ISSUE 16 SPRING 2022 VIKING SOCIETY NEWS EXPLORER 25th AnniversaryEdition Celebrate our anniversary with offers on 2023 and 2024 river, ocean and expedition voyages The Allure of River Cruising A first-time river cruiser is hooked after an immersive cruise along the Danube
# MYVIKINGSTORY Viking guests across the globe are making their travel dreams a reality. Here’s some inspiration to help with your planning. Connect with Viking on social media and don’t forget to hashtag your Viking journey and share with us: #VikingCruises #MyVikingStory VikingRiverCruisesVikingCruisesVikingAUNZVIKING.TV @COURTNEYWINKELMAN @FOLLOWING_FINLEYS_FOOTSTEPS @HKAYDEWEESEDRAAY @SHAR_KURTZ@JOANNABOOTH @SHEILA__DAVIES_@JOANNEDIBONAPHOTOS @TEDDYMINFORD@LAVENDERANDLOVAGE 2 VIKING
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Warmest regards, Michelle Black Managing Director, Viking Australia & New Zealand
In this 25th Anniversary edition of Viking Explorer Society Magazine you can read more about our history over the last 25 years. We’ve narrowed down our top 25 destinations to travel to with Viking, showcase our special 25th anniversary offers and share some of your favourite Viking moments over the years.
We have recently been voted the number one River Line and number one Ocean Line in the Travel & Leisure 2022 World’s Best Awards. This follows our Conde Nast Traveler award win making us the only cruise line to be simultaneously named number one on both the rivers and oceans by both publications.
hen Viking was founded in 1997, our Chairman Torstein wanted Viking to be different, he had a vision that travel could be more destination-focused and culturally enriching and that is exactly what he has created.
WELCOME TO VIKING SOCIETYEXPLORERNEWS
As we celebrate our 25th anniversary, we reflect on what Viking has achieved during this time. Viking’s Longships have become synonymous with river cruising in Europe, we reinvented Ocean Cruising to bring the focus back to the destination and now we’re perfecting Expedition voyages to some of the most pristine destinations on earth.
As Torstein says “We still think of ourselves as a little company, but I must say that what we have managed to accomplish is remarkable”. But we wouldn’t be where we are today, without you, our loyal guests who continue to choose Viking year after year. We can’t thank you enough for joining us on our journey so far and look forward to sharing many more experiences in our onwards journey.
Left: Torstein and Karine Hagen viking.com 3
The best things to see and do in Scotland’s capital Edinburgh 34 SYMMETRY AT SEA Scandinavian interiors take centre stage on our ocean vessels 40 TOTEM POLES The legend and lore behind Alaska’s cultural carvings
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The Allure of River Cruising A river hooked after an immersive the Danube
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On the cover: Viking TorsteinChairman,Hagen
The Allure of River Cruising A first-time river cruiser is hooked after an immersive cruise along the Danube THE COVER: Viking Chairman, Torstein Hagen
ISSUE 16 SPRING 2022 SOCIETY NEWS EXPLORER 25th AnniversaryEdition Celebrate our anniversary with offers on 2023 and 2024 river, ocean and expedition cruises
cruise along
16 THE NORWEGIAN SEA A deep dive into the geography, resources and discoveries of the sea 20 VIKING HOMELANDS Erin Kramer journeys to the legendary homelands of the Vikings 24 A TASTE OF SCANDINAVIA Create traditional Nordic delights at home with our simple recipes 28 SCOTTISH ISLES Fi Cotter Craig shares her highlights of a trip to the Shetland and Orkney Islands 32 48 HOURS IN EDINBURGH
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CONTENTS ISSUE 16 SPRING 2022 VIKING SOCIETY NEWS EXPLORER 25th AnniversaryEdition
anniversary
8 VIKING’S EPIC 25 YEAR JOURNEY A look through our remarkable history 1614 deep dive into the geography, resources and discoveries of the sea 20 VIKING HOMELANDS Erin Kramer journeys to the legendary homelands of the Vikings Fi Cotter Craig shares her highlights of a trip to the Shetland and Orkney Islands
CONTENTS
Celebrate our with offers on 2023 and 2024 river, ocean and expedition
8 VIKING’S EPIC 25 YEAR JOURNEY A look through our remarkable history 14 TOP 5 THINGS TO DO IN NEW ZEALAND Your must-see list for a visit to the Land of the White Cloud
What not to miss when you visit Canada’s bustling west coast city 48 TOP 25 VIKING DESTINATIONS Inspire your wanderlust with our top destinations first-time river cruiser is hooked after an immersive
94 ON LOCATION WITH KARINE Karine Hagen talks about Viking Octantis’ maiden voyage to Antarctica 96 VIKING OCTANTIS IN ANTARCTICA Captain Oliver shares his experience of taking Viking Octantis to Antarctica for the first time 98 THROUGH THE LENS WITH ALASTAIR MILLER The dramatic landscapes of Antarctica
A look at one of the world’s great waterways 68 DISCOVERING THE DOURO Sam Berry explores Portugal’s charming Douro River Valley PORTUGAL WINE REGIONS why Portugal should be on every wine connoisseur’s list 48 HOURS IN SALAMANCA A medieval cosmopolitan city awaits in Salamanca 78 YOUR VIKING STORIES We share some of your favourite Viking experiences
Piper undertakes one of our first expeditions of the Great Lakes 48 HOURS IN MILWAUKEE the highlights of this cool Brew City 92 COME FLY WITH ME The art of needle felting ON LOCATION WITH KARINE Hagen talks about Viking ’ maiden voyage to Antarctica VIKING OCTANTIS IN Oliver shares his experience of taking Viking Octantis to Antarctica for the first time 98 THROUGH THE LENS WITH ALASTAIR MILLER The dramatic landscapes of Antarctica 62 84 44 ALASKAN ADVENTURE Viking guests Sheila and Ed Davies discover the majestic landscapes of Alaska and Canada 46 TOP 5 THINGS TO DO IN VANCOUVER What not to miss when you visit Canada’s bustling west coast city 48 TOP 25 DESTINATIONSVIKING Inspire your wanderlust with our top destinations
Bruce Piper undertakes one of our first expeditions of the Great Lakes of North America 88 48 HOURS IN MILWAUKEE Uncover the highlights of this cool Brew City 92 COME FLY WITH ME The art of needle felting
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58 THE ALLURE OF RIVER CRUISING
Discover why Portugal should be on every wine connoisseur’s list 76 48 HOURS IN SALAMANCA A medieval cosmopolitan city awaits in Salamanca 78 YOUR VIKING STORIES We share some of your favourite Viking experiences 84 GREAT LAKES
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40 TOTEM POLES The legend and lore behind Alaska’s culturalguestscarvingsSheila and Ed Davies
THE RHINE, RIVER OF LEGENDS
Marcus Adams, a first-time river cruiser is hooked after an immersive cruise along the Danube 62 THE RHINE, RIVER OF LEGENDS A look at one of the world’s great waterways 68 DISCOVERING THE DOURO Sam Berry explores Portugal’s charming Douro River Valley
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interiors take centre
VIKING NEWS
VIKING CELEBRATES 25 YEARS OF AWARD-WINNING EXPLORATION
On 5 August we celebrated 25 years in business, a proud moment for the Viking family, but we wouldn’t be where we are today without you, our loyal guests. To commemorate the anniversary, our Chairman Torstein Hagen has released a video message as he reflects on Viking’s key milestones since its founding in 1997. The new video can be viewed on our website and you can read more about Viking’s history in the following pages.
25TH ANNIVERSARY SALE
Hot off the press – for your travel inspiration – here is our latest news and updates so you can start planning your future voyage.
#1 OCEAN LINE AND #1 RIVER LINE Viking has been named the #1 Ocean Line and the #1 River Line, in the recent Travel & Leisure 2022 World’s Best Awards - making us the first cruise line ever to top both categories in the same year. Viking is also rated #1 for both rivers and oceans by Condé Nast Traveler. No other cruise line has simultaneously earned #1 in its categories from both publications.
25 TH ANNIVERSARY SALE
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WATCHVIDEOVIDEO VIEW OFFERS recently been named the #1 Ocean Line and the #1 River Line, in the recent Travel & Leisure 2022 World’s Best Awards - making us the first cruise line ever to top both categories in the same year. Viking is also rated #1 for both rivers and oceans by Condé Nast Traveler. No other cruise line has simultaneously earned #1 in its categories from both publications.
To celebrate our 25th anniversary, we’ve released exclusive offers on all 2023 and 2024 river cruises and a selection of our most popular 2023 and 2024 ocean and expedition voyages with savings of up to $8,000 per couple. Hurry, offers valid for new bookings until 31 October 2022. Visit viking.com for full offer details.
VIKING SAIGON SETS SAIL
LEARNLEARNMOREMORE
2022-2024 EXPEDITIONS BROCHURE
Our brand-new 2022-2024 Expeditions brochure is out now featuring our state-of-the-art expedition vessels Viking Octantis and Viking Polaris. Along with new departure dates you’ll also find a collection of new itineraries including an Antarctica and South Georgia voyage, two Longitudinal World Cruises, and five grand journeys exploring the coastlines of North, South and Central America. READ BROCHURE
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VIKING SATURN MEETS WATER FOR FIRST TIME
Viking Saigon has begun her inaugural season in Southeast Asia. Purpose-built for the Mekong River, the 80-guest ship sails between Kampong Cham, Cambodia and Mỹ Tho, Vietnam as part of our popular 15-day Magnificent Mekong itinerary. With the 20222023 season now underway, regular sailing dates are available through March 2023 with the 2023-2024 season beginning in July 2023.
Our newest ocean vessel Viking Saturn was floated out recently marking a major construction milestone. She is now undergoing final construction and fit out and is set to debut in April 2023. Viking Saturn will spend her maiden season sailing itineraries in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.
VIKING’S EPIC 25 YEAR JOURNEY: In name. In spirit. In success. Travel writer Kate Armstrong takes a look at Viking’s 25 years of history LEARN MORE ABOUT THE VIKING STORY 8 VIKING
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“When we started Viking 25 years ago, we wanted to do things differently – and since then, our mission has resonated with curious travellers,” says Torstein.
But considering that 25 years is a mere blip in time, Viking’s epic journey is remarkable.
Two years after Viking’s creation, the fleet expanded by nine river ships. They were striking a chord with passengers: cultural enrichment, a high level of comfort and excellent cuisine. Following this, the firsts just kept coming. The first company to construct an open-air promenade on a river cruise ship in 2001. The first-ever French balcony on a river cruise line in 2005. The first hybrid dieselelectric engine on a ship in 2005. Progress was like a reel on rapid time-lapse.
This page: Torstein and Karine Hagen on expedition in Svalbard, Norway
It’s hard to imagine what the ancient Vikings would make of 25 years, especially given their search for adventure, knowledge and conquest spanned three centuries, from 800 AD to the 11th Century. For over 300 years these savvy Norse seafarers and boat-builders pushed the boundaries of ship design, travel and discovery. Their narrow boats could enter remote coastlines while their broader vessels carried large numbers of passengers. They ventured with abandon to the edge of the unknown world and beyond. Europe. North America. Arabia. Asia. This year, Viking – the world’s leading cruise line and Viking namesake – celebrates 25 years. At the helm of the family-owned company is Viking Chairman, Torstein. Incredibly, Torstein had his sceptics when he founded the company at the age of 54. They underestimated a Norseman’s drive.
In 1997, Viking began with four river ships in Russia. Today, they have an award-winning fleet of over 80 strong river, ocean and expedition ships. Each ship specifically designed to navigate different waterways is inspired by the streamlined designs of the original Viking boats. And they appeal to a special kind of traveller.
In 2012, Viking launched their first four Viking Longships, with the largest suites in Europe.In 2013, they set a Guinness World Record by christening 10 Viking Longships in one day and, in 2014, broke the record again with another 14 Longships launched in a single day. In 2015, they started ocean cruising and by the end of 2022, they will have an ocean fleet of eight ships which visit over 250 ports around the world.
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25 YEARS “YOUNG”: VIKING AT A GLANCE Ocean voyages: 5 Oceans, 80 Countries, 250 ports River journeys: 18 Rivers, 20 Countries, 107 ports Expedition voyages: Antarctica and 5 Great Lakes; Viking Polaris launching later in 2022 From the outset, Torstein wanted the Viking name to reflect more than a catchy brand. The identity aimed to espouse the original Vikings’ psyche, intellect and creativity. He wanted to offer experiences for The Thinking Person who is keen to plunge into a destination’s culture, art, literature and cuisine. At the same time, he also knew exactly what he didn’t want: casinos, children, umbrella drinks and art auctions. Discerning travellers soon found their ultimate cruisingVikingechelon.designed all their itineraries to satisfy curious guests, from Pharaohs and Pyramids in Egypt to the Mediterranean Odyssey. Plus, an enticing range of culture-filled immersive experiences remains integral to theirEachofferings.day,whether on a river, ocean or expedition voyage, you explore your destination with a local guide, visit homes of local families, attend private concerts or head off on hikes in wilderness areas. The choice is yours to tour galleries and other places of interest, including the likes of The Sanctuary of Truth in Thailand and Quinta da Aveleda (a private winery in Portugal). And the opportunity to rub shoulders with ghosts of Kings and Queens or Dukes and Dames in historic homes such as Highclere Castle, home of Downton Abbey (not surprisingly, it’s one of their most popular excursions). After the day’s action, relax over a drink and enjoy a captivating talk given by onboard historians andCuisineexperts.isan equally important part of the offering. Viking’s ocean and expedition fleet boasts a number of world-class restaurants, including the World Café, The Chef’s Table and Manfredi’s, Viking’s specialty and yet inclusive restaurant. And let’s not forget the most low-key yet tasty of them all – the Norwegian-themed delicatessen, Mamsen’s. It’s a loving tribute to Torstein’s mother, the hardworking Hagen family matriarch. It whips up waffles, berry jams and much more that follow the recipes of Mamsen herself, for Vikings are creativeAcrossfolk.Viking’s river, ocean and expedition fleet, the Aquavit Terrace is revolutionary in both concept and design. The venue is a casual outdoor/indoor space where your destination is your dining room. Enjoy an exquisite alfresco dining experience while cruising past fascinating destinations. This has the most outdoor dining capacity on any river ship in Europe. The Restaurant, each ship’s main dining venue serves regional dishes, Scandanavian specialities and always-available classics. Wines, beer and soft drinks are included with lunch and dinner. At each venue, you can tuck into high-quality cuisine that incorporates flavours, ingredients and dishes of your This page: Torstein Hagen at the LongshipViking ceremonychristeningin 2019, Basel, Switzerland; Viking Jupiter naming ceremony in 2020 in Los Angeles, USA
This page: Torstein onboardNorwegianinsidethehistoryItaly;shipViking'sconstructioninspectingHagentheofoceaninTrieste,familyshowninmuralwallMamsen'sDeliallViking ocean ships
This year, as Viking reaches 25 years, they welcome new ships to the river fleet: four Longships in Europe, plus Viking Mississippi in the USA, Viking Saigon on the Mekong in South East Asia and Viking Osiris on the Nile, Egypt. The year also sees two new ocean ships, Viking Mars and Viking Neptune. And that’s not all.
destination. Torstein’s favourite, the Chairman’s Choice dish, is offered across the entire fleet, comprising of delicious poached salmon accompanied by a fresh cucumber salad. The signature Bistecca Fiorentina at Manfredi’s –on ocean and expedition voyages – is a sure favourite. Just as the ancient Vikings decorated their boats with gods and battle scenes, each Viking ship features its own unique artwork collection, much of which is by Norwegian artists. But nothing is more Nordic than the fleet’s understated chic interiors. All spaces, from the Explorers’ Lounge to the private staterooms, radiate the unmistakable Scandinavian aesthetics of blonde woods, soft hues and minimalistic yet comfortable spaces. From the comfort of your stateroom or suite, view the world from your private balcony or through the large windows as it glides past – from Europe’s historic cities and towns to the towering glaciers of Antarctica and the unspoiled wonderland of North America’s Great Lakes. Or absorb the vistas from the Explorers’ Lounge where massive windows welcome in natural light – solar, lunar and even the aurora borealis. And these stellar phenomena continue.
VIKING’S 25 YEARS OF ACHIEVEMENTS Viking has more than 250 awards to its name, including being the first company ever to be simultaneously named the #1 Ocean Line and #1 River Line in Travel + Leisure’s 2022 “World’s Best” Awards. Viking was also rated the #1 River Line and #1 Ocean Line by Condé Nast Traveler in the publication’s 2021 Readers’ Choice Awards. In January 2022, expedition ship Viking Octantis, part of their newly-launched expedition fleet, hit the waters (with second expedition vessel, Viking Polaris launching later in the year). Viking Octantis currently cruises the waters of Antarctica and North America’s Great Lakes, merging comfort and exploration in an
unprecedented way. Passengers, science aficionados or otherwise, can work alongside onboard academics, learning such things as how to filter water forTheymicroplastics.setanew standard in expeditions with a number of innovative industry firsts including The Hangar, an in-ship marina allowing guests to board expedition equipment easily from inside the ship, plus a scientific laboratory, floor-to-ceiling windows throughout the ship and a fleet of sophisticated equipment including two submarines, two 12-seater Special Operations Boats plus a fleet of Zodiacs and kayaks –all at no extra charge. Like the ancient Vikings, Viking has built their empire on the back of a key piece of technology, the Longship. But it didn’t take 300 years to achieve its growth andAftersuccess.amere quarter of a century, Viking now explores all seven continents of the world via the Earth’s waterways across three cutting-edge categories ofVikingships. keeps you, the curious individual, exploring, learning, expanding your horizons and moving onwards. Now that’s the Viking spirit indeed.
