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Katy Perry named new cruise ship Norwegian Prima’s godmother

March 17, 2022
4 min read
Norwegian-prima-katy-perry-godparent
Katy Perry named new cruise ship Norwegian Prima’s godmother
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Katy Perry is about to become a mother – a godmother, that is. Of a cruise ship.

Norwegian Cruise Line has announced that the pop star and “American Idol” judge will serve as godmother to its newest ship, Norwegian Prima, which debuts in August 2022. The line is known for having popular musicians christen its ships, including Kelly Clarkson (Norwegian Encore), Pitbull (Norwegian Escape) and Reba McIntire (Norwegian Epic).

What, you might ask, are the duties of a cruise ship godmother and can they fit into the schedule of a busy starlet? Mostly, they require Perry to be in attendance at Norwegian Prima’s christening ceremony where she’ll bless and name the ship and help break a bottle of Champagne against the ship’s bow.

Spoiler alert: You won’t see Perry wielding a bottle of Dom Perignon baseball-bat style. She is more likely to press a button or lead a countdown to green light the bottle breaking, which is done by higher-tech methods.

She will also perform at the christening event live in Reykjavik, Iceland. It will be a first for the capital city, which has never played host to a major cruise ship christening. No word on whether fireworks are planned.

Katy Perry poses with NCL CEO Harry Sommer
Katy Perry poses with Harry Sommer, president and CEO of Norwegian Cruise Line. (Photo courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line)

Norwegian Cruise Line did not say why it chose Perry, though its president and CEO Harry Sommer called her “one-of-a-kind” and a “worldwide sensation,” qualities I’m sure the company would like in its newest ship.

Perry, however, is a fan of cruising, or at least, vacations at sea. “My most favorite way to vacation with my family is on the water,” she told Norwegian Cruise Line. “Every morning that you wake up, you get to experience an incredible new view.” She is looking forward to christening the ship “with my good vibrations.”

To commemorate its godmother choice, Norwegian has created a special Norwegian Prima Spotify play list, featuring songs by Perry, Ariana deBose, LaChanze and others.

An artist's drawing of Norwegian Prima's The Drop slide
An artist's drawing of Norwegian Prima's The Drop slide. (Image courtesy of Norwegian Cruise Line)

Norwegian Prima will sail its inaugural season in Northern Europe, beginning in mid-August. From there, it will cross the ocean to New York, for Bermuda cruises starting in early October, before chasing the warm weather down to Galveston and Miami for Caribbean cruises beginning in late October.

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The new ship will be unique in a number of ways. It will have a more high-end ambiance than its older fleetmates and will offer a huge suite complex at the back of the ship. It will be the first to eliminate the concept of the main dining room with a changing rotation of menus; instead, Hudson’s will offer a fixed menu and become what Sommer called “the largest specialty dining room at sea.” Bon appetit!

Norwegian Prima will also have extensive pool and outdoor deck space and a theater that doubles as a nightclub (where you just might kiss a girl and like it). For the families onboard, the three-level go-kart track and freefall dry slides are sure to be a teenage dream. It will also feature Norwegian Cruise Line’s first sustainably focused lounge, called The Metropolitan, and a Mediterranean seafood restaurant named Palomar.

Norwegian Cruise Line bets you won’t run "hot n cold” on its newest ship, and that you’ll love it as much as you’ll love its popstar godmother.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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  • Annual Fee

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  • Recommended Credit

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Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

Pros

  • 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.