Ever since Queen Elizabeth II launched her namesake vessel in 1967, the celebrity godmother has been a fixture in the world of ocean cruising, where news of a new vessel and all the features it boasts is soon followed by an announcement of which Hollywood celebrity will have the honour of being the ship’s patron at her glittering, high-profile christening ceremony. Perhaps unsurprisingly, this tradition has been passed on into the world of river cruising and though you’ll certainly find some familiar faces inhabiting the guest of honour spot at river ship naming ceremonies, the criteria is often very different when it comes to choosing a godmother. Here’s a look at some of the river cruise lines and their respective godmothers.
Viking River Cruises
OK, so Joanna Lumley is a household name in the UK, but there was more to her selection as the godmother of Viking Odin in 2012 than celebrity appeal, because the line obviously recognised her cruise credentials following her two travel documentaries, Joanna Lumley’s Nile and The Land of the Northern Lights. Fast forward to this year, and the line’s world record-breaking, 10-vessel christening extravaganza, and you’ll find a real mixed bag of godmothers. Lady Fiona Carnarvon, the godmother of Viking Skadi, is the wife of the eighth Earl of Carnarvon and a published author and manages the affairs of Highclere Castle. Fittingly, Viking offers an Oxford and Highclere Castle land extension to honour her contribution. Zhang Ling is the godmother of Viking Embla and an educator at Cen He Elementary School in Jinzhou, Hubei Province – a school which the line sponsors and which features on its Yangtze River itineraries. Godmother of the Viking Var, Geraldine Norman is an expert in the history of St Petersburg’s Hermitage museum and created the line’s ‘Hermitage Behind Closed Doors’ excursion. Viking made a very worthy decision when they honoured the tireless work of Sabine Rhabek, a former nurse at the United Nations Mission Hospital in Iran, by making her the godmother of Viking Jarl.
Ama Waterways
The line certainly turned on the Hollywood glamour when it named actress Sharon Stone as the godmother to the AmaVida in March this year, at her christening in Portugal. However, Stone was chosen as much for her dedication to philanthropy and charity work as her glittering profile, as she donated $10,000 to the World Economic Forum and worked extensively for the American Foundation for AIDS Research. With a nod to the industry in general, the line announced the Cruise Line International Association’s President Christine Duffy as the knowledgeable godmother of its AmaCerto vessel in 2012.
Avalon Waterways
Illustrating the point that destinations are key when it comes to river cruising, Avalon Waterways earlier this year named bestselling author Patricia Shultz as godmother of its Avalon Expression ship. Certainly a lady who knows about travel, Shultz penned 1,000 Places to See before You Die, doubtlessly inspiring thousands of people to explore the world. The line also recently announced that it will appoint Australian actress and TV host Deborah Hutton as godmother to one of its forthcoming ships for 2014, the Avalon Illumination.
Uniworld
Demonstrating its regal bearing, the line unveiled its newest vessel, the Queen Isabel in Portugal recently. Named after one of the country’s most historically well-known queens, the ship was appointed a suitably glamorous godmother in the form of Hollywood and L’Oreal beauty queen Andie MacDowell.
By Simon Brotherton
Google