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25 th ANNIVERSARY SALE
VIKING A world of cruising in 25 Years
La Roche-Guyon OmahaGoldBeachBeachJuno Beach Normandy Combine two France cruises for a once-in-a-lifetime vacation. OvernightTrainCruise in Port FRANCE’S FINEST PARIS – AVIGNON or vice versa 15 DAYS | 13 GUIDED TOURS SET SAIL MAR-NOV 2023 From only $4,695pp in Standard stateroom SAVE $4,600 per couple N OvernightCruise in Port Semarang Java (Benoa)Bali INDONESIA ThGulfofailand SouthChinaSea JavaSea Ho Chi Minh City Koh(Nathon)SamuiSingapore THAILAND SINGAPORE VIETNAM SECRETS OF SOUTH EAST ASIA BALI – SINGAPORE 15 DAYS | 5 GUIDED TOURS | 4 COUNTRIES SET SAIL MAR 2023 From only $4,995pp in Veranda stateroom SAVE $8,000 per couple CZECH REPUBLIC MAIN HUNGARY THE NETHERLANDS GERMANY MAIN–DANUBEAUSTRIACANAL DANUBE DANUBEWertheimRHINE Prague The Hague Budapest Nuremberg ViennaMelk RegensburgPassauBambergMiltenbergWürzburgRothenburg Krems CologneAmsterdamKoblenzKinderdijkCruiseOvernight in Port GRAND EUROPEAN CRUISE BUDAPEST – AMSTERDAM or vice versa 15 DAYS | 12 GUIDED TOURS | 4 COUNTRIES SET SAIL MAR-DEC 2023 From only $3,995pp in Standard stateroom SAVE $5,600 per couple *Conditions apply. Prices are per person, in Australian dollars, based on double occupancy, subject to availability, includes all advertised discounts and correct at time of printing. Guests are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at time of travel. Grand European Cruise based on 19 November 2023 departure. France’s Finest based on 31 October 2023 departure. Secrets of Southeast Asia based on 18 March 2023. These offers are valid on new bookings made between 05 August and 31 October 2022 unless sold out prior. For full terms and conditions visit viking.com VIEW ITINERARY VIEW ITINERARY VIEW ITINERARY 12 VIKING
This year, we celebrate 25 years of Viking. From four river ships in 1997, today, we have an award-winning fleet of over 80 strong river, ocean and expedition ships. On our journey, we have accumulated more than 250 awards including the #1 Ocean Line and #1 River Line in Travel + Leisure’s 2022 “World’s Best” Awards. Like the ancient Vikings, we built our ships on the back of clean, streamlined design. We set the standard for modern river cruises, we reinvented ocean cruises and today, we are onto our next project: perfecting expedition voyages. We strive for meaningful experiences for The Thinking Person and make no apologies for our no kids, no casinos approach to cruising. This keeps our well-travelled guests coming back time and time again. With our special 25th anniversary offers across our ocean river and expedition voyages, we invite you to join us on our onwards journey so we can expand our
Save up to $8,000 per couple on 2023 and 2024 Enjoy,voyagesit’s all included... Available across all Viking River, Ocean and Expedition voyages: • Deluxe accommodation in outside stateroom • One complimentary shore excursion at every port of call • Enrichment lectures & destination performances • Unlimited free Wi-Fi • Beer, wine and soft drink served with onboard lunches and dinners • 24-hour access to specialty coffees, teas and bottled water • Culture Curriculum: lectures and performances of art, music, cooking, dance and history • All port taxes and fees • No credit card surcharges • Industry-leading Health & Safety Program Additional inclusions on Ocean and Expedition voyages: Multiple dining venues, including alternative restaurant dining and daily afternoon tea 24-hour room Complimentaryserviceaccess to our top-rated spa & state-of-the-art Self-service launderette with iron and ironing board Inclusions exclusive to Expedition voyages: Complimentary onshore excursions; from two six-seater yellow submarines to a fleet of military Viking excursion gear, boots and expedition kit for you to use on land and sea excursions ADELIE PENGUINS, ANTARCTICA Half Moon IslandBrown Bluff Whalers CuvervilleBay Island Antarctic Peninsula Neko Harbor Damoy PointPetermann Island ANTARCTICA Drake Passage WeddellSeaChanneLemaire ARGENTINA UshuaiaChanneBeaglelCapeHorn Buenos Aires AtlanticOcean Example expedition destinations Chartered ight ANTARCTIC EXPLORER BUENOS AIRES – USHUAIA – BUENOS AIRES 13 DAYS | 2 COUNTRIES SET SAIL JAN-MAR & NOV-DEC 2023; JAN-FEB 2024 From only $16,995pp in Nordic Balcony SAVE $5,000 per couple MediterraneanSea MadridBarcelona AdriaticSea Venice Dubrovnik IonianSea NaplesSplit(Civitavecchia)Rome MonteCarlo Florence/Pisa(Livorno)Marseille (Kérkyra)CorfuStromboli Volcano Strait Messinaof Cruise •• Overnight in Port SPAIN FRANCE MONACO ITALY CROATIA GREECE MEDITERRANEAN ODYSSEY BARCELONA – VENICE or vice versa 13 DAYS | 10 GUIDED TOURS | 6 COUNTRIES SET SAIL MAR-OCT 2023; APR-AUG 2024 From only $6,995pp in Veranda stateroom SAVE $3,400 per couple *Conditions apply. Prices are per person, in Australian dollars, based on double occupancy, subject to availability, includes all advertised discounts and correct at time of printing. Guests are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at time of travel. Mediterranean Odyssey based on 11 October 2023 departure. Antarctic Explorer based on 20 November 2023 departure. Grand Fjords & Iconic Viking Shores based on 24 June 2024. These offers are valid on new bookings made between 05 August and 31 October 2022 unless sold out prior. For full terms and conditions visit viking.com VIEW ITINERARY VIEW ITINERARY viking.com 13
1. AUCKLAND WAIHEKE ISLAND A visit to Auckland must include Waiheke Island. With rich farmland, forests, beaches, vineyards and olive groves, this pristine island is full of inspiration for nature lovers. It's the perfect place to grow high quality wines including Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and more recently Chardonnay. Of course, you are welcome to sample some of the island's best while you visit!
The natural phenomena of bubbling mudpoolshotsprings,andgeysers are simply fascinating at Te Puia Thermal Reserve. Located within the historic Te Whakarewarewa Valley, take a guided tour with a Māori guide who will bring cultural and conservation narratives to life, sharing stories handed down through generations.
The Napier of today is a city rebuilt after a devastating earthquake in 1931, yet it retains a unique concentration of one of the world’s most spectacular collections of art-deco buildings, with amazingly intact 1930s facades and streetscapes. Oenophiles will also love that Napier is located within the Hawke’s Bay region. While bird watchers will want to visit Cape Kidnappers, where they will be able to observe a gannet colony.
From breathtaking scenery, awe-inspiring nature to mouth watering food and wine there's no place quite like New Zealand. We've picked our top places to see between the North and South islands
A must-see is Otago Peninsula, located on the southern edge of Dunedin's harbour. The area is part of the crater wall from a large extinct volcano which is filled with fascinating wildlife, including fur and lion seals and the only mainland albatross colony in the Southern Hemisphere. There are several walking tracks which open up to cliff lookouts, beaches and penguin nesting areas.
5. OTAGODUNEDINPENINSULA
2. ROTORUA GEOTHERMAL SPRINGS
Top 5 places to visit in NEW ZEALAND
Founded in 1863, Christchurch's Botanic Gardens are a place of ever-changing beauty of flora and fauna. Discover ten different gardens from thriving fragrant flowers to complex displays of cacti and tropical orchids.
3. ARTNAPIERDECOARCHITECTURE
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4. CHRISTCHURCHCHRISTCHURCHBOTANIC GARDENS
TWELVE APOSTLES, AUSTRALIA N OvernightCruise in Port TasmanSea PaciSouthc TASMANIAUSTRALIAA NEW ZEALAND Sydney Dunedin Foveaux StraitChristchurchWellingtonNapierRotoruaAucklandStraitBassHobartMelbourne Cruise with Viking and explore the world in comfort, on modern spacious small ships with only 930 guests. With the added comfort of industry-leading health and safety protocols, no kids and no casinos, this itinerary offers an extraordinarily diverse cruising experience. From the stunning shores of Australia to the natural beauty of coastal New Zealand, discover rugged landscapes, quaint coastal communities, bustling cities and fascinating cultures. Or enjoy a special Christmas or New Year’s Eve sailing for a celebratory experience. Simply unpack once and settle in. With privileged access to numerous sights and attractions, world class dining choices, award winning service, and a unique onboard enrichment program there’s never been a better time to explore closer to home. ENJOY, IT’S ALL INCLUDED PRIVATE VERANDA STATEROOM | NORDIC SPA FACILITIES | SHORE EXCURSIONS | CHOICE OF 8 DINING OPTIONS WINE & BEER SERVED WITH LUNCH & DINNER | 24 HOUR ROOM SERVICE | WI-FI & GRATUITIES NEWEST SMALL SHIP FLEET | INDUSTRY-LEADING HEALTH & SAFETY PROGRAM *Conditions apply. Prices are per person, in Australian dollars, based on double occupancy, subject to availability, includes all advertised discounts and correct at time of printing. Guests are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at time of travel. Australia & New Zealand based on 02 February 2023 departure. These offers are valid on new bookings made between 05 August and 31 October 2022 unless sold out prior. For full terms and conditions visit viking.com EXPLORE THE VIKING WAY SMALL SHIP CRUISING CLOSER TO HOME AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND SYDNEY – AUCKLAND or vice versa 15 DAYS | 9 GUIDED TOURS | 2 COUNTRIES SET SAIL JAN – MAR & DEC 2023; JAN – FEB 2024 From $7,995pp in Veranda stateroom SAVE $4,000 per couple 25 TH ANNIVERSARY SALE VIEW ITINERARY viking.com 15
VIEW NORWAY VOYAGES 16 VIKING
From north to south, the country measures less than 1,100 miles, but its coastline is a huge 63,000 miles of fjords, bays and island shores. This glorious natural wonder was shaped during the last Ice Age when glaciers several miles high pushed into the land, resulting in dramatic soaring peaks, like those seen on the Lofoten Islands.
A RICH SOURCE OF FOOD Stretching out into the Norwegian Sea, the remote Lofoten archipelago shows off the sculpting power of nature. The islands are home to the world’s greatest cod harvest. Each winter, the icy Arctic Ocean meets the Gulf Stream, attracting Arctic cod from the Barents Sea. These relatively warm waters are why the sea here remains ice-free all year.
BEYOND THE HORIZON From the deck of a ship, you sense a timelessness about the land, which is both wild and resilient. You can understand the pull of the sea that Norwegian explorers like Roald Amundsen and Fridtjof Nansen felt. For many years, the Norwegian Sea was thought to be the edge of the known world. To sail across the sea was an act of daring. It was also a great achievement of navigation. By the eighth century, the only European seafarers to dare sail far enough to lose sight of land were the Vikings. Waiting for favourable winds, and armed with plenty of provisions (like stockfish) they ventured in all directions, to create new settlements and forge new trading routes. They navigated by the position of the stars, and the sun. West, towards the sunset, meant they were headed for England; east (towards the sunrise) meant home to Norway. Symbolic of the Viking age, the Viking longships were sophisticated beyond their time, recognised, respected and imitated the world
The NORWEGIAN SEA
We bring to life the geography, resources and discoveries related to this northern ocean
Tørrfisk or stockfish is dried and salted fish (usually cod), made in Norway for centuries. Traditionally dried outdoors by the wind and sun as a way to preserve nutrients, row upon row of fish hang on wooden racks along the shores of Lofoten, as it has done for 500 years. These waters are also rich in herring, and the abundance of fish in turn attracts an abundance of other animals. Minke, humpback, sei and orca come to feed, while the cries of puffin, kittiwake, gannets, gulls and guillemot pierce the sky. Until the 20th century, the coast was sparsely populated, although the coastal Sámi, who first colonised the land, have been living here for up to 4,000 years.
If you pulled Norway’s crinkled coastline out into a straight line, it would circle the planet two and a half times.
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Opposite: Traditional homes perch on wooden stilts in LofotentheIslands
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Clockwise, from top left: A sperm whale breaches the Norwegian waters; fish dries on wooden racks along the coast; sea travel has always been vital to the Norwegian way of life; seagulls soar over the fjords; a traditional Viking ship; the Lofoten Islands attract thousands of puffins each year; the archipelago wows with its snow-capped mountain backdrop; Stavanger’s pretty old town
Today, the most important product of the Norwegian Sea is not fish, but oil and gas. Oil was first found in the Norwegian sector of the North Sea in 1969 and by 1990 the country was Europe’s largest oil producer. By 2000, oil and gas production accounted for 20 percent of Norway’s economy, and it had become one of the world’s most prosperous countries. The oil industry not only created jobs in production, but also in the supply chain and technology. To sail the Norwegian Sea is to witness life along an eons-old coastline that is as mesmerising as
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over. Built not for comfort but for speed, agility and endurance, the ships’ innovative design allowed the Vikings unparalleled access to lands beyond their own. Exploration is part of the Norwegian DNA. By exploring beyond the horizon, Norwegians have mastered the sea and, in turn, depend on it for transport, resources and trade. The 14th century was Norway’s Golden Age, a time of peace and growing international trade with Britain and Germany. This period of trade was controlled by the Hanseatic League who established a trading centre in Bergen. On Bergen’s Bryggen (wharf) the preserved buildings of the Hanseatic League are a World Heritage Site and serve as a reminder of the country’s enduring link to the sea.
OIL EXPLORATION
Above: Fishing boats docked in Henningsvær, a village in the Lofoten Islands
the sea itself. Under the dusky light of the midnight sun or the mid-winter blanket of darkness, the coast reveals tiny settlements in sheltered hills that appear unchanged through time. The cities along the coast, from Bergen to Tromsø and, in the far north, Honningsvåg, were built on fishing, trade and exploration and they wear their heritage proudly. Wooden buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries line the harbour, where the fish markets sell the day’s catch. Deep, yawning fjords, offer a route inland to mountains and glaciers. Many countries have a history and culture firmly anchored to the sea. None more so than the people of Norway.
Viking Marketing Manager Erin Kramer tells us of her recent experience onboard Viking Venus from Bergen to Stockholm
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EXPLORE OUR Homelands
Railway • The Kitchen Table experience in Stavanger • Exploring history and architecture in Berlin • Meandering through the cobblestone streets in Stockholm’s Gamla Stan page:OppositeIconic red
DESTINATION
was going to be one amazing welcome back to the world of international travel. The first four ports of my journey were in Norway, and what I was looking forward to the most. After pouring over countless images at work of the majestic Norwegian fjords, dotted with little red houses under the backdrop of snow-capped mountains, I was finally here to see it for myself. HIGHLIGHTS Flåm houses along the Norwegian fjords, Flåm, Norway This frompage,topleft: historic homes in Bergen, Norway; Erin in Bergen,herDemark;Copenhagen,Nyhavn,ErinandmotherinNorway
• Scenic sailing through the Norwegian Fjords • Touching snow-capped mountains on the
It was with more excitement than I can articulate that I boarded the flight for the long journey from Sydney to Bergen. My absence from international travel for the past two years made that seem insignificant compared to what lay ahead of me. On a crisp evening in early May, I arrived in Bergen breathing in the fresh Norwegian air. If there’s one thing everyone that’s been to Bergen will tell you, is that it rains. 239 days of the year in fact. But as they say, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Or, when Bergen gives you rain, buy yourself a beautiful raincoat from a country that knows how to make a functional one. I was ready to board my home for the next 15 days, Viking Venus Being part of the Viking family for four years means I have had the opportunity to be on different river and ocean ships at different times, and when we say we create our ships so that our guests feel like they are coming home, it is exactly that. After a long hiatus, I felt like I was home. There were multiple Viking staff members previously stationed on other ships who remembered me, and even remembered what I drank.
preferences.memorysmileswithwelcomedabsence,two-yeartheyallmebacktheirinfectiousandincredibleofmywineIknewit
After a
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There’s something incredibly special about sailing through the fjords with towering landscapes either side, best viewed from the ship’s Explorer’s Lounge providing an astounding 180-degree view. A trip on the Flåm railway from Eidfjord is a must, taking you up into the mountains for panoramic views from every angle. In Stavanger, the vivid blue doors stand out on the bright white wooden houses that line the old town. Even on a gloomy day it’s picture perfect. Before I knew it, we said our farewell to Norway and had made our way to Denmark, with our first stop in Ålborg, hometown of Sydney Opera House architect Jorn Utzon. The ship docks alongside the Utzon Centre and it’s a very easy town to explore by foot. Like everywhere in Denmark, beware of the bikes. Especially in Copenhagen. With elaborate architecture drawing your eyes at every corner, it’s easy to not see cyclists riding through with the speed and confidence of cars. Our day in Berlin was the longest, busiest, and most demanding, both mentally and physically, but worth it. After relatively quiet ports in Norway and Denmark, Berlin brought a big city feel with modern history, and so much to explore that everyone on the ship had made plans to revisit again soon. Soon after was Gdańsk. It was my first visit to Poland, and I was immediately lured in by all the amber jewellery that adorned the store windows. I justified a few purchases by telling myself it was small and easy to bring back home.
ÅlborgCopenhagen MariehamnStavangerEidfjord OsloBergen (Warnemünde)Berlin Bornholm(Rønne) Gdańsk
• The extensive menu in Manfredi’s — so many choices, so little time
DENMARKGERMANY Cruise •• Overnight in Port
• Watching the world go by from my private balcony
Above: DenmarkofcolourfulThelanesCopenhagen,
It was time to disembark. After 15 days of being blissfully taken care of, having all my meals prepared, my bed made every day, and being greeted at every corner of the ship with a friendly smile and hello, I was heading back to reality. While I felt a little sad as I stepped off the ship for the final time, I did so with the pleasure of knowing I would be back on board to my Viking home again in the not-too-distant future. Stockholm BalticSea NorthSea
NORWAY SWEDEN FINLAND POLAND
• Daily visits to relax and unwind in the LivNordic Spa after a day of exploring
• The beautiful Viking staff who made me feel so at home
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• Returning to the ship to warm refresher towels and a sense of calm after a busy day in port
A new port for Viking Homelands was Mariehamn in the Åland Islands, admittedly somewhere I had not actually heard of before but was very pleased to have visited, nonetheless. Steeped with Viking history this quaint island was the calm we needed before arriving in our final port, bustling Stockholm.
SHIP HIGHLIGHTS
Clockwise, from top left: Highlights of Erin's journey — old archtecture in Gdańsk, Poland; Erin en route to the Flåm railway excursion; Viking Venus docked in Ålborg, Denmark; Viking Venus docked in Eidfjord, Norway; getting upclose to the fjord coastlines; Jorn Utzon Centre, Ålborg, Denmark; colourful little houses in Bornholm, Denmark; historic houses in Stavanger, Norway
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VIEW VIKING RECIPE COLLECTION 24 VIKING
fromClockwise,above: Cinnamon buns are a toppingswithcanopensweetpopulartreat;sandwichesbemadeavarietyof
Whatever they are doing, the Swedes make time to stop for a coffee and sweet roll once or twice a day in a tradition known as fika They also invented smörgåsbord, the delicious buffet of hot and cold dishes which has become popular around the world.
Some of the most delicious and healthy cuisine in the world hails from the fjords of Norway and the Swedish archipelago
Scandinavian cooking is all about quality ingredients and simplicity, with the main ingredient being used to flavor the dish. Hearty dishes, such as pork and meatballs, contrast with exquisitely presented open-faced sandwiches. Cured fish and herring are also popular, as are berries including lingonberries, cloudberries and blueberries. A shot of aquavit—a distinct and potent eau-de-vie flavoured with caraway—is an important part of Scandinavian culinary culture. With its spectacular mountains, wilderness and coast, and an abundance of fresh produce including seafood and game, Norwegian cuisine is diverse and usually quite unfussy, letting natural ingredients speak for themselves. Swedish cuisine is centred around fish, cheese, sourdough bread, meatballs (served with lingonberry jam) and potatoes, usually mashed or boiled.
