On Friday, Celebrity Cruises’ newest and “most luxurious ship”, Celebrity BeyondSM, set sail from Fort Lauderdale, kicking off its inaugural Caribbean season.
The ship’s official naming ceremony took place onboard, led by 19-time World Champion, seven-time Olympic Medallist and most decorated American gymnast in history: Simone Biles.
The beautiful ceremony was attended by 2,500 guests, capped by a live performance from award-winning singer and songwriter, Leona Lewis.
Helmed by Captain Kate McCue, the ship kicks off its inaugural season with rotating Western and Eastern Caribbean itineraries visiting the Grand Cayman and Puerta Plata.
Jason Liberty, President and CEO of the Royal Caribbean Group and the parent company of Celebrity Cruises, said:
“I can think of no one better to be the Godmother of this incredible ship than the G.O.A.T. herself – Simone Biles.
“This ship’s beauty, power, and resilience sets the standard by which all others will be measured.
“Simone’s determination, progressive nature, empowered attitude, and grace in the face of challenges make her such an inspiration to so many around the world.
“All of these attributes are why Simone Biles is perfectly suited to watch over Celebrity Beyond’s journey.”
Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, Celebrity Cruises President and CEO, said: “I’ve been waiting for this day to arrive for a long time and I am ‘Beyond’ excited to be able to share her with our guests.
“She is the gold standard by which other ships are built and embodies the meaning of relaxed luxury.
“She is ‘FULL’ of wonder and excitement and our guests will undoubtedly feel reconnected to the world around them as they visit new destinations and immerse themselves in culinary experiences and wellness amenities not found anywhere else at sea.”
Simone Biles follows Reshma Saujani of Girls Who Code and Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Malala Yousafzai, who previously inaugurated Celebrity Apex and Celebrity Edge, respectively.
Simone Biles said: “It is an honour to be selected as Beyond’s Godmother and to join such a distinguished group of strong, barrier-breaking women who have been named as Celebrity’s Godmothers before me.
“I appreciate the important message this designation holds in recognising our accomplishments as empowering women, and I am honored to share the stage today with fellow brave, boundary-breaking leaders like Lisa-Lutoff Perlo and Captain Kate McCue.”
For more information, visit www.celebritycruises.com/gb.
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