Viking has named seven longtime advisor partners as godparents of seven new river ships joining its fleet this fall.
The Viking Haki, the Viking Halogi, the Viking Sjofn and the Viking Rota will sail the line’s Rhine, Main and Danube river itineraries. The Viking Sekhmet and the Viking Ptah will operate on the Nile River, and the Viking Fjolvar will sail the Seine River. The seven additions bring Viking’s fleet to more than 100 ships.
“For nearly 30 years, our travel advisor partners have helped curious travelers explore the world with Viking,” said Leah Talactac, President and Chief Executive Officer of Viking, in a press statement. “These seven individuals represent the strength of those longstanding relationships, and we are proud to honor them as godparents of our newest river ships.”
Godparents Galore
The custom of naming a ceremonial godmother for a new ship dates back thousands of years in maritime tradition. Viking has adapted the practice and extended it to godfathers, typically selecting people who have made an impact on the company or its business. For its newest ships, the following partners were invited to serve as godparents:
- Shelby Steudle, President of Pavlus Travel, godmother of the Viking Fjolvar. Her relationship with Viking dates back more than 20 years, and she has helped strengthen the bond between the two companies while driving business growth.
- Carol Porter, Co-Owner of The Roaming Boomers, godmother of the Viking Haki. A Viking partner since 2014, Porter and her husband, Dave, have built their agency into the top-producing Viking advisor within the Virtuoso network.
- Carol Shaddix, Owner of Imagine Going There, godmother of the Viking Halogi. Shaddix has built her business around a dedicated focus on Viking and ranks as the company’s number two global advisor.
- Michael Londregan, Senior Vice President of Global Operations for Virtuoso, godfather of the Viking Ptah. Londregan has supported Viking since the partnership began in 2017 and has helped grow the brand’s presence within Virtuoso across Australia and New Zealand.
- Ealeen Wong, Senior Director of Strategy, Partnership and Sales for Expedia Cruises, godmother of the Viking Rota. Wong has helped develop Viking’s relationship with Expedia Cruises and strengthen business across the Canadian and U.S. markets.
- Michael Consoli, Owner of Cruise Planners, godfather of the Viking Sekhmet. Consoli, Viking’s top global-producing advisor, has partnered with the company since 2010 and played a role in its growth over the past 15 years.
- Danielle “Dani” Galloway, Global Managing Director of Premium Leisure and Independents for Flight Center Travel Group, is the godmother of the Viking Sjofn. Galloway has helped Viking become the top cruise line within Travel Associates, Flight Centre’s luxury advisor brand.
Viking will mark the official naming of the seven ships during a ceremony in Amsterdam on Oct. 15, when the godparents will formally name their vessels and welcome them into the fleet.
For more information, visit viking.com.
