By
Rebecca Gibson |
Finnish operator Viking Line’s Viking Grace welcomed its millionth passenger on 30 September after eight months in service.
To commemorate the operational milestone, Finnish passenger Paula Riihisaari was presented with a gift of flowers and an award at the cruise terminal, before enjoying a celebratory reception in the ship’s Club Vogue during the cruise.
“We’ve been excited about breaking the record with the millionth Grace customer since the outset of September and when we reached the number, we wanted to provide everyone onboard – particularly our millionth traveller – with an unforgettable cruise,” said Johanna Molin, product manager of Viking Grace.
Viking Grace is the world’s first large passenger vessel powered by liquefied natural gas and is designed to operate between Finland and Sweden in the shallow waters of the archipelago. The ship features a hydrodynamically optimised hull to reduce swell waves, and energy-efficient propulsion machinery to improve sustainability.
“Viking Grace’s green credentials and its new type of design has brought an impressively large number of new passengers onboard,” said Molin. “International visitors and some very prestigious individuals, such as former Finnish president Mauno Koivisto, have been seen on this ship.”