Viking has appointed seven travel-industry partners as godparents of seven new river ships joining its fleet in Europe and Egypt.
The vessels will be welcomed together during an official naming ceremony in Amsterdam on 15 October 2026.
Four of the ships will operate on the Rhine, Main and Danube, two will sail on the Nile and the seventh will serve the Seine.
Seven godparents and seven ships
Viking selected the godparents in recognition of their longstanding relationships with the company and their wider contributions to the travel industry.
- Shelby Steudle, president of Pavlus Travel, will serve as godmother of Viking Fjolvar.
- Carol Porter, co-owner of The Roaming Boomers, will serve as godmother of Viking Haki.
- Carol Shaddix, owner of Imagine Going There, will serve as godmother of Viking Halogi.
- Michael Londregan, senior vice president of global operations at Virtuoso, will serve as godfather of Viking Ptah.
- Ealeen Wong, senior director of strategy, partnership and sales at Expedia Cruises, will serve as godmother of Viking Rota.
- Michael Consoli, owner of a Cruise Planners franchise, will serve as godfather of Viking Sekhmet.
- Danielle “Dani” Galloway, global managing director of premium leisure and independents at Flight Centre Travel Group, will serve as godmother of Viking Sjofn.
Where the new Viking ships will sail
Viking Haki, Viking Halogi, Viking Sjofn and Viking Rota will operate itineraries along the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers.
Viking Fjolvar will sail on the Seine in France, while Viking Sekhmet and Viking Ptah will join Viking's fleet on the Nile in Egypt.
The seven additions will become part of a Viking fleet comprising more than 100 river, ocean and expedition ships.
Longstanding travel partnerships recognised
Several of the appointments reflect partnerships extending over many years. Viking said Shelby Steudle's relationship with the company spans more than two decades, while Carol Porter has worked with the line since 2014.
Michael Londregan has supported Viking's partnership with Virtuoso since it began in 2017, helping to strengthen the brand's presence across Australia and New Zealand.
Michael Consoli has worked with Viking since 2010 and is described by the company as its leading global-producing travel adviser.
Dani Galloway has helped develop Viking's position within Travel Associates, Flight Centre Travel Group's luxury travel-adviser brand. Viking said the company had become the leading cruise line within that business.
Ships to be named together in Amsterdam
All seven godparents are expected to participate in the joint ceremony in Amsterdam, formally naming their respective vessels and welcoming them to the fleet.
Viking president and chief executive Leah Talactac said travel-adviser partners had helped the company connect curious travellers with destinations for almost 30 years.
She said the seven appointees represented the strength of those longstanding relationships and that Viking was proud to recognise them through the maritime naming tradition.
The use of both godmothers and godfathers continues Viking's adaptation of the established custom of appointing a ceremonial sponsor to welcome a new vessel into service.