The international naming ceremony honoured travel advisors
Viking showcased its ongoing commitment to the travel trade by naming travel advisors and industry leaders as the godparents of seven new river cruise vessels during a memorable naming ceremony in Amsterdam, the Netherlands on Oct. 14.
“Throughout Viking’s history, travel advisors have been among our most important partners. In a world where travellers have endless choices, your personal recommendation carries tremendous weight,” shared Leah Talactac, President and Chief Executive Officer of Viking. “When you recommend Viking, you are putting your own reputation behind us, and that trust is something that we will never take for granted. We would not be who we are and where we are today without your partnership and the confidence your clients place in us, and for that we are sincerely grateful.”
Canadian Ealeen Wong, Senior Director of Strategy, Partnerships & Sales for Expedia Group’s Global Cruise Business was named the Godmother of Viking Rota, joining godmothers and godfathers from Australia and the U.S. pier side between Viking Rota and Viking Haki alongside Founder and Executive Chairman Torstein Hagen.
“Being named Godmother of Viking Rota is an extraordinary honour, and one that carries a meaning far beyond the naming,” Wong, who supports 7,500 travel advisors worldwide, told Travel Courier. “I believe travel is a force for good — it opens our eyes, deepens our connections, and changes the way we see the world. Our Vacation Consultants are at the heart of making those journeys possible, bringing expertise, trust, and a personal touch turning dreams into meaningful, life-changing experiences. I’m proud to represent our Vacation Consultants who make these connections possible every day. This honour celebrates their impact, the strength of our partnership with Viking, and what we can achieve together when we harness the power of travel to make the world a better place.”
All seven godparents were on location in the Netherlands to release bottles of aquavit — a Norwegian twist from the standard champagne — against the respective ship’s hulls as the celebration simultaneously featured Viking Halogi, Viking Sjofn, Viking Ptah, Viking Sekhmet and Viking Fjolvar joining the fleet from Les Andelys, France; Rostock, Germany; and Luxor, Egypt.
“We feel that the travel agent community is a strong partner for us,” added Talactac. “You’ve been our partners for 30 years that we’ve been in business, and we’re looking forward to doing even more business in the next 30 years or more.”
Notably, Viking now has 109 vessels across 94 river vessels, 13 ocean ships and two expedition ships, with more on order.
Michele Saegesser, SVP of Sales for Viking, has spent 47 years dedicated to the travel agent side of the business.
“Without them I wouldn’t have a career and my whole team wouldn’t. They’re very important to us, they position us properly to the guests and their potential guests, and they talk about us all the time, which is fantastic,” she shared. “There’s a lot of competition so it’s important for us to always be giving them support, being their best business partner, which is our goal, and by naming seven godparents, it’s such an honour for me to even name them and pick them, but for them, it says everything, right? That they’re so important to us.”
Named after a rebellious Valkyrie from Norse mythology, Viking Rota was the final ship to be named during the ceremony.
“Now every great journey begins with someone who dares to dream. Tor, your vision to bring creativity and exploration within reach has helped millions of people discover not only new places but also perspectives,” Wong noted. “Thank you, and thank you to Michele and the entire team who has built Viking into what it is today, and for lifting all of us with you. Your partnership really shows what is possible when people come together with purpose, with heart, and when we have a shared belief in something bigger than ourselves.”
