LOS ANGELES (December 15, 2008) -Viking River Cruises, the world's leading river cruise line, is supporting the efforts of Atlanta's High Museum of Art to bring an extraordinary display of Chinese terracotta warriors and related artifacts to Atlanta. The exhibit—which recently ended a popular 7 month run at the British Museum followed by a record-breaking 5 month run at the Bowers Museum in California—opened to the public in November. It will remain at the High for more than 5 months before moving on to Houston's Museum of Natural Science, then continuing to the National Geographic Museum at Explorers Hall in Washington D.C. 

 "The First Emperor" was inspired by one of the greatest archaeological discoveries of the 20th century. Featuring more than 100 works, including 15 terracotta figures, the exhibition—which was covered in detail by the December 10 Wall Street Journal and rated #4 in Time magazine's Top 10 Museum Exhibits of 2008-is one of the largest groups of works relating to the First Emperor ever loaned to the U.S. by the Museum of the Terracotta Army and the Cultural Relics Bureau of Shaanxi Province in Xian, China. With rarely seen and recently discovered objects from his mausoleum complex, the exhibition will provide insight into the legacy of China's First Emperor, Qin Shi Huang, who reigned over a united China from 221 to 210 B.C.

"We have been taking travelers to see the Terracotta Army in Xian, as well as other key attractions in China, for the past five years," said Torstein Hagen, founding chairman of Viking. "Our guests always tell us that seeing the Terracotta Warriors is one of the highlights of their China experience. We are thrilled to be helping Americans see some of China's treasures that they may not otherwise have had the opportunity to see."

"This is a fascinating look into the history of one of the world's oldest and richest cultures, as well as one of the world's greatest discoveries—the First Emperor's terracotta army," said Michael E. Shapiro, the High's Nancy and Holcombe T. Green, Jr. Director. "Visitors will see these warriors up close and appreciate their magnificence within the context of China's history."

The Terracotta Army was created for Qin Shi Huang, first Emperor of China, who unified the Chinese states into a single country, worked to standardize the Chinese language, created a national road system and began construction on China's Great Wall. During his 38-year reign, he arranged for thousands of workers to construct an elaborate mausoleum for him, complete with an army to allow him to rule in the afterlife. After his death he was interred with his clay army and a vast collection of riches; eventually his tomb was forgotten. Then, in 1974, local farmers digging a well came upon a terracotta head, thus discovering a nearly 2,200-year-old archeological treasure.

Viking River Cruises, founded in 1997, began offering "cruisetours" in China in 2004. Each of these journeys includes a trip to Xian to see the mausoleum. Travelers enter a large hangar erected over the archeological site and view the terracotta infantrymen, archers and horses from a series of catwalks, thus enjoying the large scale of the site as well as the opportunity to appreciate the craftsmanship and individualized detail applied to each of the faces.

"For those who have not yet come to China to view the Terracotta Army, the High exhibit will provide an idea of its incredible workmanship," Hagen continued. "If the exhibit inspires viewers to come to China, we hope they consider doing so with Viking."

Viking River Cruises offers three different China itineraries for 2009; each includes visits to Beijing and Shanghai and a deluxe Yangtze River Cruise through the scenic Three Gorges Area in addition to a stay in Xian to visit the Terra Cotta Army. The 12-day Imperial Jewels of China covers the highlights mentioned; the 16-day China's Cultural Delights includes extra destinations on the Yangtze River; and the 16-day Roof of the World includes three days in Lhasa, Tibet.

January 15, 2008 -- Viking River Cruises, the world leader in river cruising, today announced its recognition on Condé Nast Traveler's Gold List, as featured in the January 2008 issue of the magazine. Viking appears on the Gold List for the fourth time. Viking River Cruises was also included in the "Best Small Ship Cruise Lines" in the November 2007 "Readers' Choice" issue.

"Gold List recognition is a great honor," says Torstein Hagen, Founding Chairman of Viking River Cruises. "It is the ultimate endorsement by sophisticated world travelers. Although it has gained much attention in the past few years, river cruising is still a 'best-kept secret' in some circles, so we are especially pleased that the quality of our product compares favorably with that of the best ocean cruise lines."

