Viking Cruises marked its return to France’s rivers on July 30 with the launch of four new, purpose-built Longships on the Seine: Viking Kari, Viking Radgrid, Viking Skaga, and Viking Fjorgyn. Each ship has 84 cabins and capacity for 168 passengers.

The ships, which dock at an exclusive location in the heart of Paris near the Eiffel Tower, will help fulfill a pent-up demand for travel throughout France.

“Throughout the last year, we have heard consistently from our guests that France is at the top of their travel list, so we are delighted that our river vessels are once again sailing in this beloved destination,” said Torstein Hagen, chairman of Viking.

After a 16-month hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Viking gradually resumed river operations throughout the month of July. Guests can now embark on three river cruise itineraries along the Seine and Rhone: Paris and the Heart of Normandy, Lyon and Provence, and France’s Finest. Viking’s Bordeaux voyages relaunched August 7.

Beyond France, Viking is sailing on the Rhine and Douro Rivers.

Viking’s ocean cruises resumed in May to British guests. The line welcomed American passengers in June to Bermuda and Iceland as part of the cruise line’s “Welcome Back” sailings. According to Viking, these initial sailings have resulted in some of the company’s highest post cruise ratings to date.

Viking passengers, like those on other lines, are required to be vaccinated against Covid-19 in order to sail onboard any of Viking’s ocean or river vessels. 

These rules are changing rapidly, but you may need to provide proof of vaccination and/or a negative test or certificate of recovery from Covid-19 to dine at restaurants or enter venues.  

Source: Read Full Article