It may not have been a Viking record launch, but it was still a spectacular moment for the river cruise line as it christened a dozen new ships.
Last year, Viking River Cruises broke the Guinness World Record for the number of cruise ships christened in 24 hours, when it broke 16 bottles of champagne over 16 ships.
The line already held the previous record, when it christened 10 in a single day in 2013.
RT@CruiseLog Our correspondent @PKnego reporting live from @VikingRiver‘s christening in Ams http://t.co/5owXKZdJwv pic.twitter.com/0DgSiJ7tAr
— Viking Cruises (@VikingRiver) March 24, 2015
This year, however, Viking decided to settle somewhere in the middle, with 12 brand new ships.
Ten of the new 190-passenger vessels were launched in Amsterdam and two other 98-passenger ships in Rockstock, Germany.
For this year’s river cruise christening, Viking decided to recruit long-serving employees to godmother the ships.
RT @deckchairblog: Happening now in #Amsterdam: the 2015 Viking Longships christening ceremonies! @VikingRiverpic.twitter.com/9oAR74od0m — Viking Cruises (@VikingRiver) March 24, 2015
They were, Donara Anderson Viking Skirnir; Clare Armitage, Viking Eir; Sinemie Bakker, Viking Astrild; Henrieta Balisova, Viking Vili; Adriana Filkaszova, Viking Beyla; Jana Hudakova, Viking Mimir; Miriam Kajuchova, Viking Ve; Karoline Landa, Vikign Lofu; Kornelia Pfeiffenberger, Viking Vidar; Faye Pirie, Viking Modi; Julie Rosoff, Vikign Mani; and Verona Thiele, Viking Gefjon.
With the additional vessels, Viking now has a fleet of 40 Longships plus 14 other vessels worldwide.
All 10 new Longships will be used on European itineraries, including the ‘Grand European Tour’, ‘Romantic Danube’ and ‘Rhine Getaway’.
The Longships feature 95 outside staterooms and suites with two rooms, a veranda, living room and French balcony.
The Sun Deck offers 360-degree and features an organic herb garden, solar panels and a walking track.
In the Aquavit Terrace, guests enjoy indoor and outdoor viewing areas, while the Observation Lounge has a bar with floor-to-ceiling glass doors.
Additional features include the library, shipwide wireless Internet service and laundry service.