Celebrity Cruises has announced the godmother of its newest cruise ship Celebrity Beyond. The cruise line has chosen world champion and Olympic gold medalist, Simone Biles, to hold the position of Godmother to the new cruise ship.
Simone Biles to Serve As Godmother to Celebrity Beyond
Celebrity Cruises announced that world champion gymnast and Olympic gold medalist Simone Biles will serve as godmother of the new Celebrity Beyond cruise ship.
“Simone is truly the G.O.A.T inside and outside the gym, and i’m humbled and thrilled to welcome her as godmother of our newest ship Celebrity Beyond. While I’ve marveled at her abilities and historic accomplishments as a gymnast, its Simone’s courage to speak out and her ability to help others be better in sport and in life that has impressed me the most. She has risen to the occasion and overcome challenges time and time again. She is an inspiration.”
Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, CEO and president of Celebrity Cruises
The role of a godmother to a vessel is a longstanding maritime tradition.
Simone Biles will take part in the ship’s official naming ceremony in Fort Lauderdale on November 4, 2022.
Biles is no stranger to cruising:
“I have a lot of great memories of cruising with my parents while growing up, so I am beyond excited to serve as godmother of Celebrity Beyond,” she said. “I am honored to join such a distinguished group of game-changing women and appreciate the important message this designation holds in recognizing our accomplishments, and hopefully inspiring the next generation of women.”
Simone Biles, World Champion Gymnast and Olympic Gold Medallist
Celebrity Cruises often appoints women who they believe are change-makers in the world to serve as godmothers to their cruise ships.
Simone Biles joins Celebrity Beyond’s sister ship’s godmothers; Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Malala Yousafzai who serves as Celebrity Edge’s godmother and Girls Who Code founder Reshma Saujani who serves as godmother to Celebrity Apex.
Third Excel Class Cruise Ship
Celebrity Beyond is the third Excel-class cruise ship owned by Celebrity Cruises. The ship was constructed at the Chantiers de l’Atlantique shipyard and is captained by trailblazer Kate McCue.
Standing at 17 decks high, 1,071 feet long, with an internal volume of 141,420 GT, Beyond is the largest cruise ship in Celebrity’s fleet. Celebrity Beyond features significant innovations, redesigned amenities, and reimagined interior spaces; including:
- The Retreat, an exclusive area for suite guests, featuring a new two-story sundeck
- Transformational accommodations, from modern two-story villas with plunge pools and staterooms with Infinite Verandas, “blurring the boundaries between indoor and outdoor living”
- An expanded Rooftop Garden and resort deck featuring cantilevered float pools
- A multi-level, multi-terraced Sunset Bar on the ship’s aft designed by Nate Berkus
- Daniel Boulud’s first restaurant at sea called Le Voyage
- Redesigned Grand Plaza spanning three decks
- The Magic Carpet Restaurant, suspended on the side of the ship
The ship features a unique Parabolic Ultrabow, first seen on her sister ships, Celebrity Apex and Celebrity Edge. The design replaces the traditional bulbous bow with a parabolic shape that provides smoother sailing and fuel savings.
The ship set sail on its inaugural sailing on April 27, 2022, with a 10-night itinerary from Southhampton, England to Barcelona, Spain. The ship is currently offering nine and ten-night Mediterranean sailings before making the transatlantic voyage to Fort Lauderdale in November.
Following her official naming ceremony, Celebrity Beyond will offer passengers Caribbean itineraries throughout the winter.
