Viking has marked its 25th anniversary with a special celebration in Amsterdam.

To commemorate the milestone, three classes of ships – a river ship, ocean ship and the line’s newest expedition vessel, Viking Polaris – met in Amsterdam and sailed in a special convoy to IJmuiden, Netherlands.

Participating in the convoy with Polaris were Viking Mani and Viking Mars.

During the event, Viking also officially named Polaris and its sister ship, Octantis, which is currently sailing her inaugural season in the Great Lakes.

Both ships will spend the summer in Antarctica, before travelling north to the Great Lakes for a series of voyages during spring and summer.

Explorers and educators Liv Arnesen and Ann Bancroft, the respective godmothers of Octantis and Polaris, were in attendance in Amsterdam and offered a blessing of good fortune and safe sailing for the new ships.

‘Onwards’ for Viking

Viking chairman Torstein Hagen said: “This is historic for Viking, to celebrate our 25th anniversary, to have all classes of our ships sailing together for the first time, and to name our phenomenal new expedition vessels.

“We are very grateful to their godmothers, Liv Arnesen and Ann Bancroft, for honouring us.

“As renowned explorers who became the first women to ski across Antarctica, they are the perfect choice for ships that are designed for expeditions.

“I am very proud of what we have accomplished in our first 25 years. And in our view, we are just getting started. Where do we go next? Onwards.”

In March, the line added eight river ships to its fleet during a ceremony in Paris. It also held the naming ceremony for its newest river ship, Osiris, in Luxor, Egypt, in August.

Another ocean ship, Saturn, is also scheduled to launch in April 2023, with a maiden season in the Mediterranean.