| Australian launch of Viking Ocean Cruises

Viking Cruises last night launched at an celebratory event at The Rocks Waterfront Restaurant, Viking Ocean Cruises and the 2015 / 2016 programme. “Tonight provides an opportunity for all of us at Viking and on behalf of our Chairman Torstein Hagen to say thank you for your support and custom over the years. Without you, the success of Viking River Cruises and the launch of Viking Ocean Cruises would not be possible” said Teresia Fors, Managing Director, Viking Cruises Australia & New Zealand.

In true Viking Cruises tradition of Guest engagement, during the evening as a Viking exclusive, a panel of health, lifestyle and finance experts discussed their vision of the future of life “after work” in the Australian landscape together with the audience present.

“We developed this product [Viking Ocean Cruises] by reaching out to our Viking River Cruises® Past Guests asking them about what was missing in ocean cruising today. The responses we received were firstly overwhelming in support of us venturing into oceans, with 84% of our Past Guests expressing their continued support should we offer ocean cruise itineraries” Fors said.  “Secondly, in terms of product development, again, the feedback we received was very clear. Our Past Guests told us that they wanted a destination focused programme with more time in port, less sea days, a small ship experience but offered at good value which they found was missing in the industry today” Fors continued.

Viking Cruises is ushering in a new era of ocean cruising by taking the innovative thinking behind their award-winning river cruises and bringing it to the epic setting of the sea. This new cruise experience is one their river cruise Guests inspired them to create, through listening to their feedback and crafting a cruise experience based on this: one focused on destinations.

SOURCE   Viking Cruises