Katy Perry named new cruise ship Norwegian Prima’s godmother

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.

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.

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.

Daily Newsletter

Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter

Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts

Email address

Sign up

By signing up, you will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.

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:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise