The role of a cruise ship Godmother

Having been selected as a finalist to be The Godmother for the new P&O Cruise ship Britannia I thought it only right that I do a bit of research on what the role entails, to make sure I can live up to this task should I be presented with the honor.

Passenger cruise ships for as long as they have been built have always enlisted a female member of high society, a politician, a celebrity or actress and more favorably a member of the Royal Family including Her Majesty The Queen. The event is quite a glitzy and glamorous affair with the red carpet rolled out and TV crews at hand to capture all the action.

This has not always been the case however. The history of the blessing of a sailing vessel dates back to ancient times when men were typically summoned to participate in the ritual blessing of a ship, usually a priest or member of royalty or perhaps the Captain. Wine, water or whiskey were generally used to christen the ship, however, animal and even human sacrificial blood were supposedly used to appease the gods and protect the new ship and her crew.

Having evolved through the ages thank goodness this is not the case now and generally what is involved is the smashing of a champagne bottle across the bow of the ship. The godmother would then bestow good fortune on the ship and all who sail on her.

Although that may not be as easy as it sounds. Dame Judi Dench took 3 attempts to smash the bottle on the Carnival Legend in 2002. It is said to be bad luck if the bottle does not smash the first time.

Judi Dench is not the only big name to have been given the privilege of becoming a Godmother, others have included:

Audrey Hepburn in 1989, Star Princess

Margaret Thatcher in 1991, Regal Princess

Even a Fairy Godmother in 1999, Tinker bell, Disney Wonder

Her Majesty the Queen blessed the QM2 in 2004.

And most recently Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cambridge blessed the Royal Princess in 2013.

The one recent exception to this was U S Senator Daniel K Inuoye who blessed The Pride of Hawaii in 1999, but he was a sponsor not a Godfather.

So whilst the type of person who blesses a ship over recent times has changed, the role has remained the same and as important as ever, to bless the ship in the hope that she and all who sail upon her return safe and sound back to land.