Viking has christened its newest ocean-going ship, the Viking Mars, during a private ceremony in Valletta, Malta. As part of the event, the ship's ceremonial godmother, Lady Fiona Carnarvon, the Countess of Carnarvon, offered a blessing of good fortune and safe passage for the vessel, a naval tradition dating back thousands of years. This week, the new ship will begin its inaugural season with itineraries in the Mediterranean, Scandinavia, and Northern Europe, before repositioning later this year for voyages to Australia and New Zealand.
“It is always a proud day when we welcome a new ship to our fleet. The Viking Mars will allow us to offer even more opportunities for curious travelers to explore the world in comfort,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman of Viking. “Many of our guests became familiar with both Viking and Highclere Castle while watching Downton Abbey, and over the years we have maintained a close friendship with the Carnarvon family, who have welcomed our guests into their home. We are very grateful that Lady Carnarvon has honored us by serving as godmother of our newest ocean-going vessel.”
“It is an honor and a privilege to be the godmother of the Viking Mars. I have no doubt that it will delight the many guests who travel on it around the world,” said Lady Carnarvon.
The small christening ceremony for the Viking Mars, docked in Valletta's Grand Harbour, was attended by friends and business partners of Viking, including Maltese officials. Lady Carnarvon offered her blessing for the ship via video from Highclere Castle, and a bottle of Norwegian aquavit was broken against the ship's hull. Since all Viking ocean-going vessels are registered in Bergen, Norway, the event commemorated Norwegian Constitution Day—May 17—and featured a performance by Norwegian singer Sissel Kyrkjebø, considered one of the world's finest sopranos and godmother of the Viking Jupiter.
Instead of a large-scale event, Viking and Lady Carnarvon decided to jointly celebrate the naming of the Viking Mars and Viking's 25th anniversary in a more private and meaningful way, donating £10,000 each to 25 charities covering a spectrum of causes that are important to both Viking and the Carnarvon family.
