Viking has announced that several travel advisors have been chosen to serve as godparents for its newest river cruise ships. The naming ceremony took place on June 19, 2024, in Paris, France, where four new Viking Longships were officially introduced to the company’s fleet.
Godparents for New River Ships
The river cruise line selected six travel advisors to act as godparents for the newly launched vessels. The ships, named Viking Aton, Viking Hathor, Viking Radgrid, and Viking Skaga, will operate on the Seine and Nile rivers. The godparents honored at the ceremony included:
- Jackie Friedman, President of Nexion Travel Group
- Jennifer Wilson-Buttigieg, Co-President and Owner of Valerie Wilson Travel
- Kristin Karst, Co-Owner and Executive Vice President of AmaWaterways
- Michelle Fee, CEO and Founder of Cruise Planners
- Lisa Long, Owner of Luxury Vacations LLC
- Angie Lepley, Owner of Travel With Angie
Recognition of the Travel Advisor Community
Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking, stated, “Travel advisors have played a significant role in Viking’s success, and we are proud to recognize their contributions by naming them as godparents of our newest river ships.” He added that the company values its longstanding partnerships with travel advisors and looks forward to continued collaboration.
Details of the Naming Ceremony
The event was held in Paris, with the godparents participating in the traditional blessing and christening of the ships. The ceremony included the customary breaking of a bottle on the hull of each vessel, symbolizing good fortune and safe journeys for the ships and their future guests.
Expansion of Viking’s Fleet
The addition of the four new Longships increases Viking’s river fleet to 80 vessels. The newly named ships will operate on the Seine in France and the Nile in Egypt, offering a range of itineraries for travelers. Viking continues to expand its presence in the river cruise market, with plans for further growth in the coming years.
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