STAR OF THE SHOW
Last Sunday, 17 May, the pretty Norwegian coastal city of Bergen hosted the christening of Viking Star. The date was chosen to coincide with Norway’s National Day and the whole of Bergen came out to celebrate.
In the evening, thousands gathered along the waterfront for the christening ceremony. Among them was Trude Drevland, the much-loved Mayor of Bergen, who was bestowed with the honour of godmother to Viking Star, in a christening tradition that blesses the ship and formally recognises her transition into service. Trude, as she is affectionately known in her city, clearly loves the ship, and its Norwegian heritage: “This is going to be soul of Scandinavia, with some touch of Bergen, and I will love her.”
At 9pm, Viking Star was pulled by tug boats into position behind a floating stage, and a spectacular concert began, with British and Norwegian stars. When darkness fell at 11pm, Torstein Hagan, Chairman of Viking Cruises, took to the stage with Trude and, in Norwegian, she spoke those famous words, “I name you Viking Star. May your passengers and crew always been safe and may you always have a hand’s width of water below your keel.”
The champagne bottle smashed against the ship’s beautiful bow. Fireworks flew from the ship into the night sky and the audience erupted into cheers. It was a moment that everyone present will always remember, on a day you could never forget.
Why not take a few minutes to watch the moving film of the christening of Viking Star? >
MORE IN THIS MONTH'S AMULET:
