Musician Myleene Klass is to be assisted by some Royal Navy divers at next week’s naming ceremony of cruise ship Carnival Splendor.
Klass will become godmother of the 113,000 tonne ship when it is named in Dover next Thursday. It will be the largest passenger ship to sail out of Dover’s cruise port.
Petty officer Christian Rumming and his dive team, led by Lt Ian Richardson will be underwater near the bow of the ship when he will receive a radio signal from Klass, who will playing live classical piano music on the ship’s top Lido deck.
Rumming will climb a 60ft ascent rope in wet suit, safety harness and flippers to reach the top of the bow of the ship.
Instead of French champagne, in a break with tradition, he will then smash a bottle of English sparkling wine – 1994 vintage Nyetimber – against the ship’s hull.
Richardson, of the Royal Navy Fleet Diving Squadron, said: “This has to be a rather unusual assignment for my men, who are trained in deep sea marine diving and underwater bomb and mine disposal to protect our fleet, but I’m confident they will pull it off.”
After the naming ceremony, Carnival Splendor sets sail for a three-day cruise to Amsterdam, after which it will go on a 12-day cruise of the Baltics. The ship has four swimming pools, a 5,500sq ft children’s play area and Carnival’s largest floating spa including a thalassotherapy pool, thermal suite and 17 treatment rooms.