Princess Cruises' forthcoming ship, Royal Princess, was the second ship to float out of dock this week, following on the from the Celebrity Reflection float out, which departed dry-dock two weeks ago.
The cruise line marked the occasion with a ceremony attended by Princess President and CEO Alan Buckelew, Royal Princess Captain Tony Draper, long-time Princess master Captain Nick Nash and his daughter, Victoria, who served as Royal Princess' godmother.
Buckelew said: "The original Royal Princess left our fleet some time ago, but we wanted to bring the spirit of that much-loved ship, also a prototype design, to the new Royal Princess. And who better to do that than Victoria, who has grown up into a beautiful young lady who will now have a special connection with both vessels"
As is tradition, the ship’s bell was used as her christening bowl during that ceremony in 1996, and Victoria’s name was subsequently engraved inside the bell to commemorate the occasion. Thanks to the Nash family, this same bell will be aboard the new Royal Princess.
Buckelew went on to further add: "Captain Nash was presented with the ship’s bell from our original Royal Princess following its decommissioning, and we are delighted that he has very generously offered this bell to be placed aboard our new Royal Princess, in honour of his daughter. Thank you Nick, for this wonderful gift."
Celebrity Cruises also participated in a float out, with the Celebrity Reflection, last week. Though they posted the event online, they didn't match the two day ceremony that the Royal Princess was afforded. As the cruise lines official new flagship — Royal Princess has been the tradition flagship's name for the fleet for year — and with the ship being a whole new class, you can see why they would make such a song and dance around the occasion.
Royal Princess will join the fleet in June 2013, carrying 3,600 passengers and boasting an incredible arrange of new innovations around the new atrium concept onboard.
Written by Charlie Hamilton-Beaufort
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