Viking River Cruises have launched four of their new ships all in a single ceremony with four simultaneous christenings by four Godmothers to champion the new ships. The lavish occasion marks the release of Viking’s Long ship class of river cruising ships.

The four sister ships had been built together in Germany and are set to enhance the Viking fleet massively. The four ships, holding 190 passengers each, are sold out on sailings already, as two of the ships celebrated with an evening cruise after christening. The four ships are set for a mid-April debut, being named Viking Odin, Idun, Freya and Njord, the latter two being christened by video link as they were still being finished off.

The celebrations, held in Amsterdam brought together a mix of people looking to witness the christening of the new ships destined to cruise the world’s rivers. No group was more divers than the godmothers chosen to christen the ships: Joanna Lumley christened the Odin, Viking’s most travelled Customer Gail Wiswedel named the Njord, Dr Lisa Randall, a Theoretical Physicist, named the Idun and finally Rebecca Eaton, Tv producer christened the Freya.

What are your thoughts on the development with river cruises? Will you be sailing on one of the new ships ?

Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection are set to make cruises on Italy’s River PO available in the company’s 2013 brochure. The Los Angeles based company is set to make available two Italian itineraries in 2012,an 8 day Venice and the river Po cruise, along with a 13 day Splendours of Italy cruise with additional nights in Rome and Florence.

The addition of the River Po will see the first river cruises on the the Po for a U.S operator and will see the refurbishment and subsequent redeployment of the River Countess ship, currently operating on the rivers Rhine and Danube.

The Countess will provide luxurious cabins, a full service bar, a library, a restaurant, a sky lounge, a sun deck, fitness center and much more that will allow passengers to cruise the Po in undeniable luxury.

The river itself flows 652 km through cities like Turin and Piacenza, before finally projecting into the Adriatic sea near Venice. Cruise enthusiast will revel in the beautiful sites along the Po Valley, through which the river Po meanders. Passengers could receive complimentary wines, beer, soft drinks and the use of bicycles during the 32 departures from Italy in 2013.

Are you a fan of river cruises? Thinking of cruising the River Po with Uniworld?