Viking to add 24 more river ships

I can see the ads now - daily departures from Amsterdam, Basel and Budapest.

Where will all these ships dock???

https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2018/03/13/viking-has-plans-least-24-more-river-cruise-ships/419402002/

They're killing the goose that laid the golden egg.

I can see the ads now - daily departures from Amsterdam, Basel and Budapest.

Where will all these ships dock???

 

https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/cruises/2018/03/13/viking-has-plans-least-24-more-river-cruise-ships/419402002/

Daily double docking in Koblenz then.... I am half serious. Viking used to be in the enviable position that they could use their own docks in many places, meaning no rafting with other boats. Now they more frequently raft - with their own boats!

Forgive me for being a bit malicious this morning but I was just thinking that next time we have a drought on the Rhine and the ships cannot sail they could manouvre them to Koblenz in time and flashmob-style tie them up side to side to create a pontoon bridge. You know walk through Viking ships from Koblenz to Ehrenbreitstein on the other river side. That would be quite a marketing initiative. There used to be a pontoon bridge close to the Viking landing stage there: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schiffbr%C3%BCcke_(Koblenz)#/media/File:Wilhelm_Walther,_Rhein,_Koblenz,_2-041-042-5731.tif

Remember the thread about Viking final payment.... power to the consumer, market shares are created by the market - us.

After a moment's reflection I have realised that Viking could actually build two bridges with their many ships :eek:. And to put a bit of fairness in my post ;), CroisiEurope is certainly able to give Strasbourg a pontoon bridge with their large fleet (I believe still the largest of any European river cruise company despite other companies' expansions).

Not to worry about space on the rivers there are still many more barges than river cruise ships sailing, but them all descending on (docking in) the small towns along the rivers... not a nice thought.

notamermaid

Seems between the River and Ocean Cruises that they are on steroids.

Keith

Seems between the River and Ocean Cruises that they are on steroids.

 

Keith

Yup. Going up to 16 ocean ships !!

https://www.cruisehive.com/viking-cruises-order-six-new-ocean-cruise-ships-fincantieri/23180

There have been numerous instances throughout the years of successful companies that expanded too fast and then went kaput. I hope Viking isn't one of them. Their policy of requiring early full payment has always made me wonder if they're so leveraged that they have a cash flow problem, and need the money to pay their debt service.

Roz

There have been numerous instances throughout the years of successful companies that expanded too fast and then went kaput. I hope Viking isn't one of them. Their policy of requiring early full payment has always made me wonder if they're so leveraged that they have a cash flow problem, and need the money to pay their debt service.

My thoughts exactly. Viking does not get my money 2 years out without somebody else pretending to cover it. I’m not happy with the congestion on the Rhine etc, but I am most worried about my money on the line.

It is a dangerous game of supply, demand, marketing and banks backing it all up, with trust in the company a factor thrown into the equation, in my opinion. Just think all of a sudden all those booking a cruise demanded European terms of final payment just 90 days before the cruise...

notamermaid

Wasn’t there considered a problem a few years ago when Viking added quite a few ships with staffing especially at command level. It means a lot of work in Europe’s ship yards which is good but what price the periferals.

I can envisage the rafting block as a few years ago there was a threat to close the English canals so we blockaded an interesting experience. CA

There was indeed a problem with personnel on Viking ships. I have never mentioned this before - a bit of dangerous ground really, especially since I am not familiar with the full issue. It envolved Swiss law, German law and payment of staff. I found a trade union "statement" a couple of years ago online. But the issue of staff training and payment is an industry-wide one, with the rapid expansion causing concern. Last year German local authorities and police did an unannounced inspection on river cruise ships on the Danube - and found fault with a couple of things on a couple of ships...

notamermaid

And consider the impact on lock lines, which already can be long enough to impact the next day's excursions...

Yup. Going up to 16 ocean ships !!

 

https://www.cruisehive.com/viking-cruises-order-six-new-ocean-cruise-ships-fincantieri/23180

I am not sure if any other line has grown this quickly.

Keith

Just think all of a sudden all those booking a cruise demanded European terms of final payment just 90 days before the cruise...

Final payment is at ten weeks for UK customers, I don't want it being made any earlier thank you very much. :)

It amazes me that so much of the general public believes that Viking is the one and only River Cruise company, and the best at that. Lol. Finally I’ve been seeing tv ads for Avalon here in US. My relatives were all set on booking Viking for the Seine Normandy beaches cruise. When I told them not to because Viking does not park directly in Paris but an hour away at first they didn’t believe me because the glossy brochure doesn’t make that clear. They actually called Viking to confirm what I told them. lol.

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It amazes me that so much of the general public believes that Viking is the one and only River Cruise company, and the best at that. Lol. Finally I’ve been seeing tv ads for Avalon here in US. My relatives were all set on booking Viking for the Seine Normandy beaches cruise. When I told them not to because Viking does not park directly in Paris but an hour away at first they didn’t believe me because the glossy brochure doesn’t make that clear. They actually called Viking to confirm what I told them. lol.

 

 

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Same here. When I tell people I just back from a European river cruise, they immediately assume I went on Viking. When I explain that there's AMA, Uniworld, Tauck, Croisi, etc. they're amazed. You've got to give Viking credit - they have their name out there.

Roz

Final payment is at ten weeks for UK customers, I don't want it being made any earlier thank you very much. :)

Ten weeks, that is good. Best to keep even more stumm about it so as not to upset. Or, actually, NO! I have just had this idea for a thread...

By the way, final payment for my river cruise was 21 days prior. Booked and paid in Germany, with a German company.

notamermaid

I am not sure if any other line has grown this quickly.

 

Keith

The one that comes to mind is Renaissance. Not the best precedent...

With this abundance of ships available, it's time for some price reductions instead of price increases.

With this abundance of ships available, it's time for some price reductions instead of price increases.

It's only a problem if/when they're not selling cabins. If they can sell that many extra cabins, why would they reduce the price?

With this abundance of ships available, it's time for some price reductions instead of price increases.

Someone has to pay for the new ships, so don't expect price reductions. Eventually if capacity exceeds demand, there may be some leveling off of fares or decreases.

Roz

Some points to ponder before you panic:

I see nothing in the article to indicate that all 24 ships are destined for the Rhine or other rivers in Europe.

Europe is the smallest of the six continents. River cruises are no longer limited to cruising there. There are navigable rivers all over this planet.

Viking is HEAVILY backed by Chinese money. Why do you think the Sun was christened in Shanghai?

China now has a huge middle class that is starting to travel throughout Asia, ANZAC, Europe, and NA. They are pretty much limited to escorted tours and they LOVE cruising.

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I don't think anyone is panicking. It's just a lot of ships for any line to add at any one time, regardless of where they're sailing.

Roz

Some points to ponder before you panic:

I see nothing in the article to indicate that all 24 ships are destined for the Rhine or other rivers in Europe. Europe is the smallest of the six continents...

I’m glad these are mentioned as “points to ponder” and not as “facts”. While there is no international convention on continents the only people I am aware of that consider that there are only 6 continents lump EurAsia into a single continent with Europe thereby not even being a continent. Even if one ignores Antarctica as being a continent (really?), Europe is still significantly larger than Australia - or is Australia not a continent? I’m confused.[emoji15]

I’m old school, very old school. Back in the 50s they taught 6 continents Europe Asia NA SA Africa and AUS. Antarctica was not considered a continent then. I will also point out that I was not educated in the US (although I moved here for university) so maybe that’s the difference.

Sorry to have confused you. I’m sure that’s why you missed my point.

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