The naming ceremony will take place during Seabourn’s inaugural Kimberley voyage that departs Broome for Darwin on June 22.

Representatives of the Wunambal Gaambera people will meet the ship on June 29 when she calls at Vansittart Bay and tenders passengers to Jar Island for the ceremony and to view ancient rock art.

First traditional owners as godparents

Seabourn is the first cruise line to appoint Australian Aboriginal traditional owners as godparents and said it is a ‘symbolic gesture’ of stewardship and responsibility towards the environment and the communities it visits and its commitment to sustainable tourism.

Seabourn will make a donation, along with funding already received from Tourism Western Australia, to develop a self-sustaining industry for Wunambal Gaambera artists to sell their arts and crafts.

‘We believe no one can give a better blessing to our ship than the communities we visit,’ President Natalya Leahy said. She had hinted at special news to come when speaking on the luxury CEOs panel at Seatrade Cruise Global.

Transformative power of travel

‘We truly believe in the transformative power of travel and when we visit local communities we are able to both celebrate their culture and drive positive sustainable changes in the places they call home,’ Leahy said.

‘When we set out to name the godparents for Seabourn Pursuit we knew we wanted to do something that celebrates this special moment for the ship and also allows us to drive long-term sustainable positive change in line with the values Seabourn and our guests stand for.’