Rhine, Danube, panoramic routes, Eastern European discoveries...... In 2024, Viking Cruises Europe River Cruises will take you to unlock the "more European" way of traveling from this spring.
Embark on a boat to shuttle through famous European cities and towns, freely switch between natural and cultural scenery, board the boat to return to the warm residence time, and sit on the world-famous riverbank scenery in the slow ride, this time choose the Viking River Ferry to start the ideal travel experience in Europe.
The Chinese service of the Viking Travel Concierge "Little Red Man", the familiar taste of home on board, and the advantages of the small hull of the Viking longship that can "go deep into the destination" with the inland waterway...... When the in-depth tour of Europe matches the rhythm of leisure, it is in line with the new travel needs of Chinese tourists. According to the latest statistics from Viking Cruises, more than 80% of Viking River cruises' spring and summer sailings have been booked since the 2024 season went on sale.
New customer base surges: Favor niche and light luxury river boat experiences
More than 80% of bookings were made, of which 80% were new customers. In the face of this latest booking form, Weiyun Chen, senior vice president of product development and marketing at Viking Cruises, believes that this reflects the strong demand and huge potential of China's outbound cruise market, and also shows that the way river cruises travel has been more widely recognized.
As Tolstoy Hagen, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Viking Cruises, defines travel:
The value of travel is not in the collection of destinations, but in the development of ideas through in-depth exploration of the authentic local culture. ”
As a result, the Viking River Ferry has gained a group of supporters from first-tier cities in China, who are either middle-aged elites who yearn for niche luxury travel experiences, or Kochi silver-haired people who have a strong interest in history and culture.
For example, the Viking classic "11-Day Danube Fun Tour" will allow guests to visit the World Heritage CK town and Budapest, the filming location of "Chinese Restaurant 7", experience Mozart and Strauss concerts in Vienna, meet lesser-known cities such as Bratislava in Slovakia, Linz in Austria and Passau in Germany, and visit one of the most beautiful monasteries in the world...... A trip that is a well-deserved "harvester" of niche light luxury travel experience, coupled with the river boat, which is a non-tiresome way to travel and the proper service of Viking Cruises, coincides with the travel comfort and experience that Chinese tourists are increasingly looking for in intercontinental travel.
The new route is hot: limited and exclusive to meet the advanced choice
It is understood that in the latest 2024 Viking River cruise routes, there are not only the blockbuster return of the "11-day Rhine Charm Tour" and "11-day Danube Colorful Tour", but also the 15-day European panoramic route with limited sailing, and the "11-day Eastern European Discovery Tour" route exclusive to the Chinese market for the first time.
According to the relevant trend report, in recent years, Chinese outbound tourists have preferred niche experiences, among which Eastern Europe, which has many niche destinations, has its own "hot" physique, but due to the scattered distribution, it is often difficult to take care of independent travel. With its years of experience in European river routes, Viking Cruises' new Eastern European route not only takes the lead in connecting the lesser-known treasure destinations of Eastern Europe with a wonderful voyage, but also excavates the treasures of Hungary other than Budapest, and unlocks the "hidden" cultural wonders of Croatia and Serbia, providing an advanced choice for tourists with an adventurous spirit who want to explore deeply.
It is understood that compared with the shore itinerary of the resumption of the Viking River Ferry in June last year, this year's online voyage has been upgraded, that is, while retaining the most classic and popular included excursions, it also leaves more space for guests to plan their own itineraries according to their preferences and the receptivity of activity intensity, which is thoughtful and intimate.
New "Chinese" heart-warming: from a little celebrity to a Chinese stomach, it should be customized
A Viking ticket is worth a lot of money, not only including the eight major needs of the journey, such as boarding and disembarking on the ship, meals and accommodation on board, at least one shore excursion at each port of call, WiFi, etc., but also preparing worry-free "one-stop" services before the trip, such as visa payment agency and air ticket booking service.
Starting from the resumption of operations in 2023, Viking's most unique "customized for Chinese guests" continues to be optimized and upgraded. In addition to the "Little Red" travel concierge service and Chinese guides, the launch of the "Viking Journey" WeChat mini-program to make the whole process of Chinese services seamless, but also continued to optimize the dining experience for the "Chinese stomach" traveling far, such as adjusting the proportion of Chinese and Western meals on board based on feedback, and adding more exquisite Chinese dishes and destination specialties, as well as the cultural stories behind these special dishes, so that the food also has a story to explore.
It is understood that Viking Cruises' concept of "customized for Chinese guests" has also continued to the return and new routes this year, compared with other European river cruise products in the Chinese market, it is expected that this series of new "Chinese" warm heart customization can make the onboard experience more comfortable and start a comfortable European journey.
As we all know, compared to other forms of travel, river cruises have irreplaceable characteristics such as "no need to travel and re-pack luggage" and "can go deep into the hinterland of the destination", and the "destination experience as the core" Viking cruise ship has carefully designed all the routes, not only connecting famous cities and niche and unique towns, but also many shore excursion experiences that Viking exclusively provides. Whether it's a local experience or a deeper understanding of the local customs, just to unlock this more European journey.