Press release: Viking Cruises
Press Release
January 2017
Viking Cruises celebrates 20th Anniversary by commissioning a signature piece of music to debut at Classic FM Live
This year Viking Cruises celebrates 20 years of exploring inspiring destinations around the globe. These two decades of incredible achievements deserve a real celebration and to mark this momentous anniversary Viking Cruises has commissioned a signature piece of music to be written exclusively for them.
The composition will be written by world-renowned composer Debbie Wiseman, who previously has written music for film and TV, including the recent BBC Drama Wolf Hall which won the Royal Television Society West Award 2016 Best Composer, Drama and Debbie’s soundtrack album from the acclaimed series went to number 1 in the UK Classical charts. The Viking signature piece will debut at Classic FM Live at the Royal Albert Hall on 18 April, which is sponsored by Viking Cruises.
“I’m thrilled to be composing a piece of music for Viking Cruises. My time on board the ocean and river ships inspired me to create something which captures the mix of travel, exploration and adventure that makes the Viking Cruises experience so special. The composition evokes the beautiful style of the ships, the distinctive sounds of travelling on the water and the breathtaking seascapes and destinations. I hope that as people listen to the piece they will be able to imagine these experiences as if they’d been transported aboard ship themselves”, explains Debbie.
Viking Cruises has inspired travel for many years and continues to be creative and innovative, and by working with Debbie Wiseman, Viking wants to bring these values to life through her music.
Wendy Atkin-Smith, Managing Director of Viking Cruises UK said, ” After hearing Debbie’s recent composition “The Musical Zodiac” which premiered at Classic FM Live in September last year, we were inspired to commission a piece of music for Viking’s 20th anniversary and Debbie was the perfect choice to create this for us. The piece will be Debbie’s own interpretation of her experience on Viking’s river and ocean ships.”
From its first cruises on the rivers of Russia back in 1997, Viking Cruises has grown to become the world’s leading river cruise line with over 63 elegant vessels sailing routes that stretch from Europe to China and South East Asia. Since 2015 it has also offered luxury ocean cruises and by 2019 will operate six ocean-going ships.
Viking Cruises will be celebrating this special anniversary throughout the year with special events, competitions and cruise offers. For more information please visit www.vikingcruises.co.uk
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Media enquiries please contact: Monic Chhabria – Acting PR & Events manager, Viking Cruises UK.
Email: Monic.Chhabria@vikingcruises.com.
Images available upon request.
About Viking Cruises
Viking Cruises offers culturally-enriching, destination-focused river and ocean cruises for travellers curious about the world, its rich culture and varied history. Viking Cruises takes its guests on curated, elegant voyages along some of the most iconic rivers in Europe and the Far East allowing a unique window on inspiring destinations and rewarding experiences. Featuring onboard cultural enrichment and included shore excursions, Viking’s journeys are competitively priced for genuine value.
Since its 1997 inception the company has grown to become the world’s leading operator with a fleet of over 63 vessels. Having christened its second ocean ship, the Viking Sea, in May Viking Cruises will build a further 4 ships by 2020 bringing their Ocean fleet to a total of 6 ships. The sophisticated state-of-the-art Viking Ocean Ships can host 930 guests on itineraries that start from the brand’s homeland in Scandinavia and the Baltic through to the Western and Eastern Mediterranean. Viking has consistently won customer-voted and industry-recommended awards with 2016 being an award breaking year for the company, with accolades such as the Best River Cruise Company at the Times and Sunday Times Travel Awards and Best Overall Cruise Company at the Food and Travel Awards. In addition, the Travel Bulletin Awards named Viking Best River Cruise Company whilst at the Condé Nast Traveller Reader Awards Viking was included in the top 3 for the Small Ship Category.
For additional information on Viking’s River and Ocean offering, contact Viking Cruises 020 8780 7995 or visit the company’s web site at www.vikingcruises.co.uk. Follow Viking River Cruises on Facebook www.facebook.com/VikingRiverCruisesUK and Twitter www.twitter.com/vikingriveruk.
Monic Chhabria I Viking Cruises I Acting Public Relations & Events Manager
(m) +44 (0)79 7394 9764 I (t) +44 (0)208 780 7941 I monic.chhabria@vikingcruises.com I vikingrivercruises.co.uk