In naming a travel company to the Gold List, Condé Nast Traveler reevaluates the rankings given to the magazine's annual "Readers' Choice" issue based upon more general categories and asks readers to give specific commentary about each of the nominees. One Condé Nast Traveler voter commented, "There's something so magical about floating down the river with all these historical sites around you."

About Viking River Cruises
Viking River Cruises, the world’s largest river cruise company, offers quality service, gourmet cuisine and comfortable scenic cruising along the majestic rivers of Europe, Russia and China. Since its 1997 inception, the company has grown to a fleet of 20 vessels, and provides unique, deluxe vacations to experienced travelers with an interest in geography, culture and history. In 2008, Viking River Cruises offers 20 itineraries for travel through Europe, Russia and China.

LOS ANGELES (Jul. 11, 2007)  -  Viking River Cruises, the world's largest river cruise company, has announced the launch of Viking Tours, a new venture that will bring discerning travelers to some of the most compelling destinations on the planet. “Many of our customers have asked us if we would consider organizing worldwide tours offering the same richly rewarding travel and high level of comfort that they have experienced with Viking River Cruises,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman and CEO of both Viking River Cruises and Viking Tours. “In this, our tenth anniversary year, we felt the time was right to begin this exciting new venture.”

Journeys into the extraordinary Viking Tours enters the travel market with extraordinary programs in India, Southeast Asia, Egypt, Eastern and Southern Africa, South America, the Galapagos, the Norwegian coast, Antarctica and Australia/New Zealand. All tours offer outstanding pre- and post-tour packages to such destinations as Bhutan, Dubai, Thailand & Cambodia, Petra, Reykjavik and Ayers Rock. “We are very proud of these unique itineraries,” noted Ted Sykes, President of Viking Tours. “Based on feedback from our customers and on our own worldwide travel experience, we hand-selected an initial list of destinations that we knew would most interest and excite our market. Each tour was then carefully planned to ensure the proper pacing and the highest level of comfort and quality. We understand the high expectations our guests have of Viking and will continue to meet and exceed these standards.”

Early Booking Discount helps launch Viking Tours Viking Tours departures begin in November, 2007. Bookings are being accepted now, and an Early Booking Discount of $1,000 per couple ($500 per person) is applicable to tours booked and paid in full by August 31, 2007.

The world’s most distinguished addresses Viking Tours has partnered with some of the world’s most distinctive hotel and resort owners and operators: for example, Taj Hotels, Resorts and Palaces, purveyors of five-star luxury hotels in India, and Orient-Express Hotels, Trains & Cruises, which owns and manages hotels, trains, cruises and restaurants in an impressive array of exotic destinations. The Shangri-La in Bangkok, the Serengeti Serena Lodge and the legendary Kirawira Camp in Tanzania, the Victoria Falls Hotel in Zimbabwe, Sydney’s Observatory Hotel, the Lilianfels Blue Mountains Resort & Spa in Australia, the Hermitage Hotel at Mt. Cook in New Zealand (all glacier-view rooms), and the Taj Lake Palace and Jai Mahal Palace, two beautifully sited and appointed former palaces in India, are just a few of the fascinating accommodations that will pamper and inspire Viking Tours guests.

Remarkable rides Depending on destination, in addition to luxury trains, deluxe ships and motor coaches, participants may travel by air, ferry, schooner, inflatable PolarCirkel boat, catamaran, Jeep, cable car, horse-drawn carriage, hot-air balloon, camel or elephant. Viking Tours is dedicated to ensuring that travelers always see the sights from the best and most interesting perspective as they progress along their journey.

An authentic taste of the world Viking Tours has also established partnerships that allow travelers to get “up close and personal” with local people and be immersed in local cultures. Many tours feature dinners hosted by local families in their homes, or with native people in their villages. Tour participants have the opportunity to enjoy incomparable experiences like taking a private tango lesson in Buenos Aires, having tea with an Indian army colonel, having their hands painted with traditional henna designs, feeding giraffes outside Nairobi, or witnessing Maori dances while being hosted by a local Maori family. Traveling in small groups and accompanied all the way by knowledgeable English-speaking guides, Viking Tours guests feel right at home in the countries they visit.

