By
Rebecca Gibson |
Viking River Cruises launched 12 new river cruise ships during simultaneous christening ceremonies in Amsterdam, Netherlands, and Rostock, Germany, on 24 March.
The ten Viking Longships, which will sail on various European itineraries, and two custom ships, which were designed to double the company’s capacity on the Elbe River, bring Viking’s total river fleet size to 60. The christening ceremonies happened just over a year after Viking broke its own Guinness World Record for the ‘Most ships inaugurated in one day by one company’ by naming 16 ships in three countries in 24 hours on 17 and 18 March 2014.
“We are immensely proud of the response to our new ships that we continue to receive from guests and industry experts,” said Torstein Hagen, chairman of Viking Cruises. “It is always important that we recognise those who have helped us achieve success and this year I am especially pleased to honour fellow Vikings as godmothers of our newest river vessels.”
Viking named 12 of its longest-serving employees as ceremonial godmothers for the new ships, with each godmother representing a department that has contributed to the high guest satisfaction ratings and the company’s growth.
The godmothers included Donora Anderson, senior director of operations and godmother of Viking Skirnir; Clare Armitage, senior operations executive and godmother of Viking Eir; Sinemie Bakker, programme director and godmother of Viking Astrild; Henrieta Balisova, programme director and godmother of Viking Vili; Adriana Filkaszova, receptionist and godmother of Viking Beyla; Jana Hudakova, chief receptionist and godmother of Viking Mimir and Miriam Kajuchova, housekeeper and godmother of Viking Ve. Other godmothers included Karoline Landa, controller and hotel manager and godmother of Viking Lofn; Kornelia Pfeiffenberger, hotel manager and godmother of Viking Vidar; Faye Pirie, specialist cruise consultant and godmother of Viking Modi; Julie Rosoff, senior director of marketing services and godmother of Viking Mani; and Verona Thiele, concierge and godmother of Viking Gefjon.
Viking’s longships were introduced in 2012 and feature a bespoke corridor design, an all-weather indoor/outdoor Aquavit Terrace with retractable floor-to-ceiling glass doors, onboard solar panels and energy-efficient hybrid engines.
Accommodating 190 passengers in 95 staterooms, Viking Longships each have two Explorer Suites – the largest river cruise suites in Europe – as well as seven two-room Veranda Suites with a full-size veranda in the living room and a French balcony in the bedroom. They also offer 39 Veranda Staterooms with full-size verandas and 22 French Balcony Staterooms.
Smaller than the Viking Longships, Viking Astrild and Viking Beyla can each accommodate 98 guests in 49 staterooms and feature customised hulls and engines specially designed to navigate the Elbe River. The sister ships also offer an Aquavit Terrace, a wide variety of stateroom choices, energy-efficient hybrid engines, onboard solar panels and an organic herb garden, as well as Viking’s signature Scandinavian design aesthetic.
Viking is also set to launch its first ocean ship, the 930-passenger Viking Star, this April.