Ship sponsor

A ship sponsor, by tradition, is a female civilian who is invited to "sponsor" a vessel, presumably to bestow good luck and divine protection over the seagoing vessel and all that sail aboard.^[1] In the United States Navy and the United States Coast Guard the sponsor is technically considered a permanent member of the ship's crew and is expected to give a part of her personality to the ship, as well as advocate for its continued service and well-being. For passenger ships the sponsor is called a Godmother.

Passenger Ship Godmothers

This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

Carnival Cruise Lines:

• Carnival Conquest- Corrine Lindy clairborne
• Carnival Destiny- Lin Arison
• Carnival Dream- Marcia Gay Harden
• Carnival Ecstasy- Kathy Lee Gifford
• Carnival Elation- Shari Arison
• Carnival Fantasy- Tellervo Koivisto
• Carnival Fascination- Jeanne Farcus
• Carnival Freedom- Kathy Ireland
• Carnival Glory- Dr. Sally Ride,
• Carnival Imagination- Jodi dickinson
• Carnival Inspiration- Mary Ann Shula
• Carnival Legend- Dame Judi Dench
• Carnival Liberty- Mira Sorvino
• Carnival Magic- Lindsay Wilkerson
• Carnival Miracle- Jessica Lynch
• Carnival Paradise- Paula Zahn
• Carnival Pride- Dr. Tamara Jernigan
• Carnival Splendor- Myleene Klass
• Carnival Spirit- Elizabeth Dole
• Carnival Triumph- Madeleine Arison
• Carnival Valor- Katie Couric
• Carnival Victory- Mary Frank

Disney Cruise Line:

• Disney Magic- Patricia Disney
• Disney Wonder- Tinkerbell
• Disney Dream- Jennifer Hudson
• Disney Fantasy- Mariah Carey

Holland America Line

• MS Nieuw Amsterdam- Princess Máxima of the Netherlands
• MS Volendam- Chris Evert
• MS Zaandam- Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen

Norwegian Cruise Line

• Norwegian Breakaway- The Rockettes
• Norwegian Dawn- Kim Cattrall
• Norwegian Epic- Reba McEntire^[2]
• Norwegian Escape- Pitbull (rapper)^[3]
• Norwegian Gem- Cindy Cardella^[4]
• Norwegian Getaway- Miami Dolphins Cheerleaders^[5]
• Norwegian Jewel- Melania Trump
• Norwegian Pearl- Rosie O'Donnell
• Norwegian Star- Brooke Burke
• Norwegian Sun- Angela Baraquio
• Pride of America- Elaine L. Chao.

Princess Cruises

• Crown Princess- Martha Stewart
• Coral Princess- Mireya Moscoso
• Diamond Princess- Yoshiko Tsukuda
• Emerald Princess- Florence Henderson, Susan Olsen, Marion Ross and Erin Moran

Royal Caribbean International:

• MS Adventure of the Seas- Tara Stackpole (FDNY), Kevin Hannafin (FDNY),Margaret McDonnell (NYPD), Sgt. Richard Lucas (NYPD)^[6]
• MS Allure of the Seas- Princess Fiona^[7]
• MS Anthem of the Seas- Emma Wilby ^[8]
• MS Brilliance of the Seas- Marilyn Ofer^[9]
• MS Enchantment of the Seas- Colleen Fain, wife of Richard Fain^[10]
• MS Explorer of the Seas- Jackie Joyner-Kersee^[11]
• MS Freedom of the Seas- Katherine Louise Calder^[12]
• MS Grandeur of the Seas- Aviva Ofer, wife of Sammy Ofer and mother of Eyal Ofer, a member of Royal Caribbean's Board of Directors^[13]
• MS Independence of the Seas- Elizabeth Hill^[14]
• MS Jewel of the Seas- Kathy Mellor, 2004 National Teacher of the Year^[15]
• MS Legend of the Seas- Cindy Pritzker, wife of Jay Pritzker^[16]
• MS Liberty of the Seas- Donnalea Madeley^[17]
• MS Majesty of the Seas- Her Majesty Queen Sonja of Norway^[18]
• MS Mariner of the Seas- Jean Driscoll^[19]
• MS Navigator of the Seas- Stefanie Graf^[20]
• MS Oasis of the Seas- Gloria Estefan, Michelle Kwan, Jane Seymour, Dara Torres, Keshia Knight Pulliam, Shawn Johnson, Daisy Fuentes^[21]
• MS Ovation of the Seas- Fan Bingbing^[22]
• MS Quantum of the Seas- Kristin Chenoweth^[23]
• MS Radiance of the Seas- Margot L. Pritzker, wife of Royal Caribbean board member Thomas J. Pritzker^[24]
• MS Rhapsody of the Seas- Bodil Wilhelmsen, wife of Royal Caribbean principal shareholder Gjert Wilhelmsen^[25]
• MS Serenade of the Seas- Whoopi Goldberg^[26]
• MS Splendour of the Seas- Lise Wilhelmsen, wife of Board member Arne Wilhelmsen^[27]
• MS Vision of the Seas- Helen Morin Stephan, wife of Royal Caribbean's founder and Vice Chairman, Edwin Stephan^[28]
• MS Voyager of the Seas- Katarina Witt^[29]