Scandinavian FOOD
The nattmal, or “night meal,” was eaten at the end of the working day, and would be composed of fish or meat stewed with vegetables. For a sweet treat, the Vikings might have had dried fruit with honey. And they drank mead (a strong fermented drink made from honey), björr (a strong fruit wine) and buttermilk daily. Today, several dishes and ingredients link all the regions of Scandinavia together, bringing the Nordic food experience to life.
In Finland, salmon and herring are staple foods, along with deer and moose. Arctic wild berries, including cloudberries, are often featured in the country’s jams and desserts.
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On a typical day, the Viking people would eat two meals. The dagmal, or “day meal,” was served an hour after rising. It might consist of some stew left over from the night before, served with bread and milk; porridge with dried fruit and buttermilk with bread were also popular.
Danish cuisine has its roots in peasant traditions. Rustic dishes made with potatoes, fish and pork sausages are always popular, and the country is known worldwide for its excellent cheeses and smørrebrød—a piece of buttered rye bread topped with a slice of fish, meat or cheese.
The heritage of Scandinavian food dates back to the time of the Vikings, who sourced many of their ingredients from the North Sea and were particularly fond of mussels, cod, trout and cured salmon. Their diet was designed to sustain their lifestyle. At sea, they would eat dried or salted meat or fish, washed down with beer or sour milk. At home, they farmed crops and raised animals.
5 To make the mustard and dill sauce, combine the mustard, sugar and vinegar in a bowl and whisk. Add the olive oil in a steady stream while whisking until it becomes thick and smooth. Add the dill and season.
4 Pour over the water and bring to a boil. Turn down the heat, then simmer gently for 2 to 3 hours until the lamb is very tender, occasionally checking the water level to prevent the dish from boiling dry.
6 Serve the gravlax with the sauce and fresh bread.
LAMB FÅRIKÅL
75gGRAVLAX(2.6oz)sea salt flakes
1 tbsp white peppercorns, crushed 900g (2 lb) fresh salmon, filleted and boned, with skin on 70g (2½ oz) fresh dill, including stalks, chopped
1 tbsp white wine vinegar or distilled malt vinegar 150ml (5 fl oz) olive oil 3 tbsp fresh dill, chopped Salt and freshly ground pepper
100g (3½ oz) superfine (caster) sugar
1 For the curing mixture, combine the salt, sugar and peppercorns together.
2 tbsp superfine (caster) sugar
2 Cut the cabbage into quarters down to the core, then cut each quarter into 3 or 4 wedges, keeping part of the core on each segment to hold the leaves together.
FOR THE MUSTARD AND DILL SAUCE: 4 tbsp mustard
4 Wrap the salmon up and place it in a wide, deep dish. Place in the fridge for 48 hours, turning the salmon over every 12 hours. When your salmon is cured, unwrap it and slice with a sharp knife using a smooth sawing action at a 45-degree angle, pulling each slice away from the skin. Store in the fridge and use within a week or freeze.
2 Cut some plastic wrap for the salmon. Rinse the salmon and pat dry with paper towels. Run your fingers over the salmon to feel for any tiny pin bones and remove them (tweezers are useful for this).
3 Spread half the mixture over the skin side of the salmon and rub in well. Take a third of the dill, spread out on the plastic wrap and place the salmon on this, skin side down. Rub the remaining salt mixture over the salmon flesh with your fingers, then cover with the leftover dill.
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3 Place a layer of lamb, then a layer of cabbage into a heavy casserole dish, seasoning each layer with salt and sprinkling over some of the peppercorns. Repeat the layering process until all the ingredients are used up, finishing with a layer of cabbage.
Serves 4–6 1kg (2.2 lb) lamb shoulder 1 large green cabbage 2-3 tsp salt 15 black peppercorns Around 475ml (1 pint) water
1 Cut the lamb shoulder into 3cm slices (if you want to keep the bone in, ask your butcher to slice the lamb for you).
NorthSeaBergen N OvernightCruise in Por NORWAY Reykjavík Honningsvåg Tromsø (Leknes)Lofoten GeirangerOslo Orkney (KirkwallIslands)Shetland(GreenwichLondon)Islands(Lerwick)Edinburgh SCOTLANDENGLAND NorwegianSea ENJOY, IT’S ALL INCLUDED PRIVATE VERANDA STATEROOM | NORDIC SPA FACILITIES | SHORE EXCURSIONS | CHOICE OF 8 DINING OPTIONS WINE & BEER SERVED WITH LUNCH & DINNER | 24 HOUR ROOM SERVICE | WI-FI & GRATUITIES NEWEST SMALL SHIP FLEET | INDUSTRY-LEADING HEALTH & SAFETY PROGRAM *Conditions apply. Prices are per person, in Australian dollars, based on double occupancy, subject to availability, includes all advertised discounts and correct at time of printing. Guests are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at time of travel. Into the Midnight Sun based on 26 June 2024 departure. Iceland & Norway’s Arctic Explorer based on 05 August 2024 departure. These offers are valid on new bookings made between 05 August and 31 October 2022 unless sold out prior. For full terms and conditions visit viking.com INTO THE MIDNIGHT SUN LONDON – BERGEN or vice versa 15 DAYS | 9 GUIDED TOURS | 3 COUNTRIES SET SAIL JUN – JUL 2022; JUN – AUG 2023 From $9,595pp in Veranda stateroom SAVE $1,400 per couple Polar Ice Cap A R C T I C O C E A N 80 OvernightCruise in Port NORWAY NORWAY ICELAND Ísafjördur Reykjavík HonningsvågSvalbardLongyearbyenTromsøNarvikLofoten(Leknes)GeirangerBergen ICELAND & NORWAY’S ARCTIC EXPLORER REYKJAVÍK – BERGEN or vice versa 15 DAYS | 8 GUIDED TOURS | 2 COUNTRIES SET SAIL JUN – AUG 2023 From $9,595pp in Veranda stateroom SAVE $1,400 per couple ISLES OF THE FAR NORTH From $9,595pp 25 TH ANNIVERSARY SALE VIEW ITINERARY VIEW ITINERARY 27viking.com
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Opposite: An old anchor makes a good spot for a seat
This page: refugesettingReserve,NationalHermanessNatureacliff-topandatoseabirds
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Island
Exploration
Scottish television producer Fi Cotter Craig shares her memories of an enlightening trip to Shetland and Orkney
If you haven’t ever seen the midnight sun, what have you been doing every July and August? It’s the visual equivalent of being in St. Paul’s Cathedral with the best choir in the world performing Bach’s Mass in B Minor, or at La Scala watching multiple Pavarottis out-tenoring each other belting out Puccini’s Greatest Hits. Really, it’s that good. Any Viking cruise brings anticipation and excitement even before you’ve set foot on board, but there was one destination on our Into the Midnight Sun itinerary I wasn’t entirely sure about: Shetland. In general, I love an island, but thanks to two emotionally scarring childhood experiences, I’ve never really had any warm feelings towards those forbidding and far-flung stepping stones in the seas between Scotland and Norway. In the 1960s there was no global warming, and therefore no summer in Scotland. Winter clothes were mandatory all year round and until I could choose my own clothes I was trapped inside itchy-scratchy Shetland sweaters. The itchy scratching was bad enough, but there was a far, far worse design flaw – the size of the neck opening. Always way too small. Putting them on was a struggle, but taking them off was torture, and I’m as sure as I can be that my ears are
VIEW ITINERARY
Shetland is magnificent – the perfect creation of form and function for a challenging environment
fromClockwisetopleft:
standingBrodgar,stone;anShetlandcathedral;Britain’sSt.Kirkwall’sMagnus,northerlywildponies;ancientburialtheRingofmajesticstones
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It’s architecturally and emotionally strong, no frills, muscular and enduring – the perfect creation of form and function for a challenging environment. Suddenly the sweaters and Hamish’s intransigence began to make sense. The treeless landscape is sparse and spectacular, soaring cliffs, hundreds, possibly thousands of fabulous seabirds swirling through Spitfire skies, rising and falling on Atlantic thermals, houses huddling into the landscape and mile after mile of fields dotted with the providers of those childhood sweaters. So far so about two inches further up my head than they would have been without that daily tug of war. Then there was Hamish. He was a birthday present, a pony from the Shetland Islands, I was three, what could be more perfect? Almost anything actually. Hamish had more tricks up his sleeve for dealing with under fives than a whole battalion of Norland Nannies. He was also more determined to do things his way than even Frank Sinatra. We never had a battle he didn’t win, these dual formative experiences taught me that Shetland should be treated with caution.Icouldn’t have been more wrong. Shetland is magnificent.
Shetland, but the music however, was a complete revelation. Turns out that Lerwick is basically the Nashville of Scottish fiddle music; on the High Street in Lerwick, a couple of teenagers in jeans and t-shirts, not busking, but competing with each other for fun – a joyous pair of Duelling Fiddles, toe-tapping doesn’t do them justice. Everywhere modern, melodic music with an ancient soul drifted out of shops, bars, pubs, open windows and created an unforgettable soundtrack to my Shetland experience.Imayhave finally made friends with Shetland, but with Orkney, it was love at first sight. The polar opposite of its Presbyterian
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northern cousin, Orkney is a low-lying riot of wild flowers, wide open spaces and greenery. So lushly, verdantly green, the landscape is enhanced by the soft rolling curves of gentle hills. In July the fields were filled with softly waving ancient grains, bere barley should you be interested, which has been grown there since the original Vikings first paid a visit. I’m not sure that I have ever been more aware of being surrounded by thousands of years of history than I was during my brief time in Orkney. Within a few miles of each other are Skara Brae (a perfectly preserved Neolithic settlement built 5,000 years ago), the scuttled WWI German High Seas Fleet rusting below the waters of Scapa Flow, the four WWII causeways known as the Churchill Barriers, and an exquisite chapel built by Italian prisoners of war. Meanwhile, the standing stones of the Ring of Brodgar made me stop in my tracks and weep at their simplicity and allmighty presence. There’s something unique about Orkney itself that helps you sense the humans who made and lived all this history – it’s not just a collection of old or even ancient things, everything carried something of its creators, tens, hundreds or thousands of years in a future they couldn’t possibly begin to imagine. And there’s more, at the very heart of Kirkwall, there is the mighty St. Magnus, Britain’s most northerly cathedral. Whatever your relationship with God please pay a visit. Building began in 1137 and finished 300 years later. It is as humbling now as it must have been then. I got the sense that while Orkney is rightly proud of its history, it has its eyes very much on the future, and perhaps that self-reliance is the secret of its continuing evolution. Today, it leads the UK’s drive to a carbon-free future, and is developing clean energy technology that will harness the power of the wind and the surrounding seas.
GETTING THERE: The 15-day Into the Midnight Sun voyage starts from Bergen to London. From $9,595pp in a Veranda stateroom.
Clockwise from above: Scalloway town and theHamish,childhoodharbour;picturesqueitsFi’spony,isonfarright
There is no capital quite like Edinburgh, with its medieval and neoclassical beauty set amongst rocky hills and gracious green ribbons of park. Recognised as Scotland’s capital since the 15th century, this city promises to make an unforgettable impression with its charming character and fascinating history. With cobbled streets and an alluring city skyline, the ultimate way to explore is on Discoverfoot. the 18th century New Town, comprised of delightful neoclassical and Georgian architecture, it is packed full of designer boutiques, high street shops, cafes, bars and restuarants. From a high point, view the dramatic skyline punctuated with church spires and dominated by Edinburgh Castle set upon its mighty rock. Meander through the centre of the bustling city and marvel at the iconic Royal Mile. Stand in awe before the 17th century Palace of Holyroodhouse, associated with some of Scotland’s most well known historical figures including Mary Queen of Scots. Go online: Visit viking.com for more information on voyages that go to Edinburgh
48 HOURS IN SCOTLAND Edinburgh VIEW EDINBURGH VOYAGES 32 VIKING
EDINBURGH 55.9533° N, 3.1883° W
The Royal Mile spans through the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town providing a link between Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Lined with parliamentary buildings, a catherdral and churches to a range of tourist attractions, shops, restaurants and cafes. A wander through this precint’s labyrinth of cobblestone streets is a must! If you call on this vibrant city in the month of August, The Edinburgh Festival Fringe – the largest arts festival in the world – provides an array of entertainment from theatre, comedy, dance, musicals, opera, and more.
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WHAT TO SEE AND DO A visit to this charming city wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Edinburgh Castle, located in the heart of the dynamic capital. Packed with endless history and secrets, this structure has served as a military fortress, royal residence and prison of war. Roam corridors once walked by historical greats and admire the glittering Crown Jewels, which both the Scottish and English monarchs crowned. Located at the bottom of the historic Royal Mile, the Palace of Holyroodhouse is a Scottish icon of classical architecture with Baroque decoration. The palace is adorned with intricate tapestries, portraits of historical greats and precious antiques. One of the highlights of the palace is the Great Gallery which is decorated with a fabulous collection of paintings of the royal house.
WHERE TO SHOP Shopping in Edinburgh caters to all tastes, styles and budgets. Princes Street is unique with one side lined with several department stores and international brands, while the other offers the lush Princes Street Gardens with breathtaking views of Edinburgh Castle and the Old Town cityscape. Stockbridge has a charming village feel and vibe with market stalls, speciality shops and a variety of eateries.
WHERE TO DINE After shopping in Stockbridge, you’ll be spoilt for choice with an array of brunch spots, gastropubs and quaint cafes. Grassmarket, nestled in the centre of the Old Town is bursting with some of the best restaurants and eclectic bars. The area is home to a regular market, offering fresh produce, freshly baked bread and handcrafted local gifts.
Opposite page: Edinburgh Castle This page: Traditional fried scotch HolyroodhouseTown;Cathedral,markets;Stockbridgeeggs,St.GilesOldPalaceof
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A trip along Norway’s west coast proved to be the perfect way to experience the dramatic beauty of this stunning coastline, whilst also providing the opportunity to explore Viking Jupiter, the sixth ship to join Viking’s impressive ocean fleet, in more detail. Like its almost identical sister ships, Viking Jupiter was designed to be a floating boutique hotel, spacious and bright enough for its 930 guests never to feel crowded, yet intimate enough to make it their home-from-home.
myriad spaces, with a wonderful selection of picture-windows from which to enjoy the constantly changing views.
Symmetry at sea
As I wandered through the ship, it seemed clear to me that Viking founder, Torstein Hagen, had his guests in mind when designing the
The architect responsible, Richard Riveire, had worked previously on the design of the Longships for Viking River Cruises, before moving on to work on Viking’s ocean fleet. Riveire’s background was in
Journalist Laura Ivill shines a light on the sumptuous Scandinavian interiors on board Viking Jupiter
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My stateroom – softly decorated with blonde woods, sea blues and Scandi textiles – reinforced the Norwegian design ethos that underpins the overall look of all Viking vessels. Staterooms are spacious, offer 24-hour room service and most importantly, feature their own balcony, essential for watching the world glide by.
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All of Viking’s ocean ships are designed along almost identical lines, but with some offeringshipsspecial features, such as the planetariums onboard both Viking Jupiter and Viking Orion One of the benefits of replicating the design and layout is the sense of familiarity it brings to repeat guests. The flow of interconnecting spaces ensures that guests can always find a special spot, suitable for reading,
No wonder Viking aims to capture and convey the fresh back-to-nature spirit of its homeland
Clockwise from above: blackoutblanketsfeaturestateroomsafurniturefleet;acrosssnugsdining;keencatersAquavitTheTerraceforthoseonal-frescocosyfeaturetheVikingsculpturaladdsuniquetouch;wovenandcurtains
A thorough tour of the ship helped to familiarise the layout, and the Viking Art Guide is a clever app that led us all around Viking Jupiter by way of the curated art collection, another inspired offering from Viking that really helps you to settle into your environment and to broaden your understanding of the art eating, socialising, or simply sitting and watching the world float by. I often took binoculars to dinner, so as never to miss a stormpetrel nor albatross, a lonesome fishing boat nor pods of orca out hunting. I appreciated the ship’s authentic Scandinavian interior design – the clean lines, symmetry, sculptural furniture, warming woods, cosy cushions, handmade textiles and hygge hides. All of these touches worked together to ensure guests feel relaxed and recharged during hotel design, a fact he initially assumed would count against him, but which had the opposite effect, making him the perfect candidate in the eyes of Torstein Hagen.
their trip. It is easy to fall in love with Norway’s clean fresh air and quiet pace of life, and to appreciate the simplicity of sea, sky and earth. No wonder Viking aims to subtly capture and convey the fresh backto-nature spirit of its homeland. It would be madness not to.
onboard in the process. I particularly loved the digital animations of flowers unfolding in The Chef’s Table and the animation of the Bayeux Tapestry. Although most of the artwork, from etchings and paintings to photographs and ceramics, both bought and commissioned, are by Norwegian artists, I confess my favourites were by Kate Jenkins, a textile artist from Brighton, whose plates of seafood featuring squid, sardines, mussels, crayfish and scallops, are all amusingly and delicately crocheted and displayed, appropriately, in the World Café. In addition to the impeccablydesigned dining areas, the LivNordic Spa was another
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Clockwise, from above: Feast on isthecrochetofMamsen’s;specialitiesNorwegianinoneKateJenkins’artworks;LivNordicSpaaspoilingaffair 38 VIKING
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Overall, Viking’s impeccable interiors and clever design elements work to reinforce the seascapes and natural surroundings, and to heighten guests’ appreciation of the epic scenery, resulting in a journey for both the mind and the senses.
The Spa’sLivNordic hot tub is always inviting, as are the heated stone loungers. For those SnowthereadventurousfeelingisevenaGrotto.
highlight, featuring a mesmerising water-vapour fireplace, a traditional Nordic sauna and treatments and even a Snow Grotto. The real showstopper on Viking Jupiter – and on her sister ships – is the reception area known as the Wintergarden. Comfortable lounge chairs are arranged under an ingenious treelike wooden canopy, originally designed to hide the ceiling structure. A delicious afternoon tea is served daily, with musical entertainment provided by the ship’s onboard musicians.
FAVOURITEFIVECOSYCORNERS
The light and airy Wintergarden is a destinationrelaxing for afternoon tea. Share a plate of pastries or indulge yourself with the whole three tiers. The perfect place to watch the world unfold is the Explorers’ Lounge at the bow of the ship. Cosy up on a favourite sofa with soft blankets and a hot drink.
For those who love to dine al fresco, the Aquavit Terrace is the ultimate spot for a bite to eat. Enjoy the views from the upper deck. Keeping in touch with those back home has never been better thanks to the nextthetuckedworkstationsawayunderatrium’sstaircasetothestunning Lichen Garden.
