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- Royal Princess “Float Out” Celebrated -
Victoria Nash Honored As Royal Princess Mardina
In celebration of the float out, Princess President and CEO Alan Buckelew and Captain Tony Draper attended the event, as did long-time Princess master Captain Nick Nash and his daughter, Victoria, who served as the ship’s “madrina”, or “godmother”.
Following the Italian shipyard’s tradition, the float out of a ship is celebrated when the madrina cuts the cord that begins the flow of water into the ship’s dock. Victoria Nash was chosen to serve as madrina because she has a special connection to the first Royal Princess. As a baby, she was christened aboard the ship.
“The original Royal Princess left our fleet some time ago, but we wanted to bring the spirit of that much loved ship, a prototype design, to the new Royal Princess,” said Buckelew during the ceremony. “And who better to do that than Victoria, who has grown into a beautiful young lady, and will now have a special connection with both vessels.”
As is tradition, the ship’s bell was used as her christening bowl during that ceremony in 1996, and Victoria’s name was subsequently engraved inside the bell to commemorate the occasion. Thanks to the Nash family, this same bell will be aboard the new Royal Princess.
“Captain Nash was presented with the ship’s bell from our original Royal Princess following its decommissioning, and we are delighted that he has very generously offered this bell to be placed aboard our new vessel in honor of his daughter,” said Buckelew. “Thank you Nick, for this wonderful gift.”
The two day float out process involves slowly letting water into the building dock to set the vessel afloat. The ship is then moved to the outfitting dock where final construction and interior outfitting will take place. The ship debuts in June 2013
About Princess Cruises’ Royal Princess
The 3,600-passenger Royal Princess is a new-generation ship currently under construction for Princess Cruises. Among the special features found on board will be the greatly expanded atrium, a social hub of the ship, the dramatic over water SeaWalk, a glass bottomed walkway extending more than 28 feet beyond the edge of the vessel, plush private poolside cabanas that appear to be floating on the water, the new Princess Live! television studio, a pastry shop, the special Chef’s Table Lumiere, a private dining experience that surrounds diners in a curtain of light, and balconies on all outside staterooms. The ship’s 2013 maiden season will include cruises on the line’s signature Grand Mediterranean itinerary throughout the summer, followed by Eastern Caribbean cruises beginning in the fall.
Happy Cruising. Andrew Kruglanski, Cruisin Susan Cruise Blog.
Take a cruise on the Royal Princess. For travel advice, call Cruisin Susan Kruglanski, Expedia CruiseShipCenters, 1-866-794-2857.
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Photos courtesy of Princess Cruises.
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