Future Cruise Ships Royal Princess- Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge

See also

• Ceremonial ship launching (Christening)

References

1. Eyers, Jonathan (2011). Don't Shoot the Albatross!: Nautical Myths and Superstitions. A&C Black, London, UK. ISBN 978-1-4081-3131-2.
2. "Legendary Entertainer Reba McEntire To Christen Norwegian Epic".
3. "Norwegian Cruise Line Announces Pitbull as Norwegian Escape's Godfather".
4. "Norwegian Cruise Line Christens New "It" Girl - Norwegian Gem".
5. "Norwegian Getaway Arrives to her Year-Round Homeport of Miami".
6. "Adventure of the Seas Fact Sheet - Royal Caribbean Press Center". royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com.
7. "ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL'S ALLURE OF THE SEAS INAUGURATED WITH A NAMING CEREMONY MARITIME FIRST AND SURPRISE GODMOTHER". royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com.
8. "ANTHEM OF THE SEAS' GODMOTHER IS 27-YEAR-OLD BRITISH TRAVEL AGENT EMMA WILBY". royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com.
9. "Brilliance of the Seas Fact Sheet - Royal Caribbean Press Center". royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com.
10. "Enchantment of the Seas Fact Sheet - Royal Caribbean Press Center". royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com.
11. "Explorer of the Seas Fact Sheet - Royal Caribbean Press Center". royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com.
12. "Freedom of the Seas Fact Sheet - Royal Caribbean Press Center". royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com.
13. "Grandeur of the Seas Fact Sheet - Royal Caribbean Press Center". royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com.
14. "Independence of the Seas Fact Sheet - Royal Caribbean Press Center". royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com.
15. "Jewel of the Seas Fact Sheet - Royal Caribbean Press Center". royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com.
16. "Legend of the Seas Fact Sheet - Royal Caribbean Press Center". royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com.
17. "Liberty of the Seas Fact Sheet - Royal Caribbean Press Center". royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com.
18. "Majesty of the Seas Fact Sheet - Royal Caribbean Press Center". royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com.
19. "Mariner of the Seas Fact Sheet - Royal Caribbean Press Center". royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com.
20. "Navigator of the Seas Fact Sheet - Royal Caribbean Press Center". royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com.
21. "ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL APPOINTS SEVEN GODMOTHERS FOR OASIS OF THE SEAS". royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com.
22. "Royal Caribbean International Announces Godmother for Ovation of the Seas". royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com.
23. "ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL CASTS KRISTIN CHENOWETH IN NEW STARRING ROLE FOR QUANTUM OF THE SEAS". royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com.
24. "Radiance of the Seas Fact Sheet - Royal Caribbean Press Center". royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com.
25. "Rhapsody of the Seas Fact Sheet - Royal Caribbean Press Center". royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com.
26. "Serenade of the Seas Fact Sheet - Royal Caribbean Press Center". royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com.
27. "Splendour of the Seas Fact Sheet - Royal Caribbean Press Center". royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com.
28. "Vision of the Seas Fact Sheet - Royal Caribbean Press Center". royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com.
29. "Voyager of the Seas Fact Sheet - Royal Caribbean Press Center". royalcaribbeanpresscenter.com.

2. Carnival Cruise Lines News." Carnival Cruise Lines News Ship Fact Sheets Category. N.p., 2012. Web. 26 Apr. 2013. 3. "Royal Princess (2013)." Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 21 Apr. 2013. Web. 29 Apr. 2013. 4. "Godmothers of Princess Ships." Www.princess.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2013. 5. Princess Cruises Ship Christeners : Princess Cruises." Www.princess.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2013.