On Wednesday night, January 15, Viking christened their latest ocean-going cruise ship Viking Jupiter in a unique ceremony that was held in Beverly Hills CA.
The ceremony was quite unusual because the vessel has actually been in service for about a year, having joined the fleet of Viking Cruises in February 2019. Also, while official naming ceremonies are usually held either on the ship or pier-side (where it is berthed), Viking Jupiter's christening was held in a Beverly Hills ballroom while the liner itself was sailing in the Atlantic.
Guests in Beverly Hilton ballroom and the ship's captain were linked via video as Jupiter's godmother Sissel Kyrkjebo, considered to be among the world's most successful crossover sopranos, gave the traditional blessing.
Kyrkjebo then used a Nordic Viking axe in order to cut a cord as, through the live feed, the captain confirmed that the bottle of aquavit had smashed against the side of the ship.