Viking® (www.viking.com) named its latest ocean ship, the Viking Neptune®, with a celebration on Sunday in Los Angeles. As a part of the occasion, the ship’s ceremonial godmother, Nicole Stott, retired NASA astronaut, aquanaut and artist, supplied a blessing of fine fortune and protected crusing for the ship—a maritime custom that dates again 1000’s of years. The Viking Neptune arrived in Los Angeles early within the morning on January 8 and departed for Honolulu following the naming ceremony. The ship is presently crusing the 2022-2023 Viking World Cruise, an epic voyage from Fort Lauderdale to London that spans 138-days, 28 international locations and 57 ports, with in a single day stays in 11 cities. The naming of the Viking Neptune additionally comes at a time of report gross sales for Viking, with the launch of Viking’s new 25th Anniversary Sale on January 1 ensuing within the highest variety of bookings in a single week within the firm’s historical past.
“At the moment is a proud day for your complete Viking household as we identify our latest ocean ship in Los Angeles, the house of Viking’s U.S. workplace for greater than 20 years,” stated Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. “The Viking Neptune is a ship named for each the furthest planet in our photo voltaic system and the god of the ocean—and our latest Viking godmother, Nicole Stott, as a NASA astronaut and aquanaut, additionally has connections to house and the ocean. We’re grateful for her many contributions to the scientific neighborhood and are proud to have her as a part of the Viking household.”
“It’s an honor and privilege to be the godmother of the brand new Viking Neptune. As somebody who has been blessed to discover house, the ocean, and a number of the otherworldly locations on our planet, I perceive the significance of broadening one’s horizons via journey. I’m very excited for all those that journey world wide on this elegant vessel,” stated Nicole Stott.
In line with the naming custom, in the course of the ceremony Nicole used a historic Viking broad axe to chop a ribbon that allowed a bottle of Norwegian aquavit to interrupt on the ship’s hull. Previous to the ribbon slicing, the axe was offered to Nicole by Sissel Kyrkjebø, one of many world’s main crossover sopranos and godmother of the Viking Jupiter®, who used it when naming her ship in January 2020. Occasion visitors additionally loved performances from Sissel and Norwegian violinist Tor Jaran Apold.
Nicole Stott, Godmother of the Viking Neptune
A veteran NASA astronaut, Nicole Stott’s expertise consists of two spaceflights and 104 days spent residing and dealing in house on the Area Shuttle and the Worldwide Area Station (ISS). She has carried out one house stroll and was the primary particular person to fly the robotic arm to seize the free-flying HTV cargo car, the final crew member to fly to and from their ISS mission on a Area Shuttle, and a member of the ultimate flight crew of Area Shuttle Discovery, STS-133. Nicole can also be a NASA aquanaut who lived and labored on the Aquarius Undersea Habitat for 18 days.
She is the writer of Again to Earth: What Life In Area Taught Me About Our Dwelling Planet – And Our Mission To Shield It. Additionally an artist, Nicole painted the primary watercolor portray in house—and is a co-founder of the Area for Artwork Basis, which unites a planetary neighborhood of youngsters via the awe and surprise of house exploration and the therapeutic energy of artwork. Via her work, Nicole conjures up everybody’s appreciation of our position as crewmates right here on “spaceship” Earth.
The Viking Neptune
The Viking Neptune is the most recent ship in Viking’s award-winning ocean fleet of an identical sister ships, which additionally consists of the Viking Star®, the Viking Sea®, the Viking Sky®, the Viking Orion®, the Viking Jupiter®, the Viking Venus®, and the Viking Mars®. In April, Viking will even welcome one other new ocean ship, the Viking Saturn®. Categorized by Cruise Critic as “small ships,” Viking’s ocean vessels have a gross tonnage of 47,800 tons, with 465 staterooms that may host 930 visitors; the ships characteristic all veranda staterooms, Scandinavian design, light-filled public areas and plentiful al fresco eating choices.
Though an identical to Viking’s different ocean ships, the Viking Neptune is uniquely outfitted with a small hydrogen gas system, making it the cruise trade’s first ship to check using hydrogen energy for on board operations. Viking is utilizing the small system as a take a look at to find out how hydrogen gas may very well be used at a bigger scale in future newbuilds.
Reserving Particulars
From now via January 31, 2023, Viking is providing a 25th Anniversary Sale, with a $25 deposit, particular financial savings, and as much as free worldwide airfare on river, ocean and expedition voyages. Name Viking toll free at 1-855-8-VIKING (1-855-884-5464) or contact a journey agent for particulars.
