Viking has launched an exciting new travel campaign to coincide with the start of the Summer Olympic Games in Paris. Just as France readies to host the Paris Games, Viking announces its new Summer of France program in which curious travelers can find insights and inspiration to plan a river or ocean voyage in France in 2025.
Viking guests can look forward to an exclusive docking location for Viking Longships on the Seine River in the heart of Paris, as well as Privileged Access experiences in Bordeaux and the French Riviera. The launch of the Summer of France campaign is set to coincide with the start of the Paris Games, and guests can view Viking’s exciting new adverts on the Games’ flagship NBC channels beginning July 26.
Torstein Hagen is the Chairman and CEO of Viking
Torstein Hagen is the Chairman and CEO of Viking and he stated “France has always been a destination of keen interest to our guests. With ancient cities, world-famous cuisine and landscapes that have been inspiring artists for centuries, France is a phenomenal country well-suited for exploring with Viking.”
Hagen added: “As the world turns its attention to France for the Paris Games, we are pleased to highlight the many ways to experience France and look forward to introducing even more curious travelers to the country in future years.”
Viking’s Summer of France
For now, guests can look at Viking’s Summer of France page for all the resources they need to plan for a French itinerary. In addition to a curated list of itineraries, informative videos and articles, the website features delicious recipes to recreate French cuisine at home.
As an added bonus, the Summer of France page spotlights a new sweepstakes for North American residents, offering a chance to win a 15-day voyage for two on Vikings France’s Finest itinerary in 2025.
Vikings Superlative River Voyages
Viking’s river and ocean voyages call on ports throughout France, including Paris, Avignon, Marseille, Lyon, Strasbourg, plus optional Pre and Post land extensions offer the chance to explore additional destinations in France.
Highlights of the company’s offerings include:
The Châteaux, Rivers & Wine (8 days; Bordeaux roundtrip) itinerary in which guests explore the ports, vineyards, farms, and forests of Aquitaine, as well as Bordeaux’s fountains and cellars. Guests have the chance to hunt for truffles in Périgord, create their own personal blend of Cognac at the Camus distillery, and delight in France’s finest oysters fresh from the bay at Arcachon.
Paris & the Heart of Normandy (8 days; Paris roundtrip) tour offers portside views of the Eiffel Tower as well a visit to the historic Normandy beaches and Giverny where Claude Monet lived and worked. This voyage celebrates the history, art, food, and customs in France’s most enticing urban and pastoral settings.
The Lyon & Provence (8 days; Lyon—Avignon) itinerary allows guests to explore Les Arènes d’Arles (including an art class inspired by Vincent Van Gogh), the Pont du Gard, and Avignon’s grand Palace of the Popes. Guests will tour Lyon, the capital of French gastronomy, sample local wines, hunt for truffles and see how chèvre cheese is made. Fans of Cézanne and Chagall will delight in the scenery on this eight-day voyage along the Rhône.
The Rhine Getaway (8 days; Basel – Amsterdam) tour sails one of Europe’s best-loved rivers where guests will take in breathtaking scenery: turreted fortresses, grand cathedrals, historic cities, medieval towns, and the Middle Rhine—a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Along the way guests sample the region’s famous white wines and try the diverse culinary traditions of Alsace, with stops at Amsterdam, Cologne, and Basel.
Summer of France River Itineraries
The Paris to the Swiss Alps (12 days; Paris – Zurich) tour offers guests the chance to pay respects at the Luxembourg American Cemetery, discover Roman Trier, sample Moselle Rieslings, and visit the wine town of Bernkastel-Kues. Guests view the town of Sankt Goar, home of the Lorelei Rock, and the Rhine Gorge, a UNESCO Site, as well as Worms and the university town of Heidelberg. Hotel stays in Paris and Zürich round out this tantalizing 12-day cruisetour.
Finally, guests have the option of booking Viking’s France’s Finest (15 days; Paris – Avignon) tour in which the Palace of the Popes, centuries-old vineyards, Normandy’s World War II beaches, and Joan of Arc’s footsteps can be traced at Rouen. The art, cuisine, style, and joie de vivre of France is highlighted as this tour combines Viking’s Lyon & Provence and Paris & the Heart of Normandy cruises into one magnificent voyage.
Viking’s Summer of France Ocean Voyages
Viking offers the Malta, Morocco & the Mediterranean (16 days; roundtrip Barcelona) tour de force with ports of call in Corsica and Marseille, France. Along the way guests explore Marseille, Corsica (birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte), and view the UNESCO city of Valletta. The North African cities of Algiers, Tunis and Casablanca are visited and guests tour Seville as well as the stunning Alhambra palace of Granada.
The Mediterranean Antiquities (15 days; Athens to Barcelona with ports of call in Sète and Marseille, France) voyage combines the Journey to Antiquities and Iconic Western Mediterranean tours in which guests explore the classical sites of ancient Greece and Rome, glamourous Monte Carlo, historic Marseille, and enjoy overnights in Athens, Florence and Barcelona.
The Iconic Western Mediterranean (8 days; Barcelona to Rome with ports of call in Sète and Marseille, France) voyage celebrates France’s famous southern coast where Italy’s Renaissance treasures are the centerpiece of the Mediterranean sojourn. Guests can view Catalonian and Tuscan art, architecture, and history during overnights in Barcelona and Tuscany, while in the South of France they visit historic Montpellier, picturesque Marseille, and glamorous Monte Carlo.
Finally, the Trade Routes of the Middle Ages (15 days; Bergen to Barcelona with a port of call in Le Havre, France) tour explores medieval routes of commerce bookended by overnight stays in Bergen and Barcelona. Guests tour Amsterdam, Bruges, and Paris and call on England from the historic ports of Portsmouth and Falmouth. Málaga, the gateway to Granada’s stunning Alhambra palace, as well as the Roman ruins of Cartagena are highlighted.
Pre & Post Land Extensions:
The Aix-En-Provence extension allows guests to visit Provence which inspired artists such as Van Gogh and Cézanne. Aix-en-Provence with its delightful gastronomic and wine cultures is highlighted.
On the Burgundy’s Vineyards extension, Viking guests tour Dijon, Burgundy, the magnificent Ducal Palace, a local market designed by Gustave Eiffel, and the beautiful Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune.
The Paris extension offers three additional nights in Paris where guests can stroll through Montmartre, shop along the Champs-Élysées, ride to the top of the Eiffel Tower, and sample renowned French cuisine.
The Loire Valley extension offers guests three additional days in France, during which the châteaux of the Loire Valley is highlighted, including Orléans and Chartres Cathedral, both UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
Viking’s Booking Details
From now through July 31, 2024, Viking is offering North American travelers up to FREE international airfare and special fares—with a $25 deposit—on all-inclusive river and ocean voyages, including itineraries featuring France.
For more information on Viking’s Summer of France, visit Viking.com/France, call Viking toll free at 1-855-8-VIKING (1-855-884-5464) or contact a travel advisor for details.
Be sure to catch up on everything happening with Viking Travel. Come back here often for Viking Travel news and updates.