Ralph de Klijn is the Executive Director of Ocean Operations at Viking and brings 20-plus-years of experience in the luxury cruise industry. Originally from Brabant in the southern region of the Netherlands, Ralph completed a bachelor’s degree in hotel management before moving to London to work in the hotel industry. Inspired by the opportunity to combine his love of travel and culture, he then applied his passion for hospitality to the rivers and seas. Ralph broadened his operational knowledge while working for various cruise lines, including Uniworld as food and beverage manager, Silversea as hotel director, Seabourn as hotel manager, and Regent as general manager. In 2015, he joined Viking as the Director of Hotel Operations, and it was not long before he was promoted to Executive Director of Ocean Operations. Ralph and his family currently live in Basel, Switzerland.