Royal Caribbean Close to Picking Godmother for New Ship

Royal Caribbean narrowed down its list of candidates to become godmother of the Independence of the Seas to four British women.

In March, the cruise line solicited nominations for “an ordinary British woman who has done extraordinary things” to become godmother to its newest ship. It is specifically looking for a woman that has “dedicated incredible time and effort to improve the well-being and future of young people under 18 years old in her community.”

The short list of candidates is Barbara Natasegara from Cardiff; Elizabeth Hill from Chesterfield in Derbyshire; Madeleine Henry from Southampton; and Sue Stones from Bakewell in Derbyshire.

The women are being interviewed by a judging panel that includes senior executives from Royal Caribbean and Steve Redgrave, chairman of a Royal Caribbean partner charity, the Steve Redgrave Fund, which supports school projects in the U.K. The fund tackles issues such as fitness, obesity, social inclusion and confidence.

Royal Caribbean took delivery of the Independence on April 17, during a ceremony at Aker Yards in Turku, Finland. The 3,634-passenger ship is the third of the line’s Freedom class of ships and will be the largest cruise ship ever to be homeported in Europe, when it sails out of Southampton for its inaugural season.