Emerald Princess to be Named on Mother's Day May 13 in Athens

Jason · April 18, 2007

Naming Ceremony Plans Change for New Princess Ships Next Month Out of Respect for Recent Tragedy in Santorini

SANTA CLARITA, Calif. (Princess Cruises) - Out of respect for the tragic sinking of the Greek cruise ship off the coast in Santorini, the naming ceremonies of the new Emerald Princess and Royal Princess - previously scheduled to take place in the same location - have been changed to different dates and ports.

Princess had been planning to simultaneously name both ships in a historic dual ceremony in Santorini on May 12. Emerald Princess will now be christened on Mother's Day in Athens on May 13, and the new date and location for the Royal Princess festivities will be announced shortly.

"Given the great shock and sadness this incident has caused, and out of the respect for those affected, we have decided that it would not be appropriate to continue with the celebrations we had planned in Santorini," said Alan Buckelew, president of Princess Cruises. "Our thoughts are with all those affected, especially the family of the two missing French passengers." Buckelew added, "However we're quite pleased to continue with our original plans to reunite a pair of television's favorite mothers and daughters for the christening of Emerald Princess." Television icons Florence Henderson, best known as "Carol Brady" on The Brady Bunch, and Marion Ross, aka "Marion Cunningham" of Happy Days fame and their TV daughters, Susan Olsen ("Cindy Brady") and Erin Moran ("Joanie Cunningham") will all be aboard Emerald Princess in Athens to officially welcome her into the Princess fleet.