30 Jun 2025
London, 30 June 2025 – Viking® (www.viking.com) (NYSE: VIK) yesterday named its newest ocean ship, the Viking Vesta®, with a traditional ceremony in Split, Croatia. Serving as ceremonial godmother of the Viking Vesta was the Norwegian journalist, Lene Tangevald-Jensen. The Viking Vesta will now continue her inaugural season sailing in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.
“As we celebrate 10 years of ocean voyages in 2025, we are pleased to welcome the new Viking Vesta to our award-winning fleet of elegant sister ships,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman and CEO of Viking. “We are also very grateful to Lene for serving as godmother. In addition to her personal and professional accomplishments, Lene embodies the values that are very important to me and to Viking—she is kind, honest, hardworking and, of course, curious. I am proud to count her as a friend and a valued member of the extended Viking family.”
In keeping with the naming tradition, during the ceremony Lene used a Viking broad axe to cut a ribbon that allowed a bottle of Norwegian aquavit to break on the ship's hull. Guests also enjoyed performances by Sissel Kyrkjebø, one of the world's leading crossover sopranos and godmother of the Viking Jupiter®, and Norwegian violinist Tor Jaran Apold.
Lene Tangevald-Jensen, Godmother of the Viking Vesta
Lene Tangevald-Jensen is known for her commitment to journalism and philanthropy, as well as a deep curiosity about people's lives. After completing the International Baccalaureate and earning a master's degree in business, she worked in the private sector, investing in stocks and real estate. For 30 years, she has written for Kapital and Finansavisen, two of Norway's leading financial publications, conducting more than 500 interviews, including U.S. President Jimmy Carter. She has also contributed to =OSLO, a street magazine that gives a platform to those who have fallen outside society's safety net.
Lene believes in the power of paying it forward—performing small, meaningful acts that spark new beginnings for someone in need. Through her work with the LEON Trust, she supports education for children in Kenya, Nepal and Sri Lanka. She is involved with Make-A-Wish Foundation Norway and is the founder of TBS Gallery, an art space in Oslo dedicated to the work of sculptor Tore Bjørn Skjølsvik.
As a close friend and neighbour of Viking Chairman and CEO Torstein Hagen, Lene has become a cherished part of the extended Viking family. In December 2022, she and her partner joined an expedition to Antarctica on board the Viking Polaris®. There, she created a documentary film, capturing the beauty of the White Continent—a journey that reaffirmed her belief in embracing the unknown. She often returns to the mantra that shapes her life: “Growth happens when we dare to try—even when failure looms.”
The Viking Vesta
The Viking Vesta is the newest ship in Viking's award-winning ocean fleet of sister ships. Classified as a small ship, as are all Viking ocean ships, the Viking Vesta has a gross tonnage of 54,300 tons, with 499 staterooms that can host 998 guests; the ships feature all veranda staterooms, elegant Scandinavian design, light-filled public spaces and abundant al fresco dining options.
The naming of the Viking Vesta follows a string of recent accolades for the company. Viking was recently named Best River Cruise Operator and Best Luxury Ocean Cruise Operator at the prestigious Times and The Sunday Times Travel Awards 2024. In the most recent Telegraph Travel Awards we won Best Boutique Ocean Line. Additionally, Cruise Critic UK honoured Viking with eight awards across the Luxury (Ocean), River and Expedition categories 2024 UK Best in Cruise Awards.
Booking Details
To make a booking or for more information call 0800 458 69 00 or go to www.viking.com
ENDS
Viking media contacts:
Viking UK Press Office: ukpressoffice@viking.com
Bryony Gammon: bryony.gammon@viking.com
Carys Bedford: carys.bedford@viking.com
Emma Lepley: emma.lepley@viking.com
Telephone: +44 208 780 7945
About Viking
Viking (NYSE: VIK) offers culturally enriching, destination-focused river and ocean cruises for travellers curious about the world, its rich culture and varied history.
Viking takes its guests on curated, elegant voyages to some of the most iconic rivers in Europe, Africa and the Far East, allowing a unique window on inspiring destinations and rewarding experiences. Viking revolutionised river cruising with the introduction of its state-of-the-art Viking Longships which, since their introduction in 2012, now make up 80 percent of its river fleet.
In 2015 Viking debuted its maiden season of ocean cruising and in June 2025 Viking took delivery of its newest ocean ship, the Viking Vesta, making it the largest small ship travel company.
Viking has expanded its destination-focused travel experiences with the launch of new expedition voyages. Viking Expeditions began sailing in January 2022 with its first vessel, Viking Octantis, embarking on voyages to Antarctica and North America's Great Lakes. A second expedition vessel, Viking Polaris, launched in September 2022. Viking's custom-built vessel, Viking Mississippi, debuted offering voyages on the Lower and Upper Mississippi, between New Orleans and St. Paul.
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