The most famous mum-to-be became a godmother today to a Royal Princess. The Duchess of Cornwall named the new cruise ship at a ceremony in Southampton.
Kate, trendy in a leopard-print dress, smashed the £1,250 bottle of bubbly against the 3,600-passenger ship and said: “I name this ship, Royal Princess.” The liner is the largest in Princess Cruises’ 17-strong fleet. It’s longer than the height of the Eiffel Tower and taller than London’s Tower Bridge.
The Duchess was invited to press the button by Captain Tony Draper who, incidentally, met his wife on one of the original Love Boats! When asked earlier what three words described the ship worthy of a Duchess, he said: “She’s magnificent, gracious and serene.”
He could have been describing Kate, who hasn’t graced many cruise ships but she had to be impressed when given a royal tour. Princess Royal is light and airy, with understated decor apart from the gold and marble three-deck Piazza which is surrounded with bars and restaurants.
There’s the usual facilities you’d expect… casino, theatre, sports area, kids’ clubs for all ages and shops. But the Royal Princess has two special features (well three if you count the largest pastry shop at sea!) – the largest outdoor cinema screen at sea and a novel glass-bottomed walkway (below) which sticks out from the side of Deck 17. It curves 28ft out so you are “walking on water” with the waves 128ft below. You’ll be pleased to know the glass beneath your feet is four times thicker than the average car windscreen!
The Lotus Spa is fab and so is the adults-only The Sanctuary, a tranquil pool area with cabanas which you can reserve for a half or full day.
The Royal Princess will sail in the Mediterranean in the summer and Caribbean in the winter. For more details, visit www.princesscruises.co.uk