Helping to make the world a better place Viking shares its passengers’ concerns about harming physical and cultural environments. Both Viking River Cruises and Viking Tours are committed to leaving destinations intact, and to making a contribution to the people and places that host our tours and cruises. Viking Tours itineraries are designed to leave the lightest possible “footprint” and to afford participants the chance to “give back” in various ways. Viking Tours supports various local programs such as the Bishop Desmond Tutu Peace Center and the Operation Nest Egg program to save New Zealand’s native kiwi birds.

A great travel value with all-inclusive pricing Because Viking Tours pricing includes all meals, guided tours, excursions and entry fees, travelers never have to worry about finding meals on their own or paying add-on fees for activities. Viking continues to offer their long-standing Price Guarantee: once booked and paid in full, travelers are safe from any increases in cruise prices or airfares, additional fuel surcharges, or currency fluctuations. The company also offers a Travel Protection Program that protects passengers’ travel investment—including waiver of pre-existing conditions, trip interruption coverage up to trip cost, and “cancel for any reason” coverage. “A Viking Tours vacation is truly a great travel value,” declared Viking Tours president Ted Sykes. “We offer desirable destinations, unique programs and high-quality hospitality, and our prices compare very favorably with similar high-end tour products.”

Viking Tours Reservations Viking Tours Reservations agents can be reached toll-free at 1-877-845-8687 (1-877-VIK-TOURS). Hours are Monday–Friday 5:00 AM–8:00 PM, Saturday 5:00 AM–5:00 PM and Sunday 7:00 am–4:00 pm, Pacific Time. Visitors to vikingtours.com may make an online request for an agent to contact them to answer questions or make travel arrangements.

New Viking Tours website A new Viking Tours website is online and available to assist travelers as they plan their upcoming vacation trips. The site provides detailed day-by-day details about Viking Tours itineraries and pre- and post-trip extensions, shows up-to-date information about upcoming departure dates and availability, and makes it simple to request materials or get in touch with Viking Tours agents for more information or to make a reservation. The website can be accessed at vikingtours.com.

About Viking Tours Viking Tours is a newly launched company dedicated to offering seasoned travelers once-in-a-lifetime experiences in fascinating, exotic destinations. Viking River Cruises, the world’s largest river cruise company, offers quality service, gourmet cuisine and comfortable scenic cruising along the majestic rivers of Europe, Russia and China. The company has been honored multiple times as the top river cruise line on Condé Nast Traveler's “Gold List” and Travel & Leisure’s “World's Best” Awards. 

LOS ANGELES (January 3, 2007) - Travel agents nationwide cast their votes for the best in travel, and Viking River Cruises was again named the number one river cruise line this past December. Travel Weekly readers were invited to submit nominations for ‘Reader’s Choice Awards” in a variety of categories during open voting this past summer. Finalists were selected from the leading submissions, followed by a second round of voting, with winners announced in New York City this past December.

"We are delighted to receive this recognition from the industry," said Torstein Hagen, Founding Chairman, Viking River Cruises. "We continue our strong support of the travel trade, and are constantly ensuring our Viking standards exceed the expectations not only of travel agents but also their clients."

Viking River Cruises received similar recognition from the trade this past year when they were named "Best Overall Cruise Line for River Cruising" by Travel Age West, as well as being named the #1 River Cruise Line by Recommend, a key monthly trade publication. The company was also honored by consumers this past August when it received Travel + Leisure’s "World’s Best" Awards; and in November with a listing on Condé Nast Traveler’s "Reader’s Choice" Awards; CruiseReport.com named Viking "Best River Cruise Line" as well.

About Viking River Cruises

Viking River Cruises, the world leader in river cruising, offers quality service, gourmet cuisine and comfortable scenic cruising along Europe, Russia and China’s majestic rivers. The company has been honored multiple times on Condé Nast Traveler’s "Gold List" and Travel & Leisure’s "World’s Best" Awards. Travel agents have recognized Viking River Cruises as "Best Overall Cruise Line for River Cruising" (TravelAge West); "Best Cruise Line – River Cruise" (Recommend), and "Best River Cruise Line" by Travel Weekly. Additionally, the company was named "Best River Cruise" twice by CruiseReport.com. Since its 1997 inception, the company has grown to a fleet of 21 vessels, and provides a unique, affordable vacation to experienced travelers with an interest in geography, culture and history.