Viking has officially named its newest ocean ship, the Viking Saturn, during a celebration in New York’s Manhattan cruise terminal.
The ship’s ceremonial godmother is Ann Ziff, philanthropist and chairman of the Metropolitan Opera, a longtime Viking cultural partner.
She offered a blessing of good fortune and safe sailing for the ship in a maritime tradition that dates back thousands of years.
The ship will now continue its inaugural season, sailing two new Viking voyages: Iconic Iceland, Greenland & Canada, between New York and Reykjavik, and Iceland & Norway’s Arctic Explorer, between Reykjavik and Bergen.
Torstein Hagen, chairman of Viking, said: “It is especially fitting that Ann Ziff, chairman of the Metropolitan Opera – one of the world’s greatest cultural institutions – has honoured us by serving as godmother of the Viking Saturn.”
Ziff said: “Viking and the Metropolitan Opera share a common goal in creating enriching experiences throughout the world and there is no doubt the Viking Saturn will do just that for her guests.”
Ziff used the steel sword from the Metropolitan Opera’s production of Verdi’s Il Trovatore to cut a ribbon that allowed a bottle of Norwegian aquavit to break on the ship’s hull.
Metropolitan Opera stars performed opera classics and a collection of American musical classics from Rodgers and Hammerstein and others.
Pictured from left: The 8th Earl of Carnarvon (Lord Carnarvon), crossover soprano Sissel Kyrkjebø, Lady Fiona Carnarvon the Countess of Carnarvon, Viking, Ann Ziff, the captain of the Viking Saturn, and Viking executive vice president Karine Hagen.