United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
Thomson agent will sing at Anthem of the Seas launch
Thomson travel agent Emma Wilby, 27, will be the godmother for Royal Caribbean’s new ship Anthem of the Seas.
She will officially christen the ship and perform a special song for more than 1,300 invited special guests and dignitaries at the ship’s inaugural ceremony in Southampton on April 20.
"Emma is among many submissions from truly talented travel agents across the UK and the judging was very difficult," said Richard D. Fain, chairman and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises.
"We thank all travel agents, who we value and are honoring by naming a fellow travel agent as the godmother of our newest ship."
Working for Thomson in Elgin, Scotland, Ms. Wilby is a military wife and budding singer who performs in the Military Wives Choir in Kinloss, Scotland.
Her husband is a royal engineer for the British Army.
To help her prepare for that inaugural day, Craig Yates, team captain from British choir group Only Boys Aloud will be Ms. Wilby’s vocal coach, and Royal Caribbean is treating her to a full makeover.
"Emma’s inaugural song will herald in a ship that will be a new anthem for the cruise industry," said Michael Bayley, president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International.
"I am very much looking forward to Emma’s performance and launching Anthem of the Seas with her. I know she will be simply spectacular."
Traditionally, Godmothers have celebrity status or royal connections, such as Royal Caribbean godmothers Gloria Estefan, Jane Seymour, Whoopi Goldberg and Steffi Graf.
"I still can’t believe I won," said Ms. Wilby after being informed of her new title earlier this week.
"I am really honoured to have been chosen. I am hugely excited to be taking on the role of godmother for Anthem of the Seas – it will be incredible to sing in front of all these people and a real honor to give the ship the best sendoff possible."
Anthem of the Seas will sail its inaugural season from Southampton before repositioning to its permanent home port of New York in November.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
Mark Jaronski of Explore Georgia on FIFA World Cup 2026
Connecting Small Businesses to Global Tourism Markets: Nate Huff of Tourism Exchange
North Carolina’s Resilience: Wit Tuttell on Recovery and Tourism
Kittipong Prapattong’s Plan for Thailand’s Tourism Growth: Taxes, Visas, and Campaigns
James Jin: Didatravel’s Journey from China to Global Reach and the Impact of AI on Travel
Darien Schaefer on Pensacola’s Evolution: From Small Town to Global Destination
Florida Tourism’s Next Frontier: Dana Young on Expanding Beyond the Classics
Patrick Harrison on Tampa Bay Tourism’s Resilience and Marketing Strategy
Bubba O’Keefe on Clarksdale’s Vibrant Music Scene
Commemorating Elvis and Embracing Tupelo’s Culture with Jennie Bradford Curlee
Craig Ray and the Expansion of the Blues Trail
Presenting Mississippi’s Cultural Trails with Katie Coats
BA suspending all Heathrow to Abu Dhabi flights
Turkish Airlines flight in emergency landing after pilot dies
Unexpected wave rocks cruise ship
Woman dies after going overboard in English Channel
Foreign Office issues travel advisory for winter sun destinations