Onboard Menus to Feature Regional Chinese Dishes and Western Food

LOS ANGELES (February 2, 2004) - Viking River Cruises, the world leader in river cruising, announces today that it has signed a partnership with popular chef, television host and author Martin Yan to develop distinctive regional menus for its 2004 China Yangtze Cruisetours.

Yan will personally be responsible for creating four distinctive family-style meals, each comprised of eight dishes highlighting tastes from a variety of China's regions. He will also train Viking River Cruises onboard chefs with emphasis on maintaining the company's top-quality standards. Dinners aboard the ship will feature Chef Yan's four specially designed menus alternated between three Western-style meals, including an on-deck barbecue.

"The name Martin Yan is synonymous with Asian cooking," says Jeff Dash, president of Viking River Cruises. "Because he has decades of expertise in preparing Eastern cuisine for Western audiences, it made sense to partner with him in developing the menu for our new China cruises. This ensures we can continue our cornerstone of providing passengers with authentic, gourmet dining in a comfortable environment."

Beginning in March 2004, Viking River Cruises will offer five different all-inclusive cruisetour itineraries, each centered upon a fixed seven-night river cruise along China's legendary Yangtze River aboard the brand new, 186-passenger Century Star. The all-inclusive itineraries range from 9-16 nights and feature all shore excursions and tours, plus all meals aboard and hotel nights in 5-star/deluxe properties, intra-Asia flights and English-speaking escorts throughout.

Master Chef Martin Yan has been recognized as a respected food consultant, professional instructor, successful restaurateur and author over the span of his 28-year career. He is the host of the pioneering television cooking show Yan Can Cook and has written numerous cookbooks including Martin Yan's Feast, Chinese Cooking for Dummies and his newest work, Martin Yan's Chinatown Cooking.

Viking River Cruises, The World's Leading River Cruise Line®, offers fine food, quality service and comfortable scenic cruising along some of the world's most majestic rivers. In January 2004, the company made its debut on the Condé Nast Traveler Gold List, and in 2002 and 2003 was ranked in the "Top 10 Small Ship Cruise Lines" in the magazine's Reader's Choice issue; in 2003, Viking River Cruises was the top-rated river cruise line. Since its 1997 inception, Viking River Cruises has grown its fleet to 23 vessels and expanded its itineraries to include sailings in Ukraine and China. Viking River Cruises continues to provide travelers with a unique and affordable vacation experience. For additional information, contact Viking River Cruises toll-free at 1-877-66VIKING (1-877-668-4546).

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