Viking River Cruises, the world’s leading river cruise line, has announced the release of dates and prices for 2011 departures on more than a dozen of its Europe, Russia and Egypt itineraries. The unprecedented early release was initiated because of record 2010 sales and high demand for the company’s most popular itineraries, some of which are practically sold out for 2010.

“River cruising is no longer the travel industry’s best-kept secret,” states Viking Chairman Torstein Hagen. “In our ten-year history we have not seen the incredible demand we are experiencing today. Past guests and new Viking cruisers alike are booking earlier than ever before, and this extraordinary interest prompted us to kick off the 2011 season with the turn of the New Year.”

With the launch of 2011 departures, Viking is promoting its earliest and best-ever Early Booking Discount: 2-FOR-1 cruise fares plus up to 2-FOR-1 international air plus complimentary wine. As a bonus, guests can take advantage of exceptional limited-time pricing: 2011 cruises at 2010 prices.*

The 2011 itineraries now available for booking include:

Grand European Tour – 15 Days – Amsterdam to Budapest
Romantic Danube – 8 Days – Budapest to Nuremberg
Danube Waltz – 8 Days – Passau to Budapest
Rhine Getaway – 8 Days – Amsterdam to Basel
Treasures of the Rhine – 15 Days – Basel to Antwerp
Tulips & Windmills – 10 Days – Roundtrip Amsterdam
Paris & the Heart of Normandy – 8 Days – Roundtrip Paris
Portraits of Southern France – 8 Days – Chalon-sur-Saone to Avignon
Elegant Elbe – 10 Days – Berlin to Prague
Passage to Eastern Europe – 11 Days – Budapest to Bucharest (New for 2011)
Waterways of the Czars – 13 Days – St. Petersburg to Moscow
Pathways of the Pharaohs – 12 Days – Roundtrip Cairo
Nile Explorer – 9 Days – Roundtrip Cairo

Itinerary and port information, land extension programs, ship deck plans, dates, prices and Early Booking Discount details can all be found on the company’s website, www.vikingrivercruises.com.