Actress to be the first Chinese celebrity to be the godmother of a ship from an international cruise line
By
Rebecca Gibson |
Actress Fan Bingbing is to become the first Chinese celebrity to be the godmother of a cruise ship from an international cruise line.
Bingbing will name Royal Caribbean International’s third Quantum-class ship, Ovation of the Seas, at a ceremony in Tianjin, China on 24 June 2016.
“Bingbing is number one on the Forbes China ‘Celebrity 100’ list and has held that top position for three years, making her one of the most influential Chinese stars and in the world,” said Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean. “She has received awards from many international film festivals and is recognised as a fashion icon for her extraordinary style on the red carpet, at movie premieres and iconic fashion events. She is innovative, smart, ambitious, trendy and elegant, and that makes Bingbing the perfect person to be selected as the Godmother of our newest ship.”
Speaking at a press conference led by Zinan Liu, president of Royal Caribbean – China and North Asia Pacific, Bingbing said: “My father was a singer in the art troupe of the Political Department of the Navy in China so my childhood was filled with the melodies of the sea and I often dreamed about sailing out to sea for an adventure. Now, thanks to this invitation from Royal Caribbean, my dreams will come true. I am really honoured to be the first godmother of Chinese nationality for such a prestigious international cruise line as Royal Caribbean International. And I like the name of Ovation of the Seas, which in Chinese is interpreted as ‘praising the world and welcoming guests from everywhere’.”
Ovation of the Seas, which was officially delivered by shipyard Meyer Werft at its Papenburg, Germany yard on 8 April, hosted a variety of UK visitors in Southampton, UK on 11-12 April. The ship then departed on a 52-day Global Odyssey cruise to Hong Kong where she will sail a one-month season before heading to her new homeport in Tianjin, China this June. She will then reposition to Australia in December 2016.
Ovation of the Seas, together with her sister ship Quantum of the Seas, Mariner of the Seas, Voyager of the Seas and Legend of the Seas, will make up the largest fleet of any cruise line sailing in China.