Appointing a godmother to christen a new ship is one of maritime’s
longest standing traditions, but in recent years, cruise lines have
opted for a wide (and usually publicity-seeking) range of modern
twists.
Celebrity actors are among the most popular godmothers of the
latest vessels.
Joanna Lumley, famous for her role as the Bollinger-guzzling Patsy
on ‘Absolutely Fabulous’, seemed the perfect person to smash a
bottle of Champagne against one of Viking River Cruises’ new
longships.
This month, screen legend Sophia Loren named MSC Divina in
France.
Even local TV personalities have made the cut. Avalon Waterways,
an American river-cruising company, last year called upon the host of
Australia’s ‘Today’ show, Lisa Wilkinson, for the debut of Panorama.
Singers have also hit the right note, from Twiggy (Seabourn
Sojourn) to Mariah Carey (Disney Fantasy) and Dame Shirley Bassey
(P&O’s Adonia).
Country music artist Reba McEntire (Norwegian Epic) did things
differently when she pushed a digital Champagne bottle on the
movie screen in the ship’s theatre, triggering a video of it breaking
against the hull.
The craziest use of technology was employed by Royal Caribbean
for Allure of the Seas, which was launched by a 3-D animated
character: Princess Fiona, from the kids movie ‘Shrek’.
It was also the first company to use more than one godmother for a
ship, when seven women were recruited to represent the seven
sections of Oasis of the Seas. They included singer Gloria Estefan,
actor Jane Seymour and Olympic skater Michelle Kwan.
Costa Deliziosa had five godmothers from five different countries,
including an Australian travel agent, to reflect its five new
entertainment options.
The first New Zealander to receive the honour was Olympic
boardsailer Barbara Kendall MBE, who presided over proceedings for
the renaming of P&O’s Pacific Pearl in 2010.
However, you don’t have to be a star or a champion – some cruise
lines prefer to reward their most loyal customers.
Orion Expedition Cruises showed its gratitude to three past guests
(Jill Bennette, Laurel Norris and Shirley Turtle) to jointly name Orion
II last year.
And last month, June Spargo, who has taken 63 trips with Vantage
Deluxe World Travel, served as godmother of the River Discovery II.
Other cruise lines hand the duty to the management’s family
members, such as Silversea chairman Manfredi Lefebvre, whose
sister Silvia named Silver Spirit.
Uniworld Boutique River Cruises’ Antoinette Tollman was both
godmother and namesake of the S.S. Antoinette, and she also
worked as the project’s lead designer. ‘Toni’ is the oldest daughter of
Stanley and Beatrice Tollman, who own and run the company.
The ultimate godmother has to be Queen Elizabeth II, who
christened Cunard’s third ship to bear the name Queen Elizabeth.
Remarkably, the monarch was present, as a 12-year-old, at the
naming of the first Queen Elizabeth, named by her mother in 1938.
Another royal, Princess Máxima of the Netherlands, also named a
superliner: Holland America Line’s Nieuw Amsterdam.
As always with the cruise industry, the question is what, or who, next?
