Travel advisors from Helloworld Travel, RACT Travel and Cruise Travel Centre have enjoyed a famil aboard Viking’s newest Longship.
The Viking Fjolvar entered service in June, with the group experiencing the eight-day Paris & the Heart of Normandy river journey along the Seine river.
The trip was hosted by Shaun Kavanagh, Senior National Commercial Manager; Catherine Wood, Contact Centre Team Leader, Service; and Angela Marotta, Customer Relations Senior Manager, Guest Experience.
The famil provided firsthand insight into one of Viking’s most popular European river voyages, blending famous Paris landmarks, Normandy’s rich history and immersive cultural experiences.
Advisors also had the opportunity to experience Viking’s newest river ship while gaining a deeper understanding of the onboard experience, shore excursion program and destination-focused approach that continues to resonate with guests.
Ports of Call
The itinerary visited:
- Paris, France
- La Roche-Guyon, France
- Vernon, France
- Rouen, France
- Normandy Beaches, France
- Les Andelys, France
- Paris (Le Pecq), France
Shore Excursion Highlights
Throughout the voyage, advisors experienced a range of included excursions and destination-focused experiences, including:
- Visiting the Louvre Museum and viewing world-famous masterpieces, including the Mona Lisa
- Discovering the restored Notre-Dame Cathedral
- Exploring Claude Monet’s gardens in Giverny
- Visiting the historic Normandy Beaches and learning about their significance during World War II
- Walking through the medieval streets and Gothic landmarks of Rouen
Group excursion highlight: In Paris, the hosted group enjoyed the Scenic Paris & Highlights of the Louvre excursion, taking in some of the city’s most recognisable landmarks before exploring one of the world’s most celebrated museums.
Onboard Experience
In addition to exploring the region, advisors experienced Viking’s award-winning river product firsthand, including:
- Scenic cruising along the Seine River through the French countryside
- Sampling regional French cuisine and destination-inspired dining experiences
- Participating in onboard enrichment and destination briefings
- Experiencing Viking’s intimate river ship atmosphere and Scandinavian design
- Exploring Paris before embarkation, including a welcome dinner featuring classic French specialties and an evening at the iconic Moulin Rouge
The famil was designed to give advisors first hand experience of Viking’s river product, from the onboard atmosphere and service to the destination-focused shore excursion program.
The experience provided advisors with a deeper understanding of the itinerary and the confidence to share the Viking experience with clients considering a European river voyage.
