Current maritime custom dictates that to ensure the safety of crew and passengers, a new ship must have a godmother.
And not just any woman will do.
A godmother — whose role is to christen the vessel by breaking a bottle of Champagne against the hull — must be an honourable woman of considerable distinction. Her name will be forever linked to the vessel.
Celebrity godmothers have included Sophia Loren, Whoopi Goldberg, Kim Cattrall and Martha Stewart, as well as royalty like Princess Diana and Camilla, Duchess of Windsor.
While most cruise lines go the traditional route, some have broken with tradition and named multiple godmothers, fictional godmothers such as Tinkerbell, even — shiver me timbers— godfathers!
The most famous godmother of all time must be Queen Elizabeth II, who christened the Queen Mary II in 2004.
So it was with a sense of pride and anticipation that a small knot of Canadian journalists gathered with international press on the quayside of a small Dutch fishing village to witness Canada’s own Measha Brueggergosman christen Avalon Waterways’ Felicity.
Brueggergosman — who most Canadians will remember for her blockbuster performance at the Vancouver Olympics — may not possess a royal pedigree, but the 32-year-old soprano looked every bit as regal— and quite a bit more hip — than the Queen.
After blessing the ship in four languages, Brueggergosman cut the rope tethered to a bottle of Champagne, which smashed against the ship’s hull with a satisfying “thwack.”
The Felicity crew cheered from the ship’s Sky Deck, Champagne flowed — into crystal glasses this time — and the ship sailed on.
The decision to choose a Canadian godmother stemmed from the strong interest Canadian travellers have shown in Avalon Waterways, says Stephanie Bishop, managing director of the Globus family of brands in Canada, which includes Avalon.
“We’re seeing more and more Canadians booking these cruises,” Bishop says. “Our (Canadian) bookings are up 35% year over year. They tell us they love the small ship ambience and the fact that you sail through some of the most beautiful and romantic scenery in Europe.”
For her part, the delightfully down to earth Brueggergosman stayed aboard Felicity for the entire seven-night cruise, looking every inch a diva but acting like the unspoiled East Coast girl she is.
And like any responsible godmother, the performer says she would like to watch over Felicity, and revisit her vessel “from time to time” to monitor its progress as it traverses the legendary waterways of Europe.
robin.robinson@sunmedia.ca
Taking the plunge at seaSaab is back in Canada!
