Just added, a thoughtful addition to the 2020 Viking River Cruise Season: The Passion Play. Performed every ten years, the dramatic presentation depicts the Passion of Jesus Christ: his trial, suffering and death. For a number of religions, The Passion Play is a traditional part of Lent. In 2020, Viking offers Passion Play voyages between Munich and Budapest from May through October. Titled the Oberammergau, The Passion Play the itinerary will focus on the 42^nd installment of The Oberammergau Passion Play allowing guests to explore destinations in Germany, Austria and Hungary.

What a great idea that also highlights the advantage of the rapidly growing cruise line’s massive yet limber fleet of Viking Longships.  Not all river cruise lines will offer this rare focus. Nor will those that do attack the itinerary with destination experts who may have written the book on topics at hand as you travel. Pretty cool. A solid hit with travelers who have found themselves interested in exploring biblical history throughout their lifetimes either formally or as a passing interest.

Interestingly, Viking Cruises was named the “Best Luxury River Cruise Company” and “Best Cruise Line for Luxury Ocean Cruises” in Luxury Travel Advisor’s 2018 Awards of Excellence.  Viking is the first cruise line to win both of these awards for a second year in a row. Incremental core product moves like this are one unsung reason for these and many other wins.

Here is the full press release:

VIKING ANNOUNCES NEW ITINERARY TO EXPERIENCE THE PASSION PLAY

IN OBERAMMERGAU

Setting Sail in Spring 2020, Viking Will Offer New River Cruisetour Focused on Germany’s Famous Live Performance

Los Angeles (June 4, 2018) – Viking® (www.vikingcruises.com) today announced a new river cruisetour itinerary that will allow guests the rare opportunity to experience The Passion Play in Oberammergau, which is performed only every 10 years. Traveling between Munich and Budapest from May through October 2020, the Oberammergau, The Passion Play itinerary will focus on the 42^nd installment of The Oberammergau Passion Play and will allow guests to explore destinations in Germany, Austria and Hungary.

“We are committed to providing our guests with opportunities that bring local culture and history to life both onboard our ships and onshore,” said Richard Marnell, Senior Vice President of Marketing for Viking. “To help our guests learn about a destination through ‘Working World,’ ‘Local Life,’ or ‘Privileged Access’ experiences, such as this historic performance, is what we call ‘The Viking Way’ of exploration.”

On the 10-day journey, guests will experience a performance of The Passion Play, a depiction of the suffering, death and resurrection of Christ performed by local citizens of Oberammergau once every decade since 1634. Sailing on Viking’s award-winning 190-guest Viking Longships, guests will be able to immerse themselves in the rich culture during each port of call along the Danube River. In addition to The Oberammergau Passion Play performance, highlights from the new Oberammergau, The Passion Play itinerary include:

• Enjoy a Tour and Organ Concert in Passau: Explore the Italianate-style streets of Passau and stop in to view Europe’s largest pipe organ with more than 17,000 pipes at the magnificent 17th-century St. Stephen’s Cathedral.
• Experience a Mozart & Strauss Concert in Vienna: In the city celebrated for its music, enjoy a special classical concert including the beautiful strains of Strauss waltzes and selections from Mozart’s The Magic Flute—music that has defined this magical city.
• Explore Nuremberg’s History: The dramatic stage on which the Third Reich rose and fell, get a glimpse into Nuremberg’s World War II history including Zeppelin Field and the Palace of Justice, the venue of the Nazi war trials.
• Soak in Budapest’s Thermal Baths: Experience firsthand the restorative benefits of bathing in the thermal waters that flow through Budapest, which was discovered by ancient Romans and still today, a regimen most residents cannot live without.

The Viking Difference

Designed for discerning travelers with interests in history, art, music and cuisine, Chairman Torstein Hagen often says Viking offers guests “the thinking person’s cruise” as an alternative to mainstream cruises. The Viking Difference is providing guests with extraordinarily well-designed cruises that bring them closer to the cultures of the world. Itineraries are designed for maximum time in port, often with late evenings or overnights, so guests can experience local culture at night or evening performances. And only The Viking Way of exploration brings guests itineraries that feature Local Life, Working World and Privileged Access experiences.

Booking Details

From now through June 30, 2018, Viking is offering U.S. residents 2-for-1 cruise fares on Oberammergau, The Passion Play, with additional savings on international air. Call Viking toll free at 1-855-8-VIKING (1-855-884-5464) or contact a travel agent.