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The totem poles of Alaska, created by coastal First Nations and indigenous groups of the Pacific Northwest, in particular the Tlingit, Tsimshian and Haida communities, are magnificent pieces of art that conjure up memories of people and events.Usually standing between three and 18 metres in height – although some can surpass 20 metres – poles were traditionally carved by men. Today, however, both men and women have become expert carvers of totem poles, often honing their skills after spending their childhood years watching experts in action. The word ‘totem’ can be traced to the Algonquian word odoodem, meaning “kinship group”. Typically
Common crests include the thunderbird, wolf, grizzly bear, raven, beaver, frog, salmon and eagle, and important families often have more than one crest. In addition to family-related themes, totem poles can also be created to mark a special event or to commemorate a particular ancestor or legend. They can also be used as a point of welcome, or as a sign of remembrance, and can be erected to celebrate a family’s success. Embedded in the culture, the ability to appreciate the meaning carved into a specific totem
This page: The incredible carved detail of a Tlingit totem pole at Saxman Totem Park in Alaska
LEGENDLORE
We delve into the history and meaning carved into the majestic totem poles of Alaska created out of red cedar wood, most totem poles feature symbolic animals or human forms, as well as supernatural beings that chart a family’s lineage and history.
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• Early European explorers mistakenly believed totem poles to be objects of worship.
GETTING THERE: The 11-day Alaska & the Inside Passage voyage starts from $6,995pp in a Veranda stateroom.
• Alaskan totem poles are carved from cedar trees, which are resistant to rot and grow in the rainforests of Southeast Alaska.
• Paint was traditionally made from a mix of chewed cedar bark and salmon eggs, along with powdered pigments, in order to create an oil-based paint. Today, synthetic paints are often used, but some carvers still use natural pigments derived from charcoal and ochre.
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harvested. A ceremony is often performed to honour the tree before it is felled, as a mark of respect and gratitude. The artists responsible for carving the tree use both traditional and modern tools to create the distinctive curves and markings, paying particular attention to the grain of the wood and any special features of the tree. Today, many totem poles which were sold or taken from First Nations communities have been repatriated as part of an ongoing effort to maintain and promote indigenous culture. As new generations of carvers hone their remarkable skills, the tradition of carving and erecting totem poles continues, and there is no better place to go to appreciate these wonderful works of art.
Clockwise, from far left: A totem pole at onoftenarethetoKaketotemmarkings;symbolsofincludesKetchikanarangedifferentandthepoleatisthoughtbethetallestinworld;eaglessymbolicandportrayedtotempoles
FACTS AND FIGURES
• Standing at 132 feet tall, one of the tallest totem poles in the world is in Kake, Alaska.
optimumcloselytheyfortotemrot-resistantwiththroughtocommunitiesin19th200weestimateHistoriansNorthwest.andanthropologiststhattotempolecarving,asknowit,developedoverthelastyears,reachingitspeakinthecentury.Duringthisperiodhistory,manyFirstNationshadgainedaccesssuperiortoolsandtechniquestradingfishandfurEuropeans.Despiteusingcedar,mostlargepolesonlysurviveoutsideapproximately100yearsbeforestarttodeteriorate.Manytreesareviewedandinspectedbeforethetreeischosenandthen
• The Tlingit totem pole artist, Nathan Jackson, has carved nearly 50 totem poles over the last 45 years.
rests on the viewer’s level of understanding of the particular symbols and local traditions. One of the most recognisable cultural objects of the region, the vast array of different designs and styles reflects the rich cultural and ecological diversity within the Pacific
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POTLATCH TOTEM PARK & KETCHIKAN HIGHLIGHTS
ICY STRAIT POINT
SAXMAN NATIVE VILLAGE
Experience Native American culture through song, dance and stories during a visit to the Saxman Native Village. Here, you will experience the rich living culture of its residents, including the legends behind the figures adorning their majestic totem poles. You will be traditionally welcomed by Tlingit village elders with an elaborate greeting ceremony and savour an Alaskan snack. Admire their glorious folkloric regalia, adorned with hand-beaded designs of animal motifs that represent their clan. After enjoying this time-honoured tradition, visit one of the largest collections of totem poles in the world and see craftsmen passing on their skills to eager apprentices at the Village Carving Centre. Stop by the Beaver Clan House and watch history come alive as you enjoy a song-and-dance performance, and listen as your hosts regale you with heartfelt tribal stories of their traditions and ancestry.
On Viking’s Alaska & the Inside Passage voyage, guests are spoilt for choice when it comes to spotting totem poles. These excursions take in some of the finest examples of Alaska’s totem poles
Discover the coastal community of Ketchikan and learn about the ancient native craft of totem pole carving. Potlatch Totem Park is a modern recreation of a 19th-century native village, located on historic Tlingit fishing grounds on the shores of the Tongass Narrows. Here, you can see numerous houses, totem poles and panels, and hear the legends behind the designs. Visit the carving studio to learn about their ancient technique. After enjoying a light snack at the Alaska Totem Trading Company, you will embark on a scenic city drive through the south easternmost city in Alaska. Travel past the lively waterfront to the historic downtown area of Ketchikan, where your guide will point out highlights such as City Park, Nathan Jackson’s Thundering Wings, a totem statue in the shape of a bald eagle and the Dolly’s House Museum, located in the famous red-light district, before returning to your ship.
Experience life in a Tlingit village during this fascinating excursion. The small community of Hoonah is many things to its residents: a lively fishing hamlet, an old logging town and the world’s largest Tlingit community. Its growth began with a booming canning industry, and today it is a tranquil and welcoming seaside haven adorned with native art. Visit the Heritage Centre Native Theatre where you can view a colourful Tribal Dance and Cultural Legends performance by local students that provides both insight into tribal traditions and a rich glimpse of long-cherished customs. Wearing authentic, vibrant regalia, Huna Tlingit performers will share their history and culture through song, dance and storytelling. You will also have an opportunity to board a tram for a drive through Hoonah to see totem poles while learning about the town’s history from an experienced guide.
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Alaskan adventure
Seasoned Viking guests Sheila and Ed Davies venture into the icescapes of Alaska and Canada
T his was our 22nd Viking (river and ocean) cruise. We were just as excited about joining our ship Viking Orion as we were when we joined our first Viking cruise, and we were certainly not disappointed. Prior to embarking on our cruise we were fortunate enough to join the Rocky Mountaineer journey pre-cruise extension and what an experience that was. Before boarding the train we spent three days in the beautiful city of Banff and enjoyed the included tour of the area and the optional tour to the Columbia Icefield where we were taken to the Athabasca Glacier in a huge all-terrain Ice Explorer. On the way we visited the Peyto Lake – the turquoise water has to be seen to be believed.Aswe waited for the Rocky Mountaineer train to pull into the station and take us from Banff to Vancouver, I have never seen so many excited people eagerly waiting to get on board. The GoldLeaf service was excellent, as was the view from the glass-domed upper deck of our exclusive Viking carriage, giving us a perfect view of the outstanding scenery along our route. After two days on board, we left the train to spend two nights in the beautiful city of Vancouver where we enjoyed the included tour. We would highly recommend this pre-cruise extension. Then it was time to join our ship. It was just like coming home and we were quickly settled in to the familiar surroundings of what was to be our comfortable home for the next elevenCruisingdays. on day one allowed us to relax and enjoy the wonderful scenery of the Inside Passage. On arriving at Sitka we went on a whale watching trip with another couple. We were fortunate to see some marvellous scenery and a family of grey whales that circled the boat – at times they were so close we could almost touch them. At Skagway we joined the optional excursion to the Denver Glacier to experience the fun of dog sledding. What an experience! The helicopter ride up to the glacier was fabulous, as was the scenery. We all had a turn at standing on the back of the sled and the feeling was exhilarating. Finally, we met some puppies for a cuddle and would have run off with them if no-one was looking. On returning to Skagway, we enjoyed a walk around the beautiful town. The next day was spent scenic cruising in the Yakutat Bay to view the Hubbard Glacier and we were stunned by its vastness and colours against the water – it was truly magnificent. The Captain was able to cruise reasonably close to the glacier allowing everyone the opportunity to have a good view of it. It was amazing to see the glacier calving and the many small icebergs floating around the ship. It was also a great experience to visit all the other ports of call, to appreciate how the locals live and to understand the culture of the Alaskan people. All too soon our cruise came to an end and it was time to go home. But we have brought many happy memories home with us and are so pleased to have cruised with Viking again.
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This clockwise,page, from top left: atnextandSitka,Edgecumbe,MountnearinAlaska;EdSheilaDaviestoaBritishflagColumbiaIcefield clockwise,Opposite, from top left: Ed meeting the dog sledding puppies in Skagway; a dog experiencesleddingin the snow; Icy Strait Point in Hoonah; whale watching in Sitka; Viking Orion docked in Skagway; sailing the Inside Passage at night; a sea otter in Sitka; Hubbard Glacier Yakutat Bay; Ed and Sheila at Columbia Icefield
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GETTING THERE: The 11-day Alaska & the Inside Passage voyage starts from $6,995pp in a Veranda stateroom.
A favourite with locals and tourists alike, it was previously a waterfront industrial site that has now been converted into an urban playground with theatres, art studios and workshops, restaurants and bars, with the highlight being the food lover’s paradise of Granville Island Public Market. Catch the Aquabus across False Creek and browse the fascinating stalls of fresh local produce, gourmet food, baked goods and local handicrafts.
4. GASTOWN Vancouver’s oldest neighbourhood dates back to 1867. Vibrant, eclectic and stylish, Gastown offers a unique array of historic architecture, shops, restaurants and art galleries. Gastown is also home to Vancouver’s famous Steam Clock, one of the only remaining working steam clocks in the world. Every quarter of an hour the clock shoots steam from its whistles, with a toot on the hour.
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3. STANLEY PARK Stanley Park, one of North America’s largest urban parks covers more than 1,000 acres and has a magnitude of experiences for all interests. You’ll find beaches, botanical gardens, an aquarium and kilometres of trails. Or hire a bike and cycle the 10km seawall loop around the outside of the park. Keep an eye out for wildlife including bald eagles, beavers and great blue heron and you can also view well-known landmarks and learn about the carvings on the First Nations’ totem poles.
1. GROUSE MOUNTAIN Also known as the Peak of Vancouver, take the gondola to the top for a range of outdoor activities and sweeping views over the city and ocean. In summer, you can see the resident Grizzly Bears Grinder and Coola at the Refuge for Endangered Wildlife, see a Lumberjack show, or try your hand at disc golf. In Winter, Grouse Mountain transforms into a winter wonderland, with skiing, ice skating, snow shoeing and a magical light walk.
2. CAPILANO SUSPENSION BRIDGE
5. GRANVILLE ISLAND
A small but vibrant city on nature’s doorstep, Vancouver is set between the stunning North Shore Mountains and the Strait of Georgia and offers boundless cultural and natural riches. Here are our top five things to do in this fascinating city
An iconic Vancouver landmark, the 70-metre-high suspension bridge stretches 137 metres across a canyon above the Capilano River. Enjoy a bird’s eye view of the thriving temperate rainforest on the Treetops Adventure walk, follow a granite precipice on the heart-stopping Cliffwalk jutting out over the canyon and learn about British Columbia’s First Nation’s People at Kia’Palano.
Top 5 things to do in VANCOUVER
Paci Oceanc Valdez Skagway Hubbard Glacier Yakutat Bay Icy Strait Point JuneauKetchikanSitka Inside Passage Vancouver Seward BRITISHCANADACOLUMBIAALASKAUSA Cruise •• Overnight in Port ENJOY, IT’S ALL INCLUDED PRIVATE VERANDA STATEROOM | NORDIC SPA FACILITIES | SHORE EXCURSIONS | CHOICE OF 8 DINING OPTIONS WINE & BEER SERVED WITH LUNCH & DINNER | 24 HOUR ROOM SERVICE | WI-FI & GRATUITIES NEWEST SMALL SHIP FLEET | INDUSTRY-LEADING HEALTH & SAFETY PROGRAM *Conditions apply. Prices are per person, in Australian dollars, based on double occupancy, subject to availability, includes all advertised discounts and correct at time of printing. Guests are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at time of travel. North Pacific Passage based on 11 September 2024 departure. Alaska & the Inside Passage based on 24 May 2024 departure. These offers are valid on new bookings made between 05 August and 31 October 2022 unless sold out prior. For full terms and conditions visit viking.com ALASKA & THE INSIDE PASSAGE VANCOUVER – SEWARD or vice versa 11 DAYS | 7 GUIDED TOURS | 2 COUNTRIES SET SAIL APR & SEP 2023; APR 2024 From $6,995pp in Veranda stateroom SAVE $1,400 per couple JAPANTokyo Sapporo (Otaru) Dutch Harbor KodiakSeward Paci OceancLineDateInternational Valdez Hubbard Glacier Glacier Bay Sitka Ketchikan Inside Passage CANADAVancouverALASKAUSA Cruise •• Overnight in Port NORTH PACIFIC PASSAGE TOKYO – VANCOUVER or vice versa 23 DAYS | 11 GUIDED TOURS | 5 COUNTRIES SET SAIL APR & SEP 2023; APR 2024 From $11,995pp in Veranda stateroom SAVE $1,400 per couple NATURAL WONDERS AWAIT From $6,995pp 25 TH ANNIVERSARY SALE VIEW ITINERARY VIEW ITINERARY viking.com 47
2 VIENNA, AUSTRIA With a picturesque capital set against the backdrop of the Danube River, Austria is famous for its castles and palaces, while offering cultural delights worthy of former residents Mozart and Strauss. Vienna’s imperial grandeur is the legacy of the powerful Hapsburg monarchy. Baroque streetscapes and artistic and musical masterpieces combined with a coffee-house culture and vibrant epicurean scene are not to be missed.
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1 BARCELONA, SPAIN Barcelona is a stunning seaside city, home to architectural treasures that span more than 2,000 years. Throughout its history, Barcelona has welcomed various cultures and civilisations, which have left their mark on the city, from the first Iberian settlers, through the Roman colonisers, the Visigoths, and the emergence of the Middle Ages. Today, Barcelona’s city scape is a wish-list for lovers of architecture - towering temple columns, ancient city walls and subterranean stone corridors, tranquil plazas and stunning 14th-century cathedrals. Most famous however are the sculptural masterpieces of Modernism and the creations of Antoni Gaudí. As we celebrate our 25th anniversary, we are proud of what we have achieved in the last 25 years. We now offer destination-focused voyages on more than 20 rivers, five oceans and five great lakes, visiting over 403 ports in 95 countries across all seven continents. This means there’s always somewhere new to discover on your next unforgettable Viking journey. To inspire your wanderlust, here are our top 25 destinations to travel to.
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3 BERGEN, NORWAY Surrounded by majestic snow-capped mountains, magnificent fjords and glaciers, sits the colourful and ancient city of Bergen. Founded in 1070 on what was a Viking settlement, Bergen’s rich heritage as a Hanseatic League trading port can still be seen in the beautifully preserved and vibrantly painted wooden buildings of Bryggen Wharf, now protected as a UNESCO World Heritage site. All Viking ocean ships are Norwegian-flagged and registered in Bergen, so you will enjoy a prime docking location alongside Bryggen Wharf.
6 AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS
5 FLORENCE, ITALY
VISIT BERGEN
Ornate bridges teeming with colourful bicycles. Sparkling 17th-century canals. Quaint red-brick townhouses adorned with vibrant flower boxes. Creative design and culinary scenes. Treasure-packed museums, endless art galleries and fascinating history. The capital of the Netherlands — affectionately known as “the Venice of the North” — has it all and so much more. Amsterdam is consistently voted one of the top bike-friendly cities in the world, and it’s an easy way to discover the captivating parts of the city like a local.
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VISIT BUDAPEST VISIT FLORENCE VISIT AMSTERDAM
The centre of Italian Renaissance art and architecture, Florence is where history blends effortlessly with modern Italian design. Florence’s beauty has long been romanticised in literature, but its picture-perfect vistas and stunning palazzos ensure an enchanting visit. Home to Michelangelo’s David and the famous Ponte Vecchio, this city is an art and culture paradise.
4 BUDAPEST, HUNGARY Budapest is Hungary’s legendary capital and a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is grand and dramatic, eclectic and elegant. Easy to explore, and even easier to love. Originally two cities, Buda and Pest, separated by the blue ribbon of the River Danube, they are now joined. There is no more magical way to arrive in Budapest than along its beautiful river. And there are few more central places to stay than Viking’s prime docking location in the heart of the city.
8 GERMANYCOLOGNE, Cologne captures all that’s great about Germany in one city. From grand sights, architecture, history and the ever-popular beer culture, this city offers something for everyone. A masterpiece of Gothic architecture, its spires dominate the city skyline. As one of Germany’s oldest cities, Cologne is a fascinating mix of old and new. Bomb raids during the war destroyed much of the city, so historic remains sit alongside modern architecture, all set on the beautiful Rhine River.
9 AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND Auckland – home to two harbours framing a narrow isthmus of land is surrounded by fertile farmland, dense tracts of rainforest, thermal springs, wineries and wildlife reserves – all within a one hour drive of the city. Regularly rated as one of the top cities in the world for quality of life and liveability, Auckland is a multicultural hub of food, music, arts and culture. A sunny climate with the background rhythm of Polynesian culture makes a visit to this city a truly magical one.
VISIT PARIS VISIT COLOGNE VISIT AUCKLAND VISIT TROMSØ
7 TROMSØ, NORWAY Surrounded by dramatic snow-dusted landscapes and sparkling turquoise fjords, Tromsø is Norway's gateway to the Arctic. Striking wooden structures and neoclassical architecture are symbolic to this quaint city. During winter, it is one of the best destinations in the world to witness the magical Aurora Borealis dancing across the sky. While the northern hemisphere summer is all about the midnight sun – virtually 24 hours of daylight provides ample opportunity to visit unmissable points of interest including the iconic Arctic Cathedral and the Polar Museum.
10 PARIS, FRANCE Paris has long been considered Europe’s most glamorous city. At its heart, it is a city of contradictions – deeply traditional and yet famously cosmopolitan. The most tangible and visible pleasures of Paris are found in its iconic monuments, artistic treasures, street life and lamp-lit bridges spanning the Seine. Gastronomic delights line the city’s timeless boulevards and await discovery. As Audrey Hepburn noted, Paris is always a good idea.
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VISIT NEW ORLEANS VISIT REYKJAVÍK VISIT LISBON
12 NEW ORLEANS, USA Located along the Mississippi River in south eastern Louisiana, New Orleans is steeped in history that dates back to its 1718 founding by French colonists. The birthplace of American jazz, the city is world-renowned for its live music scene, Creole cuisine, unique dialect and endless line-up of celebrations and festivals. The city's historic heart, the French Quarter, is famous for its French and Spanish Creole architecture and vibrant nightlife along Bourbon Street. The combination of round-the-clock nightlife, deep rooted jazz history and sumptuous cuisine are a real feast for the senses.
REYKJAVÍK, ICELAND The world’s most northerly capital, Reykjavík was settled by the Vikings in 870 AD. Today, Reykjavík is big on character and renowned for its devotion to the arts. The city is both cosmopolitan and small-town, brimming with vibrant culture and fascinating history. Discover outstanding art galleries, unique architecture, and a creative culinary scene. Or venture farther afield for breathtaking natural beauty, from towering waterfalls to spouting geysers and soaring mountains.
