Cunard Queen Elizabeth blessing

Yesterday, in a traditional ceremony, the newest Cunard cruise ship, Queen Elizabeth, received a dockyard blessing at her construction port in Italy. Shipyard workers stood with their heads bowed as a catholic priest blessed the construction of the new ship.

The new Queen Elizabeth will be named in October, but it isn’t clear yet who will undertake the naming ceremony. Traditionally, the link between the Cunard line and the British royal family has been strong and it would be a break with tradition if a female royal personage didn’t undertake the duty of naming the new ship. The Duchess of Cornwall named the last new Cunard liner, which suggests either the Princess Royal or the Queen could be invited to name Queen Elizabeth, unless there is a new royal fiancée for either William or Harry which could make the ceremony very special indeed. Queen Elizabeth the ship is costing £400 million and will almost certainly have the same art deco styled interiors that have become a signature of Cunard’s unique approach to cruising. While she will look very much like the Queen Victoria, she will also have up-to-date navigation and engineering systems that will provide a safer journey, especially important in these times of terrorist threat and piracy, although Cunard’s ships rarely sail to zones where pirates are an issue.

But the old favourites will also return: massive chandeliers will decorate the public rooms and an Ivor Novello style bar will feature piano music and cocktail evenings as well as the signature ‘Yacht Club’ bar making a reappearance.