Company Overview
Viking River Cruises, founded in 1997, has pretty much
cornered the market for English-language cruises on European and
Chinese rivers. Its March, 2000 purchase of KD River Cruises made it
the Continent's pre-eminent river boat company, which emboldened it
the following year to introduce new itineraries in Russia, Siberia and
the Ukraine. Yangtze River cruises in China were added in 2002.
Viking River was started by a consortium of Dutch and Swiss financiers, coordinated by a former Norwegian who was instrumental in starting Royal Viking Cruise Line. In fact, for those who remember Royal Viking ships the resemblance in the decor is unmistakable. With that kind of pedigree, excellence is to be expected, and it is delivered. Viking River is for travelers who want to see Europe without dealing with taxis, buses and unpacking in a different hotel every night. The prices are all-inclusive, including shore excursions and wine with dinner. The line is also for cruisers who have been to the Mediterranean and Baltic already, but want to see more of Europe.
The European shallow draft, low-profile river boats designed specifically for European waterways offer panoramic windows views inside and side-to-side sun decks top-side from which to admire the scenery in style and comfort. The pleasant public rooms, including a main bar, a tiny library, and single-seating restaurant, are laid out bow to stern along the single public deck, with the accommodations decks below. The upper deck cabins feature outside views through large picture windows that slide open for fresh air. In Western Europe, staterooms include televisions with CNN International and local stations, but not so in Russia. Telephone service is possible via cell-phones, so some of the boats don't even have them. All cabins have a private bathroom, hotel-style beds and individually controlled air
conditioning.
The Russian River boats are a different breed, older and built in Russia in Soviet times, they have been mostly modernized, but still have a rustic Russian flavor, especially in the "cheap seats," the cabins on the lowest deck. There are two public decks with a large, single seating dining room and public lounges upstairs next to long, open deck space. There are three full decks of passenger cabins. The best bets are the topmost doubles or suites, which are far more commodious than the lowest level cabins, and not that much more expensive. The smallest cabins have literally cots for beds, and a bathroom so small the shower soaks the toilet seat. While the master suite sleeps four people, has a separate living room and bedroom with king-size bed, and a large bathroom with bathtub.
The onboard enrichment programs in Russia and as good or better than any program on any ship. Since all of the tours are included in the price of the cruise, the tour guides travel with you and are available for questions and insight the entire cruise. In addition, an expert in Russian history, politics and economics also travels the entire voyage giving lectures daily. See the related CruiseMates articles in the box on the right.
In China, cruisetours, which combine land and river components, are feature visits to places such as Beijing, the Terra Cotta Warriors, and Shanghai plus the Yangtze River sailing, in which the ships travel to the Three Gorges, Lesser Gorges, and Three Gorges Dam. All cruisetours are fully escorted from airport arrival to departure by English-speaking guides. The company's Western management oversees all aspects of the trip, and local offices in Beijing and Chongqing ensure in-country management as well. Onboard Chinese meals are designed by Martin Yan and alternate with Western menus.
You get a tour of the Three Gorges Dam, the largest dam in the world now, with the largest ship locks anywhere, more than twice the depth and length of those in Panama. Your tour may also include air junkets to the terracotta warriors, and/or to Bejeing and the Great Wall of China.
The all-balcony, 186-passenger Viking Century Star was built in 2003
and joined by sister ship Viking Century Sky in 2005, about a year
after Viking began sailing China's Yangtze River. The line now offers
five different itineraries, each including, in addition to a
seven-night river cruise, hotel stays, meals, tours, and intra-Asia
flights. Viking River's Viking Century Sky and Viking Century Sun
offer such cruise-like amenities as a gym, beauty salon, massage
rooms, Internet center, balconies, and larger-than-average cabins.
Deeper-pocketed cruisers have the option of booking themselves into
deluxe hotels in Beijing, Shanghai, Suzhou, Xian, Tibet or Bangkok.
In China, as with Russia, all tours and transportation is included from the time you touch down at the airport.
Fellow Passengers
Passengers are mostly well traveled, often comprised of groups from different nationalities; half U.S., half British.
Shore Excursions:
Shore excursions, included in the fare, are planned every day, sometimes morning and afternoon. Evening programs are also offered as optional at additional charges. In Russia, the Moscow Circus or Kirov Ballet are such options.
Special Programs:
Special "Dutch Tulip" cruises in April, and Christmas and New Years Holiday cruises are also offered.
Tipping:
Gratuities are at the passenger's discretion. No guidelines are published.
