Viking River Cruises has launched a 2011 preview brochure offering holidays at 2010 prices for bookings made by the end of March 2010.
In addition, clients who book by March 31 will also receive a £500 per person discount and free regional flights where required.
The programme features nine of Viking’s most popular European and Russian river cruises, including sailings on the Rhine, Elbe, Rhone and Russian waterways between Moscow and St Petersburg.
It also offers a price promise, guaranteeing that if clients book by March 31 the price paid will be the cheapest price available. If the holiday is later offered at a lower cost more than 60 days before departure, Viking will refund the difference, and add an extra 10%.
Viking River Cruises managing director Wendy Atkin-Smith said the decision to launch a preview brochure, the company’s first, followed strong sales this year.
“We are almost fully booked between March and July so rather than turning clients away or offering them alternative cruises when they call, we wanted to be able to offer them their chosen cruise for next year,” she said.
“The itineraries are quite specific so it’s unlikely people are going to want to switch to Russia if they are phoning to book the Elbe.”
Atkin-Smith said Viking was picking up business from Peter Deilmann, which closed its river cruise business last October, and that Viking’s efforts to promote river cruising were coming to fruition.
She added: “New players in the market are also helping to raise awareness of river cruising.”
Scenic Tours launched in 2008 and APT now has a sizeable river cruise programme.
The preview brochure is being distributed to agents this week. Prices start from £745 for an eight-day Rhine Discovery cruise in March including flights, transfers, full-board accommodation and six guided tours.