2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Travel Weekly
Astronaut Kellie Gerardi will be Star of the Seas godmother
ONBOARD THE STAR OF THE SEAS -- Royal Caribbean International CEO Michael Bayley said that commercial astronaut, tech professional and influencer Kellie Gerardi will replace Diana Ross as godmother of the line's second Icon-class ship.
Speaking at a press briefing on the ship's preview sailing Aug. 15, Bayley recounted how disappointing it was that the superstar singer would be unable to be the godmother and how Royal landed on a replacement.
Royal hit on what Bayley called a "brilliant" idea, considering the ship is called the Star of the Seas and it sails out of Port Canaveral on Florida's Space Coast.
"Why don't we find ... someone who's been to space," Bayley said, "and can really embody what Royal Caribbean is doing in terms of adventure and excitement."
Gerardi is the 90th woman in space, having served as payload specialist on a Virgin Galactic mission in 2023. She is scheduled to lead an all-female suborbital spaceflight for Virgin Galactic next year. In her Virgin Galactic bio, the company called her an "aerospace and technology professional, payload specialist and popular science communicator."
She has a large following on social media, with 1.4 million followers on Instagram and nearly 1 million on TikTok.
Royal Caribbean had announced Ross as godmother in June, but the line on Thursday said that she would be unable to fulfill the role.
Bayley said the ship's christening would proceed as scheduled on Aug. 20.
Before announcing Gerardi, Bayley joked that someone had suggested Sailor, the golden retriever that is the Star's Chief Dog Officer, be the godmother.
"I thought that was a great idea, but I was on my own," said Bayley.
