The origins behind these 3 cruise traditions
Cruising is full of interesting lingo and traditions that have been around for centuries. Here’s how these popular traditions started.
1. Why ships are referred to as “she”
Ships have been gendered as “she” for centuries and it is a practice that is still widely used by sailors today. There are multiple theories as to how ships become labelled as female. One popular theory believes it happened because male captains named their ships after women they loved. Another theory claims that “she” was used because ships were once dedicated to goddesses.
2. Why cruise ships have a godmother
The tradition of a blessing a ship goes back to ancient times, but it is only within the last century that godmothers have been called upon to do the honours. Cruise ship godmothers are invited by cruise lines to bestow good fortune on a ship. Today, godmothers tend to be more a promotional role, making appearances outside the ship’s blessing ceremony to gain publicity. Some cruise lines have personalised the tradition to make it more appealing to their travellers. For example, Disney Wonder’s godmother is Tinker Bell.
3. Why champagne is smashed against the bow when new ships are christened
Christening ships before their first embarkment is a tradition that has been established over a thousand years. Originally, ships were christened with a “standing cup”, a large cup made of precious metal where officials sipped wine from. The standing cup would then be poured over the ship’s deck and bow. At the end of the 19th century, the cup was replaced with a bottle of champagne. Christening the ship stems from the belief that the spilling of the alcohol promises good fortune and prosperity.
What is your favourite cruise tradition? Let us know in the comments below.