By
Rebecca Gibson |
British travel agent Emma Wilby is to christen Royal Caribbean International’s Anthem of the Seas on 20 April.
Wilby, who works at the Sunderland branch of Thomson, will officially name the ship in Southampton, UK, in front of more than 1,300 invited guests and dignitaries.
“We are delighted to welcome Emma Wilby into the Royal Caribbean family as Anthem of the Seas’ godmother,” said Richard Fain, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. “Emma is among many submissions from truly talented travel agents across the U.K. and the judging was very difficult. We thank all travel agents, who we value and are honouring by naming a fellow travel agent as the Godmother of our newest ship.”
Wilby, who is also part of the Military Wives Choir in Kinloss, Scotland, will perform a song at the launch. She will work with Craig Yates, team captain from British choir group Only Boys Aloud, to prepare for the performance.
“Emma’s inaugural song will herald in a ship that will be a new anthem for the cruise industry,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International. “I am very much looking forward to Emma’s performance and launching Anthem of the Seas with her. I know she will be simply spectacular.”
Wilby said: “I am hugely excited to be taking on the role of godmother for Anthem of the Seas. It will be incredible to sing in front of all these people and a real honour to give the ship the best send-off possible.”
Anthem of the Seas will sail her inaugural season from Southampton before repositioning to her permanent homeport of New York, US, in November.
She is the second of Royal Caribbean’s 167,800gt Quantum-class ships, which will debut new industry firsts, such as synchronised Roboscreens in the Two70 entertainment venue, robotic bartenders in Bionic Bar and Sea-Plex, the largest indoor sports and entertainment complex at sea with bumper cars, a full-size basketball court, a floating DJ booth, roller skating and more. In addition, the vessels will feature the RipCord by iFLY indoor skydiving experience, and the North Star glass observation pod, which is inspired by the London Eye and transports guests 300 ft above the ocean and over the side of the ship.
The 4,180-guest ships will also have Royal Caribbean’s largest and most advanced staterooms offering the industry’s first-ever Virtual Balcony staterooms, which offers expansive, real-time views of the ocean for those sailing in interior staterooms.