'I'm honored to officially welcome this incredible ship to China and share the cruising lifestyle with Chinese guests as the godfather for Norwegian Joy,' Wang said.
Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings president and ceo Frank Del Rio called the introduction of the company's first ship custom-built for China a 'special moment for the entire Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings family, our valued travel partners, honored guests and dedicated officers and crew across our fleet.'
In homage to Norwegian Joy’s eye-catching hull art, designed by famed Chinese artist Tan Ping and featuring a majestic phoenix, the christening ceremony began with a performance by renowned dancer and choreographer Yabin Wang, with her interpretation of the spirit of the phoenix through dance.
Tan Ping, who also made a guest appearance at the ceremony, selected the phoenix as the focal point for the hull art since the iconic bird represents beauty and good luck in Chinese culture.
The pinnacle moment of the naming ceremony came as Wang, NCLH executives and local Chinese government officials simultaneously smashed bottles of champagne against the side of a replica ship hull, which released an oversized bottle of Veuve Clicquot that shattered against the actual hull.
Norwegian Joy’s naming marks the end of a month-long grand inaugural tour where the ship has been showcased through events at Singapore, Qingdao, Shenzhen and Hong Kong, as well as VIP partner cruises from Norwegian Joy’s homeports of Shanghai and Tianjin.
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