Viking® (www.viking.com) named its latest ocean ship, the Viking Neptune®, with a celebration on Sunday in Los Angeles. As a part of the occasion, the ship’s ceremonial godmother, Nicole Stott, retired NASA astronaut, aquanaut and artist, supplied a blessing of fine fortune and secure crusing for the ship—a maritime custom that dates again 1000’s of years. 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 international locations and 57 ports, with in a single day stays in 11 cities. The naming of the Viking Neptune additionally comes at a time of document gross sales for Viking, with the launch of Viking’s new 25th 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,” stated 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,” stated Nicole Stott.
In conserving with the naming custom, through 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 introduced 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.
Nicole Stott, Godmother of the Viking Neptune
A veteran NASA astronaut, Nicole Stott’s expertise consists of two spaceflights and 104 days spent dwelling and dealing in house on the Space Shuttle and the International Space Station (ISS). She has carried out one house stroll and was the primary individual to fly the robotic arm to seize the free-flying HTV cargo car, the final crew member to fly to and from their ISS mission on a Space Shuttle, and a member of the ultimate flight crew of Space Shuttle Discovery, STS-133. Nicole can be a NASA aquanaut who lived and labored on the Aquarius Undersea Habitat for 18 days.
She is the writer of Back to Earth: What Life In Space Taught Me About Our Home Planet – And Our Mission To Protect It. Also an artist, Nicole painted the primary watercolor portray in house—and is a co-founder of the Space for Art Foundation, which unites a planetary group of youngsters by the awe and surprise of house exploration and the therapeutic energy of artwork. Through her work, Nicole conjures up everybody’s appreciation of our function as crewmates right here on “spaceship” Earth.
The Viking Neptune
The Viking Neptune is the most recent ship in Viking’s award-winning ocean fleet of similar sister ships, which additionally consists of the Viking Star®, the Viking Sea®, the Viking Sky®, the Viking Orion®, the Viking Jupiter®, the Viking Venus®, and the Viking Mars®. In April, Viking may also welcome one other new ocean ship, the Viking Saturn®. Classified by Cruise Critic as “small ships,” Viking’s ocean vessels have a gross tonnage of 47,800 tons, with 465 staterooms that may host 930 company; the ships characteristic all veranda staterooms, Scandinavian design, light-filled public areas and considerable al fresco eating choices.
Although similar to Viking’s different ocean ships, the Viking Neptune is uniquely geared up with a small hydrogen gasoline system, making it the cruise trade’s first ship to check the usage of hydrogen energy for on board operations. Viking is utilizing the small system as a take a look at to find out how hydrogen gasoline might be used at a bigger scale in future newbuilds.
Booking Details
From now by January 31, 2023, Viking is providing a 25th Anniversary Sale, with a $25 deposit, particular financial savings, and as much as free worldwide airfare on river, ocean and expedition voyages. Call Viking toll free at 1-855-8-VIKING (1-855-884-5464) or contact a journey agent for particulars.