THEY have traditionally been celebrities who lend the glamour of their name.
But the godmother of the latest cruise ship to come to Southampton has been chosen for her voice rather than her fame.
Travel agent Emma Wilby, 27, will be godmother for the world’s newest and most advanced cruise ship Anthem of the Seas to be based in Southampton this summer.
Emma, a member of the Military Wives Choir in Kinloss, Scotland, where she is based with her husband, a Royal Engineer in the British Army, will officially christen Anthem of the Seas and perform a special song for more than 1,300 invited special guests and dignitaries at the ship’s inaugural ceremony in Southampton on April 20.
To help her prepare for inaugural day, Craig Yates, team captain from British choir group Only Boys Aloud will be Ms Wilby’s vocal coach, and ship owner Royal Caribbean is treating her to a full makeover.
The godmother role is a lifetime title bestowed upon an individual, who figuratively presides over the ship and imparts good luck and divine protection over the vessel and all that sail aboard.
Emma Wilby
Traditionally, godmothers have celebrity status or even royal connections, such as Royal Caribbean Godmothers Gloria Estefan, Jane Seymour, Whoopi Goldberg and Steffi Graf.
Richard D Fain, chairman and chief executive officer of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd, said: “We are delighted to welcome Emma Wilby into the Royal Caribbean family as Anthem of the Seas’ godmother.
“Emma is among many submissions from truly talented travel agents across the UK 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.”
Michael Bayley, president and chief executive officer of Royal Caribbean International, added: “Emma’s inaugural song will herald in a ship that will be a new anthem for the cruise industry. 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.”
Originally from Sunderland, Emma is a travel agent for Thomson in Elgin, Scotland.
She said: “I still can’t believe I won. I am really honoured to have been chosen. 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.”
Designed to revolutionise the industry, Anthem of the Seas will sail its inaugural season from South-ampton before the ship repositions to New York in November.
The ship features innovations in onboard attractions including the North Star aerial observatory, a glass capsule that takes guests more than 300 feet above the ocean for incomparable panoramic views, and the RipCord by iFLY skydiving and FlowRider surfing simulators.
Guests can also enjoy SeaPlex, where they can challenge each other at bumper cars, disco roller skating, circus school, and basketball and other sports.
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