SOUTHAMPTON, England -- Camilla Parker
Bowles, the Duchess of Cornwall, named Cunard Line's newest ship,
the Queen Victoria, in a sunset ceremony here. Bowles was
accompanied by her husband, Prince Charles.
A crowd of 2,000 attended the ceremony
and waved British flags during a rendition of "Rule Brittania," in
a tent alongside the 2,014-passenger vessel. Micky Arison, chairman
and CEO of Cunard parent company Carnival Corp.; Carol Marlow,
Cunard's president; and David Dingle, managing director of Carnival
UK, attended the proceedings.
In opening remarks, Marlow commented that
by 2010, Cunard Line will have introduced three ships in six years,
starting with the Queen Mary 2 in 2004 and including the recently
announced new-build, the Queen Elizabeth. Before the QM2, Cunard
experienced a 37-year period without a new ship.
The London Philharmonic performed
throughout the show, which also included opera and dance
performances, and a narrated, photographic history of Cunard
Line.
The Queen Victoria departs tomorrow on a
10-day maiden voyage to northern Europe. Prior to the ceremony,
Bowles and Prince Charles toured the Queen Victoria with Arison and
Marlow. The couple entered the ship to a standing crowd of staff
and guests that lined the three-level stairway of the ship's
atrium.
To contact reporter
Johanna Jainchill, send e-mail to [email protected].