Last week, I watched a rehearsal of Viking Sea’s christening, minus the crowds and fanfare — and the city of London. On Wednesday, while we were cruising from Malaga, Spain, Erling Frydenberg invited me to a practice run of the breaking of the bottle against Viking Sea’s hull.
So along with Frydenberg, who heads up “Cruise Operations Development” for Viking Cruises, and Viking Sea General Manager Karl Eckl, I headed forward and out on deck to watch a bottle break. Interestingly, the bottle that will break against Viking Sea’s hull tomorrow will not be champagne. Viking Star was christened last year with a Jeroboam-sized bottle of Veuve Clicquot. Viking Sea will be christened with a big bottle of Aquavit.
Eckl tied up the bottle of Gammel Opland and along with an officer, they hoisted it above the ship’s railing. The breaking of the bottle went off without a hitch. Even the cork remained, which Frydenberg suggested be kept and possibly framed later on.
Viking Sea’s official christening is tomorrow, Thursday, May 5 in Greenwich on the Thames River in London.
An avid traveler and an award-winning journalist, Ralph Grizzle produces articles, video and photos that are inspiring and informative, personal and passionate. A journalism graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Ralph has specialized in travel writing for more than two decades. To read more cruise and port reviews by Ralph Grizzle, visit his website at www.avidcruiser.com.