Viking River Cruises christens 12 new ships

Viking River Cruises hit another milestone today with the launch of no less than twelve new river cruise ships in a gala christening ceremony with the line's employees serving as godmothers. At the event, Viking Cruises CEO Torsten Hagen stated, "Our staff is second to none, so it made sense to ask employees with seniority and longevity to participate." The godmothers hailed from Los Angeles, the United Kingdom and Russia and were culled from shoreside positions as well as the ships themselves.

The new vessels bring Viking's total to 64 river ships, 40 of which are members of the 190-guest Longship class first introduced in 2012. Ten of the ships introduced today are Longships, which will cruise the Rhine, Main and Danube Rivers. The patented vessels boast an eco-friendly design with rounded bows that provide more space for accommodation and offset main passageways that allow space for veranda staterooms on two decks. Other signature touches include solar panels, spice gardens and Scandinavian modern decor infused with light.

The Longships have five categories of all-outside accommodation ranging from Explorer Suites that are among the largest in the river cruise market to Veranda Suites with separate living rooms; staterooms with full verandas; slightly smaller cabins with french balconies and a Standard category with small picture windows. Facilities include a bar and dining room that can accommodate all guests in one sitting, an indoor/outdoor buffet terrace, a small library, internet center and a walking track as well as sheltered and open deck space.

Eight Longships were lined up in a pair of four-deep rafts at the Amsterdam passenger terminal and four vessels (two Longships and two slightly smaller ships) were named via remote from the Neptun Werft Shipyard in Rostock, Germany. The two smaller ships, with a capacity of 98 guests in 46 staterooms, will cruise the Elbe River. "They are a special design employing lighter aluminum and composite materials and have just two decks (versus three on the Longships), which gives them a mean draft of 84 centimeters to safely navigate the Elbe", Hagen revealed.

Hagen, the captains and godmothers of the twelve new ships braved a chilly drizzle and gathered on a platform at the Amsterdam passenger terminal to induct each vessel. After naming the ships, the godmothers cut ribbons that sent champagne bottles smashing into the bows of all but the VIKING SKIRNIR. After a crew member safely dispatched the last bottle, there were fireworks as a tug boat sprayed a celebratory plume.

Viking will launch six more Longships next year and has an option for another eighteen. Admitting a slight leveling off in growth of its river cruise operation, Hagen stated that it will also allow the line to introduce its new Ocean division (with the first of its new ships, the 930-passenger VIKING STAR, embarking its first passengers on April 11.

For a deck-by-deck look at a Viking River Cruises Longship, click through the carousel below.