Princess Cruises made history yesterday by including a wedding in the naming ceremony of new ship Ruby Princess in Fort Lauderdale.
The couple who wed, Americans Kip Hickman and Danielle Vurpillat, were picked through a competition in USA Today and married by Phil Adams, a member of Princess’ romance department and also a minister.
Ruby’s godparents Trista and Ryan Sutter, who met and married through US reality TV show The Bachelorette, were on hand as attendants, before carrying out their Champagne-smashing duties for the new ship.
The 3,150-passenger Ruby Princess was built at Monfalcone shipyard in Trieste and will be sailing in the Caribbean this winter.
Princess Cruises president and chief executive officer Alan Buckelew said it is the cruiseline’s last new ship for a while, but promised Princess would continue to innovate and “raise the bar” on existing vessels.
New features on Ruby Princess include English pub lunches in the Wheelhouse Bar and a behind-the-scenes tour visiting places including the engine control room and launderette.
Photos
Princess Cruises president and chief executive officer Alan Buckelew
Trista and Ryan Sutter push the button
Guests celebrate the naming of Ruby Princess