Viking River Cruises' Strong 2010 Sales Prompt Early Release of 2011 Itineraries

Viking River Cruises has released the dates and prices for 2011 departures on more than a dozen of its Europe, Russia and Egypt itineraries. The unprecedented early release was initiated due to record 2010 sales and high demand for the line’s most popular itineraries, some of which are already sold out for 2010.

“River cruising is no longer the travel industry’s best-kept secret,” states Viking Chairman Torstein Hagen. “In our 10-year history we have not seen the incredible demand we are experiencing today. Past guests and new Viking cruisers alike are booking earlier than ever before, and this extraordinary interest prompted us to kick off the 2011 season with the turn of the New Year.”

With the launch of 2011 departures, Viking is promoting its earliest Early Booking Discount, including two-for-one cruise fares plus up to two-for-one international air plus complimentary wine. As a bonus, guests can take advantage of exceptional limited-time pricing: 2011 cruises at 2010 prices.

The 2011 itineraries now available for booking include:

Grand European Tour – 15 Days – Amsterdam to Budapest
Romantic Danube – 8 Days – Budapest to Nuremberg
Danube Waltz – 8 Days – Passau to Budapest
Rhine Getaway – 8 Days – Amsterdam to Basel
Treasures of the Rhine – 15 Days – Basel to Antwerp
Tulips  Windmills – 10 Days – Roundtrip Amsterdam
Paris  the Heart of Normandy – 8 Days – Roundtrip Paris
Portraits of Southern France – 8 Days – Chalon-sur-Saone to Avignon
Elegant Elbe – 10 Days – Berlin to Prague
Passage to Eastern Europe – 11 Days – Budapest to Bucharest (New for 2011)
Waterways of the Czars – 13 Days – St. Petersburg to Moscow
Pathways of the Pharaohs – 12 Days – Roundtrip Cairo
Nile Explorer – 9 Days – Roundtrip Cairo

Itinerary and port information, land extension programs, ship deck plans, dates, prices and Early Booking Discount details can all be found at www.vikingrivercruises.com or 1-877-66VIKING (1-877-668-4546).

For 2011, Viking River Cruises is maintaining its current travel agent commission structure and payment policy of 29 days prior to departure. Commissions start at 12 percent on cruise and land, 5 percent on full-price air, 10 percent on the Travel Protection Plan and 12 percent on land extensions.