Hampshire yachtswoman Emma Pontin has been named as the godmother of Celebrity Eclipse.
Pontin will name the ship in Southampton on April 24, which will conclude with a magnum of champagne crashing against the hull of the 2,850-guest ship.
Pontin began her career as an ocean-racing yachtswoman in 2002 when she crewed on her first Challenge Transatlantic with only one week’s sailing experience.
In 2006 she was selected to skipper a yacht for the ARC Transatlantic race but prior to the start was diagnosed with breast cancer and had to return to the UK for a mastectomy.
The liner chose Pontin in recognition of her “positive and empowering fight against the disease, from which both her aunt and grandmother died.”
Throughout chemotherapy and radiation treatments, she continued to sail, instruct and race, and went on to skipper several major races over the following 12 months.
Royal Caribbean chairman Richard Fain said: “Emma is an outstanding individual with an incredible zest for life, and is an inspiration to women.
“Her determination to make every day count, her courage, and her positive attitude amidst challenging sailings, even during times of adversity, is tremendously empowering for other women and their families who are, or have similarly faced this disease”.
Pontin said: “Serving as the Godmother for this wonderful ship is truly one of the greatest complements to be bestowed on me.
“It is extremely flattering to be recognised for what came naturally to me when fighting breast cancer and I hope that through this association with Celebrity Cruises, I will continue to inspire and encourage many others.”
Pontin is currently planning her next challenge: a 30,000 mile circumnavigation of the world departing London in October 2011 to raise funds for, and global awareness of, breast cancer.