Breaking a bottle of Champagne against the hull, getting blessings from a godmother (or godfather) and making a gala sail-away. It seems there’s a new ship getting christened every few days lately. Here’s a look at some splashy namings in the news:
Emerald Cruises christens second luxury yacht
Emerald Sakara was officially named in a gala ceremony in San Juan. Emerald Cruises’ newest, warm- water luxury yacht was christened by its godmother, Kelly Craighead, president and CEO of Cruise Lines International Association.
“The stunning luxury of Emerald Sakara, complemented by Emerald Cruises’ commitment to environmentally responsible tourism, exemplifies CLIA’s advocacy for sustainable tourism and preservation of cruise destinations around the world for future generations,” Craighead said at a gala ceremony attended by Scenic Group founder and Chairman Glen Moroney and Scenic Group Managing Director for the U.S. Ken Muskat.
The sister yacht to the Emerald Azzurra carries 100 guests in 50 deluxe staterooms and suites ranging from 185 to 1,185 square feet—with 44 featuring large walk-out balconies. The open-air infinity pool is surrounded by lounge chairs and day beds ideal for relaxing and enjoying a cocktail from the nearby Aqua Café. A wellness deck with spa, infrared sauna and gym allows guests to keep focused on their health goals, while a marina platform boasts water toys including kayaks, standup paddleboards, snorkel equipment, SEABOBs and a giant trampoline.
With 76 crew members, the 100 guests can count on receiving attentive, personalized service, Emerald Cruises promises. Emerald Sakara also employs some of the industry’s latest technology. Engines meet IMO tier III emission regulations, including the removal of NOx and SOx from exhaust gases; recycled energy is used to heat water for the yacht’s needs; and advanced sewage treatment complies with the latest regulations. The company has earned a Green Passport from the Euroopean Union for its recycling efforts.
Celebrity Ascent features a Magic Carpet–Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Ascent extends a growing legacy
A Nebuchadnezzar–a bottle holding 20 times the contents of a single bottle of Champagne– launched Celebrity Ascent at its naming ceremony on Dec. 1 at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale.
Headlining the festivities were co-godmothers Captain Sandy Yawn, star of Bravo TV’s hit franchise Below Deck and her sister Michelle Dunham, founder of the Jacksonville School for Autism, who officially named the ship in true maritime tradition. They were joined by Greek brothers Captain Dimitrios Kafetzis and Captain Tasos Kafetzis, who will take the helm of the new vessel after being named co-captains of Celebrity Ascent–a first for the brand and the cruise industry.
Celebrity Ascent is the fourth in Celebrity’s Edge-class and is a sister ship to Celebrity Beyond. Distinctive ship features and new experiences include an expanded Rooftop Garden and stunning Resort Deck featuring unique cantilevered float pools; a multi-level, multi-terraced Sunset Bar at the ship’s aft. An expanded onboard entertainment program features a transformative nightlife experience on the Resort Deck, six new live productions, interactive gaming experiences, and live music from bow to stern.
“With each new ship, our ambition is to debut the ultimate vacation experience and Celebrity Ascent achieves this by raising the bar for premium travel,” said Jason Liberty, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean Group, parent of Celebrity. “Her elevated design and new onboard experiences set her apart from competitors and serve as a new benchmark for the travel industry.” Kicking off its inaugural Caribbean season, Celebrity Ascent set sail from Port Everglades on a seven-night Eastern Caribbean cruise stopping at St. Maarten, St. Thomas and the Dominican Republic.
Grand sendoff for Seven Seas Grandeur
Regent Seven Seas Cruises named its newest ship, the Seven Seas Grandeur in a christening ceremony in Miami. Sarah Fabergé the grand daughter of the founder of the Fabergé company named the vessel as the ship’s godmother.
Regent also veiled the first Fabergé egg to permanently reside at sea — Journey in Jewels. The jewel encrusted piece on display in Grandeur’s atrium is a focal point of a 1,600-piece art collection on the ship, including works by Pablo Picasso.
The 746-passenger Grandeur is Regent Seven Seas Cruises’ sixth ship and a sister to the Seven Seas Splendor and Seven Seas Explorer. With a crew of 548, the ship has among the highest staff-to-guest ratios in the industry, Regent claims.
“Seven Seas Grandeur is the most anticipated new luxury ship to set sail this year, an achievement made possible through the combined craftmanship and exquisite eye for design excellence by Studio DADO and Fincantieri, who together with our team at Regent, have delivered a truly remarkable work of art,” said Harry Sommer, president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings.
Norwegian Viva is officially in service after christening–Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Viva gets an upbeat start
More than 1,500 guests joined the christening ceremony held in NCL’s dedicated terminal at PortMiami for the second of Norwegian’s Prima Class. Luis Fonsi, Norwegian Viva’s godfather and Grammy Award-nominated singer, songwriter and producer, officially named and christened the vessel with the ceremonial champagne bottle break across the ship’s hull. A native of Puerto Rico, Fonsi is based in Miami. The celebration continued through the evening of Nov. 28 with a next-level entertainment lineup headlined by Fonsi, who performed his award-winning and global chart-topping hit Despacito, among his other Latin hits like No Me Doy Por Vencido and Échame La Culpa.
“As a company, it has been a milestone year with the debut of next-generation ships across all three of our best-in-class cruise brands, Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises, and Regent Seven Seas Cruises,” said Harry Sommer, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. “The addition of Norwegian Viva further elevates our world-class fleet, providing our valued guests with another incredible way to vacation, discover new experiences and create unforgettable memories.”
“Since she launched in August, Norwegian Viva’s initial guest satisfaction scores have outshined any newbuild in the history of the NCL fleet, a testament to not only how stunning this ship is, but also the exceptional level of service and attention provided by our amazing crew on board,” he added.
Compiled by Wallace Immen, The Cruisington Times
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