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VIKING EUROPE RANKED AMONG WORLD'S BEST CRUISE SHIPS BY CONDÉ NAST TRAVELER Viking River Cruises vessel recognized for its excellence LOS ANGELES (Feb. 26, 2004) - Continuing to top the charts, Viking River Cruises, the world leader in river cruising, made its debut on Condé Nast Traveler's 2004 "World's Best Cruise Ships" reader's poll, featured in the February 2004 issue. Rated as one of the best small ships in the world, Viking Europe ranked overall as the number one river cruise ship in Europe. Condé Nast Traveler readers gave Viking Europe high ratings for its quality service and crew, spacious cabins, elegant décor and unique itineraries. It was also highly ranked for its activities and excursions, and was the only river cruise line to receive an "E" for excellence in value. "We're very proud of the recognition Viking Europe has received," says Jeff Dash, Viking River Cruises president. "We strive to satisfy all our passengers' needs, and we're thrilled to receive this recognition." With Scandinavian-designed interiors, Viking Europe provides passengers with the level of comfort, elegance and service you would expect to find in a fine hotel. All-outside cabins guarantee passengers picturesque river views, and the ship's 150-passenger capacity ensures intimate and personalized service for all guests. Viking Europe, built in 2001, is a sister ship to the cruise line's Viking Pride, Viking Spirit and Viking Neptune. Viking Europe is scheduled to host passengers on three different Rhine, Main and Danube River itineraries in 2004: the 14-night Grand European Tour from Amsterdam to Budapest, the 14-night Eastern European Odyssey from Budapest to the Black Sea returning to Vienna, and the 7-night Danube Explorer from Vienna to Nuremberg featuring the world-renowned German and Austrian Christmas Markets in N ovember and December. 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 both 2002 and 2003 was ranked in the "Top 10 Small Ship Cruise Lines" in the magazine's Readers' 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) or visit the company online at vikingrivercruises.com. |