Following a $200 million dry dock, the Carnival Sunrise was officially named by godmother Kelly Arison ? daughter of Carnival Corporation & plc chairman Micky Arison and his wife Madeleine ? in a ceremony at the Manhattan Cruise Terminal in New York City.
As a Carnival godmother, Kelly Arison carries on a family tradition ? her mother, Madeleine was godmother to the ship when it first entered service in 1999, and her grandmother Lin Arison served as godmother to Carnival Sunrise?s sister ship, Carnival Sunshine, in 2013.
Speaking on the occasion, she said: ?To be a part of Carnival Sunrise?s official naming is more than I could have ever imagined and an experience I?ll never forget.
?The ship is absolutely beautiful, and I?m so honoured to not only carry on my family?s legacy as godmother but to also use this opportunity to raise awareness for a well-deserving organization, the Ehlers-Danlos Society.?
The naming of the cruise was commemorated with Arison ?uncorking? a custom-made, four-foot-high confetti-filled champagne bottle sculpture designed by Miami-based artist Romero Britto.
Christine Duffy, president of the cruise line, said: ?The planning for this project began more than two years ago and involved 7,000 people who worked together to deliver this amazing transformation. We are so excited to welcome Carnival Sunrise to the Carnival Cruise Line fleet ? she is already winning over our guests and providing so many new ways to Choose Fun
?It has also been such a special and unique opportunity to have Madeleine Arison, who served as godmother at the original delivery of this vessel 20 years ago, pass the honour of serving as godmother to her daughter Kelly during our official naming ceremony today.?
Carnival Sunrise will spend the summer in New York operating four- to 14-day voyages before repositioning to Fort Lauderdale for a winter schedule of Caribbean and Bahamian cruises beginning in October. Carnival Sunrise then heads back to New York for another season of cruises beginning in spring 2020.
Visit www.carnival.com to find out more.
