Michele Saegesser, vice president of sales and national accounts for Viking, has come out of retirement. If you weren’t yet aware of her return, we’ve caught up with her to get the latest — from her current role to news that the line will be adding two new expedition ships to its ever-growing fleet.
What drew you out of retirement to return to your role at Viking?
Stepping away for a year gave me the opportunity to reflect, recharge and return with a fresh perspective. During that time, I realized how deeply passionate I still am about this industry.
Even while stepping away from my previous full-time role, I remained connected to Viking through the Executive Retreat program, which we originally developed during COVID as part of Viking’s Best Business Partner program. Over the past year, Viking retained me to continue evolving the initiative and to lead focused sessions with select partners. That ongoing collaboration reaffirmed how meaningful this work is to me.
Stepping away for a year gave me the opportunity to reflect, recharge and return with a fresh perspective. During that time, I realized how deeply passionate I still am about this industry.
Ultimately, it was the opportunity to return in a more strategic capacity — helping advisors grow stronger, more sustainable businesses — that truly drew me back.
Is your position the same as it was before or have your responsibilities shifted at all?
While my core focus remains rooted in supporting and strengthening travel advisor partnerships, the role has evolved. With the addition of our strategic account division, there has been a thoughtful redefinition of responsibilities. Our field team is now able to be even more advisor-centric, allowing for deeper engagement and more tailored support.
In my new role, I remain closely involved with the Executive Retreat program as well as supporting those newer to the industry who want to strengthen their luxury marketing skills and attract high-value clients. I see this as an opportunity to help advisors refine how they target, engage and grow their luxury client base — not just to increase sales, but to build stronger, more sustainable businesses.
What do you hope to achieve for the brand with this renaissance?
My goal is to further position Viking not only as a product leader, but also as a true strategic business partner. Through initiatives like the Executive Retreat program, we have a unique opportunity to equip advisors with the tools, insights and confidence to grow their luxury businesses in meaningful and sustainable ways. When advisors build stronger foundations, Viking naturally benefits through deeper loyalty and long-term growth.
You were officially the godmother of the 100th riverboat in the fleet — how did that feel?
It was an incredible honor to serve as the godmother of the Viking Honir. When we named the ship in Basel last fall, it was a deeply meaningful moment for me — truly one of the greatest days of my life. I am so grateful to [Viking chairman and CEO] Mr. Hagen and the executive team for this extraordinary honor, and I am proud to be part of such a special group within the Viking family.
And the latest excitement, of course, is the new expedition ship orders and other ocean fleet options. What can you tell us?
We continue to see strong demand from our core consumers and loyal guests who are eager to explore the world with Viking. In response, we are thoughtfully expanding our award-winning ocean and expedition fleet to provide even more destination-focused offerings across all seven continents.
As shared during our Q4 2025 earnings, we have advanced our long-term fleet development plans by entering into option agreements for two additional ocean ships, slated for 2034, and committing to two new expedition vessels scheduled for 2030 and 2031.
Adding to the fleet creates exciting opportunities for our travel advisor partners to help their clients explore the world with Viking. We look forward to continuing to work together in the years to come.
Is there anything else you would like to share with the advisor community now that you’re back?
It is a great honor to be back with Viking and to support our travel trade partners. My top goal is to show our partners how Viking can be their best business partner, helping them grow their business and achieve success.
