By
Alex Smith |
Infanta Elena of Spain, sister of King Felipe VI, will christen Sea Cloud Cruises’ new three-masted full-rigged ship Sea Cloud Spirit in the Port of Palma de Mallorca on 3 September.
A ceremony will be held at the port to mark the official naming of the ship and will include a champagne bottle being smashed against her hull in accordance with maritime tradition.
Champagne for the ceremony has been delivered to the port following a journey of 120 kilometers on foot by the legal representative of Sea Cloud Cruises, Javier Arias-Camisón, along a traditional pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, Spain. At each pilgrimage stop during the five-day journey, the two bottles received a stamp for devout walkers on a specially made label. One of these bottles will be shattered against the hull during the christening, while the other will be auctioned off for charity during the ship’s maiden voyage.
Built at the Metalships & Docks shipyard in Vigo, Spain, Sea Cloud Spirit is a modern reimagination of the design of Sea Cloud, the cruise line’s 90-year-old flagship. She will have capacity for 136 passengers and 85 crew onboard and will be sailed by hand.
The ship’s maiden voyage will depart on 14 September from Rome, Italy.