| Viking blasts off to Saturn

VIKING’S newest ocean ship Viking Saturn has been named in New York Harbor at Manhattan Cruise Terminal.

Saturn was named by Metropolitan Opera Chair Ann Ziff, who offered a blessing of good fortune and safe sailing for the vessel.

Ziff used the steel sword from the Metropolitan Opera’s production of Il Trovatore to cut a ribbon that allowed a bottle of Norwegian aquavit to break on Saturn’s hull.

The sword was presented to Ziff by Fiona, 8th Countess of Carnarvon, who is also the godmother of Viking Mars and Viking Skadi.

As part of the ceremony, guests enjoyed performances from Norwegian soprano and godmother of Viking Jupiter Sissel Kyrkjebo, and Norwegian violinist Tor Jaran Apold.

Following a celebratory dinner on board, stars of the Metropolitan Opera – soprano Susanna Phillips, tenor Charles Castronovo, and baritone Quinn Kelsey – treated guests to a performance of opera classics, including selections from La Traviata, Rusalka, and La Boheme, as well as a collection of American musical classics from Rodgers & Hammerstein, Jerome Kern, and others.

Saturn will now continue her inaugural season, sailing two new Viking voyages: Iconic Iceland, Greenland & Canada, between New York City and Reykjavik, and Iceland & Norway’s Arctic Explorer, between Reykjavik and Bergen.

“This is a very proud day for Viking as we name our newest identical ocean ship in New York City, one of the great cultural capitals of the world,” Chair Torstein Hagen 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.

“We thank Ann for her loyalty as a Viking guest, as well as her many impressive contributions to the arts”.