Viking‘s fleet expanded to more than 100 vessels this week with the simultaneous naming of nine new river ships during a ceremony in Basel, Switzerland.

Among the newcomers, which included the company’s 100th vessel, were Viking Annar, Viking Dagur, Viking Eldir and Viking Honir, which will all sail Viking’s popular Rhine, Main and Danube itineraries. Viking Nerthus, Viking Gyda and Viking Tonle will navigate the Seine, Douro and Mekong rivers, respectively, while the Viking Thoth and Viking Amun will join the company’s fleet on the Nile River.

With these additions, Viking now operates more than 100 vessels across its river, ocean and expedition fleets – more than any other cruise line.

“Today we are proud to name our newest river ships and to honour the nine distinguished members of our extended Viking family serving as their godparents,” said Torstein Hagen, Chairman and CEO of Viking.

“Over the last 28 years, we have grown from four ships to more than 100 – a fleet size that no other line has achieved – and we have done so because of our innovative approach. First, we modernised river voyages; then we reinvented ocean voyages and perfected the expedition experience.”

The naming ceremony took place aboard the Viking Honir in Basel and was connected virtually to the eight other ships stationed across five countries, including France, Germany, Portugal, Vietnam and Egypt.

Viking continued the long-standing maritime tradition of appointing ship godparents, honouring individuals who have made a meaningful impact on the company and its community. Among those named were Allison Becker, Senior Vice President and General Counsel of Viking, as godmother of the Viking Nerthus, and Sherif El Banna, CEO of Cosmos Egypt, as godfather of the Viking Amun.

Guests at the event were treated to performances by soprano Sissel Kyrkjebø – godmother of the Viking Jupiter – as well as Norwegian violinist Tor Jaran Apold, the Viennese Residence Orchestra and a Basel girls’ choir.

“We have always been quite a bit different from others in the travel industry—we like to be contrarian,” Hagen said. “We look forward to continuing our leadership in experiential travel in the years to come.”