The Australian launch of Viking Ocean Cruises was held at The Rocks Waterfront Restaurant yesterday, with a panel of leading current affairs journalists discussing their vision for the future of life “after work” in the Australian landscape.
Viking Cruises is ushering in a new era of ocean cruising by taking the innovative thinking behind their award-winning river cruises and bringing it to the epic setting of the sea. This new cruise experience is one their river cruise guests inspired them to create, through listening to their feedback and crafting the ultimate kind of cruise based on this: one focused on destinations. In 2015, they will take destination cruising from the rivers to the ocean with the maiden season of the beautiful Viking Star. And in 2016, Viking Star will be joined by two equally elegant sister ships, Viking Sea and Viking Sky.
Viking believe the best way to understand a country is through enrichment, and on their cruises guests can truly explore a destination – through its food, culture and customs. From accompanying the ship’s chef to a local market to viewing private collections at world-class museums, Viking have a history of providing their guests with a way to get below the surface, not just “checking off” each port.
Viking ocean cruises are centered around where you go, not just how you get there, with hand-picked itineraries so guests can immerse themselves in history, music, art, cuisine – everything about their destination. In addition, they include excursions led by knowledgeable local guides in every port of call. You learn about the lands through which you travel via enriching lectures that bring history to life; through cultural adventures; in-depth pre-trip materials; and on-demand programming, all designed to help you experience the most from your travels.
Viking Cruises offers destination-centric river and ocean cruising designed for experienced travellers with an interest in geography, culture and history. Featuring onboard cultural enrichment and included shore excursions, Viking’s journeys are competitively priced for genuine value. Debuting its maiden season of ocean cruising in 2015, the sophisticated state-of-the-art Viking Star will host 930 guests on itineraries in Scandinavia and the Baltic; and the Western and Eastern Mediterranean.
Classified by Cruise Critic as a “small ship,” the all-veranda custom-designed Viking Star allows travellers to get closer than ever to their destinations with maximum time in ports, while highlighting history, art and local culture through privileged-access excursions and onboard experiences that are truly designed for the experienced traveler.