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Hagen leads Viking maiden calls to 5 ports in his homeland, NorwayHagen leads Viking maiden calls to 5 ports in his homeland, Norway

Viking Ocean Cruises founder and chairman Torstein Hagen joined the new Viking Sea for maiden calls at five ports in Norway, his homeland.

Anne Kalosh, Editor, Seatrade Cruise News & Senior Associate Editor, Seatrade Cruise Review

June 20, 2016

1 Min Read
Credit: Seatrade Cruise News

Hagen participated in the traditional plaque exchange ceremonies attended by local officials, harbormasters, tourism directors and mayors. He also went on shore excursions available to Viking passengers, including visiting the northernmost brewery in Tromsø and eating freshly caught king crab near Honningsvåg. He fished for lunch in Bodø, too.

This is the first time Viking has sailed into these ports in northern Norway, along with Brønnøysund and Ålesund. All are part of the line's 15-day 'Into the Midnight Sun' itinerary that cruises between London (Greenwich) and Bergen.

Hagen joined Viking Sea Capt. Gulleik Svalastog in presenting and guiding tours of the ship, and discussed how Viking can help support Norway's tourism industry through its sailings and its destination-focused approach.

The participating mayors included Tromsø's Jarle Aarbakke, Nordkapp's Kristina Sigurdsdottir Hansen, Brønnøysund's Johnny Hanssen and Bodø's Ida Maria Pinnerod. Bodø port director Ingvar Mathisen was on hand, too.

Addressing repeat Viking travelers at a Viking Explorer Society cocktail party, Hagen remarked: 'Sir Richard Branson says space is Virgin territory. I say Scandinavia is Viking territory. No other cruise line can show you this part of the world like Viking can.

'I have known for years that there is nothing better than Norway in the summer,' he continued, 'and I am happy to now be able to share the beauty of my native Norway with you, our Viking guests.'

Viking's second ship, the 930-passenger Viking Sea, entered service in the spring.

About the Author

Anne Kalosh

Editor, Seatrade Cruise News & Senior Associate Editor, Seatrade Cruise Review

Anne Kalosh covers global stories, reporting both breaking and in-depth news on cruising's significant people, places, ships and trends. A sought-after expert on cruising, she has moderated conferences around the world, including the high-profile State of the Industry panel at Seatrade Cruise Global. She created and led the acclaimed itinerary-planning case study for Seatrade's cruise master classes held at Cambridge and Oxford universities. She has been the cruise columnist for AFAR.com, and her freelance stories have appeared in a wide range of publications, from The New York Times to The Miami Herald.

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