By
Rebecca Gibson |
Viking Cruises has broken its own Guinness World Record for the ‘Most ships inaugurated in one day by one company’ by inaugurating 16 ships in three countries in 24 hours on 17 and 18 March.
Confirmed by an official Guinness adjudicator, Viking Cruises surpassed its previous record of christening ten ships in Amsterdam on 20 March 2013. The company named nine Viking Longships in Amsterdam on 17 March, three in Avignon, France and four via video link at Neptun Werft in Rostock, Germany on 18 March. Two more vessels will be inaugurated in Porto, Portugal on Friday, meaning that the company has launched 18 ships in five days. Five of the vessels were constructed at Meyer Werft in Papenburg, while 11 were built at subsidiary yard Neptun Werft in Rostock, Germany.
British TV baker and author Mary Berry was one of the nine godmothers to christen Viking Alvsin during the ceremony in Amsterdam.
“It’s an honour, as well as an amazing experience, to christen a vessel that I know will be home for Viking guests as they embark on river cruises throughout Europe,” said Mary Berry. “After spending some time onboard Alsvin, I can see why people are so taken with river cruising. As someone who is fascinated by travel, culture and food destinations you certainly get a sense of the Viking spirit on board.”
According to Wendy Atkin-Smith, UK managing director of Viking Cruises, Berry embodies the Viking spirit of exploration. “As someone with a reputation for embracing new challenges and reinventing herself all through life, Mary embodies the Viking spirit of exploration – and also the spirit of the curious, experienced travellers who sail with us all over the world,” said Atkin-Smith.
Other godmothers representing distinct aspects of travel, food, wine and entertainment included singer Mireille Mathieu, who acted as godmother of Viking Buri; Ayako Ward, food and cruise travel writer and former QE2 international hostess, who named Viking Delling; Susi Barrie, author, broadcaster and wine personality, who christened Viking Heimdal; and Anne Willan, French cooking authority, author and columnist, who inaugurated Viking Hermod. In addition, Marion Krase, senior employee at Neptun Werft served as godmother to Viking Hlin; Regula Oderbolz, managing director of UBS Switzerland launched Viking Idi; Monica Petitpierre, wife of CIC Bank’s Cedric Petitipierre christened Viking Kvasir; and Laura Pfleumer, corporate client assistant of UBS Switzerland named Viking Kara.
The remaining seven godmothers represent Viking’s key travel industry partners and include Vicky Garcia, COO and co-owner of Cruise Planners-American Express Travel (Viking Magni); Kathryn Burney-Mazza, executive vice president of sales at TravelSavers (Viking Baldur); Sarah Henshall, vice president of travel and branch operations at AAA Carolinas (Viking Lif); and Geraldine Ree, senior vice president of sales and marketing at Expedia CruiseShipCenters (Viking Eistla). In addition, Anne Morgan Scully, president of McCabe World Travel, christened Viking Ingvi; Pam Young, vice president of industry relations at Travel Leaders Franchise Group named Viking Bestla; and Hanh Haley, partner of Travel Leaders Group chairman Michal Batt launched Viking Gullveig.
During the final christening ceremony in Porto this Friday, Laura Ferreira, wife of Portugal’s Prime Minister Pedro Passos Coelho, and singer Ana Moura will christen Viking Torgil and Viking Hemming respectively.
Joining the company’s 50-strong river and ocean cruising fleet, the new Longships are named after gods from ancient Norse mythology and feature energy-efficient hybrid engines that produce minimal onboard vibrations. Each ship offers spacious accommodation and a contemporary interior designed by renowned Norwegian maritime architects Yran & Storbraaten.
The Longships will sail itineraries on European rivers – four ships will operate in France – offering guests the opportunity to spend more time in port, gain privileged access to sites on tours led by local guides, regional food and drink menus, and cultural entertainment programmes.
Atkin-Smith said: “For us, the real achievement of these launches comes from being able to offer our guests a fleet of new, state-of-the-art Viking Cruises Longships on which to enjoy some of Europe’s most iconic river routes.”
Viking has built and launched 30 longships over the last three years.