What happened when Gloria Estefan christened a Royal Caribbean cruise ship in 1990?

Estefan, who had recently recovered from a near-fatal bus accident, was chosen to christen the Nordic Empress (later renamed the Empress of the Seas). When she cut the ribbon to break the 33-pound champagne bottle, it dented the ship instead of shattering. However, Estefan handled the situation gracefully, entertaining the crowd during the event.

How did Gloria Estefan's cruise ship christening incident turn into a PR win for Royal Caribbean?

Despite the unexpected mishap, Estefan remained composed and continued to engage the crowd. The event was widely covered by local media, with the CEO of Royal Caribbean, Richard Fain, recalling that "every station in the area showed it, in slow motion mind you." The company was able to turn the situation into a positive publicity opportunity.

What is the significance of Gloria Estefan's role in the cruise ship christening?

Estefan was one of the first celebrity godmothers to work with Royal Caribbean, and her christening moment remains a memorable and unique event in the company's history. The incident highlighted Estefan's quick thinking and composure, and demonstrated how a potential disaster can be transformed into a PR success.

Home / Arts and Entertainment / Estefan's Heroic Intervention: Preventing a Potential Cruise Disaster

Estefan's Heroic Intervention: Preventing a Potential Cruise Disaster

28 Oct

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Summary

Gloria Estefan christened a Royal Caribbean cruise ship in 1990
Estefan was nervous about breaking the 33-lb champagne bottle
The bottle dented the ship instead of breaking, but Estefan handled the situation gracefully

Estefan's Heroic Intervention: Preventing a Potential Cruise Disaster

In 1990, music legend Gloria Estefan played a pivotal role in preventing a potential cruise ship disaster. Estefan, who had recently recovered from a near-fatal bus accident earlier that year, was chosen by the Royal Caribbean Group to christen their new vessel, the Nordic Empress (later renamed the Empress of the Seas).

However, the christening ceremony did not go as planned. Estefan, who was nervous about breaking the 33-pound champagne bottle, ended up denting the ship instead of shattering the bottle. Despite the unexpected mishap, Estefan remained gracious and composed, entertaining the crowd during the event.

According to Richard Fain, the former CEO of the Royal Caribbean Group, the incident could have been a public relations disaster. Instead, Estefan's handling of the situation turned it into a PR win for the company. The event was widely covered by local media, with Fain recalling that "every station in the area showed it, in slow motion mind you."

In the years since, Royal Caribbean has continued the tradition of appointing celebrity godmothers for their vessels, including astronaut Kellie Gerardi and singer Meghan Trainor. However, Estefan's christening moment remains a memorable and unique moment in the company's history.

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