Viking River Cruises have announced a 12 month partnership with Cancer Research UK after a vote by customers of the river cruise specialist.

Chorley, Lancashire -- (SBWire) --11/01/2011 --The river cruise line – whose ships include the Viking Sun and Viking Emerald – has arranged various fundraising activities in a bid to raise as much funding as possible for the charity.

Viking River Cruise staff recently took part in the Shine London 2011 overnight 13 mile walk on Saturday 1st October 2011 in a bid to help Cancer Research - and raised £845.66 for the charity in the process. Viking staff has also raised money through charity fun day activities including a fancy dress competition.

For the full Viking Sun cruise itinerary, please see see RiverVoyages.com.

Mal Barritt, director of Cruises.com, says “It’s fantastic to seeing a river cruise line dedicated to raising funds for such a worthwhile cause like Cancer Research. To date, Viking River Cruises has done incredibly well to raise funds – and will no doubt raise a lot more during their partnership with the charity.”

The world’s leading river cruise company, Viking River Cruises offer river cruises to the rivers of Europe, Russia, China and Southeast Asia.

Viking River Cruises has been recognised as the World’s Leading River Cruise Operator at the World Travel Awards and the best River Cruise Line at the British Travel Awards.

Founded in 1997, Viking River Cruise operates the world’s largest - and leading - fleet of luxury vessels built with river travel in mind.

Viking River Cruises’ ships include the Viking Sun, Viking Europe and Viking Fontane. In 2012, Viking will debut four sister ships in Europe – and another six Viking ships are to be built by 2014.