Anne Scully Is Tapped as Godmother for One of the New Viking Longships

ann scullyWill Viking River Cruises (www.vikingcruises.com) pick a group of travel trade leaders as godmothers for its newest Longships being christened in Avignon, France on March 18?

Well, if one of the confirmed godmother picks is any indication, it’s at least a possibility. Travel Agent has learned that Anne Morgan Scully, president, McCabe World Travel (www.mccabeworld.com), McLean, VA, will be one of those godmothers.

And while Viking's public relations agency told us they couldn't say anything one way or the other on the godmother selections right now, they did confirm that a press release is expected soon. For now, it's a waiting game.

Scully is a definite choice, though. She's thrilled at being asked to be a Viking godmother, noting "I'm honored they looked to the travel industry."

“I’m a great fan of Torstein Hagen, who I’ve known since Royal Viking days,” Scully tells us. She’s sailed on Viking River Cruises twice, including time onboard with Travel & Leisure magazine’s travel advisory board. She last sailed on Viking in mid-2012 from Budapest, Hungary to Nuremberg, Germany.

Viking is expected to christen multiple Longships in March during a ceremony at Avignon, France, much as it did dockside in Amsterdam last year, an event that TravelAgentCentral.com attended.

RELATED: Viking Christens Multiple Longships in Amsterdam

“River ships have come on so strong…so that’s why so many are being built,” Scully stressed. “It’s an incredible way to see the great cities which were built along the rivers.”

She also believes river cruising is an extraordinary value. “I believe the river product is luxury but at very affordable pricing,” Scully told us.

“The wonderful thing I love about river cruising is that so much is included, but the ships are small enough that you really get to know each other [fellow travelers]," Scully said, adding that as a river vessel floats by spectacular destinations and landscapes, “you feel you can almost reach out and touch.”

Scully doesn’t yet know which of the new Longships she'll "name" at the christening. One thing is certain, though, she said: "While I certainly love ocean cruising, I think there are going to be many, many years of great success on the rivers as an alternative way to travel.”

Keep visiting www.travelagentcentral.com for further updates on this developing story.