13 LISBON, PORTUGAL Once home to the world's greatest explorers, like Vasco da Gama and Magellan, Lisbon is Europe's second-oldest capital. Today it is captivating and picturesque, built on a series of hills contributing to its charmingly winding, cobbled streets lined with pastel-toned houses. Luminous light by day, spectacular sunsets by night. Wonderful wines and velvety smooth coffee. Melancholic fado music and atmospheric monasteries. Quirky shops and an independent spirit. There are dozens of reasons why Lisbon is fast becoming one of Europe’s favourite cities.
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VISIT ANTARCTICA VISIT COPENHAGEN VISIT ASWAN VIKING52
ANTARCTICA One of the most remote places on Earth, Antarctica is simply stunning. Untamed and desolate, the White Continent is nature at its most dramatic and elemental. Snow, ice, water and rock are home to unique wildlife; whales, orcas, seals and penguins, and millions of seabirds, including albatrosses and petrels. Gazing upon a magnificent glacier or a range of misty mountains untouched by humans is both a surreal and humbling experience. In this magical place, virtually free of the imprint of humankind, you can experience a true sense of majesty and awe.
15 ASWAN, EGYPT This city on the Nile River is as vital and vibrant today as its ancient past is alluring and mysterious. Aswan comes from the Ancient Egyptian word for trade, and while it is a bustling market city, it is also home to several significant archaeological sites, such as the Temples of Philae and the temples at Abu Simbel. It’s also the perfect location to sail on a felucca and observe the picturesque landscape of granite rocks, palm-studded islands, and the colourful Nubian villages that line the river. Our expert Egyptologist led cruises and tours are truly unforgettable.
16 COPENHAGEN, DENMARK This Danish city is the perfect blend of history, architecture and culture combined with a mouth-watering restaurant scene. Home to one of the oldest monarchies in the world with a history tracing back to the Viking Age, this Scandinavian jewel is filled with extraordinary palaces, endless art plus the finest collection of ancient Egyptian sculptures in Northern Europe. Cobblestone streets, UNESCO World Heritage sites and royal artefacts make for a beautiful backdrop to the modern life lived by the locals today.
18 BANGKOK, THAILAND Straddling the Chao Phraya River, Bangkok is a modern metropolis that never stands still. The urban sprawl is bursting with temples, palaces, and museums, particularly along Bangkok's historic riverbanks. Exploring Bangkok is a reward in itself. Discover hidden markets, get lost in Chinatown or enjoy a tuk-tuk ride. The capital’s cultural underpinnings are evident in so many elements of everyday life and through its residents’ sense of fun.
19 STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN Stretching across 14 islands where Lake Mälaren flows into the Baltic Sea, Sweden’s stylish capital is a city of contrasts. The historic Gamla Stan district, features medieval architecture and cobblestone streets fit for a fairytale, while the other side of the city is home to worldclass galleries, trendy restaurants and modern boutiques. The city is a foodies paradise, boasting one of the highest concentrations of Michelin-starred restaurants in Europe. This vibrant city certainly has something for everyone.
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VISIT ATHENS VISIT BANGKOK VISIT STOCKHOLM
17 ATHENS, GREECE Athens is where ancient and modern worlds collide to create something utterly spectacular. Centuries-old Byzantine churches and classical buildings line cobbled streets, and sprawling neighbourhoods play host to buzzing bars, restaurants and cafes. The city’s art scene has abounded in recent years, with several galleries becoming favoured hot spots for enthusiasts. Athens exudes charming energy, and at its heart, the gleaming marble of the Acropolis – an everpresent reminder of the country’s age-old history.
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20 AVIGNON, FRANCE For the better part of a century, Avignon replaced Rome as the centre of the Roman Catholic world, and the resulting architectural remains create a stunningly beautiful city. Encircled by 800-year-old stone ramparts rising from the Rhône river, the UNESCO-listed centre boasts one of the most iconic skylines in France. The Palais des Papes is at its heart – a turreted fortress overlooking medieval squares and mansion-lined streets.
21 EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND There is no city quite like Edinburgh, with its medieval and neoclassical beauty set amongst rocky hills and gracious green ribbons of park. Recognised as Scotland’s capital since the 15th century, this city promises to make an unforgettable impression with its charming character and fascinating history. With cobbled streets and an alluring city skyline, the ultimate way to explore is on foot.
VISIT AVIGNON VISIT EDINBURGH
22 ALASKA, USA Cruise the narrow channels of the famed inside passage as you explore this pristine wilderness of misty fjords, lush forests, gleaming walls of ice and mountain-ringed seaside towns. Leave the crowds behind and venture into the wilderness where you can pan for gold like prospectors of old, try your hand at stream fishing and meet local Tlingit who have fished these waters for centuries, hearing tales both tall and true of a region where a Wild West spirit still feels very much alive. Keep an eye out for bears, whales, eagles and otters.
TORONTO VISIT DUBLIN
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24 DUBLIN, IRELAND Dublin is a city of traditions, literature and history. It’s a city of musicians, writers and poets whose songs and stories fill the local pubs and cafes. It is warm and welcoming, known for the friendliness of its people and famous for its craic (“crack”)—a mixture of humour, intelligence, and acerbic wit. While traces of its Viking past have been largely washed away, Dublin is a living museum with medieval castles and cathedrals on display alongside the architectural splendours of its 18th-century heyday.
25 TORONTO, CANADA
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On the northwest shore of Lake Ontario sits bustling Toronto, recognised as one of the most cosmopolitan and multicultural cities in the world. With around half of its residents born outside of Canada, the art, culture and food offerings are truly diverse to visitors and locals alike. A visit to the iconic CN Tower is an absolute must. It is one of the city’s most iconic structures offering the best views over the surrounding landscape –best witnessed at sunset.
ISTANBUL, TURKEY With its old quarter skyline of domes and minarets and the twinkling lights of the city’s modern half across the water, Istanbul is the magical meeting place of East and West. It boasts a wealth of religious sites, including the spectacular Blue Mosque and the legendary Hagia Sophia, as well as a dynamic culinary scene, rich history and impressive galleries. The famous Spice Bazaar is a feast for the senses, filled with vibrant locals and lined with colourful and fragrant spices.
*Conditions apply. Prices are per person, in Australian dollars, based on double occupancy, subject to availability and correct at time of printing. Prices include all advertised discounts and offers are subject to availability. All offers are valid on new bookings made between 05 August 2022 and 31 October 2022 unless sold out prior. Prices and availability correct as of 29 July 2022. For offer terms and conditions visit vikingcruises.com.au/cruise-offers.html ENTER NOW FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN To celebrate our 25th anniversary, we’re giving you the chance to win one of three Viking journeys in our biggest ever giveaway. With a total prize pool of over $75,000 and showcasing our full product range, three lucky winners and their guests will embark on either a river, ocean or expedition voyage in 2023. Enjoy all onboard meals at a choice of dining venues, beer and wine with lunch and dinner, an excursion in every port, unlimited free Wi-Fi and an enriching culture curriculum. So celebrate this special milestone with us and enter now for your chance to discover the Viking Difference on one of the world’s most beautiful waterways. To enter, scan the QR code or visit vikingcruises.com.au/winacruise OCEAN VOYAGE Viking Homelands 15 Days | Bergen — Stockholm Departing 17 April 2023 EXPEDITION VOYAGE Great Lakes Collection 15 Days | Duluth — Toronto Departing 24 June 2023 RIVER JOURNEY Grand European Cruise 15 Days | Amsterdam — Budapest Departing 23 October 2023 CELEBRATE 25 YEARS OF VIKING Enter for your chance to win one of three Viking cruises CLICK HERE TO ENTER 56
Guinness World Record holder for launching the most cruise ships in a single day – 14 new river ships launched in 2014. 250 Major Awards Including being the first cruise line ever to be simultaneously named the #1 Ocean Line and #1 River Line by Travel + Leisure and Condé Nast Traveler DID YOU KNOW? WE VISIT OVER 95 Countries 403 Ports We own and operate our entire fleet and train all our own staff. 32,800 Pillows fluffed by housekeeping daily 183,000 Bottles of wine consumed per month across ships 7,389 Loaves of bread baked daily 1,003 Books in the library of each ocean ship ONBOARD OUR OCEAN VESSELS We own many of the best docking locations in Europe following the purchase of KD River Cruises in 2000. Enjoy a short walk to the heart of many of Europe’s great cities. BY THE NUMBERS... SHIP TYPES 7292 ExpeditionOceanRiver 5 GREAT LAKES 5 OCEANS 20 RIVERS 7 CONTINENTS WE SAIL... 25 TH ANNIVERSARY 10,000+ Staff employed globally viking.com 57
Travel writer Marcus Adams travels on his first river cruise along the Danube, from Passau to Budapest
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The Allure of
Clockwise, from far left: The stately AdamsBudapest;symbolstheBridgeSzéchenyiBuildingParliamentHungarianandChainaretwoofmostfamousofMarcusonboard
Viking Vilhjalm been an ocean cruiser for over 25-years. It’s taken me all over the world and introduced me to people and places I could never have dreamt of. But in all that time I’ve never once stepped foot on a river cruise. It’s something that’s been playing on my mind for the last few years – partly to see if it’s anything like an ocean cruise, but also to visit new destinations and have new experiences.
Ever since I was little, I have been fascinated by the rivers of Europe – the arteries that feed some of the most famous and intriguing places and the crucial role they’ve played throughout history. The Danube has always particularly intrigued me and when an opportunity came along to find out more, I jumped at the chance. After a short flight from London and a simple transfer, we joined the Longship Viking Vilhjalm in warm and sunny Passau to experience the Danube River in all its glory.I’llbe honest, I had no idea what to expect, and actually that was really exciting in itself. Stepping on board we were warmly greeted by the ship manager, Thomas, and his friendly staff and we were encouraged to head straight to the sunny Aquavit Terrace for a wine and cheese tasting. We were immediately thrown into the local culture of the Danube –sampling local wines, cheeses and delicacies. It was a great way to relax into the journey, have a taste of what was to come and to get to know fellow guests and staff.
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I’ve
I know Viking ocean cruises very well, having sailed with them in both the Caribbean and through Norway. I love their approach to cruising – providing an effortless and comfortable way to see the world. And their ships are beautiful, too. Scandi-styling and bright, airy, outward-facing spaces invite you to connect with the world around you. It was exciting to see how this would translate to river. And I wasn’t disappointed.Thedesign of the river ships echoes that of their ocean-going cousins. And I love them. Radiating Viking’s unique Scandi-style, the whole ship is spacious and elegant, with large windows which let light flood inside. From the gorgeous atrium to the comfortable lounge, it has a boutique hotel feel. The first thing that struck me was how the clever design makes the ship feel cosy as well as open and inviting. This is repeated in the rooms on board. While they are typically smaller than what I’ve experienced on ocean ships, they are very comfortable, with plush beds and bedding, plenty of storage, heated bathroom floors and premium bath products.While I knew the ships would of course be smaller, I had not anticipated the intimacy of the whole experience. There is a true family feel, with guests coming together over dinner and drinks every night to share their experiences. It is a very relaxed and communal affair. Staff also provide a level of personalised service I have never experienced on an ocean cruise. They really took the time to get to know us all, as well as our preferences, to genuinely provide the best trip Wheneverpossible.I’vepictured river cruising, particularly in Europe, I’ve seen it as a great way to ‘destination hop’. And this was definitely the case. Each day you wake up in another place to explore. I love this concept and while the ships are beautiful, to me, river cruising is all about embracing the destinations you are visiting.And the ships themselves make the possibilities endless. Due to
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Clockwise, from above: DeckoverPassau;thebuildingsColourfullinewaterfrontinsunrisetheSunof Vilhjalm; the Shoes on the Danube Bank honours the Jews killed in Budapest in World War II; Göttweig Abbey in Austria’s scenic Wachau Valley
This is no mean feat to achieve, and our very talented Programme Director, Terry, did an amazing job of ensuring guests got as much as they could from each experience while having fun along the way. An included highlight had to be spending the day visiting Český Krumlov in the Czech Republic. A true fairy tale destination and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is famed for its 14th to 17th century architecture in Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque styles –it’s really something to behold. I’ve always loved the food on board Viking ocean ships, and this also translates well to the river fleet. Expect breakfasts with a wide variety of freshly made choices and (at least) three-course lunches served in the restaurant. If you fancy something a little more casual, head to the Aquavit Terrace to enjoy an al fresco meal (or even a barbecue). At dinner, expect fare inspired by regional specialities, featuring local ingredients wherever possible. This is another way Viking connects guests to the destinations they are sailing through. While a river cruise can cost the same or more than other holidays, you have to remember that everything is pretty much included. With Viking, expect accommodation, all onboard meals (and wine and beer with lunch and dinner), enrichment programmes and, of course, daily excursions, including visits to UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Viking includes an excursion in every port of call. From the art and music of Vienna to the culture of Bratislava and the history of Budapest, I learnt something new every day. It all provides a truly inspirational experience and you come away feeling richer for it.
their design, the river ships can dock right in the middle of a destination – something I hadn’t truly appreciated before getting on board. Budapest is a great example of this – you literally dock next to the famous Chain Bridge in the middle of all the sights and sounds of the city. It’s the perfect chance to get off the ship after dinner for a walk along the Danube, a drink in a local bar or a taste of the vibrant nightlife on offer in the city. Days typically consist of a morning or afternoon of cruising, excursions in a port for half or a whole day, and overnights in places such as Passau and Budapest. This definitely keeps you busy – more so than when on an ocean cruise. With all the enriching excursions, ever-changing scenery and activities on board the ship, there’s no lack of opportunities to keep occupied – if that’s what you want to do.
I knew I’d like river cruising, but it has exceeded my expectations and has opened up a new world of destinations I’d like to visit. I don’t know what my next adventure will be, but the fact it could be sailing through Vietnam along the Mekong or embracing ancient Egypt on the Nile or perhaps even enjoying the local cuisine and wine in Portugal’s Douro region has me filled with excitement. Doesn’t it all sound so alluring?
GETTING THERE: The 8-day Danube Waltz journey starts from $2,995pp in a Standard stateroom.
When it comes down to it, it’s incredibly good value and, as a bonus, it takes the stress out of having to budget while you’re away. Being a long-time ocean traveller, I was expecting river cruising to be very similar, but coming away from my first experience, I’m happy to say I was wrong. There are clear similarities between the two in terms of how days are typically structured, and, well, that you’re sailing from destination to destination, but that’s where the similarities end. I often say that cruising has something for everyone. In my view, there is a ship and an itinerary to suit you, no matter who you are, and river cruising opens up a whole new world of destinations. River is perfect for those who don’t necessarily want to share space with a lot of people and, in particular, those who love city breaks. Personally, I’ve never been a huge fan of city getaways, mostly because I’m restless and like to explore multiple places so, actually, river cruising, for me, is the perfect way to see the cities of the world.
famous Wachau Valley. I loved and appreciated the history of this part of the world and it was incredible to learn how the countries and cities I visited have changed and been influenced so dramatically over the years.
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It’s also a great way to immerse yourself in a culture and elevate your experience of many different destinations without ever having to pack or unpack between each new place or face the uncertainty of what your hotel will be like when you turn up. While I can see how this principle has been translated to Viking ocean cruises, it’s a hugely effective part of river cruising and a real selling point. If you are considering your first river cruise, the Danube is a great place to start. It honestly has something for everyone, whether it is the dramatic sights of Budapest, the culture of Vienna or perhaps wine tasting in the
THE RHINE ,river of legends VIEW RHINE RIVER VOYAGES VIKING62
We take a look at one of the great rivers of the world, the Rhine – a waterway that is as commercially important as it is picturesque
History rarely repeats itself on the Rhine. Every town, every castle, and just about every rock has its own story to tell.
Clockwise, from far left: Viking Mani sails along the RhineincommonandRhine;picturesquevineyardscastlesareafeaturethehillyMiddlearea
It’s a river blessed with fairytale castles, vineyard-strewn hills, deep forests and picture-book towns.
Old Father Rhine, as the Germans fondly call it, is Europe’s busiest river, although there is little sense of this on a sunny day, drifting slowly past mile after mile of steep vineyards guarded by craggy castles and the occassional sleepy town basking on its banks. Although the Rhine is generally associated with Germany, the river flows through or along the border of several other countries, including Austria, Lichtenstein, France and the Netherlands. The river rises in the Swiss Alps, making its way through the great expanse of Lake Constance, emerging at one end to cascade 21 metres over the foaming Rhine Falls at Schaffhausen. Beyond Basel, the Rhine is navigable for river cruise vessels, which sail all the way between here and Amsterdam. The most famous (and most beautiful) stretch is the Romantic Rhine, or the Middle Rhine, where the river forces its way through a series of steep gorges, crossing the hilly heart of Germany’s wine-growing country.
Beyond the city of Bonn, the landscape flattens out into what has become the country’s industrial heartland, the now broad and powerful river flowing through cities such as Cologne and Düsseldorf before splitting into several arms in the Netherlands
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One that the Romans defined as the edge of their empire. One where the Prussians built an innovative pontoon bridge to stop Napoleon’s advancing army. And one where, despite Hitler’s best efforts, US troops found a bridge still standing at Remagen, allowing Allied forces to enter the heart of Europe.
Shipping on the river changed forever in 1992 with the opening of the Rhine-Main-Danube Canal, an engineering masterpiece that allowed ships, for the first time, to sail all the way from the North Sea, along the Rhine, through the canal to join the Main, into the Danube and east to the Black Sea.
Caesar’s armies reached what is now Cologne in 51 BC and built the first bridge, giving them access to the right bank and the hostile territories beyond. The waterway is dotted with former Roman settlements, vestiges of which remain in the form of ancient walls and watchtowers. By the Middle Ages, the Rhine was a treacherous route for sailors; every bend was guarded by a castle and bribes and taxes had to be paid to sail past.
and draining into the North Sea.
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Several tributaries feed the Rhine, among them is the Necker, overlooked by the quaint university city of Heidelberg, and the Moselle, which twists and turns along a narrow, forest-clad valley.
The Main flows through Frankfurt, Germany’s financial powerhouse but with a lovely old centre, the Römerberg (Roman Hill), where a series of elegant patrician houses have been joined to create the Rathaus (town hall). Then in nearby Würzburg, the Bishop’s Residenz is one of Europe’s finest baroque palaces, with ornate frescoes and immaculate gardens. Throughout history, the Rhine has defined borders and empires.
There are many highlights of a Rhine voyage, from the rolling hills of the Black Forest to the half-timbered houses and market squares of Strasbourg, where hours can be whiled away in a street café, sampling fruity Alsace wines. For the length of the Rhine Gorge, the scenery is dominated
Passenger shipping in a much more civilised form began with the evolution of the paddle steamer in 1836, returning after the war until the 1960s, when more modern hotel ships started to appear.
