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Viking opens special domestic cruises to foreigners on its Chinese-flag ship

Viking, whose former Viking Sun has been operating as Viking Yi Dun for the Chinese market, introduced special domestic itineraries for foreign cruisers.

Anne Kalosh, Editor, Seatrade Cruise News & Senior Associate Editor, Seatrade Cruise Review

January 12, 2024

2 Min Read
Credit: Seatrade Cruise News

The Chinese-flagged Viking Yi Dun will be the first ship dedicated specifically to the foreign market to operate domestic sailings in China.  

Destinations not before open to international visitors

The new 2024 voyages range from 10 to 20 days and explore iconic cities such as Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong while also visiting Chinese destinations not before offered to international visitors.

The cruises will offer immersive experiences to introduce travelers to the people, history and culture of China, including lectures, Chinese-inspired cuisine and destination experts.

'We are proud that Viking will be the first to operate domestic sailings in China for international travelers,' Viking Chairman Torstein Hagen said. 'We brought guests to China’s Yangtze River, to Beijing, to the Great Wall, to the Terra Cotta Warriors and to many other iconic places in this captivating nation. We introduced the real China to our guests, and visiting local school children was always a particular highlight. Now, we are delighted to offer such encounters once again with new voyages to a destination that never ceases to capture the imagination.'

Itinerary highlights

The cruises include 'Wonders of China,' 20 days, round-trip Beijing. This delivers main highlights such as the Great Wall and the Terra Cotta Warriors. Additionally, passengers will experience the scenic coast of Dongtou and have opportunities to explore Gulangyu Island in Xiamen, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Shenzhen, a UNESCO city of design.

'Classic China & the Coast,' 15 days, Beijing, Xian – Hong Kong (Shenzhen) combines Viking's 10-day 'China Discovery' voyage with opportunities to see the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, the Terra Cotta Warriors and other iconic landmarks.

And 'China Discovery,' 10 days; Shanghai – Hong Kong (Shenzhen) enables visits to the Buddhist shrines of Zhoushan and the cliffs of Dongtou plus the chance to follow in the steps of 19th-century European diplomats on Gulangyu Island in Xiamen or try Cantonese dim sum in Shenzhen.

2017-built ship

Viking Yi Dun was built in 2017 as the fourth in Viking's 930-passenger ocean series and transferred to China in 2021 as part of the company's joint venture with China Merchants Shekou.

About the Author

Anne Kalosh

Editor, Seatrade Cruise News & Senior Associate Editor, Seatrade Cruise Review

Anne Kalosh covers global stories, reporting both breaking and in-depth news on cruising's significant people, places, ships and trends. A sought-after expert on cruising, she has moderated conferences around the world, including the high-profile State of the Industry panel at Seatrade Cruise Global. She created and led the acclaimed itinerary-planning case study for Seatrade's cruise master classes held at Cambridge and Oxford universities. She has been the cruise columnist for AFAR.com, and her freelance stories have appeared in a wide range of publications, from The New York Times to The Miami Herald.

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