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(upbeat music) - [Narrator] Trieste, Italy, on the shores of the Adriatic Sea was once the legendary endpoint of the Maritime Silk Road, then the Habsburg monarchy's most important seaport for five centuries. (upbeat music) And on December 5th, 2024, Trieste was the majestic backdrop for the naming of the Viking Vela, the newest sister ship in Viking's award-winning ocean fleet.

Trieste is also home to Fincantieri, our valued shipbuilding partner.

Together we've constructed the world's most elegant, small ocean ships for more than a decade. (bell chiming) (upbeat music) (audience applauding) (upbeat music) Norwegian violinist, Tor Jaran Apold, opened the ceremony with a powerful performance of the Norwegian classic, "Eg veit i himmerik ei borg." (upbeat music) (audience applauding) - My Lords, ladies and gentlemen, honored guests, it's my privilege to welcome you all here for the naming ceremony of the beautiful, Viking Vela.

Now the name Vela refers to the largest or one of the largest constellations of stars in the southern hemisphere.

And it's represented by the figure of a ship's sail.

In Italian Vela means sail.

And tomorrow the Viking Vela will set her metaphorical sails and begin her maiden voyage around the Adriatic. (audience applauding) Now a few words from the chairman of Viking, Mr.

Torstein Hagen. (audience applauding) - Thank you very much for coming to this event.

It's a big deal for us, as you understand.

And I think it was particularly nice that we can do it in Trieste, which I believe is the head office of Fincantieri, at least that's where a lot of the design of these wonderful ships have taken place.

Yesterday we had an opportunity to show the ship to the people behind the design, and who sometimes only see the drawings and don't see the final product.

We appreciate much opportunity to show off to the people who mean the most, the ones who do the work, not only those who has to get the credit. (audience applauding) This is the 11th ship in 11 years.

And who would've thought so?

There may be a slide that we can put up on the screen, which is from 2017 under then boss of Fincantieri, Giuseppe Bono, who is no longer with us unfortunately.

We joked a little bit and said, "How many ships should we built here?" And I put up two hands, and then Bono said, "Uh-huh, I put up mine too." So if you count the number of fingers, it's 20 fingers.

And that is kind of where we are now because this is ship number 11.

We have another nine committed that takes us to 20, and I believe we have an option to take it to 24.

It's been a fantastic corporation, so thank you very much to Fincantieri, you have done a phenomenal, phenomenal job.

We should also thank Saettia and the banks behind Saettia who makes it possible.

I should also thank our own site team and the people that made it possible from our side.

Great job, well done as usual.

And of course, last but not least, it's the staff onboard the ship, so thank you all, thank you very much, and good luck to all of us. (audience applauding) (upbeat music) - [Narrator] The godmother of the Viking Vela is Ivana Elice, Vice President and Project Manager of the Fincantieri Cruise Business Unit.

She's been a dedicated partner for 12 years, and is a valued member of our extended Viking family. (upbeat music) (audience cheering and applauding) - I have been working side by side with Viking for 12 year now.

And we started at the beginning with the idea, the concept of the ocean vessel, and we find ourself today naming Viking Vela, the 11th ship.

And all these ship that we built together are for me like babies, little girls.

I witness their birth, I have seen them grown up, and then to leave home, to sail far away permanently.

This time will be different as my bond with my Vela will last forever. (audience applauding) And for this honor, I want to thank the Hagen family and all the Viking family, entire, from the bottom of my heart really.

Thanks for everything. (audience applauding) - Thank you. (applauding) Thank you, Ivana. (audience applauding) - [Narrator] Norwegian traditional shipbuilder, Geir Rovik, hand-delivered a Viking ax from Norway, especially for this event. (Ivana applauding) - This ax is a copy of a Viking battle ax, which was a symbol of power and success in the Viking age.

The ax is also held by a lion on the Norwegian Coat of Arms. (audience applauding) To pass the proverbial baton, the Chairman of the Metropolitan Opera and the godmother herself of the Viking Saturn, Ann Ziff. (audience applauding) - As godmother of the Viking Saturn, it is an honor to present the ax to the next godmother, Ivana of the Viking Vela. - Thank you, Ann. (audience applauding) - Normally we do the naming by cutting a ribbon with the now famous ax on the floor deck, but because of the famous, a notorious Trieste wind, we've decided to move things indoors, and make it all more comfortable for you. (upbeat music) Okay, Ivana, are you ready to name your ship? - I'm ready. - Would you hand the ax back to Geir? - Yes, thanks, Geir. (upbeat music) - Please. (Ivana speaking in foreign language) (audience applauding) (pressing button) (audience cheering) (bottle breaking) (intense music) - [Narrator] With a splash of aquavit, (audience applauding) our 11th ocean ship in just 11 years had been named. (audience cheering and applauding) - As is the tradition with Viking naming ceremonies, we will now hear two national anthems.

