Viking Cruises Giving Away River Cruise to Paris and Trip to Highclere Castle

Viking Cruises is giving away an eight day river cruise to Paris that not only includes two roundtrip business class air tickets, but also a three night land extension visiting Oxford and Highclere Castle.

This giveaway from Viking Cruises coincides with the cruise line’s partnership with the upcoming Downton Abbey film.  Downton Abbey was filmed at Highclere Castle and Viking now offers a privileged access tour of the castle.

Viking’s Grand Prize includes:

• Eight day Paris & the Heart of Normandy river cruise
• 2 Roundtrip international business class air tickets
• Three night land extension visiting Oxford & Highclere Castle
• Open to residents of the U.S.
• No purchase necessary
• Must enter by October 31, 2019
• Enter for a Chance to Win the 8 Night River Cruise and Land Extension

For complete terms and details of Viking’s cruise giveaway, visit www.vikingrivercruises.com.

The announcement of the new extension visiting Highclere Castle, the home of the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon, builds on the success of Viking’s longstanding relationship with the Carnarvon family. In addition to the new Great Homes, Gardens & Gin cruise extension, Viking also offers Oxford & Highclere Castle – its highest-rated Pre/Post Cruise Extension, which is available for guests on select river and ocean cruise itineraries.

This Privileged Access extension was co-created and made possible by Karine Hagen and the Carnarvon family. The extension provides guests with an exclusive three-day experience in the rolling hills of England’s countryside with a champagne welcome and a tour of the castle and estate. Earlier this year, Viking also announced the five-day British Collections of Ancient Egypt, a Pre-Cruise Extension for the Pharaohs & Pyramids Nile River cruise itinerary, which gives guests an introduction to Egyptian antiquities in preparation for their Nile experience, and includes retracing the steps of the world’s most famous Egyptologist, Howard Carter, and his benefactor, the 5th Earl of Carnarvon.

Guests experience Privileged Access to archives and museum exhibits not normally accessible to the public, and at Highclere Castle, have the opportunity view the earl’s magnificent private collection of Egyptian artifacts.

For years Viking has offered a variety of ways for its guests to experience life at Highclere Castle, the filming location of Downton Abbey. In celebration of the premiere, the company today unveiled a new Pre/Post Cruise Extension, Great Homes, Gardens & Gin, which was designed to give guests an exclusive look at several country estates that have served as the settings of acclaimed PBS and MASTERPIECE productions.

Starting in 2021, the new five-day extension will be available on Viking’s Rhine Getaway river cruise itinerary and British Isles Explorer ocean cruise itinerary and allows guests to explore Oxford and experience English country life. The program includes Viking’s Privileged Access® tour of Highclere Castle, as well as a visit to Broughton Castle, home to the influential Fiennes family, whose members include the renowned British explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes and actors Ralph Fiennes and Joseph Fiennes.

The castle also served as a setting for the award-winning MASTERPIECE series Wolf Hall. As part of the extension, guests will visit Chavenage House in the Cotswolds, best known for its appearance in the MASTERPIECE series Poldark – and stroll the gardens of Highgrove House, the private home of Charles, The Prince of Wales. While visiting Highclere Castle, guests will have an opportunity to taste the recently-launched Highclere Castle Gin, a super-premium London Dry Gin inspired by botanicals from the castle’s gardens. The extension also includes a visit to the nearby Bombay Sapphire Distillery to learn the history and production of gin.