You might of thought that Epic would pick an international Celebrity, to generate international publicity - given the fact that ship will be in Europe in 2011.

Yes, EPIC is moving to Europe in a year, but so have scores of other "American" cruise ships, whose godmothers would be unknown to Europeans. But it works both ways: in recent years ships have been christened in the UK and in Europe by people who are not familiar to North Americans. For that matter, ships have even been christened here in the US by relatively unknown sponsors!

Some facts from Wikipedia:

Logged 25 studio albums, acquiring 24 #1 singles, and 28 albums (several pre-studio release as well) have been certified Gold, Platinum or Multi-Platinum in sales by the Recording Industry Association of America.

She had the first album recorded by a female in country music to be certified double-platinum (selling two million copies) by the RIAA. She also has starred in film and TV for the last 20+ years. She sometimes has been referred to as "The Queen of Country", having sold 41 million records in the United States and more than 56 million worldwide.

In the United States, she ranks as the seventh best-selling female artist in all genres and is the second best-selling female country artist of all time.

Reba holds the record for the most Academy of Country Music Top Female Vocalist Awards (seven), and American Music Awards for Favorite Female Country Artist (twelve), and ties with Martina McBride for most Country Music Association Female Vocalist of the Year Awards (four), though McEntire does have the distinction of winning the award 4 times consecutively.

Sidenote:

I was just suggesting that you might think the cruise lines would pick international celebrities as the cruise market becomes increasingly international.

But countless other ships over the past few years have been named by unknown people chosen for philanthropic reasons, or contest winners, etc. Quick, without going to Google or Yahoo, can anyone name 5 godmothers of ANY of the dozens of ships christened over the past 10 years? Neither can I.

The Olsen twins, Mary-Kate and Ashley, christened Holland America's Zaandam in 2000

Louise Calder -Freedom of the Seas - provided foster care for over 400 children with special needs.

Dr. Sally Ride, the first female to have orbited the globe, christened Carnival Glory

United States Senator Daniel K. Inouye christened NCL's Pride of Hawaii

Melanie Trump (Donalds wife) did the Norwegian Jewel

Cindy Cardella, NCL's new ''It'' Girl christened Norwegian Gem

Norwegian Pearl - 27 october 2006 Godmother Rosie O'Donnell

Mylene Klass, ex Hear Say member and television presenter christened Carnival Splendor

Sex in the City star Kim Cattrall christened Norwegian Dawn

Tennis great Chris Everet christened the Volendam

Myleene Klass, classical musician, singer and presenter did the Carnival Spendor

Voyager of the Seas - Katarina Witt, Olympic Gold Medal winning German figure skater.

Navigator of the Seas - Steffi Graf, former World No. 1 female tennis player from Germany.

Mariner of the Seas - Jean Driscoll, American wheelchair racer. She won the women's wheelchair division of the Boston Marathon eight times

Explorer of the Seas - Jackie Joyner-Kersee, ranked among the all-time greatest athletes in the women's heptathlon

Adventure of the Seas - Godparents:
Tara Stackpole - FDNY
Kevin Hannafin - FDNY
Margaret McDonnell-NYPD
Sgt. Richard Lucas - NYPD

Liberty of the Seas - Donnalea Madeley, an Ontario-based travel agent whose business contributed significantly to the success of RCI and of the cruise industry in general. She was the first travel agent to be selected as godmother.,

Elizabeth Hill from Chesterfield in Derbyshire was godmother of Independence of the Seas. Selected for her work with children and young people. Hill set up a charity, the Gamelea Countryside Training Trust, based on a farm which helps young people with physical or learning disabilities and those who have failed in school and are in danger of social exclusion. This was the first time a cruise line has bestowed the honor of godmother on a public British citizen.

Brilliance of the Seas - Marilyn Ofer, member of Royal Caribbean's Board of Directors, serves on the executive committee of the British Friends of the Art Museums of Israel as well as the Holocaust Educational Trust. She was a founding member of the New York chapter of WIZO, Women's International Zionist Organization, which supports health and education initiatives in Israel.

Radiance of the Seas - Margot Pritzker, member of the Asian Art Committee at the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Women's Board of Trustees at Northwestern University, as well as Chairman Emeritus of the Board of Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School.

Jewel of the Seas - Kathy Mellor, National Teacher of the Year for 2004

Serenade of the Seas - Whoopi Goldberg

Celebrity Solstice - Marine biologist Professor Sharon Smith

P.S.

Sorry Rich, I cheated and used the internet, but thought it was an interesting list.

[ 05-19-2010: Message edited by: dmwnc1 ]

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Originally posted by dmwnc1:

Sorry Rich, I cheated and used the internet, but thought it was an interesting list.
[ 05-19-2010: Message edited by: dmwnc1 ]

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That's OK, it was just a rhetorical question, but your fascinating list just illustrated my point, that godmothers are chosen for a reason, but are usually not memorable after the event.

Good choice by NCL

quote:

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Originally posted by dmwnc1:
Some more odd, unknown, or interesting choices for Godmothers of cruise ships:

The Olsen twins, Mary-Kate and Ashley, christened Holland America's Zaandam in 2000

P.S.

Sorry Rich, I cheated and used the internet, but thought it was an interesting list.

[ 05-19-2010: Message edited by: dmwnc1 ]

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On the first thought it was an odd choice, but it was not. back then HAL introduced a new teen program and through the website of the twins promoting family cruises on board the Zaandam which was chosen to become the family ship within the fleet. With there huge fan base it was actually a smart deal.

Greetings Ben.

[ 05-19-2010: Message edited by: Maasdam ]

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Originally posted by Linerrich:
That's OK, it was just a rhetorical question, but your fascinating list just illustrated my point, that godmothers are chosen for a reason, but are usually not memorable after the event.

Rich

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Sort of like the SEVEN Godmothers chosen for the Oasis of the Seas? I had to look those up too but only remember Gloria Estefan:

Gloria Estefan, Michelle Kwan, Dara Torres, Keshia Knight Pulliam, Shawn Johnson, Jane Seymour and Daisy Fuentes.

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Originally posted by Maasdam:
I know here she have here own sitcom Reba that was showed on Dutch TV channels. Very funny show I must say. She's quite talented.

Good choice by NCL

Greetings Ben.

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