Viking Ocean Cruises appointed Captain Gulleik Svalastog to the helm of its first ocean ship – the 930-passenger Viking Star – which will take on its first guests in April 2015. Leveraging his experience as a cruise captain in Norway, Captain Svalastog will command and oversee the operation, crew and safety of the ship in its maiden season in Scandinavia and the Baltic; and the Western and Eastern Mediterranean. Viking also released a new online video interview with Captain Svalastog.
Svalastog brings 45 years of sailing experience to Viking Ocean Cruises. He has held a variety of senior ship management positions and has worked as superintendent for Norwegian Cruise Line and Crystal Cruises and as lead auditor for Det Norske Veritas (DNV). His most recent position held was captain of Color Line Cruises. Svalastog is currently a member of the team overseeing the final stage of outfitting and interior build-out for Viking Star, which touched water for the first time in June 2014 at Fincantieri’s Marghera shipyard and will be christened in May 2015.
For more information, visit www.vikingoceancruises.com.