Princess Cruises Welcomes New “Star” with Godparents & a Tequila Christening

Princess Cruises officially welcomed its 17th cruise ship, Star Princess, during a ceremony at Port Everglades on Thursday evening. In what the line’s president Gus Antorcha called an “evolution,” the ship was welcomed by godparents Matthew and Camila McConaughey, and christened by a “massive” bottle of the couple’s signature Pantalones Reposado tequila.

“Just as our ground-breaking Sphere Class has evolved to include not one but two magnificent ships, we thought it was time to evolve this tradition [the choice of a godmother] as well,” Antorcha said. “Today, Star Princess will not only be entrusted to the care of a godmother, she will have a godfather too because a ship this extraordinary deserves double the blessing and double the celebration.”

“To be a godfather and godmother of a ship is an honor and a unique one,” Matthew McConaughey said, his distinct Southern drawl instantly recognizable.

Speaking of being asked to take on the role, McConaughey said they were told they had been chosen because they represented a “nice combination” of elegance and energy, a “mirror image of what Star Princess is and what it was built to be.”

“Our hope is that all the great expectations that the passengers and the crew come onto the ship with, that they return home from those expectations with bigger smiles than they left with,” McConaughey added before he and Camila recited the traditional blessing for naming a ship.

“We name the ship Star Princess. May god bless her and all who sail on her.”

Star Princess is the 17th ship in Princess’ Sphere Class ship, which launched last year with Sun Princess. The class is defined by the mid-ship Sphere and forward Dome, which sparkle in the sun.

“Every new ship is special, but this one truly shines,” said Antorcha, adding, “Today, we celebrate not just a ship, but the spark she represents for our guests, our team, and our future.”

The ceremony was followed by a surprise performance by nine-time Grammy winner Sheryl Crow and an Alaska-themed drone show that lit up the night sky with grizzlies, whales, sled dogs, and more before concluding with a glittery display of the Princess sea witch.