Viking inaugurated eight new river ships that had been in the pipeline since 2020 during a special naming event in Paris that was live-streamed from Amsterdam.
Four of the eight “longships” were purpose-built for the Seine River, allowing them to dock in the center of Paris near the Eiffel Tower at a company-owned docking spot.
The traditional christening ceremony includes statements from the ship’s godmothers, a centuries-old maritime tradition, and the ceremonial breaking of a bottle of Norwegian aquavit on the ship’s side.
Viking Fjorgyn, Viking Kari, Viking Radgrid, and Viking Skaga will cruise Seine River itineraries with stops in notable places such as Vernon, near artist Claude Monet’s Giverny garden.
Viking Egdir, Viking Gersemi, Viking Gymir, and Viking Hervor were christened in Amsterdam and will operate on Rhine, Danube, and Main River routes.
The Rhine River tour between Amsterdam and Basel, Switzerland, is the company’s most popular. Viking’s new world cruise also receives rave reviews from clients who may book the full voyage or just a piece of it.
The firm is introducing a new culinary-themed addition to its Seine River cruises, including croissant-baking workshops at a nearby cooking school and wine and cheese tasting sessions with a sommelier.
A new cruise on the Seine River will feature excursions to the region’s famed Christmas markets and gingerbread house and ornament-making events.
Torstein Hagen, chairman of Viking, expressed joy at the naming ceremony as the cruise sector recovered following a Covid-19-led halt during the last couple of years.
He said the firm sees unprecedented demand for restoring all of its ships to service. Viking was the first cruise company to announce that it would suspend sailing in 2020.
Under the leadership of Chief Medical Officer Vice Admiral Raquel Bono, Viking has operated all ships without an onboard virus outbreak since last July.
The company’s ocean ships are equipped with PCR laboratories, while its river ships collaborate with on-shore laboratories to conduct daily passenger testing.
Effective April 1, the cruise company will discontinue its onboard mask requirement as global case counts decline. For the time being, Viking will maintain its daily testing regimen.
According to business management, this was one of the largest cruise ship christening celebrations in history, with eight ships entering the firm’s 80-ship river ship fleet.
Viking, which caters only to adults, is not slowing down, with five ocean ships in the works, a new ship on the Mekong River set to start this summer, and two ships on the Nile River scheduled to sail this year and in 2023.
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Viking officials report that the company’s latest exploration ship, sailing in Antarctica, will cruise this summer in the Great Lakes region. This itinerary has been selling rather well. This year, the navy will gain a second exploration ship.
Viking will also introduce a new Mississippi River itinerary in the future year, the company adds in response to consumer demand.