Viking Cruises Celebrates Milestone with Christening of Its 100th Ship

In a landmark event on October 21, 2025, Viking Cruises marked the christening of its 100th ship, Viking Honir, in Basel, Switzerland. This significant milestone highlights the company’s 30-year journey from a river cruising operator to a major player in the global maritime travel industry. The ceremony was part of a broad celebration across six countries and three continents, unveiling a total of nine new riverboats to Viking’s fleet.

Founded in 1997, Viking is well-known for its grand naming ceremonies. In 2014, it earned a Guinness World Record by christening 16 ships within a span of 24 hours. The fleet has since nearly doubled, now encompassing river, ocean, and expedition cruising categories, supported by a robust order pipeline, which includes 35 river ships and 14 ocean-going vessels.

Chairman and CEO Torstein Hagen shared that as of late September, 64% of Viking’s 2026 capacity has already been sold, indicating a healthy demand that aligns with the company’s expansion strategy. He emphasized that Viking’s growth in river cruising meets strong demand, while its cruises at sea cater to "thinking travelers," those who prefer culturally-focused and destination-driven journeys over standard resort cruising.

Viking maintains a substantial presence in Europe, managing or having priority access to 110 docking stations across the continent. However, it is also expanding its operations beyond Europe. Among the nine vessels named during the celebration, two are designated to operate in Vietnam, two in Egypt (with plans to operate 12 ships by 2027), and two are set for India.

The newly christened Viking Honir will offer itineraries on the Rhine and Danube rivers. Its godmother, Michele Saegesser, Viking’s vice president of trade development and training, conducted the traditional ship blessing before breaking a bottle of Norwegian aquavit against the hull.

The interconnected ceremony, which featured live streaming from various shipyards including Germany’s Neptun Werft, emphasized Viking’s dedication to consistent expansion, ship design, service standards, and a cultural emphasis that has guided the company since its inception on Europe’s rivers.

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