The first will be that of the godmother's home country, which of course, is Italy; and the second will be that of the country of the ship's registry, Norway.

So now to perform the Italian national anthem, (speaker mumbling) one of this country's best known and versatile tenors, Alessandro Safina. - Compiacere, my pleasure! (audience applauding) (upbeat music) (Alessandro singing Italy national anthem) (Alessandro foot tapping) (audience cheering and applauding) - And to sing our second national anthem, our own and Norway's national treasure, the wonderful, the fabulous, Sissel. (audience cheering and applauding) - This is a special guest to you, Torstein. (upbeat music) (Sissel singing Bergen town song) (audience applauding) (upbeat music) (Sissel singing Norway national anthem) (audience cheering and applauding) - Just in case you're wondering, the first one was the national anthem of Bergen.

Okay, now it is my great pleasure to hand over the microphone to what I think of, I think what many of us think of as the ever beating heart of Viking.

I think you know who I'm talking about, the ever wonderful, the fabulous, Karine Hagen. (audience applauding) - Dear Ivana, thank you so much for naming your beautiful, Viking Vela, tonight.

We also would like to thank you for so successfully delivering 10 other beautiful Viking sister ships.

You and your team do an amazing job for us, so thank you very much.

And usually we get to thank you with a lovely gift, but because of Fincantieri's strict protocols, we're not allowed to give you the same gift that Ann got and that others got, but we are allowed to make a donation to a charity.

And you have nobly asked, if we could contribute to the Burlo Children's Hospital here in Trieste.

So they have a nice contribution in your name as a thanks for doing this job for us tonight. (audience applauding) But we're allowed to give you flowers. (chuckling) (audience applauding) - Thanks, Karine. (audience applauding) - So ladies and gentlemen, it's time for music because what's the naming ceremony without music?

Sissel is at the heart of our Viking family, and she sings at all of our naming ceremonies.

And it's no exaggeration to say that really she does have one of the most beautiful soprano voices in the world.

In fact we are very privileged to have her here at all because she's in the middle of a big tour right now.

Last night she did a concert in Norway, I believe; tomorrow night she's singing in Denmark, so we are lucky to have her.

Sissel, take it away. (audience applauding) - [Sissel] Thank you. (audience applauding) (upbeat music) ♪ I see trees of green ♪ ♪ Red roses too ♪ ♪ I see them bloom for me and you ♪ ♪ And I think to myself ♪ ♪ What a wonderful world ♪ ♪ The colors of the rainbow ♪ ♪ So pretty in the sky ♪ ♪ Are also on the faces ♪ ♪ Of people passing by ♪ ♪ I see friends shaking hands ♪ ♪ Saying, how do you do ♪ ♪ They're really saying ♪ ♪ I love you ♪ ♪ I hear babies cry ♪ ♪ I watch them grow ♪ ♪ They'll learn much more than I'll ever know ♪ ♪ And I think to myself ♪ ♪ What a wonderful world ♪ ♪ Yes, I think to myself ♪ ♪ What a wonderful world ♪ (audience cheering and applauding) Thank you. (Sissel sighing) Congratulation, Torstein and Karine; and congratulations, Ivana.

This is a very special moment for me to stand here in front of actually the mother of all the ships. (attendees chuckling) And I'm just so honored, and just thinking that this is actually your first ship child that you are to keep yourself.

Yes. (chuckling) And I know that you have all the other ships in your heart as well.

So just welcome to the godmother sisterhood. (Ivana chuckling) (audience applauding) And Fincantieri, one more beautiful vessel, you have done it again.

Congratulations to all of you from Fincantieri! (audience applauding) (upbeat music) - [Narrator] The naming of the Viking Vela concluded with an inspiring concert with Sissel joining acclaimed Italian opera singer, Alessandro Safina, to pay tribute to the enduring cultures of both Norway and Italy. (audience applauding) ♪ I pray you'll be our eyes ♪ ♪ And watch us as we go ♪ ♪ And help us to be wise ♪ ♪ In times when we don't know ♪ ♪ Lead us to a place ♪ ♪ Guide us with your grace ♪ ♪ Give us faith so we'll be safe ♪ ♪ Sogniamo un mondo senza piu violenza ♪ ♪ Un mondo di giustizia e di speranza ♪ ♪ Ognuno dia la mano al suo vicino ♪ ♪ Simbolo di pace, di fraternita ♪ ♪ E la fede che ♪ ♪ Hai acceso in noi ♪ ♪ Sento che ci salvera ♪ (audience applauding) (Sissel chuckling) (audience cheering and applauding) (upbeat music) - [Narrator] The naming of the Viking Vela was an impressive milestone for all who've worked so hard to make Viking the success it is today, an unforgettable event celebrating our extended Viking family that will be cherished for years to come. (upbeat music) We are so proud as the Viking Vela takes her place in our award-winning ocean fleet.

This elegant small ship now welcoming curious travelers to explore the world in Viking comfort. (upbeat music)