Royal Caribbean Welcomes Man Behind ‘Boaty McBoatface’
by Daniel McCarthy /Photo: Royal Caribbean International.
Despite it being April 1, this is no joke, says Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. It is bringing onboard the man who helped name a $300 million UK research vessel ‘Boaty McBoatface.’
James Hand, a 26-year-old U.K. communications manager, submitted the name “Boaty McBoatface” in a public online vote to name the U.K. Natural Environment Research Council’s new Antarctic survey vessel.
The name quickly caught on and became the frontrunner in the contest, with more than 21,000 votes—10 times as many as the number-two suggestion.
While he may have been kidding, Hand is quickly becoming an internet sensation for his suggestion. So Royal Caribbean has invited him onboard its newest and biggest ship, the Harmony of the Seas, when it debuts in May—and hoping he will put his ship-naming talents to use. “Like the rest of the world, we fell in love with the name Boaty McBoatface when we heard it, and we knew immediately that Royal Caribbean could use James Hand’s talent to name our next ship,” said Royal Caribbean president and CEO Michael Bayley.
Hand will be part of the team that chooses the name for a forthcoming ship and, according to Bayley, “perhaps he could name all our future ships.”
In a tweet, Hand said he was “running out of ways to describe how utterly bonkers this whole saga has become.”
I'm running out of ways to describe how utterly bonkers this whole saga has become #NameOurShip pic.twitter.com/5HbC6WIFLY
— James Hand (@JamesHand) March 21, 2016