Viking named its latest ocean ship, the Viking Neptune, with a celebration on Sunday in Los Angeles, in line with a press launch.
As a part of the occasion, the ship’s ceremonial godmother, Nicole Stott, retired NASA astronaut, aquanaut and artist, provided a blessing of fine fortune and secure crusing for the ship.
The Viking Neptune arrived in Los Angeles early within the morning on January 8 and departed for Honolulu following the naming ceremony. The ship is presently crusing the 2022-2023 Viking World Cruise, an epic voyage from Fort Lauderdale to London that spans 138-days, 28 nations and 57 ports, with in a single day stays in 11 cities.
The firm mentioned that the naming of the Viking Neptune additionally comes at a time of report gross sales for Viking, with the launch of Viking’s new twenty fifth Anniversary Sale on January 1 ensuing within the highest variety of bookings in a single week within the firm’s historical past.
“Today is a proud day for the entire Viking family as we name our newest ocean ship in Los Angeles, the home of Viking’s U.S. office for more than 20 years,” mentioned Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. “The Viking Neptune is a ship named for both the furthest planet in our solar system and the god of the sea—and our newest Viking godmother, Nicole Stott, as a NASA astronaut and aquanaut, also has connections to space and the sea. We are grateful for her many contributions to the scientific community and are proud to have her as part of the Viking family.”
“It is an honor and privilege to be the godmother of the new Viking Neptune. As someone who has been blessed to explore space, the ocean, and some of the otherworldly places on our planet, I understand the importance of broadening one’s horizons through travel. I am very excited for all those who journey around the world on this elegant vessel,” mentioned Nicole Stott.
In holding with the naming custom, throughout the ceremony Nicole used a historic Viking broad axe to chop a ribbon that allowed a bottle of Norwegian aquavit to interrupt on the ship’s hull. Prior to the ribbon slicing, the axe was offered to Nicole by Sissel Kyrkjebø, one of many world’s main crossover sopranos and godmother of the Viking Jupiter®, who used it when naming her ship in January 2020. Event company additionally loved performances from Sissel and Norwegian violinist Tor Jaran Apold.