Viking Hits 100! Nine New River Ships Join the Fleet in a Global Celebration
Sailing into History: Viking Marks Its 100th Ship with Nine New Beauties
Viking just pulled off a celebration that’s making waves across the cruising world, and it’s a big one. The award-winning cruise line officially marked the launch of its 100th ship with a global naming ceremony that spanned six countries and featured nine brand-new river ships.
From Basel, Switzerland, where the main festivities were held, to the serene waters of the Nile and Mekong Rivers, Viking’s milestone moment showcased the line’s passion for connecting travelers to the heart of each destination, one river at a time.
The nine newly christened ships, Viking Annar, Viking Dagur, Viking Eldir, Viking Honir, Viking Nerthus, Viking Gyda, Viking Tonle, Viking Thoth, and Viking Amun, will now sail some of Viking’s most beloved itineraries, from the Rhine and Danube to the Seine, Douro, Mekong, and Nile.
“Over the last 28 years, we’ve grown from four ships to more than 100, a fleet size no other line has achieved,” said Torstein Hagen, Viking’s Chairman and CEO. “We modernized river voyages, reinvented ocean voyages, and perfected the expedition experience.”
In keeping with maritime tradition, each new ship was blessed with a godparent, this time, all part of Viking’s extended family. Among them were Viking leaders Allison Becker, Sara Conley, and Yumi Kim, as well as Viking’s Egyptian partners Youssef Fouad Amin and Sherif El Banna, who were named godfathers of the new Nile River ships.
Veranda stateroom, Balcony on the Viking Honir
The ceremony itself was a spectacle worthy of Viking’s milestone, featuring performances by Sissel Kyrkjebø, the godmother of Viking Jupiter®, along with Norwegian violinist Tor Jaran Apold, the Viennese Residence Orchestra, and a Basel girls’ choir.
With this celebration, Viking continues its reign as a leader in river, ocean, and expedition cruising. The company recently earned #1 rankings for both Oceans and Rivers in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2025 Readers’ Choice Awards, for the fifth consecutive year, and was again recognized by Travel + Leisure, U.S. News & World Report, and Forbes Travel Guide.
Viking’s 100th-ship milestone isn’t just a number, it’s a testament to nearly three decades of craftsmanship, innovation, and the kind of travel experiences that turn first-time guests into lifelong explorers.
Because whether it’s the sun setting over the Douro or the temples of Luxor rising in the morning light, Viking is proving that the best way to see the world… is to sail through it.