Viking Names Its Newest Ocean Ship in Croatia, The Viking Vesta
Viking has announced that its newest ocean ship, the Viking Vesta®, has been officially welcomed to its award-winning fleet. The vessel was given a traditional ceremony in Split, Croatia, with Norwegian journalist Lene Tangevald-Jensen serving as ceremonial godmother.
The Viking Vesta is now ready to continue her inaugural season sailing in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.
Torstein Hagen is the Chairman and CEO of Viking
Torstein Hagen is the Chairman and CEO of Viking and he noted “As we celebrate 10 years of ocean voyages in 2025, we are pleased to welcome the new Viking Vesta to our award-winning fleet of elegant sister ships.”
“We are also very grateful to Lene for serving as godmother. In addition to her personal and professional accomplishments, Lene embodies the values that are very important to me and to Viking—she is kind, honest, hardworking and, of course, curious. I am proud to count her as a friend and a valued member of the extended Viking family.”
Lene Tangevald-Jensen is the Godmother of the Viking Vesta
During the ceremony Lene used a Viking broad axe to cut a ribbon that enabled a bottle of Norwegian aquavit to break across the ship’s hull. Guests at the ceremony enjoyed performances by Norwegian violinist Tor Jaran Apold and Sissel Kyrkjebø, one of the world’s leading crossover sopranos and godmother of the Viking Jupiter®.
Lene Tangevald-Jensen is recognized for her commitment to journalism and philanthropy, and after completing an International Baccalaureate and earning a master’s degree in business, she worked in the private sector, investing in stocks and real estate.
She has written for Kapital and Finansavisen, two of Norway’s leading financial publications, for three decades. During this time the distinguished journalist logged more than 500 interviews, including one with U.S. President Jimmy Carter.
Lene makes it a habit to pay it forward and has contributed to =OSLO, a street magazine that gives a voice to those who have fallen outside society’s safety net.
Lene Tangevald-Jensen is a Distinguished Journalist
Lene works with the LEON Trust, she supports education for children in Kenya, Nepal and Sri Lanka, and is involved with Make-A-Wish Foundation Norway. Additionally, she is the founder of TBS Gallery, an art space in Oslo dedicated to the work of sculptor Tore Bjørn Skjølsvik.
Lene has become a beloved part of the extended Viking family and she is a close friend and neighbor of Viking Chairman and CEO Torstein Hagen.
In December 2022 Lene and her partner journeyed to Antarctica on board the Viking Polaris. While there she created a documentary film that captures the exquisite beauty of the White Continent. In the film and in life, Lene’s motto is: “Growth happens when we dare to try—even when failure looms.”
The Viking Vesta Is Ready to Set Sail
The Viking Vesta is the newest ship in Viking’s award-winning ocean fleet of sister ships. It is classified as a small ship, just as all Viking ocean ships are, and the Viking Vesta has a gross tonnage of 54,300 tons, with 499 staterooms that can host 998 guests.
All of Viking’s ocean ships feature veranda staterooms, refined Scandinavian design, light-filled public spaces and ample al fresco dining options.
Viking’s Rich Tradition and Award-Filled History
The naming ceremony for the Viking Vesta comes on the heels of copious recent accolades for the company. Viking was rated #1 for Oceans, #1 for Rivers and #1 for Expeditions by Condé Nast Traveler in the 2024 Readers’ Choice Awards for the second consecutive year and it was named a “World’s Best” for oceans, rivers and expeditions in Travel + Leisure’s 2024 World’s Best Awards.
No other travel company has simultaneously received these honors from both publications, a feat that Viking has achieved two years in a row, making it the only company to have done so.
In addition, Viking was named Best Luxury Line, Best Line for Couples and Best Line in the Mediterranean in U.S. News & World Report’s 2025 Best Cruise Lines–for the fourth consecutive year.
Viking’s ocean ships have also been rated and “Recommended” as part of the Forbes Travel Guide 2024 Star Awards, a yearly independent evaluation for luxury travel brands. In addition to these accolades, Cruise Critic honored Viking with seven awards across the Luxury (Ocean), River and Expedition categories in its 2024 Best in Cruise Awards.
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