There’s plenty of news and talk about Royal Caribbean’s newest ship that arrived at Port Canaveral this week. Star of the Seas, now holds the title of the “world’s largest cruise ship,” and those on preview cruises have been sharing their first impressions on social media ahead of the ship’s first revenue cruise and naming ceremony.
But amid the TikToks of water slides, frozen drink selfies, and “wows,” just days before the official christening of Star of the Seas, Diana Ross abruptly stepped down from her role as godmother, citing “unforeseen circumstances.” That left many questioning the disco queen’s health, whether there was some last-minute falling out with the cruise line, or just what led to her pulling out days before the event. Plus, just who could possibly fill those legendary heels. Well, Royal Caribbean wasted no time finding a replacement… and this one comes with a space suit.
Meet astronaut Kellie Gerardi — the newly minted godmother of Star of the Seas. The choice is more than a little on-theme. Not only does Gerardi’s résumé include multiple flights with Virgin Galactic as a payload specialist, but the ship’s homeport in Port Canaveral sits just a moon rock’s throw away from the Kennedy Space Center. Add in the fact that the vessel’s name begs for a celestial connection (but didn’t get one), and it’s a match that’s almost too perfect.
Royal Caribbean President and CEO Michael Bayley broke the news during a media briefing onboard Star of the Seas Friday morning, describing Gerardi as “delightful” and “very articulate.” In other words — she’s got the charisma to handle a champagne bottle smash in front of thousands.
If you’re not familiar with her, Gerardi is a science communicator, social media influencer, and one of the most visible advocates for women in space exploration. She has a massive following on TikTok and Instagram, was the 90th woman ever to travel into space, and calls Jupiter, Florida home — hey neighbor!
Will the christening ceremony for Star of the Seas now have a space-age feel? We’ll just have to wait and see. Until then, let’s hope Ms. Ross is doing well and gets the opportunity to be godmother for another ship in the future.