Royal Caribbean International has officially named Quantum Ultra-class ship Odyssey of the Seas.
At the 4,284-passenger vessel’s naming ceremony at the US port of Fort Lauderdale on Saturday, the line’s boss Michael Bayley praised Richard Fain, the outgoing chief executive of the line’s parent company, for his work during the pandemic.
Fain led the godmother procession onboard, walking onto the pool deck with the ship’s godmother, Bahamian para-athlete Erin Brown, at the start of the ceremony.
Richard Fain arm in arm with Bahamian para-athlete Erin Brown
President and chief executive Bayley said of Fain, who announced this week he was stepping down as chief executive of Royal Caribbean Group after 33 years: “It’s your steady hand that set the course for our successful comeback.”
Bayley said: “Even when the sea was anything but calm, you held the helm. It’s your steady hand that set the course for our successful comeback. Thank you on behalf of the Royal Caribbean family.
“It’s a beautiful day to name this ship and celebrate the return of cruising.”
Fain said: “It’s an emotional moment – but we are back. It’s really a privilege to be here today and welcoming all of you on this amazing vessel.
“This is an unusual time and any time we do one of these inaugural events it’s an opportunity to examine a spectacular ship to see the beautiful architecture, art and technology. All of the things that make the ship special.”
“I would really like to focus on the future not the past. Today, we get to show the world what imagination and determination look like when they come together in one dynamic enterprise. This ship is an example of that convergence.
“I am very appreciative of our new-building team. The dedication, the focus and the partnership has made these things [ships] so successful. I am really appreciative of that.”
Fain said Bayley is a “a strong visionary” and a “trailblazer”, saying he is “very proud” of Royal Caribbean’s efforts to launch Odyssey despite the challenges of the pandemic.
He said Bayley had advanced the values the company “holds so dear” before a Champagne bottle was smashed against the hull of the Quantum Ultra-class vessel.
Odyssey of the Seas will operate a mix of Greek Islands cruises next summer out of Civitavecchia, Italy, from early May after sailing a series of Caribbean cruises out of Fort Lauderdale this winter.
There are more than 25 food and drink venues on the vessel, which took three-and-a-half years to build.
The ship has shore power connectivity which reduces its CO2 emissions while in port and connected to a country’s national grid electricity supply.
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