Next Monday will mark the start of another exciting Live Voyage Report here on From the Deck Chair, as we travel to the beautiful Dutch city of Amsterdam to witness river cruise history when Viking River Cruises christens 10 (ten!) of their new Viking Longships in a single sweep. And I can’t wait to share the experience with you, live from onboard Viking Aegir!
Viking Odin at last year’s christening of the first Viking Longships in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Photo © 2012 Aaron Saunders
Set to be christened on Wednesday, March 20th:
- Viking Aegir
- Viking Atla
- Viking Bragi
- Viking Embla
- Viking Forsetti
- Viking Jarl
- Viking Rinda
- Viking Skadi
- Viking Tor
- Viking Var
This year’s ceremonies take place nearly one year to the date that Viking introduced the first Viking Longships to the world when Viking Odin and Viking Idun were christened at the Port of Amsterdam. Viking Freya and Viking Njord were “virtually” christened via video uplink from the Neptun-Werft shipyard in Rostock, Germany where they were being constructed. This year’s ceremonies will also be a mix of physical and virtual christenings.
The Big Day: An Avid Cruiser photographs the enormous banner outside the Port Terminal Amsterdam for the christening of the Viking Longships. Photo © 2012 Aaron Saunders
If you’re new to river cruising, here’s why this is – once again – such a big deal: these ships have radically changed the face of river cruising.
That’s not meant to denigrate or marginalize other river cruise operators, all of whom have some stunningly-beautiful vessels. But along the waterways of Europe, the height, length, and width of ships are severely restricted by the locks and low-clearance bridges each ship must transit on its journey from one port to another.
One of the greatest innovations aboard Viking Odin and her Longship sisters is the indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace. Photo © 2012 Aaron Saunders
This means that, unlike the cruise industry, river cruise lines can’t simply one-up each other by trying to over-build their ships. Instead, they’re forced to work with the same physical dimensions and limitations as every other river cruise line.
What Viking did with these Longships is revolutionary. Led by the design team at Yran & Storbraaten (who have done interior and conceptual design work for everything from Disney Dream to Seabourn Odyssey), Viking shifted the passenger corridor off the center line of the ship and to the port side in order to create step-out balcony rooms alongside standard French balcony staterooms.
Stateroom corridors aboard Viking Freya, like all Viking Longships, are attractive and welcoming. Photo © 2012 Aaron Saunders
They also built two of the largest suites on the waterways of Europe: massive, aft-facing Explorer Suites named after famous Norwegian pioneers like Roald Amundsen that feature separate sitting and living areas, and measure 445 square feet.
Public rooms are large, bright and welcoming thanks to an unprecedented amount of floor-to-ceiling windows. The prestige space is obviously the bright and welcoming atrium, which is surrounded by glass and topped with a glass skylight.
The reception atrium really sets the tone for the new Viking Longships: elegant, spacious and bright. Photo © 2012 Aaron Saunders
These upcoming ceremonies also serve to showcase pride that the team at Viking, Yran & Storbraaten and Neptun-Werft (itself an offshoot of prestigious Papenburg shipbuilders Meyer Werft) feel in these ships. There was excitement in the air last year, and a subtle but prevalent pride amongst the crew aboard Viking Freya in December.
Viking Odin French Balcony Stateroom, 224 on the port side. Photo © 2012 Aaron Saunders
But the other reason I am such a fan of these Longships is that I believe they’re good news for the entire river cruise industry. They’re increasing public awareness about an amazing style of travel and cruising, and in the process, are bringing more awareness to other lines, each of which offer their own unique and distinct product.
In many ways, Viking is doing for river cruising what Carnival and Royal Caribbean did for the cruise industry at the start of the newbuild boom of the late 1980’s: fostering innovation and a spirit of competition that, I believe, will benefit everyone.
The full itinerary for next week, with further additions possible:
| DAY | PORT | ACTIVITIES |
|---|---|---|
| March 19, 2013 | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Arrival in Amsterdam; Embark Viking Aegir. |
| March 20 | Amsterdam, Netherlands | AM Excursion; Christening Ceremonies at Passenger Terminal Amsterdam; scenic evening cruising & celebrations. |
| March 21 | Amsterdam, Netherlands / Hoorn, Netherlands | Excursion to the Dutch city of Hoorn and scenic cruising; ships return to Passenger Terminal Amsterdam in evening. |
| March 22 | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Disembarkation; Live coverage from Amsterdam |
| March 23 | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Live coverage from Amsterdam. |
| March 24, 2013 | Amsterdam, Netherlands | Departure and return flights. |
So join us next week for three full days of christening coverage, coupled with two additional days of coverage as we explore the gorgeous city of Amsterdam!
Join us March 19-23 as we cover the christening of the next 10 Viking Longships in Amsterdam! Photo © 2012 Aaron Saunders
Our Live Voyage Report from the Viking River Cruises christening ceremonies runs from March 19 to 23, 2013. Follow along here on From the Deck Chair, or by following @deckchairblog on Twitter with the hashtag #LiveVoyageReport.
Read our full report from last year’s Christening Ceremonies here, or have a read through our Live Voyage Report from onboard the Viking Freya as we sailed through Europe’s Christmas Markets from Budapest to Nuremberg.
More river cruises can be found by visiting our friends at Cruise Experts Travel!