At St. Goarshausen, the river twists around jagged rocks in a series of deep whirlpools; it is here that the Lorelei nymph, according to legend, lured sailors to their deaths with her voice’s haunting beauty.
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by imposing castles perched on impossibly sheer rocky outcrops, each one hiding stories and legends of dynastic battles and evil-doing.
Amsterdam, the final port on many Rhine voyages (or the first, depending on the direction of the trip), is packed with sights, from the graceful canals to the magnificent and newly re-opened Rijksmuseum, the Anne Frank House and the Maritime Museum. Each season on the Rhine has its own charm. Spring is the time for admiring the glorious Dutch bulb fields, swathes of scarlet, blue, yellow and orange forming vast stripes across the landscape, and Keukenhof Gardens putting on a
The pretty little town of Boppard reveals layer upon layer of history; here, you can see the remains of what was once a series of 28 Roman watchtowers, and the town’s original medieval gates.
In Cologne, ships moor close to the heart of the city, which is dominated by the magnificent Dom (Cathedral). Bonn and Düsseldorf, meanwhile, have a wealth of superb art museums and some of Germany’s finest shopping.
beautiful display of colours.
Summer is the season of festivals, of long afternoons in riverside beer gardens and lazy days on deck as the ship drifts gently through lush vineyards and sunny meadows. In autumn, the woodlands in the Middle and Upper Rhine turn yellow and gold and the wine harvest comes in, which is always a cause for celebration. December is the season for Advent cruises, exploring a new Christmas market every day, shopping for handmade gifts and sampling mulled wine.
Whatever the time of year, a voyage along the Rhine is a glimpse into the way this waterway has shaped European history.
Clockwise, from far left: Viking guests are able to enjoy lunch toStrasbourgRhinelandscapeappreciatingwhilsttheoftheregion;comeslifeatsunrise
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The Viking difference Viking has been created for discerning travellers who believe travel is more than just a trip but a chance to explore, learn and understand the destinations they visit. Known as The Thinking Person’s Cruise, we are committed to providing a cruise experience that focuses on cultural insight and personal enrichment. On shore, an included shore excursion in every port with our knowledgeable local guides will introduce you to the iconic and the obscure, so you can soak up the culture, art, history and architecture of your destination. In addition, you’ll have the opportunity to uncover fascinating insights into local life, witness the historic working world or visit exclusive Privileged Access sites and their hidden treasures with our optional experiences. Our onboard program includes world-class guest lectures specific to your journey to help understand each destination on a whole different level. On board, our highly trained staff go out of their way to make you feel comfortable and create an easy-going, relaxed ambience where nothing is too much trouble. They are one of the main reasons people choose to travel with us over other cruise lines again and again. While a Viking cruise is not for everyone, it may just be for you.
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GERMANYAUSTRIAMAIN MAIN–DANUBECANAL DANUBE DANUBE RHINE BelgradeBudapest TarnovoVelikoRusse KalocsaVidin Giurgiu Osijek Bucharest PassauNurembergViennaMelkMiltenbergRegensburgBambergWürzburgRothenburg Krems AmsterdamCologneKoblenzKinderdijk Golubac MotorCruise OvernightCoachin Port EUROPEAN SOJOURN AMSTERDAM – BUCHAREST or vice versa 23 DAYS | 19 GUIDED TOURS | 8 COUNTRIES SET SAIL MAR-OCT 2023 From only $9,995pp in Standard stateroom SAVE $4,600 per couple BUDAPEST – AMSTERDAM or vice versa 15 DAYS | 12 GUIDED TOURS | 4 COUNTRIES SET SAIL MAR-DEC 2023 From only $3,995pp in Standard stateroom SAVE $5,600 per couple CZECH REPUBLIC MAIN HUNGARY THE NETHERLANDS GERMANY MAIN–DANUBEAUSTRIACANAL DANUBE DANUBEWertheimRHINE Prague The Hague Budapest Nuremberg ViennaMelk RegensburgPassauBambergMiltenbergWürzburgRothenburg Krems CologneAmsterdamKoblenzKinderdijkCruiseOvernight in Port AMSTERDAM, THE NETHERLANDS VIEW ITINERARY VIEW ITINERARY VIEW ITINERARY viking.com 67
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Save up to $5,600 per couple on 2023 and 2024 Enjoy,voyagesit’s all included... • Deluxe accommodation in a riverview stateroomGuided excursion in each port of call • Onboard meals and beverages, including wine, beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner • Specialty coffee, tea and bottled water • Unlimited Wi-Fi • Culture Curriculum: Lectures and performances of music, art, dance, cooking and history • All onboard gratuities, port charges and taxes • No credit card surcharges • Industry-leading Health & Safety Program STRASBOURG, FRANCE ITALY North Sea Rüdesheim MOSELLE LucerneLake Como Breisach London THE NETHERLANDS GERMANY SWITZERLAND FRANCE RHINE RHINEStrasbourgSpeyerBasel The HagueAmsterdam KinderdijkCologneKoblenz Cruise RHINE GETAWAY BASEL – AMSTERDAM or vice versa 8 DAYS | 6 GUIDED TOURS | 4 COUNTRIES SET SAIL MAR-OCT 2023 From only $2,995pp in Standard stateroom SAVE $2,000 per couple *Conditions apply. Prices are per person, in Australian dollars, based on double occupancy, subject to availability, includes all advertised discounts and correct at time of printing. Guests are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at time of travel. Rhine Getaway based on 12 November 2023 departure. Grand European Cruise based on 19 November 2023 departure. European Sojourn based on 11 July 2023 departure. These offers are valid on new bookings made between 05 August and 31 October 2022 unless sold out prior. For full terms and conditions visit viking.com
ROMANIA SERBIA BULGARIA BlackSea Iron Gate
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The tour of Lisbon started with a visit to the Tagus riverbank to see Belém Tower, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The informative Viking guide explained that this magnificent building, although resembling something out of a fairy tale, was actually used to defend Lisbon during the 14th and 15th centuries. The highly decorative edifice contained Europe’s first example of a carved stone rhinoceros on a building. But try as we might, it was a little hard to find, given that over the years the elements have worn away the rhino’s horn to look more like a frog. But the next stop was a real highlight for me. If you paid attention in your school history lessons, you might remember that Prince Henry the Navigator devoted his life and fortune to encouraging exploration of the unknown world and developing navigational instruments. The epic Monument to the Discoveries features Henry, portrayed holding a model of a caravel at the head of a line of the most famous Portuguese explorers, such as Ferdinand Magellan and Vasco da Gama. It also includes figures representing cartographers,
This page: Overlooking the mouth of the Douro, Porto tempts travellers with its charming Old Town, brilliant wine bars rooftopsterra-cottaand navigators and others who played a part in advancing exploration during the 15th and 16th centuries. The only woman who appears on the monument is Philippa of Lancaster, an English princess and Henry the Navigator’s mother. She is credited with being the brains behind the plan to explore the city of Ceuta in North Africa, ushering in the Portuguese Age of Discovery.Infrontof the monument, inlaid on the ground in tiles, is a wind rose mosaic containing a map of the world and the dates on which the Portuguese explorers discovered
Pedro Álvares Cabral discovered Brazil—which, luckily, lay to the east of the 1494 line, meaning Portugal was able to claim it. In Lisbon, we also had the opportunity to visit a famous bakery, Pastéis de Belém, the only place in Portugal where custard tarts are allowed to be called by this name (elsewhere, they have the suffix “de nata”). If you are prepared to wait in line, you will be rewarded with the taste of still-warm deliciousness. The next morning, it was time to say “Adeus!” to Lisbon and board the luxury motor coach heading north to Porto, where Viking Osfrid and the Douro awaited. I took an optional half-day excursion to a historic estate outside of Porto. We discovered the lush oasis of an IT WAS A CHANCE TO APPRECIATE THE BEAUTIFUL VINES AND WHITE QUINTAS THAT ADORN THE DOUROʼS BANKS
Clockwise, from left: blue-and-whitedecoratedangetpopularthestreetssightsColourfulontheofLisbon;funicularisawaytoaroundLisbon;archwaywith azulejo tiles; the landscape is dotted with terraced fields and villages
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new lands. Standing in the middle of this illustration and looking straight across the marina and its small pleasure boats, I could see the famous Jerónimos Monastery—also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and part of which now houses the Maritime Museum. We headed there next and saw one of my favourite exhibits, the Map of the World, which shows the demarcation upon which Spain and Portugal agreed to divide the known world in 1494; Spain got everything west of the line. If you have ever wondered why Brazil is the only country in South America whose inhabitants speak Portuguese, it is because King John II was convinced that new lands lay to the south and west of the Azores. In 1500,
As the ship moved up the Douro toward the Spanish border, it passed through several locks as the elevation of the landscape climbed. The experience of going through the lock was quite eerie, as the ship was cast in shadow by the height of the lock. The sensation of being raised upward (in what was effectively a ship elevator) brought many people up on the Sun Deck to watch. When the ship docked at Régua, the included excursion was to Mateus Palace. This image was
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English-inspired landscaped garden. A copse of trees had been planted many years prior, forming a wonderfully verdant canopy under which many smaller flowering bushes and plants now thrive in the humid atmosphere. Interspersed between the plantings were huts, ponds and stone archways. Over time the moss and lichen has coloured the trees and stone bricks with a beautiful patina of greens and golds, which had everyone reaching for their cameras. We also enjoyed an informative session tasting wines from the estate, including vinho verde. This was then followed by more wine tasting while snacking on local cheeses and enjoying views of the countryside from a shaded loggia. A deliciously indulgent afternoon. After two nights in Porto, Viking Osfrid set sail along the Douro eastward toward Spain. It was a timely contrast to the bustling delights of Lisbon, Coimbra and Porto, and a welcome chance to relax and appreciate the beautifully cultivated terraces of vines and sparkling white quintas that adorn the slopes of the Douro Valley. In July, the temperatures were constantly above 30°C and the swimming pool on the Sun Deck provided cooling relief from the hot sun. Reclining on the comfortable loungers while watching the passing landscape in the brilliant sunshine was heavenly. The only exercise required was to wave occasionally at local people taking a dip in the river.
made famous after the building was used on the Mateus Rosé wine labels. One of the most popular wines exported from Portugal in the 1980s, Mateus Rosé was developed especially for the British and American palate. Since then, its popularity has declined as consumers’ tastes have become more sophisticated. The palace itself was home to the last Count of Vila Real and is open to the public to view its collection of furniture, crockery, paintings and books from the 16th century onward. The library has a rare edition of Os Lusíadas by Luíz Vaz de Camões, considered the most famous Portuguese-language poet.
Castelo Rodrigo is a medieval fortress town perched on a hilltop that contains the ruins of a castle. The town was a thriving centre for commerce in medieval times, and for centuries the castle protected the land from the Moors and the Spanish. Following a period of Spanish control, the locals burned down the castle when Portugal gained its independence in 1640, and it was never rebuilt. The town has an interesting history. It enjoyed two centuries of peaceful coexistence between the Jewish and Christian populations until the Spanish Inquisition decimated the Jews. Many Jews chose to become Christians to avoid persecution but continued to practice their true religion behind closedSurroundingdoors. the town are fields of almond trees, and you can buy almond-based products including liqueur. The town dominates the surrounding landscape and there are amazing views to enjoy all around the castle. The population is greatly reduced, with only a few families remaining, but walking around the peaceful streets gives a sense of the importance and grandeur of the town’s glory days. The day trip to Salamanca was filled with great experiences. The first stop was the covered market near Plaza Mayor, where different stalls offered a fantastic array of fresh fish, meat and vegetables. The tour finished with a visit to a tapas stall, where we sampled squid, cheese, olives and chorizo washed down with a fruity white wine. There was much to explore around the town, including two cathedrals and the Art Nouveau and Art Deco
This page, from top: The stately Mateus Palace, home to the last Count of Vila Real; the Rua19th-centuryAugustaArch
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After strolling around the lake in front of the gardens, the next stop was at a local quinta for wine tasting.
GETTING THERE: The 10-day Portugal's River of Gold voyage starts from $4,495pp in a Standard stateroom.
Ruby ports are stored in large vats so there is less oxidization, which helps to retain their ruby-red color.
As it was Saturday, there were many weddings taking place in Salamanca’s cathedral and churches, and we joined groups of exuberant, cheering wedding guests gathering in the streets to celebrate the bridal parties. It was interesting to see how glamorous the Spanish wedding parties were; many of the women in attendance would not be out of place at a ball, dressed in their long, brightly coloured gowns. Bands of musicians wearing traditional black capes serenaded the brides and grooms, while confetti bombs and firecrackers added to the incredible street-party atmosphere. During the cruise, there were several opportunities to sample some of the wines and ports of the region. In Porto, the included excursion ended with a trip around Ferreira Cellars, located on the river close to where Viking Osfrid was docked. A tour of the cellars was very informative, and one of the things we learned about was the storage of ruby and tawny ports.
This page, from top: Monument to the custardofbakeryPastéisLisbon,Lisbon;Discoveries,wheninvisitthedeBelémtotryoneitsdelicioustarts
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Museum. Another well-known building was the House of Shells, which was decorated by its owner to display his wealth. The university buildings were all built in a decorative red sandstone, and one tradition from previous centuries was for graduates to climb up the sides of the building and write their names in bull’s blood. Some of the names could still be seen high on the walls of some of the dwellings.
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Tawnies, on the other hand, are stored in barrels to help create the wine’s distinctive brown hue. There were further opportunities to enjoy delicious Portuguese and Spanish wines as part of the wonderful Quinta da Avessada, Castelo Rodrigo and Salamanca excursions, as well as on board the ship itself. Drinking the wines and ports of the Douro Valley was one of the many special highlights of the voyage.
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This page: The Douro Valley is a stunning region to explore Opposite page: Vineyards thrive in the wine-tastingbackdropprovidewine;toopportunitiesaretiles;climate;Portuguesetraditionalthereplentyofsampleportriverviewsperfectfor
W inemaking has existed on the Iberian Peninsula for thousands of years, and while its neighbouring countries are famed for their stellar production with the likes of Bordeaux and Rioja being household names, Portugal as a wine region is oft-overlooked as a producer of reds, whites and roses. But Portugal certainly packs a punch, with 13 different wine regions boasting an array of climates, soils and altitudes, each region offering something unique to enthuse any oenophile. The first vineyards were cultivated here around 2,000 BC. Over the arch of history, the vast mix of settlers
From full-bodied reds to fresh vinho verdes, to the sweet taste of fortified port, Oonagh Turner raises a glass to Portugal’s wine regions
Wine list who have moved into this part of the world – from the Greeks to the Phoenicians – have brought with them varying techniques, skill and all kinds of grapes. So partial were the Romans to the Portuguese grape they named the land after the son of the Roman god of wine, Bacchus and did much to further and expand viticulture in Portugal. The Romans are to be thanked for one of Portugal’s greatest wine regions, having established vineyards along the Douro, where the river is flanked by cascading vines that tumble almost to the water’sJumpedge.forward a few centuries and Portugal’s vineyards played a large role quenching the thirst of the English, who were on the lookout for an alternative market to France, given the resentful political fall-out. The English found and fell in love with port – the drink so closely connected with the Iberian Peninsula and so deeply embedded in its history and culture. The process with port differs to that of wine, involving adding a clear brandy to fermented grape juice, allowing it to fortify and intensify into that beautifully sweet and fabulous flavour. Legend has it that this sweeter, fortified version of wine was discovered during a 17th century visit by English wine merchants at a monastery. A thriving port trade with the English ensued. Today, the rustic
Meanwhile, Barca d’Alva is a Portuguese port town near Spain, in the shadows of magnificent mountains and the gateway to the Quinta do Seixo – an historic port wine-making facility typical of the Douro region. With the country’s wine making history stretching back over centuries, Portugal’s wine is finally getting the recognition it deserves, and a place on the dining table.
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charming, family-run vineyards just on the outskirts of the capital. Minho is another wine hotspot known for its vinho verde, a refreshing ‘green wine’ made with a young grape. Minho is the largest wine region in Portugal by size, and there are many a romantic wine estate here, perfect for spending a blissful afternoon in the southern sun. Alentejo too is another option for oenophiles, situated in the south of Portugal boasting a hot Mediterranean climate making it optimal for those easy-drinking reds. Lisbon, too, offers rich pickings, with nine sub-regions for wine, while the lush tropical island of Madeira produces the second most famous fortified wine from Portugal, coming in a range of tastes, from sweet to dry.
and old-fashioned winemaking techniques are making way for a new wave of budding winemakers with modern-day methods and ideas for packaging and branding and, as a result, the Portuguese wine market is thriving. With Portugal offering such a kaleidoscope of climates and landscapes, the country’s wine produce significantly differs. Grapes in the north of Portugal are fresher and ‘greener’, the hot Mediterranean south is best for deep, full-bodied reds, and its tropical islands bring a completely different experience to its wines, with grapes growing on craggy cliffs cooled by sea air. Today, Portugal’s leading wine-producing region is the UNESCO-listed Douro Valley.
Vineyards follow the bends of the river as it meanders all the way to Portugal’s second largest city, the culinary destination of Porto. The landscapes here are a sight to behold by land or by river cruise, and those floating through might spot grapes being picked from the vines on steep valleys – hard work for the harvesters, but the result is worth it. The Douro is the oldest demarcated wine region in the world and a great spot for Port wine. There are plenty of opportunities to sample Douro wine here, with visits to the estates, or quintas – the most authentic,
architecture is best sampled from Plaza Mayor, built between 1729 and 1755, it is widely considered to be Spain's most beautiful central plaza. Once you've perused the arcaded walkways, Town Hall, and Royal Pavilion, dive into the back alleys for the less lauded beauty of intricate cobbled streets.
With some substantial history, intellectual clout and a buzzing student population in its midst, the magical city of Salamanca bridges the best of ancient and modern Spain. Despite its relatively small proportions, the medieval city of Salamanca, located in northwestern Spain, has long been sought after. Since the 3rd century BC, when Hannibal sieged the city and made it his westernmost outpost, it has been fought over and prized by the Romans, Visigoths, Moors, Spanish Empire, Revolutionaries, Golden Age, and now, UNESCO, who have made it a World Heritage Site. Known as "La Dorada" or "The Golden City" due to the glow of its sandstone structures, Salamanca today plays host to the oldest university in Spain and one of the oldest in the World, the Universidad de Salamanca'sSalamanca.honey-coloured
Go online: Visit viking.com for more information on voyages that go to Salamanca
SALAMANCA 40.9701° N, 5.6635° W
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Art-lovers will enjoy Museo Casa Lis which houses one of Salamanca's best art collections of sculptures, paintings, and art deco and art nouveau pieces, but it's the building, a light-filled Modernista (Catalan art nouveau) house, that is the real drawcard, featuring a vast stained-glass roof in one atrium and a beautiful ironwork and glass façade at the back of the building.
bound volumes underneath a fine late-gothic techumbre (carved wooden ceiling).
