Viking UK’s managing director has been named the godmother of Viking Sigrun.

Wendy Atkin-Smith, who recently celebrated 25 years in the cruise industry, told a ceremony in Basel that she was “honoured” and “proud”.

She added: “This year, Viking has chosen women whose individual contributions to Viking have helped make the company the success it is today, so you can imagine how proud I am to have been recognised in this way.

“Viking revolutionised the river cruise industry in 2012 with the launch of our signature Viking Longships, so to be a godmother to one of these vessels is particularly significant to me.”

Viking Sigrun – named after the leader of a band of horseriding female Valkyries from Norse mythology – will sail the eight-day Rhine Getaway itinerary between Basel and Amsterdam.

It is one of a host of new Viking longships, alongside Viking Einar, Viking Sigyn, Viking Tir, Viking Ullur, Viking Vali and Viking Helgrim. The ships will be deployed on the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers, while Viking Helgrim has been built for the Douro.

Viking chairman Torstein Hagen said: “We provide travel experiences that allow our guests to learn, to enrich their lives and to explore the world in comfort.

“It is ‘The Viking Difference’ that has made us the leading river cruise line in the world and has helped river cruising become one of the fastest-growing segments of travel.”