Viking Names Seven New River Vessels in Amsterdam Ceremony

Viking named its seven new river vessels during a ceremony held in Amsterdam on October 15, 2026, which was virtually linked with locations in Europe and Egypt. The godparents were company trade partners, including travel agents and tourism industry executives, in recognition of their long-standing relationships with the company.

The Viking Haki, Viking Halogi, Viking Sjofn and Viking Rota will sail the company's most popular itineraries along the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers. The Viking Ptah operates on the Nile River, where the Viking Sekhmet will begin sailing in 2027, while the Viking Fjolvar cruises the Seine River. The ceremony was held alongside the Viking Rota and Viking Haki at the Amsterdam passenger terminal, with video links to the Viking Fjolvar from Les Andelys, France; the Viking Halogi and Viking Sjofn from Rostock, Germany; and the Viking Ptah and Viking Sekhmet from Luxor, Egypt.

Godparents included Shelby Steudle, president of Pavlus Travel, godmother of the Viking Fjolvar; Michael Londregan, senior vice president of Virtuoso, godfather of the Viking Ptah; Ealeen Wong, of Expedia Group, godmother of the Viking Rota; Michael Consoli, owner of Cruise Planners, godfather of the Viking Sekhmet; Carol Porter, co-owner of The Roaming Boomers, godmother of the Viking Haki; Carol Shaddix, owner of Imagine Going There Travel, godmother of the Viking Halogi; and Danielle Galloway, of Flight Centre Travel Group, godmother of the Viking Sjofn. Viking's president and CEO, Leah Talactac, noted that the company was proud to honor partners who had been an integral part of its nearly 30-year journey.

The ceremony also marked progress in Viking's expansion: last year the company's combined fleet of river, ocean and expedition vessels surpassed 100 ships, and the company received from Neptun Werft a second 100-slot game board, having completed the first one delivered in 2015. Based on its current orders, Viking expects to add 18 more river vessels by 2028, 11 additional ocean vessels by 2032 and two more expedition vessels by 2031, which would bring the total fleet to 142 units.

During the event in Amsterdam, the godparents walked down a red carpet alongside each vessel's captain, with musical performances by soprano Sissel Kyrkjebø and violinist Tor Jaran Apold. Norway's ambassador to the Netherlands, Erling Rimestad, also took part in the speeches, and the day concluded with a dinner at the Koepelkerk, where gifts were presented to the godparents and captains.