Luxury Travel Advisor Magazine Honors Viking as Best Cruise Line for Luxury Ocean Cruises & Best Luxury River Cruise Company

Viking Is the First Cruise Line to Win Both Luxury Oceans and Rivers Categories in Annual “Awards of Excellence”

Los Angeles (June 1, 2017) – Viking Cruises® (www.vikingcruises.com) announced today it has been honored as “Best Cruise Line for Luxury Ocean Cruises” and “Best Luxury River Cruise Company” in Luxury Travel Advisor magazine’s 2017 “Awards of Excellence.” Viking’s win marks the first time the annual Awards of Excellence have recognized the same company in both luxury ocean and river cruising categories. The awards were presented during Luxury Travel Advisor’s ULTRA Summit on May 22 in Washington, D.C.

“It is an honor to receive these two awards from Luxury Travel Advisor readers and their clients,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking Cruises. “We set out to lead the industry with our small ship ocean cruises, just as we have done with our river cruises – so it is a particular accomplishment to become the first cruise line to win Awards of Excellence in both the luxury ocean and luxury river cruise categories. We are grateful for this recognition and appreciate that travel advisors think of Viking first when looking to deliver the best luxury ocean or river cruise experience for their clients.”

Awards of Excellence winners are determined exclusively by readers of Luxury Travel Advisor magazine, who voted for nominees selected by an invitation-only advisory board made up of influential travel advisors. Nominees represent hotels, resorts, individuals, cruise lines and professional services that excel at delivering memorable experiences, a hallmark of the luxury travel industry.

“The suppliers who have been recognized with this award have delivered optimal service to our travel advisors and their clients,” said Ruthanne Terrero, founding Editorial Director of Luxury Travel Advisor and Vice President of Editorial and Content for the Questex Travel Group. “In the competitive world of luxury travel that's no small feat. We are very proud to bestow an award on these winners.”

For more information on Viking’s award-winning history, visit the Awards page online here.

Booking Details

From now through June 30, 2017, Viking is offering U.S. residents an Early Booking Discount for river & ocean cruises, with up to free air on select 2017 and 2018 sailings. Call Viking toll free at 1-855-8-VIKING (1-855-884-5464) or contact a travel agent.

Media Assets

For more information, images and b-roll for Viking Cruises, contact vikingpr@edelman.com.

About Viking Cruises
Viking Cruises was founded by Chairman Torstein Hagen in 1997 with the purchase of four ships in Russia. Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2017, Viking is the leader in river and small ship ocean cruising, offering destination-focused itineraries designed for experienced travelers who have an interest in geography, culture and history. In its first year of operation, Viking Ocean Cruises was rated the #1 ocean cruise line in Travel + Leisure’s 2016 “World’s Best” Awards, which came on the heels of being rated the highest of all cruise lines in the 2015 “World’s Best” Awards. Viking currently operates a fleet of 62 vessels, offering scenic cruising on rivers and oceans around the world. By 2022 the company will operate eight 930-guest ocean cruise ships and will be the largest small ship ocean cruise line. In addition to the Travel + Leisure honors, Viking has also been honored multiple times on Condé Nast Traveler’s “Gold List” as well as recognized by Cruise Critic as “Best Overall” Small-Mid size ship in the 2017 Cruisers’ Choice Awards, “Best River Cruise Line” and “Best River Itineraries,” with the entire Viking Longships® fleet being named “Best New River Ships” in the website’s Editors’ Picks Awards. For additional information, contact Viking Cruises at 1-855-8-VIKING (1-855-884-5464) or visit www.vikingcruises.com.