Celebrity Cruises Reveals Godmother of Apex

Celebrity Cruises has named Reshma Saujani, founder and CEO of international nonprofit Girls Who Code, as the godmother of Apex, the second ship in the brand’s Edge Series.

Saujani will name the new ship at the official inaugural ceremony in Southampton, UK, on Mar. 30, 2020.

Girls Who Code works to close the gender gap in technology and provide education focused on computing skills for young women. Through their seven-week Summer Immersion Program, after-school Clubs, and College Loops program, Girls Who Code has reached 185,000 girls to date through its programs.

Celebrity will also collaborate with Girls Who Code to offer educational coding programs as part of the cruise line’s Camp at Sea S.T.E.M. experiences onboard Celebrity Apex and Celebrity Edge, along with related experiential offerings and products.

“Girls Who Code is committed to giving girls more visible role models in computer science and helping them see that this is a field where they can really thrive,” Saujani said in a statement. “Just as we are on a mission to close the gender gap in tech in our lifetimes, Celebrity Cruises is leading the way to create a more diverse future in the maritime industry. It is an honor to have the support of Celebrity Cruises in our work, and to be named as the godmother for Celebrity Apex.”

With its Edge Series ships, Celebrity is selecting godmothers who are breaking ground in their respective fields for people around the world. The first Edge Series godmother, who inaugurated Celebrity Edge in November 2018, was Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Malala Yousafzai, renowned for her advocacy of educational opportunities for girls everywhere.

Celebrity Apex will begin its inaugural season in April 2020 with a mini-season of five sailings to Northern Europe destinations and then spend the summer sailing seven- to 12-night itineraries in the Mediterranean. In November, Celebrity Apex will reposition to Fort Lauderdale for a winter season of week-long Caribbean sailings.