Usually when you launch a ship one person, or a small group, is deemed to be worthy to act as the Godmother of the ship.
Their role is to be on hand when the ship is launched—usually pull a handle that launches the champagne bottle—meet and mingle with the brass and the lines top customers and unveil the plague onboard that says you are the Godmother.
I assume the line would want to save some money and free travel might be the perk used to get the famous people there.
Italy’s finest export—in my books—Sophia Loren is not only the Godmother to a ship she is the official Godmother to all of MSC Cruises new ships.
Camilla Parker Bowles, the wife of Prince Charles, was on hand to christen Queen Victoria. On one of its early cruises, after launch, the ship was hit with a Norovirus and some suggested it was the curse of Camilla as many Brits and others had suggested the Queen should have been the one to perform the task.
You get the idea.
The Seabourn Odyssey is launching next June and the Seabourn brass have come up with a unique concept;
All 450 passengers onboard the inaugural cruise will be named as the Godmothers of the ship.
Hold it–with men on board—I assume it has to be—Godparents although that would seem to go against the code of the sea—you don’t want to mess with cruise ship Karma.
I’m sure the passengers will consider themselves ultra-lucky as their names will be inscribed on a plaque for all to see. Quite an honour and a welcome bonus worth the few thousand dollars they have probably spent.
Wonder if they will be eligible for the occasional free cruise that most Godmothers receive?
