Viking’s Newest Ocean Ship Officially Named – Viking Venus Welcomed To Fleet
Travel news reveals that Viking’s newest ocean ship has been officially named Viking Venus®.
Viking’s newest ocean ship was named and feted on Monday with an ocean celebration in the English Channel. At that time the ship set sail for her inaugural voyage.
The ship’s ceremonial godmother is the esteemed British journalist and broadcaster Anne Diamond. She offered a blessing of good fortune and safe sailing for the ship in a naval tradition that dates back thousands of years. Anne assisted in breaking a bottle of Norwegian aquavit on the ship’s hull and used an historic Viking broad axe to cut the ribbon that held the bottle in place.
Following her time in England, Viking Venus will then sail to Malta, where she will homeport for new Welcome Back voyages in the Mediterranean in summer and fall.
The naming ceremony included many fun events and festivities. For starters, the group of invited guests enjoyed a scenic sailing along the coast of England. During the voyage they enjoyed recorded concerts from Sissel Kyrkjebø (the godmother of Viking Jupiter) one of the world’s leading crossover sopranos, violinist Tor Jaran Apold and the heralded English boys choir LIBERA.
Viking Welcomes New 930-Guest Ship
The exciting naming ceremony was held May 17 which is Norwegian Constitution Day and the event paid tribute to the Nordic spirit of exploration. The naming ceremony also included a speech by Viking Chairman Torstein Hagen who said, “Today is one of the proudest days in Viking’s nearly 24-year history. When we became the first cruise line to suspend operations in March 2020, we certainly did not know it would be 14 months before guests would be welcomed back on board.”
“Now, we are among the first to set sail again—and with our industry-leading health and safety protocols in place, we believe there is no safer way to travel the world than on a Viking voyage. On behalf of the entire Viking family, we are delighted to celebrate the naming of our newest ship in England. We are also grateful to her godmother, Anne Diamond, for her many journalistic and selfless contributions—as well as for her tireless efforts fostering a community on Viking.TV each week for more than a year.”
Viking’s Newest Ship is the Viking Venus
As part of the festivities, guests were treated to the unveiling of a custom “Air Fountain” by artist Daniel Wurtzel. The fountain was designed for, and installed in, the ship’s Atrium. Wurtzel is best known for his kinetic sculptures and installations using air and lightweight materials that fly.
His artworks have been displayed at the Grand Palais in Paris, the Musée Rodin, the Tate Modern Turbine Hall and the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery.
Viking Welcomes New Ship with Celebration at Sea
Viking Venus is the newest vessel to join Viking’s ocean fleet of identical sister ships, which includes Viking Star®, Viking Sea®, Viking Sky®, Viking Orion® and Viking Jupiter®. It was delivered in April 2021 at Fincantieri’s shipyard in Ancona, Italy.
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Photos credit: Viking