Viking has officially named its newest ocean vessel, Viking Mira, during a traditional naming ceremony in Venice, Italy.

The 998-guest ship joins the line’s growing ocean fleet and has now entered service, operating its inaugural season in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe.

The ceremony saw Rebecca Webb Wilson, an attorney, author, photographer, and philanthropist, serve as the vessel’s godmother.

In keeping with maritime tradition, she used a Viking broadaxe to cut a ribbon releasing a bottle of Norwegian aquavit, which was then broken against the ship’s hull.

Guests attending the event also watched a performance by Norwegian soprano Sissel Kyrkjebø, who previously served as godmother to Viking Jupiter.

“We are proud to welcome the new Viking Mira to our award-winning fleet of elegant sister ships,” said Torstein Hagen, Executive Chairman, Viking.

“We are also very honoured to have Rebecca as our newest Viking godmother. Her lifelong commitment to public service, exploration and cultural understanding is an inspiration to all of us,” he added.

Webb Wilson began her career with Pan American World Airways before later serving as an Assistant United States Attorney.

She has held leadership roles in education, healthcare and civic organisations and founded Bridge Builders, a youth leadership programme focused on fostering understanding between students from different backgrounds.

According to Viking, the initiative has engaged more than 20,000 participants.

Viking Mira is the latest addition to Viking’s series of ocean-going vessels, all of which follow a standardised design focused on smaller passenger capacities, Scandinavian interiors, and all-veranda accommodation.

The ship has a gross tonnage of 54,300 and features 499 staterooms accommodating up to 998 guests. Public spaces are designed around natural light, outdoor dining, and open-plan layouts that have become a hallmark of the line’s ocean fleet.

The addition of Viking Mira continues Viking’s steady expansion in the ocean cruise sector, which has seen the company build one of the industry’s largest fleets of near-identical ocean vessels over the past decade.

The ship joins a fleet that operates globally across Europe, North America, Asia, Australia and expedition destinations, with a focus on destination-intensive itineraries and extended port calls.

Following the naming ceremony in Venice, Viking Mira will continue its inaugural deployment in European waters throughout the summer season before joining the line’s wider global schedule.