Viking became the first cruise line to reach a centenary of ships, following the launch of nine new river vessels in Basel, Switzerland yesterday (21 October)

Cruise line staff, ship godparents and international press were in attendance for a special naming ceremony on board the new Viking Honir, which saw all nine vessels take part in a simultaneous virtual bottle smash.

The ceremony was connected virtually to the eight other new ships, which were located across five other countries around the world, including Paris, France; Rostock, Germany; Porto, Portugal; Luxor, Egypt; and Mỹ Tho, Vietnam.

The new river ships include Viking Annar, Viking Dagur, Viking Eldir and Viking Honir, sailing along the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers. Meanwhile, Viking Nerthus, Viking Gyda and Viking Tonle will sail the Seine, Douro and Mekong rivers, respectively. The remaining two vessels – Viking Thoth and Viking Amun – will sail the Nile.

“We have always been different”

Viking now boasts 103 ships in total, including 88 river ships, 12 ocean ships, two expedition ships and one time-chartered ship on the Mississippi.

However, the line’s expansion plans are far from over, with 33 ships – 23 river and 10 ocean – on order between now and 2031, including the 80-guest Viking Brahmaputra, which will debut in 2027.

“Today we are proud to name our newest river ships and to honour the nine distinguished members of our extended Viking family serving as their godparents,” said Torstein Hagen, chairman and CEO of Viking.

“We have always been quite a bit different from others in the travel industry. Over the last 28 years, we have grown from four ships to more than 100 – a fleet size that no other line has achieved – and we have done so because of our innovative approach.

“We look forward to continuing our leadership in experiential travel in the years to come.”

Guests at the naming event enjoyed performances by Sissel Kyrkjebø, one of the world’s leading crossover sopranos and godmother of Viking Jupiter; Norwegian violinist Tor Jaran Apold; the Viennese Residence Orchestra; and a Basel girls’ choir.