There is a longstanding connection between the world of cruises and pop culture. Music-themed itineraries and TV shows about cruises are just the tip of the iceberg. But Norwegian announced a bit of news that shows that there is even more crossover between media and the cruise industry than we ever thought. The famous pop star Katy Perry has been named the godmother of the Norwegian Prima!
And what does this mean, exactly? Well, being the godmother of a ship is actually a pretty prestigious role. Katy will be fulfilling a tradition that has existed for a long time in the maritime universe. The ship’s godmother acts as a sponsor and representative of the ship and will introduce it to the world. According to CruiseCritic, a ship’s godmother will “attend their ship’s ceremonial ship launch and naming ceremony, where they bless and officially name the ship.” While it is a largely symbolic position, a ship godmother is still important to the entire experience.
It might be a bit of a surprise to hear of Ms. Perry being given the position, but if you ask her, it makes complete sense. She spoke about being a longtime fan of cruises, saying, “My most favorite way to vacation with my family is on the water. Every morning that you wake up, you get to experience an incredible new view.” Her partnership with Norwegian seems to be a great fit given this context. “I think it’s the best way to see the world,” she said.
So when will the world be able to see Katy take on her godmother duties? It all begins this summer. On August 27th, 2022, Norwegian will hold a major ceremony for Prima in Reykjavik, Iceland. Katy will be there to christen the ship. But it gets more exciting than that: it has been reported that she will also be making a musical performance for guests of the event. And to top things off, it will be the first time a ship of this scale has ever been christened in Reykjavik.
Once this happens, Norwegian Prima will begin its inaugural sailings around Europe in late summer and early fall 2022. Once the winter comes, it will head down to the Caribbean to catch the warmer weather. You can check out more itineraries here.
Katy’s partnership with Norwegian reflects the company’s excitement about their new ship, which will be the first of a new class of vessel. Norwegian’s CEO summed it up nicely. He said, “We are so incredibly proud that she will be part of the Norwegian Cruise Line family and look forward to launching our beautiful, innovative ship with her in August.”
