Regal Princess Naming Ceremony
Updated May 2019
Back in November 2014 some of our Iglu Team were fortunate enough to be invited to Florida by Princess Cruises, for the highly-anticipated naming ceremony of Regal Princess. Read on to find out more about these elaborate events, and just what our guys thought of the ship.
Regal Princess' naming ceremony came just as Princess Cruises were celebrating their 50th birthday, so the event was sure to be one of the most glamorous of its kind yet.
Life Onboard Regal Princess
Upon arrival to the port, members of the cruise industry from all over were invited onboard the ship, only to be met by excited check in staff, and one of the most spectacular atriums. Here, coffee was served and the ship's crew were bustling about preparing for the main event, the naming ceremony. Neutral decor and gold trimmings set the scene of a luxury liner that cruising dreams are made of. With an atrium 60% bigger than any other Princess ship, it is the heart of the ship that captivates you from the first moment. She is grand and luxurious, yet elegant and welcoming.
After exploring the entirety of the ship, it's fair to say that Regal Princess has something for everyone onboard. From the opportunity to be a child again in the kids club, to enjoying relaxing me-time in the adults-only Sanctuary area, all kinds of cruisers will feel right at home.
Cuisine onboard went above expectations and the service exceptional. We were treated to the tender flavour of perfectly cooked roast pork in the evening, before being spoiled for choice at breakfast with an array of hot foods, flakey pastries, fruit, and freshly baked muffins.
The Naming Ceremony
With all onboard preparing for the naming ceremony, it certainly looked like it was going to be a spectacular affair. The guys from The Love Boat rehearsed their naming speech, as Princess Cruises breaks the mould again by awarding the prestigious 'Godmother' title to all of the cast! With fireworks at the ready and Champagne glasses stacked, every single person onboard from crew to guests were beaming with excitement.
As the sun set behind Regal Princess, the view of the Miami skyline made impressive shadows on the surrounding water. With warm temperatures and striking skies, it was the perfect evening for such an iconic celebration. All onboard embraced the occasion and made a special effort to dress in nautical coloured clothes. With only travel trade, VIP's and special guests onboard it was clear to see everyone had a strong passion for cruising, and especially for Princess Cruises. After a glass of champagne it was time to head to the top deck for the naming ceremony.
As everyone gathered around the outer decks in their blue and white attire, there was an apparent 'love for the sea' in the air. The evening kicked off with the introduction of Regal Princess' Godparents, then, after performances from the singers and dancers, a clip of T'he Love Boat' was shown on the gigantic screen that stands as the centre attraction on the upper deck.
Jan Swartz, President of Princess Cruises and Arnold Donald, Director of Carnival Corporation then spoke about their brand and what Regal Princess will bring to the company. They were both inspirational characters who are very passionate about their cruise line.
As Princess Cruises were celebrating their 50th anniversary, they did not smash one Champagne bottle as the tradition goes, instead they lined 50 bottles up along the side of the ship and smashed them all before the main large bottle was shattered over the pool deck. The naming of a ship is such an iconic moment and an experience that remains in the memory of everyone who attends. This celebration appeared to expose an infectious amount of passion.
After all the excitement we were treated to a six-course gala dinner, a toast with the ship’s crew, and a chance to meet other agents before we gathered on the top deck to see the fireworks. Every time the sky illuminated with the intense colours of the fireworks, it lit up the whole ship reminding everyone just how lucky we were to be a part of this memorable moment. The rest of the evening was filled with more merriment, with plenty of dancing, socialising and celebrating onboard this stunning new ship.
If you would like to see this majestic ship for yourself, browse through our range of Regal Princess cruises and start planning your next cruise adventure.