WHERE TO DINE For traditional fare, restaurant El Meson De Gonzalo has, over three generations, perfected the art of slow-cooked suckling lamb and is well-known for its patatas bravas (roasted potatoes in a spicy tomato sauce). At Cuzco, dine on simple dishes of grilled meat and fish in the restaurant or perch at the cosy bar with plates of regional specialities. For something sweet, Valor, an unassuming café, is possibly home to Salamanca's best sweet treats. A churros and a hot chocolate will offer the perfect respite from a busy day of sight-seeing in the city.
The best places to shop in Salamanca are along the pedestrianised streets of Calle Toro and Zamora, the main avenues heading north from Plaza Mayor, or between the Plaza and the cathedrals. Here you will find numerous souvenir stores, boutiques, jewellers, and traditional art and craft shops. Keep a lookout for filigree work or the typical Salamanca button. Foodies who want to stock up on cured meats, such as jamón de bellota, and other regional specialties can find these at delicatessens or in the Central Market.
Opposite page: CathedralSalamanca
WHAT TO SEE AND DO As with most Spanish cities, religion is whicholdestarms.religioustapestryfaçade16thvisualfoundedtheoldestwithoutNoexperience.offersdewhilebackNuevalandmarksareSalamanca'somnipresent.twocathedralscontrastinganddominant–theGothicCatedral(NewCathedral),datingto1513,isthemorestriking,themedievalCatedralViejaSantaMaría(OldCathedral)amoreatmosphericvisittoSalamancaiscompleteastopbyoneoftheuniversitiesintheworld,UniversidaddeSalamanca,in1218.Offeringafeast,theUniversity'scenturysandstoneentrancedrawscrowdswithitsofmythicalheroes,scenes,andcoatsofInsideisalsooneofthelibrariesintheworld,houses160,000leather-
This page: Spanish churros; Casa de PlazaofConchaslas(HouseShells);Mayor
WHERE TO SHOP
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Also, not to be missed is Casa de las Conchas (House of Shells), a medieval building built by a Knight of Santiago who attached 300 carved scallop shells onto the exterior of the building in homage to the Camino de Santiago (a pilgrimage walk to Santiago de Compostela).
We share some of your favourite Viking experiences and memories
Viking guests are not your average holidayers. They are experienceddiscerning,travellers who crave authentic experiences that will provide them with a deeper understanding of the world. As we celebrate our 25th anniversary this year, we spoke with some of our most travelled past guests to learn more about their experiences, they’rerecommendations,memories,andwhereheadednext.
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Your Vikingstories
This page, left to right: DouroAzulejosPortuguesetiles;theRiver Opposite: HungaryBudapest,
Q: Onto the oceans – what do you love most about our ocean voyages?
MARGARET C. | TAS First travelled with Viking: 2010 (or earlier!) First cruise: Rhine Getaway Travelled on: Both ocean and river ships. Favourite memory: Doing the official inaugural cruise on the Viking Star on the Into the Midnight Sun cruise and being greeted by fire boats cascading us with water at each new port.
A: Everything!!! What attracted us (we’ve always travelled together as that’s an easy twin-share. Both literally and figuratively: we’re twins!) was the fact that we were over the shortcomings of land tours. Over the need to be up early each day to have the bags out; the restrictions of coach travel –lesser opportunity to see places as needing to get from place to place often on a motorway; and the abc (another bl***dy castle/cathedral) of it all. And the hotels were often out of town so you missed that experience of staying centrally. Being able to have a relaxing, immersive holiday through multiple countries – seeing and experiencing everything – scenery, tastes, sights, languages and people – was bliss. And having everything basically included was a bonus.
Q: You did your first cruise with Viking over 10 years ago, what made you decide to book your first river cruise?
A: All of them! Every trip is different and are separate experiences. The first one is to New Zealand and it’ll be great to have a new viewpoint of a familiar destination - we’ve toured NZ via land, it’s going to be awesome to see it from the sea. And next year we’re doing three river cruises back to back — two through different areas of France and one to see the Christmas Markets in wider Europe. We’re just eager to see/feel/experience everywhere again - we’ve missed seeing them for so long! It’s been a long 3 years without cruising/ travelling. And maybe we’ll have snow on the Christmas Market cruise (wishful thinking?).
A: The scenery everywhere –you look out in any direction and there’s something different to see, there’s no barriers – you’re actually there to see and feel it all. The staff are a great part of the experience as you can get to know them because you have the time and opportunity to do so. And going through locks is fascinating every time – they’re something you don’t see or do in Australia.
A: It’s not just one thing: Smaller numbers mean you get to know people (staff and other travellers) better; having everything included means you don’t have to budget for speciality restaurants or the included tours - or even the water taken on that tour; going to places the bigger ships can’t go to, and being more able to berth at the ports, not just being tendered in and often sailing in sight of land on most sea-days. Our first ocean trip was doing the Into the Midnight Sun cruise and it was even great to do the British customs process on board the ship with two customs officers from Lerwick, it was very relaxed – best experiencecustomsever.
Q: You have a couple of trips booked for this year and next - what destination are you most looking forward to?
Q: From your experience, what’s the best part about travelling by river?
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Left to right: The
ancient PeterBelindaPetersburg,Museum,StateCathedral,historicXian,WarrirorsTerracottainChina;MoscowRussia;HermitageSt.Russia;inFrance;inRussia.
First travelled with Viking: 2012 First cruise: Romantic Danube Travelled on: River, and first ocean voyage booked for next year. Favourite memory: The staff have always made us feel like we are with family. Q: You have travelled to a range of destinations with Viking, what has been your favourite so far?
Q: Next year you are doing your first ocean cruise with Viking, what motivated you to book an ocean cruise and what are you most looking forward to?
A: There’s no cyclones! You’re on a smaller ship, it’s more intimate and within a couple of days you begin to recognise everyone. Even when you’re off the ship walking around town you can spot your fellow travellers. And of course, like all cruising, there’s no packing and unpacking plus the quality of the accommodation on a Viking ship is superb.
A: I think I have a favourite from every cruise. I’ll never forget cruising into Budapest at the end of our Danube cruise, it was morning time and the sun was just hitting the water. Witnessing the Terracotta Warriors in China, I saw one as a schoolchild when it travelled around NZ and had always wondered what the full army would look like – seeing it in person was something I won’t ever forget. Avignon in France is such a beautiful place. Seeing all the wonderful art in the Hermitage –the Behind Closed Doors tour was incredible. In fact, the beautiful buildings of Russia was just so unexpected, the architecture was spectacular. Q: In your experience, what is the best part about travelling by river?
A: Many years ago we did pacific cruise, which turned into the trip from hell with two cyclones and so many things going wrong. I decided we would never cruise again after this! But after some persuading from my husband (a
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BELINDA & PETER R. | NZ
keen sailor) I reluctantly agreed to try a cruise that travelled between land, and this is when we found Viking Europe river cruises. Now, after four wonderful river cruises on the Danube, France, China and Russia, we have decided to try an ocean cruise next. I had been looking at the ocean ships in the brochures, seeing how beautiful they are and wanting to see the art onboard. Then we saw the Across the Bay of Bengal itinerary and it appealed to me because I’ve always dreamt of going to India. We are doing the overland extension as well to Delhi, Agra and Jaipur. It’s important to be in the hands of someone safe, and we feel very secure with Viking. We know that we’ll be warned of any dangers or where to eat that’s safe – things like that. We like to be with someone who knows the area, has local knowledge and will look after us.
Q: Where to next? A: Cambodia and Vietnam and I’d love to do America including a cruise down the Mississippi.
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RUTH & GREG H. | NSW First travelled with Viking: 2013 First cruise: Grand European Cruise
On our previous ocean cruise in the Med, we only had two sea days and all the days in between are long and busy. Sea days give you that chance to catch your breath and recharge.
It is very difficult to identify a favourite port/destination when there was such diversity in the places we visited: from history to scenery to wildlife they gave different experiences – that was part of the reason for doing the world cruise. Even on sea days when we were only cruising, some of the scenery such as the Chilean fjords were great to see. But if I was to choose a few highlights
Favourite memory: My favourite memory would be the people we have met whilst cruising be they guests, lecturers or staff that we have subsequently kept in touch with and even enjoyed meeting again or planning to travel with them again on a future cruise.
Sea days also give you the opportunity to sleep in, relax and do domestic chores that you don't have the opportunity to do when moving to a new location daily.
Q: You joined Viking on our 2019 World Cruise travelling from Miami to London. What did you enjoy most about being on a longer length cruise?
Q: What was your favourite port/destination on this A:journey?
Left to right: Iconic boab trees of macquesfjords;oftheMadagascar;wideexpansetheChileanJapanese
A: The World Cruise gave us the opportunity to see many places we had not seen before and perhaps would never get the opportunity to see another time, along with the chance to revisit some places –but seeing them from a ship which provides a different perspective than arriving by plane or vehicle. The sea days allow you the chance to enjoy the ship and have time to socialise with your ship travel companions. On the shorter cruises, with less sea days you don’t have the time to meet as many people. At our last high tea on the world cruise, we had a group of 14-16 of us, after all meeting throughout the cruise and we’re still in close contact with five couples we met.
Travelled on: Both ocean and river ships
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Q: What are you most looking forward to on your next cruise?
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The crew were just fantastic on all of our cruises, particularly on the world cruise, having the same room attendant the whole cruise was wonderful and we really got to know each other. The staff knew what drinks you like and would know when to refresh you so you could sit back and relax.
Q: What dining venue on board our ocean ships do you enjoy the most and why?
A: We tend to eat mainly at the World Café as it provides regional specials, a huge diversity of foods for different tastes, the ability to eat as small or large as you feel and to be able to eat inside or outside dependent on the weather and the scenery as I like to be able to photograph if I see something.
Q: Do you have any tips for those planning a longer cruise?
it would be Robinson Crusoe Island for its remoteness and scenery, Bora Bora for its scenery and marine life, cruising Milford Sound, the scenery and wildlife on both the islands of Mauritius and Madagascar, and Cape Town –we saw so much in two days.
A: We’ve always wanted to visit Japan and the itinerary covers other parts of Asia that we’ve wanted to go to, so this cruise (North Pacific Passage) provides that opportunity as well as revisiting the Inside Passage which we cruised in 2002, along with reconnecting with some people we met on the 2019 world cruise.
A: Do research before your trip, for example seeing which ports are tender and understanding they are weather dependent. Also take things to do on sea days, the ship always has lots of activities and board games, but we always pack additional books and my needlework.
A GREAT WAY TO SEE THE Great Lakes Travel Daily Editor Bruce Piper explores the little known Great Lakes of North America on Viking Octantis’ inaugural sailing season VIEW ITINERARY 84 VIKING
The Great Lakes - comprising Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Erie and Lake Ontario - straddle the CanadaUnited States border and
Left to right: Overlook Lake, Thunder Bay, Ontario, USAIsland,onstyleintraditionalCanada;hometheVictorianarchitecureMackinacMichigan,
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We’re sitting in the comfort of the LoungeExplorer’saboard
Viking’s new Viking Octantis in the Canadian twilight while the ship is docked at Thunder Bay, Ontario. A seemingly never-ending parade of slowly moving car headlights is in the distance - it’s the first visit by Octantis to this key Lake Superior port, and clearly all of the locals want to get an eyeful of the shipthe largest ever cruise vessel to visit theAndregion.no wonder, because it’s a pretty special sight. Octantis is the brainchild of Viking's Chairman, Torstein Hagen, and the fulfilment of his vision is truly something to behold. Created with all of the welcoming Scandinavian style of Viking’s ocean and river vessels, this ship adds a new dimension for its lucky 378 passengers, with a full array of expedition options complementing the company’s traditional destination-rich cruiseThereexperiences.isjustsomuch to enjoy about the Viking expedition cruise offering. An absolute highlight for me (and a number of other fortunate cruisers) was an opportunity to experience one of Octantis ’ on-board submarines. Whimsically, the submarines are yellow in colour, and they are actually named after the Beatles: “John” and “Paul” aboard Octantis, while “George” and “Ringo” will feature on sister ship Viking Polaris when she launches in the coming months. Guests are ferried to and from the subs aboard one of the ship’s 16-strong complement of Zodiacs before clambering onto the undersea vessels’ launch platform and then down a ladder and into a seat in the futuristic bubble-shaped observation areas. The submarine pilot, who is also an officer on the Octantis bridge, took “Paul” down to about 115 metres below the surface, and although there wasn’t much to see down there the experience was unforgettable.
Others on board were able to explore some of the Great Lakes scenery aboard the ship’s complement of kayaks, or take a hike through some of the spectacular terrain. But there was also plenty on offer for those who weren’t quite as adventurous or able-bodied, such as a high-speed ride aboard the two Special Operations Boats which live in the belly of the ship, in a special area called The Hangar. Guests climb into these high-tech watercraft while they sit on an internal ramp, high and dry and out of the wind and weather. A huge hatch at the rear of Octantis opens and they slide out into the water to explore the surroundings, driven by crew who clearly relish the opportunity to get the wind in their hair.
With so much to offer, there’s no doubt that like those curious locals in Thunder Bay, Viking Octantis in the Great Lakes will spark the interest of anyone interested in a cruise holiday with a difference. Lakes itinerary sails from Thunder Bay to Milwaukee From $8,495pp in Nordic Islands
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(Bay eld) HoughtonMackinac Island Soo Locks Milwaukee Thunder Bay Duluth Chicago MINNESOTA ONTARIO MICHIGAN MICHIGAN WISCONSIN CANADA Lake Superior Lake Huron Lake Michigan N OvernightCruise in Port From top: Viking Octantis onboard Worldship;throughoutloungespool;Hide;designScandinavianincludingamenitiesinthetheSpacomfortablethelunchintheCafé VIEW ITINERARY 86 VIKING
collectively hold more than 20% of the world’s fresh water. They’re also dotted with fascinating ports providing plenty of opportunities for Viking shore excursions - such as Mackinac Island, a picturesque US holiday destination famous, among other things, for its delicious fudge, where car-free streets are lined with Victorian-era stately homes and shops only accessible by horse-drawn carriages and bicycles. Our cruise experience included a transit of the Soo Locks, an engineering masterpiece maintained by the US Army Corps of Engineers, which saw our huge vessel transit with just inches to spare on each side between two lakes with a seven-metre water level difference. Back on board after our daily activities and adventures, the ship was comfortable and just so welcoming. The variety of onboard eateries includes familiar Viking names such as Manfredi’s, Mamsen’s, The Restaurant and the Aquavit Terrace, while the World Café takes things to a new level, with a-la-carte cooking of steaks and lobster complemented with a sushi bar along with all the traditional favourites. The service was exceptional - one morning our friendly waiter in the World Cafe overheard us lamenting a lack of peanut butter at the breakfast buffet, and lo and behold the next morning he appeared with handfuls of portions. “I had them hidden in my cabin,” he quipped. Fortunately Octantis also features a spectacularly equipped gym to keep those cruising calories at bay, alongside a fully equipped spa complete with a sauna, steam room, snow room, ice water bucket and morea delightful place to relax and where we spent several late afternoons soaking away the rigours of our adventurous activities. Other onboard activities included tours of the laboratory, giving guests an insight into research programs which currently include water quality monitoring and the launch of weather balloons.
Clockwise, from top left: Victorian-era buildings of car-free Mackinac Island; Transiting the Soo Locks; Releasing a weather balloon on Viking Octantis; View from the top of a lighthouse in Alpena; Viking Octantis; Coastal settlement on the shores of Lake Huron; Tulips in bloom on Mackinac Island; Historic lighthouses dot the Great Lakes providing shelter for mariners in the harsh winter
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Perched on the banks of Lake Michigan’s western shore in the state of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, nicknamed the “Cream City” – a nod to the lightcoloured bricks made from local clay used to construct many of the city’s buildings – is famous for three things: art, beer, and bratwurst. First settled by Europeans in 1818, Milwaukee had been home to indigenous peoples for 13,000-odd years. In the 1840s, German settlers arrived, bringing with them unrivalled beer brewing skills. For several decades in the 20th century, Milwaukee became the world’s most prolific beer producer. Milwaukee today oozes that “cool city” vibe. Mixing old and new, it preserves and celebrates its historic German roots while offering authentic character-filled neighbourhoods, impressive museums, trendy shopping and dining, and an admirable beer scene. Go online: Visit viking.com for more information on voyages that go to Milwaukee
It is a vibrant city with art, history and culture at its core and some of the best beer in the world.
Although it tends to sit in the shadow of neighbouring giant Chicago, Milwaukee should not be overlooked.
48 HOURS IN USA Milwaukee VIEW MILWAUKEE VOYAGES 88 VIKING
MILWAUKEE 43.0389° N, 87.9065° W
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Those with a love for motorcycles will not want to miss a visit to the Harley Davidson Museum. The world’s leading motorcycle manufacturer, was founded in Milwaukee in 1903. The namesake museum showcases classic production models, historic photos, advertisements, videos and interactive exhibits and tells the story of Harley-Davidson’s rise from humble beginnings in a Milwaukee garage to worldwide acclaim. With a nickname like ‘Brew City’, no visit to Milwaukee is complete without a stop by one of its many breweries. Join a brewery tour, and learn how the city’s German immigrant community brought its brewing tradition from the Old World to create the rich beer-making practice that made Milwaukee one of the world’s foremost brewing cities. Among founding breweries, Pabst, Schlitz, Miller and Blatz, to name a few, only Miller Brewery still operates today, however, there are many new generation craft breweries to discover who help Milwaukee maintain its claim as the “Beer Capital of the World”.
WHERE TO SHOP The Historic Third Ward offers the best place to shop in Milwaukee. The trendy neighbourhood is home to chic fashion boutiques, antique shops, art galleries, and specialty stores. The Milwaukee Public Market is a foodies dream, with 20 vendors selling local products and produce from artisan foods, chocolate, seafood and more. Usinger’s Famous Sausage, operating since 1880, is the best place to purchase Milwaukee’s famous smoked meats, brats and Polish-style kielbasa. While cheeselovers will rejoice with a choice of 150 Wisconsin varieties of cheese at the nearby Wisconsin Cheese Mart.
WHERE TO DINE Those seeking fresh seasonal gourmet cuisine will find it at farm-to-table restaurants Ardent and Braise, both with chefs nominated for a James Beard Award. For a taste of German heritage both Kegel’s Inn and Mader’s Restaurant are long-term establishments, operating since the early 1900s, serving authentic German classics. While Milwaukee Brat House offers up the city’s signature cuisine. Also, don’t miss trying two of Milwaukee’s local favourites when you see them on a menu – deep-fried cheese curds and frozen custard. Opposite page: Milwaukee skyline This page: Deep fried lighthousebeer;bratwurstcurds;cheeseGermanwithMilwaukee
WHAT TO SEE AND DO Start your visit to Milwaukee with a stroll along the RiverWalk, a continuous pedestrian walkway that connects three riverfront neighbourhoods – the Historic Third Ward, Downtown, and Beerline B. This walk offers the perfect opportunity to explore and orientate yourself with the city. Next, immerse yourself in works by some of the very best American and European artists at the Milwaukee Art Museum. Spy paintings by Wisconsin native Georgia O’Keeffe, and marvel at the museum’s remarkable architecture. The striking Quadracci Pavilion features a moveable winglike structure, designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava, which opens every morning, “flaps” at noon, and closes automatically at night (weather permitting).
