Travel Weekly columnist Maureen Hill is to join Olympic gold medallist Sir Steve Redgrave on a judging panel to choose a British godmother for new cruise ship Independence of the Seas.
Royal Caribbean International has launched the nationwide search for an “ordinary British woman” who has done extraordinary things to become godmother of the cruiseline’s largest ship, launching in Southampton next month.
Maureen said she was honoured to be the only travel agent on the panel, to also include Royal Caribbean International executives.
She said: “I’m really looking forward to it. There are lots of unsung heroes out there who don’t shout about what they do. It will be interesting to see the women who are nominated.”
Hill said personality would play a big role in the judges’ final decision in mid-April as well as the work of individuals on the shortlist.
The godmother role is typically reserved for dignatories or celebrities, with past godmothers including Her Majesty Queen Sonja of Norway and actresses Lauren
Bacall and Whoopi Goldberg.
In a break with tradition, Royal Caribbean is looking for a woman who has helped to improve the future of young people under 18 in her community.
All potential godmothers must be nominated via the website, searchforagodmother.co.uk. To enter, applicants must explain in 250 words or less why they, or someone they know, would be the ideal godmother.
The winner will have her portrait hung on board the ship, enjoy a VIP experience on the ship’s inaugural voyage, an honourary role in the ship naming ceremonies and a decade of cruising for two with Royal Caribbean.