Viking Cruises today announced the availability of six additional Explore More™ land extensions for 2014 that enable Viking guests to extend their stay and enhance their time abroad. The new extensions allow Viking guests to explore some of Europe’s finest cities before or after their cruise, and to customise a unique itinerary to fit their interests through the services of Viking’s on-site Concierges.

“Viking’s itineraries are designed to show travelers the world in a unique and in-depth way, and these new land extensions provide an additional way to maximise and personalise that experience,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking Cruises. “Our Concierges are friendly, local experts whose assistance ensures that our guests have the same warm, personal Viking experience on land as they do onboard, while seeing the city in interesting new ways.”

Similar to Viking’s carefully crafted cruise itineraries, these new Viking land extensions provide guests with options to customise their experience to suit their interests.  All extensions begin with a walking tour to familiarise guests with the area and include handpicked, high-quality hotel accommodations. With a Viking Concierge available on-site at the hotel, travelers have a local host to help them make the most of their trip. New excursions for 2014 include:
*    Bruges (3 nights; available with Rhine Getaway) – Recently named one of Condé Nast Traveler’s most popular cities in Europe, Bruges offers some of Europe’s finest dining, scenic squares set among medieval houses, charming bridges and beautiful canals.
*    Kraków (3 nights; available with Elegant Elbe) – In addition to exploring one of Poland’s oldest and largest cities long hidden behind the Iron Curtain, Viking’s Concierge can help guests plan a visit to the moving site of nearby Auschwitz or the fascinating Wieliczka Salt Mine.
*    Nuremberg (2 nights; available with Romantic Danube) – Guests will enjoy a guided tour of historic Nuremberg Castle, and Viking’s Concierge can help guests make the most of their time by planning a visit to the Germanische National Museum or a nearby Brauhaus to experience an authentic German beer hall up close.
*    French Riviera (3 nights; available with Portraits of Southern France or France’s Finest) – Guests can take in the glitz and glamour of Nice with a guided tour of the coastal resort town; then relax on the beach; or take in the cosmopolitan sites of nearby St. Tropez, Cannes or Monaco with customised arrangements made by their Viking Concierge.
*    The Hague (2 nights; available with Tulips & Windmills) – Following a guided tour of The Hague, guests can have their Viking Concierge arrange for visits to local great art collections from 17th-century Dutch Masters like Vermeer and Rembrandt, to modern works by Monet,  Mondrian and Picasso.
*    Lake Geneva (3 nights; available with Rhine Getaway) – Guests will enjoy the beautiful scenery of Montreux, one of the loveliest resorts on Lake Geneva, and their Viking Concierge can provide a customised plan for a Swiss Riviera wine tour or a ride on the Golden Pass train through beautiful Alpine scenery.