hospitalitystyle.com

(March 2011) posted on Mon Mar 21, 2011 EDT

Four new vessels designed by Yran & Storbraaten

• 

Viking River Cruises has unveiled design details on four new vessels it plans to launch at the start of its 2012 sailing season. Created by high-profile maritime architects Yran & Storbraaten—the team behind the Disney Dream and the Yachts of Seabourn—the new ships feature long, graceful designs based on ancient Scandinavian vessels.

The new ships, with a total price tag of $120 million, have been after key members of the Norse pantheon. The Viking Freya, Viking Idun, Viking Njord and Viking Odin will be the first of Viking’s Longships, a new class of vessel within its fleet, which currently consists of 19 vessels.

“For our 2012 new builds, we have stretched ourselves creatively and technologically, evaluating every aspect of the guest’s cruising experience and asking ourselves how we can surpass it,” Hagen continues. “What has emerged are vessels that will deliver a peerless travel opportunity to aficionados of river cruising and those that have yet to try this unique way to see the world.”

Each of the new ships will be 443 feet long and house 95 staterooms. New onboard features include:

•Two explorer suites, which the company says will be the largest river cruise suites in Europe at 445 sq. ft. Each will feature a separate living room, bedroom, bathroom and private, wraparound veranda, offering 270-degree views.

•Seven veranda suites, with 270-sq.-ft. of space, full-size verandas in the living room and French balconies in the bedroom.

•Thirty-nine veranda staterooms, with 205-sq.-ft. of space and full-size verandas.

•Sustainability upgrades, such as energy-efficient hybrid engines, solar panels and an onboard organic herb garden.

•All-weather indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace that features retractable floor-to-ceiling glass doors.

•Al fresco dining areas on the upper deck.

The new ships, which are scheduled to service four of Viking’s European itineraries, are part of a $250 million fleet development program by the company. In all, that effort will involve the launch of 10 new ships and the refurbishment of several others by 2013.