Viking's fourth ocean ship, Viking Sun, was officially named on Thursday during a celebration on the Bund, in the heart of Shanghai. The ship is currently sailing Viking’s 141-day World Cruise from Miami to London, and its stop in Shanghai marks the first time one of Viking’s ocean ships has called in China. Viking Sun also became the first-ever cruise ship to be named on the Bund.
The 930-guest, 47,800-ton Viking Sun arrived in Shanghai this week, navigating into the mouth of the Yangtze River and then up the Huangpu River into central Shanghai, where she received a welcome from local residents and boats in the harbor.
After arriving, Viking Sun was positioned at the Shanghai Port International Cruise Terminal, adjacent to a concert stage constructed specifically for the celebration. Viking’s World Cruise guests and international dignitaries were treated to high-tech show and musical concert on the waterfront that paid tribute to the friendship between Norway and China. Shanghai television personality Michelle Wang served as master of ceremony and introduced musical performances from the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra and Chinese operatic tenor Dai Yuqiang, as well as Norwegian singer Sissel Kyrkjebø.
Li You, vice president of China Merchant Bank Financial Leasing, served as ceremonial godmother and offered a blessing of good fortune and safe sailing for Viking Sun. She also cut a ribbon that allowed a bottle of Norwegian aquavit to break on the ship’s hull.
Today, March 9, Viking Sun sets sail from Shanghai for Southeast Asia and India, before making her way through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal into the Mediterranean. When the ship arrives in London on May 5, she will have visited five continents, 35 countries and 64 ports during her first World Cruise. Viking Sun will continue to sail the globe during the 2019 World Cruise, a 128-day itinerary from Miami to London.
For more, visit www.vikingcruises.com.
This story originally appeared on www.luxurytraveladvisor.com.
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