Viking River Cruises unveils two new itineraries

Fast-growing Viking River Cruises today announced plans for two new itineraries that include time on the Rhine River.

A new eight-day Legends of the Rhine itinerary between Amsterdam and Frankfurt will focus on the northern part of the Rhine with stops in Germany and The Netherlands as well as a day sailing through the castle-lined Middle Rhine Valley.

Also new is the 10-day Rhine Rhapsody itinerary, a cruisetour that combines an overland visit to Paris with a sailing on the Rhine, Main and Moselle rivers.

Both of the new itineraries will debut in April 2015.

Viking says the Legends of the Rhine cruise will feature stops at Remagen, Germany and Nijmegan, Netherlands -- both notable for their roles in battles at the end World War II. The Nijmegan stop will feature a guided visit to the Overloon War and Resistance Museum.

Also scheduled for the Legends of the Rhine sailing is a stop at Cologne, Germany, home to one of Europe's grandest cathedrals. Fares for the trip start at $2,356 per person. Departure dates are in April and May.

The Rhine Rhapsody cruisetour will feature stops at several small European towns including Trier, Rüdesheim and Cochem, as well as a passage through the Rhine Valley. Also on the itinerary is Strasbourg, France and Basel, Switzerland.

Fares for the Rhine Rhapsody sailing start at $2,906 per person. Departures also are in April and May.

Today's itinerary announcement came as Viking confirmed previously revealed plans to launch 12 new river ships in 2015, continuing a record-size expansion begun at the start of this decade. After adding six ships in 2012 and 10 more in 2013, the company earlier this year made cruising history with the naming of 18 new vessels in a one-week period.

With next year's additions, the company will operate 64 river vessels.

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