Wendy Atkin-Smith, Viking UK Managing Director, Named Godmother to Viking Sigrun at Ceremony in Basel

Viking welcomes the latest additions to its river fleet, with the naming of seven new river ships during a celebration on the Rhine River in Basel, Switzerland on Tuesday 19 March 2019.  In keeping with a maritime tradition that dates back thousands of years, Viking invited seven long-serving employees and important members of the company's family to serve as honorary godmothers of the new ships, including Wendy Atkin-Smith, Managing Director of Viking UK.

Wendy was named as godmother to Viking Sigrun, which will sail the eight-day Rhine Getaway itinerary between Basel and Amsterdam.  Viking Sigrun, named after the leader of a band of horseriding female Valkyries from Norse mythology, is one of six new Viking Longships.  The other ships - Viking Einar, Viking Sigyn, Viking Tir, Viking Ullur and Viking Vali – will be deployed on Viking's most popular itineraries on the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers. The seventh new ship – Viking Helgrim – was inspired by the design of the Longships and built specifically for the Douro River, bringing the company's total number of sister ships in Portugal to four.

“We began hosting guests on the rivers of Russia 22 years ago, and we have always done things differently. We focus on the destination, and we provide travel experiences that allow our guests to learn, to enrich their lives and to explore the world in comfort. It is 'The Viking Difference' that has made us the leading river cruise line in the world – and has helped river cruising become one of the fastest-growing segments of travel,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. “As the leader, it is also important that we recognise those who have helped us achieve success. This year I am especially proud to honour members of the Viking family as godmothers of our newest river ships.”

As Managing Director of Viking UK, Wendy recently celebrated 25 years of working in the cruise industry.  Speaking at the ceremony in Basel, Wendy said: “I was very honoured to be invited to become the godmother of Viking Sigrun.  This year Viking has chosen women whose individual contributions to Viking have helped make the company the success it is today so you can imagine how proud I am to have been recognised in this way.  Viking revolutionised the river cruise industry in 2012 with the launch of our signature Viking Longships so to be a godmother to one of these vessels is particularly significant to me.  Viking Sigrun will sail on the Rhine which is also very close to my heart – it was my first ever cruise 25 years ago and I fell in love with river cruising on that trip.”

The other godmothers named include:

• Leah Talactac, Godmother of Viking Einar
• Natalia Hofmann, Godmother of Viking Helgrim
• Rikke Semb Pertile, Godmother of Viking Sigyn
• Gisela Rückert, Godmother of Viking Tir
• Linh Banh, Godmother of Viking Ullur
• Minxuan Zhao, Godmother of Viking Vali

The naming event was executed by connecting the new ships via satellite across four European cities. Viking Einar and Viking Sigrun were docked in Basel and named in-person by their godmothers. The other five ships were “virtually” named by their godmothers: Viking Sigyn and Viking Ullur in Rostock, Germany; Viking Tir and Viking Vali in Brunsbüttel, Germany; and Viking Helgrim in Porto, Portugal. In keeping with another maritime tradition, a bottle of Gammel Opland aquavit was broken on the bow of each new ship. Gammel Opland hails from the same county in Norway where Chairman Hagen's mother, Ragnhild – also lovingly known as “Mamsen” – was born and was her favorite brand of aquavit. Following the naming event, guests enjoyed dinner at Basel's Fondation Beyeler museum, set amidst the museum's newest and most ambitious exhibition: The Young Picasso. Blue and Rose Periods. Guests were also treated to a performance by Alma Deutscher, the 14-year-old English composer, pianist, violinist, and child prodigy – who is a favourite of Chairman Hagen's.

For more information or to book a Viking river cruise go to www.vikingcruises.co.uk or call +44 208 780 7998.