During the 2023 and 2024 summer cruising season, Viking expects to welcome more than 1,000 Australian travel agents and their clients for ship inspections on Viking Orion, Viking Sky, and Viking Neptune as they visit ports on the East Coast of Australia.
Travel agents are welcome to register for one of the 16 ship inspections, which will begin in Newcastle on 4 December 2023. Viking’s ships are also open for trade inspection in Sydney from 6 December 2023, Melbourne from 2 February 2023, and Cairns from 21 February 2024.
“We are excited to welcome agents and their clients aboard to experience the Viking Difference. Our inspections offer a valuable opportunity to get a taste of life on board, experience a little Viking hospitality, and connect with a Viking representative who can answer all-important questions for their clients,” said Michelle Black, ANZ managing director Viking.
Agents are invited to participate in a one-hour hosted ship inspection to view the ship’s facilities, public areas and stateroom categories. The tour includes seven indoor and outdoor dining venues, the Nordic Spa and the fitness centre, the pools, theatre and cinemas, The Living Room, and the Explorers’ Lounge.
Brigid Avery, Main Beach Travel, who inspected the Viking Mars in March 2023 said: “Despite being in the industry for over 30 years and selling plenty of cruises, I’ve never actually been on a cruise ship – other than expedition – so this was a wonderful learning opportunity.”
“The chance to see first-hand what Viking ships are like was invaluable,” added Avery.
Following the tour, agents will have the opportunity for a Q&A session with the host in one of the ship’s bars or dining areas.
Viking advises agents to register for their preferred ship inspection date as soon as possible as ship inspection availability is limited and places are filling fast.
