Tag: Godmother

Holland America Line Names Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet of the Netherlands Godmother of Rotterdam

October 25, 2021 quality_baz Ocean Cruises Comments Off on Holland America Line Names Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet of the Netherlands Godmother of Rotterdam

Holland America Line Names Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet of the Netherlands Godmother of Rotterdam

Holland America Line has announced that when Rotterdam is named next spring, Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet of the Netherlands will be the ship’s godmother, carrying on a tradition that began in the 1920s.

Holland America Line’s connection to The House of Orange goes back nearly a century to Prince Hendrik launching Statendam III in 1929. Since then, members of the Dutch Royal Family have launched 11 more Holland America Line vessels throughout the years, including Her Royal Highness Princess Margriet who named Prinsendam (1972), Nieuw Amsterdam II (1983), Rotterdam VI (1997) and Oosterdam (2003).

Additional members of the Dutch Royal Family who are godmothers include Queen Máxima, who named Koningsdam in 2016 and Nieuw Amsterdam in 2010. Then-Queen Beatrix served as Eurodam’s godmother in 2008. Rotterdam V was launched in 1958 by Queen Juliana. Then-Princess Beatrix named Statendam IV in 1957 and Prinses Margriet in 1960. Nieuw Amsterdam II was launched by Queen Wilhelmina in 1937

Rotterdam marks the 13th ship for the cruise line to be named by a Dutch Royal

Saga announce Godmother of Spirit of Adventure

June 23, 2021 baz Ocean Cruises Comments Off on Saga announce Godmother of Spirit of Adventure

Former Head of the Royal Navy Medical Service to name Saga’s newest ship, ‘Spirit of Adventure’.

In a mark of respect to the medical profession that has worked so hard over the last 18 months dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic, Commodore Inga J. Kennedy CBE QHNS QARNNS, senior Royal Navy officer, former Head of the Royal Navy Medical Service and Non-Executive Director of Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, has been named today as the Godmother of Saga Cruises’ newest ship, Spirit of Adventure.

She follows in the footsteps of HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, who was Godmother to sister ship Spirit of Discovery in 2019 and is currently Commodore-in-Chief of the Royal Navy Medical Service.

Commodore Kennedy will officially name Spirit of Adventure during a special ceremony to be held in Portsmouth on 19 July, coinciding with the UK’s ‘Freedom Day’ when coronavirus restrictions are scheduled to end. In naval tradition, she will offer a blessing of safe sailing and good fortune, marked with the smashing of a bottle on the ship’s hull. Reflecting Saga’s British heritage, the jeroboam in question will be English sparkling wine from the Kent-based Balfour Hush Heath Estate. The ceremony will also be streamed on Facebook Live.

Commodore Inga J. Kennedy, CBE QHNS QARNNS said: “I was thrilled to be asked to become Spirit of Adventure’s Godmother and feel I’m accepting this on behalf of the wider medical community who have worked so tirelessly throughout this pandemic and will continue to do so long after this crisis period fades.

“Personally, it is also a privilege to follow in the footsteps of Spirit of Discovery’s Godmother, HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, given her role as Commodore-in-Chief of the Royal Navy Medical Service. I wish Spirit of Adventure, and all who sail on her, the very best voyages.”

Following her naming ceremony on 19 July, Spirit of Adventure will undertake her inaugural voyage on 26 July, calling at some of Britain’s most famous ports. She will join sister ship Spirit of Discovery out on the waves, which will set sail on 27 June.