Viking River Cruises Sets Sail into China; River Cruise Line Enters China Market with Launch of Brand-New Luxury Cruisetour Itineraries Along the Yangtze River.Business Editors/Travel Writers LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 12, 2003 Viking River Cruises River cruise is a voyage up and down a river/rivers touching at a series of ports. River cruising is a form of traveling in the inlands waterways of the world. Unlike large ocean cruise liners, river cruise ships are usually smaller vessels, generally accommodating between 100 and , the leader in European river cruising, announces its emergence into China's tourism market. Beginning in March 2004, Viking River Cruises will offer five different all-inclusive cruisetour itineraries, each centered upon a fixed seven-night river cruise along China's legendary Yangtze River Yangtze River Chinese Chang Jiang or Ch'ang Chiang River, China. Rising in the Tanggula Mountains in west-central China, it flows southeast before turning northeast and then generally east across south-central and east-central China to the East China . "The launch of our China product is the culmination of a dream; a dream to offer Viking River Cruises programs in China," said Jeff Dash, president, Viking River Cruises, Inc. "By implementing the consistent quality and outstanding service standards we have established in our European programs, we can ensure that our China cruisetours will exceed passenger expectations." Bringing luxury river cruising to the exotic and intriguing destination of China, Viking River Cruises will provide guests with a level of service and excellence equivalent to five-star hotels. With local offices in Beijing and Chongqing, the cruise line A cruise line is a company that operates cruise ships. Cruise lines have a dual character; they are partly in the transportation business, and partly in the leisure entertainment business, a duality that carries down into the ships themselves, which have both a crew headed by the is the only company to oversee all program components, from ship operations and shore excursions to land programs, tours, hotel selections, meals and cultural performances. In addition to expertly planned and paced itineraries, each program will be accompanied by English-speaking escorts and guides throughout, reinforcing the on-site management and quality control. To provide accommodations for the river cruise portion of the itineraries, the company is currently building the 186-passenger Century Star, China's most deluxe de·luxe also de luxe adj. Particularly elegant and luxurious; sumptuous: deluxe accommodations; a de luxe automobile. adv. river cruise vessel, which features all-outside cabins with balconies and a variety of public areas including an observation lounge, gym and massage room. To further accommodate its passengers, the company's Swiss hotel management staff will oversee ship operations, including all food and beverage F&B is a common abbreviation in the United States and Commonwealth countries, including Hong Kong. F&B is typically the widely accepted abbreviation for "Food and Beverage," which is the sector/industry that specializes in the conceptualization, the making of, and delivery of foods. , hotel management and service. English will be the primary language onboard Refers to a chip or other hardware component that is directly attached to the printed circuit board (motherboard). Contrast with offboard. See inboard. as well as during all shore excursions and tours. There will be a variety of food served aboard, from the traditional family-style Chinese cuisine Chinese cuisine (Chinese: 中國菜) originated from different regions of China and has become widespread in many other parts of the world — from East Asia to North America, Australasia and Western Europe. to selections from a western menu and even an on-deck barbecue. "China has become one of the most visited destinations in the world and its popularity is expected to rise during the next decade," added Dash. "Viking River Cruises believes that as a nation rich in culture and tradition, China will be the perfect addition to our baseline European programs." The featured 7-night cruise will take guests on a journey through this mysterious land, touring ports and villages seldom visited by Westerners and allowing more time to enjoy and absorb the ancient traditions and culture surrounding the Yangtze River region. Guests will get the unique experience of cruising during the last phase of the Three Gorges Dam Three Gorges Dam, 607 ft (185 m) high and 7,575 ft (2,309 m) long, on the Chang (Yangtze) River, central Hubei prov., China, 30 mi (48 km) W of Yichang. The largest concrete structure in the world, the dam was constructed from 1994 to 2006. project, including a rare and exciting adventure on a traditional Chinese sampan to the Lesser Three Gorges The Three Gorges (Simplified Chinese: 三峡; Traditional Chinese: 三峽; Pinyin: Sānxiá [ - formerly inaccessible to travelers. Each of the five itineraries will center on the 7-night cruise and highlight different areas of China, with one itinerary including a visit to Lhasa, Tibet and another touring Bangkok, Thailand. Passengers can add pre- and post-cruise land extension packages for stays in Shanghai, Hong Kong Hong Kong (hŏng kŏng), Mandarin Xianggang, special administrative region of China, formerly a British crown colony (2005 est. pop. 6,899,000), land area 422 sq mi (1,092 sq km), adjacent to Guangdong prov. or Hong Kong and Guilin. The all-inclusive itineraries, ranging from 9-16 nights and featuring the 7-night deluxe river cruise, all shore excursions and tours, all meals aboard and on land, hotel nights in 5-star and deluxe properties, intra-Asia flights and an English-speaking escort throughout, are priced from $1,649 per person. Brochures will be available soon; call 1-877-66VIKING (1-877-668-4546) to pre-reserve your copy. Viking River Cruises is dedicated to contributing to the regions in which it sails. Extending this commitment to the community along the Yangtze River, Viking River Cruises is building a new elementary school elementary school: see school. in Jingzhou, located in the Hubei province. Once the school is open, passengers will have the opportunity to visit the school during an excursion. Viking River Cruises is the leader in European river cruising, offering fine food, quality service and comfortable scenic cruising along some of the world's most majestic rivers. Conde Nast Traveler ranked the company in the top 10 among the world's leading small cruise lines
Name Headquarters A'rosa Europe NCL America America AIDA Cruises Europe American Cruise Lines America in its 2002 annual reader's choice awards issue. Since its 1997 inception, Viking River Cruises has grown its fleet to 25 vessels and expanded its itineraries to include sailings in Ukraine and China. Viking River Cruises continues to provide travelers with a unique and affordable vacation experience. For additional information, contact Viking River Cruises toll-free at 1-877-66VIKING (1-877-668-4546) or visit the company's website at http://www.vikingrivercruises.com. NOTE: Photos available upon request. |
|
||||||||||||
Printer friendly
Cite/link
Email
Feedback
Reader Opinion