said: "We are working hard to match supply with demand, and with these new builds, we have the best designed, newest and most extensive offer of ships on the rivers - more than double all our competitors combined.

"More than ever, travellers want experiences that bring them closer to the destination, which is why we continue to design ships and itineraries with destinations and enrichment as the focus."

All-weather Aquavit Terraces with panoramic outdoor river scenery have been added to the vessels as a new feature.

The Longships accomodate 190 passengers in 95 staterooms. They also have sustainability upgrades such as onboard solar panels and organic herb gardens, as well as energy-efficient hybrid engines to reduce vibrations.