25 th ANNIVERSARY SALE
PERFECTING Expedition voyages
Cruise with Viking and explore the world in Scandinavian comfort on our brandnew custom-built expedition ships. Relax knowing you are in safe hands with Viking’s industry leading health and safety protocols, giving you peace of mind in this new age of cruising, whether it be your first time or the next. Legendary waters and scenic landscapes Join Viking for a unique expedition across the historic waterways of all five of the majestic Great Lakes. Experience culture-rich urban centres and admire the awesome power of thundering Niagara Falls. Explore the granite islands and sheltered inlets of Georgian Bay and traverse the famous Soo Locks. Study the aquatic ecosystems of the lakes and venture into the dense boreal forests that line the shores of Lake Superior and Lake Michigan.
Mackinac Island Chicago PeleePoint Toronto MICHIGAN MICHIGAN WISCONSIN HuronLake LakeErie OntarioLake MichiganLake Detroit Alpena WellandNiagaraCanalFalls CruiseMilwaukee •• Overnight in Port USA ONTARIOCANADA NIAGARA & THE GREAT LAKES TORONTO – MILWAUKEE or vice versa 8 DAYS | 2 COUNTRIES SET SAIL APR-JUL & SEP 2023 From only $7,295pp in Nordic Balcony SAVE $3,000 per couple THUNDER BAY, CANADA NIAGARA FALLS, CANADALEARN MORE VIEW ITINERARY 90 VIKING
USA Mackinac Island Door Peninsula Thunder Bay Duluth Algoma SainteSaultMarie ColbornePort Alpena Toronto MINNESOTA MICHIGAN OHIO WISCONSIN ONTARIOCANADA FrazerBayLocksSoo KillarneyParrySound St.LakeClair NiagaraOntarioLakeFalls LakeErie HuronLake GeorgianBaySuperiorLakeMichiganLake WellandCanal Detroit Cleveland Cruise GREAT LAKES COLLECTION DULUTH – TORONTO or vice versa 15 DAYS | 10 GUIDED TOURS | 2 COUNTRIES SET SAIL JUN-SEP 2023 From only $18,295pp in Nordic Balcony SAVE $2,000 per couple Save up to $3,000 per couple on 2023 expedition voyages *Conditions apply. Prices are per person, in Australian dollars, based on double occupancy, subject to availability, includes all advertised discounts and correct at time of printing. Guests are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at time of travel. Great Lakes Collection based on 29 August 2023 departure. Niagara & Great Lakes based on 05 May 2023 departure. Great Lakes Explorer based on 19 May 2023 departure. These offers are valid on new bookings made between 05 August and 31 October 2022 unless sold out prior. For full terms and conditions visit viking.com MILWAUKEE – THUNDER BAY 8 DAYS | 2 COUNTRIES SET SAIL MAY-JUN 2023 From only $8,095pp in Nordic Balcony SAVE $2,000 per couple USA Mackinac Island FrazerBay Parry Sound Soo LocksMilwaukeeSilverIsletThunder Bay MICHIGAN WISCONSINMICHIGAN SuperiorLake HuronLake GeorgianBay MichiganLake Killarney ONTARIOCANADA Cruise •• Overnight in Port Chicago Enjoy, it’s all included... • Nordic Balcony stateroom with floor-to-ceiling windows and king-size bed • Complimentary shore excursions • Onboard meals and beverages, including wine,beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner • Complimentary 24-hour room service and specialty coffee, tea and bottled water • Choice of 6 dining options — no charge for alternative dining • A variety of ways to explore, including access to two six-seater yellow submarines and a fleet of military pro zodiacs • Enriching onboard learning programs led by the world-class Viking Expedition Team and Viking Resident Scientists • The use of land and sea excursion gear, including boots, waterproof pants and binoculars • Complimentary Viking Expedition Jacket for you to keep (polar itineraries only) • Access to LivNordic Spa facilities including sauna, hydrotherapy pool and Snow Grotto • Unlimited Wi-Fi • All onboard tipping and gratuities • No credit card surcharges • Industry-leading Health & Safety Program APOSTLE ISLANDS, USA WELLAND CANAL, CANADA VIEW ITINERARY VIEW ITINERARY viking.com 91
Ihave done many different things in my life, but I’m happiest making beautiful things with my hands. For the past eight years I have been making lifelike bird sculptures from sheep’s wool and beeswax using the simple process of needle felting. It’s like the best aspects of carving, painting, crochet and embroidery rolled into one. Needle felting is low tech and peaceful – no noisy machines, dust or fumes, no expensive, fancy equipment. My dogs Bodi and Tulsi, and cats Elfin and Lili, like to hang out with me while I work. I can hear the calls and songs of birds outside while I sculpt, often the same species that I’m sculpting.
I grew up in a creative family, surrounded by my father’s oil and acrylic paintings, my mother’s quilts, braided rugs, cushions, and curtains and, later on, gifts of handspun sweaters, woven blankets and needlepoint from my two mothers-in-law. ME
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Needle felting involves using a special needle with tiny barbs along its length that, when poked into wool over and over, felt or compact the fibres. It’s akin to sculpture or carving, but instead of removing material as with wood or stone, the wool is compressed and shaped into the desired form, somewhat like with clay, but becoming denser the more it is felted. Think of what happens with cotton candy if you squish it…it’s a bit like that. Detailed markings are made by
adding different coloured wool, or by applying lightfast ink for exceptionally subtle markings and colourations that are difficult to achieve with felting. Much of my inspiration comes from where I live, in the house I grew up in, on a farm in Vermont that has been in my family for four generations. I make my birds in the studio where my father used to paint.
WITH
Having combined a love of the natural world with the art of needle felting, Susan Beal tells us more about her latest project, sculpting 100 polar birds for Viking expedition ships
Come fly
This page: An arctic tern made andsheep’susingwoolbeeswax
Why birds? They’re like flying, singing flowers and they lift my heart with their beauty
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I wasn’t sure what to do with so much wool. Then I stumbled across a book about needle felting and, intrigued, decided to give it a try. I ordered a felting needle, grabbed a handful of brown fleece, and made a little brown bird – or an ‘LBB’ as ornithologists fondly call them. And that was that. I was completely enchanted by this unique, relatively unknown art form. I made another bird, and another. I made birds that live on our land – chickadees, wrens, robins, kestrels, orioles and nuthatches. Eventually, my daughter suggested I open an Etsy shop online. On a whim, I did. I never intended for it to be anything but a fun way to honour all the effort my mother-in-law put into
We always had lots of dogs and cats, rescued as strays or from shelters, as well as horses and cows on the farm. I hated when the cats, all excellent mousers, hunted for little animals, most especially birds. It broke my heart, though I cherish the experience of rescuing and caring for the wounded little creatures, or comforting them as they died. But all of it gave me a great love and respect for animals, both companion and wild, and I have never lived without them.
growing, carding and dyeing so much wool. Why birds? I’m not sure, exactly, other than that they’re like flying, singing flowers, and they lift my heart with their beauty. The orders trickled in slowly at first but gradually increased. I made birds for friends and collectors, and endangered birds for conservation groups. Then Viking contacted me and asked if I would like to make 100 different birds for their new expedition ships: penguins, petrels, terns, albatrosses, loons, pelicans, eagles, kingfishers, and dozens of others. It’s a dream come true, and quite an honour. It couldn’t be a more perfect way to combine my passion for art, beauty, animals, nature, and the environment. flightofheart.weebly.com fromClockwisetopleft: A theframesculptures;totheincreations;ofcollectionSusan’sSusanherstudio;toolsusedcreateSusan’sawireusedinprocess
I first began needle felting in 2012 when I received a bounty of wool fleece after my first motherin-law passed away. Much of it was hand dyed using vegetables, herbs, flowers and fungi. Not being a spinner or weaver like she was,
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Collection, amongst others. Shortly after Viking Octantis set sail, her sister vessel Viking Polaris arrived at the Fincantieri VARD for her final outfitting. Two of the world’s greatest expedition ships, both delivering once-in-a-lifetime experiences. It is with great pride that we enter our 25th year in the knowledge that we can now travel across all five oceans, twenty of the world’s greatest rivers and all seven continents, under the one Viking name.
ON LOCATION WITH KARINE
Executive Vice President of Viking, Karine Hagen, shares the latest news and images of Viking Octantis, the first expedition ship in the company’s 25th anniversary year
Taking delivery of a new vessel is always an exciting time, and none more so than when we took delivery of our first expedition ship Viking Octantis in the coastal Norwegian town of Søviknes near the beautiful town of Ålesund. The event was all the more poignant given that Viking Octantis was conceived and born during the pandemic, and we were there to meet the ship on the night before Christmas, which is always such a magical time of year in Norway.
MAIDEN VOYAGE Afterwards, Viking Octantis set sail on her maiden voyage to Antarctica, and we are delighted that guests travelling on the first few itineraries have recorded some of the highest ratings ever. These new expedition journeys offer the most responsible travel possible, while also conducting meaningful science. Our partnerships include the Scott Polar Research Institute at the University of Cambridge, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and the Polar Citizen Science
Opposite page: Karine Hagen and her father Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking, look out to the expeditionnewship, Viking Octantis; the Finse Terrace on the OctantisViking
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Captain Olivier In February this year Viking Octantis crossed the Antarctic Circle and sailed under 66°33’ S in the Crystal Sound. We talk to the ship’s captain about the joys of such a voyage
Did you always love the idea of a life at sea? When I was just six I had command of a small dinghy at sailing school and enjoyed the stories of Jacques Cousteau, learning about his discoveries on board The Calypso What is good seamanship? I would say it is about understanding and anticipating the external forces affecting your vessel. Such as the winds, current, waves, tides … and knowing how to use them to your benefit. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you choose? That will be on my sailing boat with my family and somewhere in the South Pacific Islands. What has been your biggest adventure ? A few years ago, I was Captain of a large sailing expedition schooner named Tara. It was part of a global scientific expedition where the scientists on board were studying plankton and coral reefs. During one leg sailing near Djibouti, we sailed in and explored Lake Goubet – that was true exploration! Best advice you would give a passenger? Switch off Wi-Fi and open your eyes to where you are in the world. What did you enjoy most about the shakedown cruise on Viking Octantis? I had been involved with this project for almost two years prior to the vessel delivery – building and training the team, the first sea trials, taking delivery of the vessel, sailing her across the Atlantic down to Antarctica and starting the first expedition operations. I enjoyed seeing our first guests with a big smile, watching their shock at how stunning Antarctica is and having the experience of a lifetime. Did it all go to plan? I would say it all went “to plan(s)”. Expeditions are all about being ready for plan B, C and more. You have to adapt to the icy conditions, weather as well as last-minute changes or the wildlife giving good opportunities – and then try to make the right decision at the right time to maximise the guest experience opportunity. So yes, it went according to my plans!
If you had to describe the Antarctica cruise in three words what would you say? Stunning / Wild / Unpredictable.
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What’s your favourite cruise destination? This is a difficult question since the world is full of treasures. My top three? Alaska, Antarctica and French Polynesia. All of those have beautiful things to see and have so much wildlife to discover. What did being awarded the ‘Chevalier de l’Ordre du Mérite Maritime’ mean to you? I was awarded following an important successful rescue at sea I was involved with as a Captain. It is an honour to get such a meaningful recognition from my country and the maritime community.
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BritishAward-winningBIOGRAPHYphotographerAlastairMiller’sfirsttruepassionwasthesea.“Ialwayssearchfortheunexpected,thesmalldetailinthelargerlandscape.”Hisworkiswidelypublishedinlifestylemagazinesandnewspapers,principallyTheTimesandTheSundayTimes viking.com 99
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TheWILDLIFEuniquewildlife can be one of the main reasons for visiting the Antarctic. For me, the opportunity to capture images began on the crossing of the Drake, with possibly my favourite bird, the Albatross. It’s mesmerising to spend time watching these masters of effortless flight as they ride the wind in long arcs behind the ship, their wings locked just inches above the wave tops. Then there’s Gentoo penguins, as comical and ungainly on land as they are sleek and streamlined underwater. These creatures are a delight with an enchanting curiosity and no fear of humans. Up by the water’s edge you may see groups of fat, sleepy Southern Elephant seals, sprawled out like tired Sumo wrestlers, rising occasionally to angrily bark and bellow at each other. Whales (probably Humpbacks) will be readily seen, and heard – I’ll never forget the uncanny sound of water, blasted out of their blowholes, breaking through the silence.
Viking Octantis Clockwise from top left: Alastair’s favourite bird, the Albatross.
Viking Octantis sailing through the ice and wilderness of Antarctica. Capturing the unique lighting conditions in this remote location can yield some quite ethereal shots. Gentoo penguins are abundant and relatively easy to photograph as they have no fear of approaching humans
PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS 1. Photography in Antarctica comes with its own set of challenges – one of which is condensation. As you move from a cold exterior into the warmth of the ship, a film of condensation will quickly fog up your lens. One solution is to bring a sealable airtight bag to put your camera and lenses in so they can slowly adjust to a warmer temperature. Each Viking Octantis stateroom comes with its own drying cabinet for wet clothes and I discovered that when I put my cameras in there in the time it took to have lunch, they were all nicely condensation free for the afternoon.
LightLIGHTin
Antarctica has a quality I have never experienced before. The air, free from pollution and combined with the reflective white landscapes, meant that on cloudy days our world was transformed into a rich shadowless palette of luminous greys. The sky welded to the horizon where the ship appeared strangely suspended, floating somewhere between heaven and earth. And when the clouds parted and the sun shone, our eyes would burn with the brightness of it all, the deep blue shadows once again giving shape to our surroundings.
3. What lenses are best? I bought a big 200mm-500mm zoom lens for my trip, but the
lenses I used most were a 17mm-35mm wide-angle (for landscapes) and a 70mm200mm telephoto (for wildlife).
Penguins and seals are unafraid of humans and you can get pretty close.
5. When photographing wildlife, if you can, try and get down low to the ground so that you’re on a level with your subject. Your photos will be much better for it. And keep a camera with you as you move around the ship as the Antarctic regularly throws up surprises! Whether you’re using your iPhone or high-end DSLR, you’ll have the possibility to create some fantastic memories of the last great remaining wilderness on the planet!
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4. Unless you are shooting video, I wouldn’t bother with a tripod. There’s lots of light in Antarctica, so shutter speeds won’t be an issue. I found a monopod more practical as long lenses can be heavy to hold!
2. Antarctica is cold, even in summer, which means batteries drain fast. Keeping them near to your body will warm them up. Take several with you.
Previous page: Alastair Miller took advantage of the striking boardlandscapesAntarcticawhileon
Marvels Of Technology
An industry first, the hangar brings true comfort to expedition cruising. This enclosed, in-ship marina permits the launch of small excursion craft through the ship’s shell doors.
Nordic Balcony Staterooms
INNOVATION AT SEA Discover the last continent
The Hangar’s most innovative feature is the slipway that allows guests to embark on Special Operations Boats shielded from wind and waves from a stable surface inside the ship, and once on board, to glide into the water.
The Aula, a stunning panoramic auditorium, was inspired by the University of Oslo’s famed Aula ceremonial hall, which used to be the venue for the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony. This unique space on our expedition ships features a 4K laser-projected panoramic screen spanning nearly the entire width of the room, and is used for lectures, daily briefings, science presentations and films.
KING PENGUINS, SOUTH GEORGIA ISLAND 102 VIKING
25 th SALE VIKING OCTANTIS
There are balconies, and then there is the Viking Nordic Balcony: harnessing the Norwegian reverence for light and creating the optimal wildlife observatory at sea. Floorto-ceiling, distortion-free glass at the very edge of the ship lets you take in the views while keeping the elements out. The top of your panoramic glass lowers to transform your stateroom into a sheltered al fresco lookout, with an observation shelf at elbow level to stabilise binoculars or photograph the majestic wilderness as you glide by.
The Hangar – A Unique In-Ship Marina
The Aula – The Worlds Most Advanced Venue For Learning At Sea
ANNIVERSARY
Our expedition ships have a dynamic positioning mode, enabling a “hover in place” when anchoring is difficult or prohibited. This preserves sensitive wildlife habitats on the sea floor, also providing you with safer, more comfortable excursion craft embarkation. A revolutionary chemical incinerator process means we have zero emissions waste treatment.
Save up to $5,000 per couple on 2023 and 2024 Enjoy,voyagesit’s all included... • Nordic Balcony stateroom with floor-to-ceiling windows and king-size bed • Complimentary shore excursions • Onboard meals and beverages, including wine,beer and soft drinks with lunch and dinner • Complimentary 24-hour room service and specialty coffee, tea and bottled water • Choice of 6 dining options — no charge for alternative dining • A variety of ways to explore, including access to two six-seater yellow submarines and a fleet of military pro zodiacs programs led by the world-class Viking Expedition Team and Viking The use of land and sea excursion gear, including boots, waterproof Complimentary Viking Expedition Jacket for you to keep (polar Access to LivNordic Spa facilities including sauna, hydrotherapy All onboard tipping and gratuities Safety Program KAYAKS Half Moon Islan WhalersAntarcticBay Peninsul Neko Harbor Damoy PointPetermann Island DrakeChanneLemairePassage ARGENTINA UshuaiaChanneBeaglelCapeHorn Buenos Aires N Example expedition destinations Chartered ight EXPLORERANTARCTIC BUENOS AIRES – USHUAIA – BUENOS AIRES 13 DAYS | 2 COUNTRIES SET SAIL JAN-MAR & NOV-DEC 2023; JAN-FEB 2024 From only $16,995pp in Nordic Balcony SAVE $5,000 per couple *Conditions apply. Prices are per person, in Australian dollars, based on double occupancy, subject to availability, includes all advertised discounts and correct at time of printing. Guests are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at time of travel. Antarctic Explorer based on 20 November 2023 departure. Antarctica & South Georgia Island based on 29 October 2023 departure. These offers are valid on new bookings made between 05 August and 31 October 2022 unless sold out prior. For full terms and conditions visit viking.com From only $27,995pp in Nordic Balcony SAVE $2,000 per couple SouthOceanAtlanticARGENTINA ChannelBeagleDrake Passage WeddellSea Ushuaia Elephant Island Half Moon RongéBrownPauletIslandIslandBluffIsland Antarctic PeninsulaFalklandIslands South Georgia and the SandwichSouthIslandsANTARCTICABuenosAires Port Stanley West Point Island Chartered Flight •• Overnight in Port Example expedition destinations VIEW ITINERARY VIEW ITINERARY viking.com 103
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