Germany: Meyer Neptun to Build Six More Viking Longships

Viking River Cruises, the world’s leading river cruise line, has commissioned six more Viking Longships for delivery in 2013. The six vessels will be joining Viking Freya, Viking Idun, Viking Njord, Viking Odin, which will be christened on March 21, 2012, and the Viking Embla and Viking Aegir, which will be delivered later in 2012. The Longship series have been designed by celebrated maritime architects Yran & Storbraaten and Los Angeles based Rottet Studios. They are all being built at the Neptun Shipyard in Germany, part of the Meyer Neptun group.

“The new orders reflect the great interest in Viking River Cruises and its revolutionary Longships” says Viking’s Chairman Torstein Hagen.

Viking Longships integrate patent‐pending design, cutting‐edge technology with comfortable amenities that reflect guest preferences and current travel trends, such as:

• Two Explorer Suites, which will be the largest river cruise suites in Europe at 445 square feet, each featuring a separate living room, bedroom and private wraparound veranda, offering 270‐degree views.
• Seven two‐room Veranda Suites with a full‐size veranda in the living room and a French balcony in the bedroom.
• Thirty‐nine Veranda Staterooms with full‐size verandas.
• Twenty‐two French Balcony Staterooms.
• A revolutionary new all‐weather indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace, which reinvents the onboard lounge experience by bringing the panoramic outdoor river scenery indoors with retractable floor‐to‐ceiling glass doors allowing guests to enjoy the scenery and dine al fresco.
• New premium in‐cabin amenities that include heated bathroom floors and mirrors, Sony HD TV’ and premium bath products.
• Sustainability upgrades, such as solar panels, an onboard organic herb garden and energy-efficient hybrid engines that reduce vibrations for a remarkably smooth ride.

“At Viking, we are proud of our Norse heritage. The ancient Vikings were the ultimate explorers and that tradition lives at Viking River Cruises today. For that reason, we have honored our new Viking Longships—nd our beautifully refurbished Russian fleet—ith names of celebrated Viking gods and heroes” says Hagen.

With the six additional vessels Viking will have invested over $ 400 million in its fleet development program over three years.

[mappress]

Source: neptunwerft, March 20, 2012