Sponsored By

Queen Latifah reigns over Carnival Horizon naming—and Lip Sync BattleQueen Latifah reigns over Carnival Horizon naming—and Lip Sync Battle

Carnival Cruise Line lived up to its 'Choose Fun' motto during lively naming festivities for Carnival Horizon in New York on Wednesday.

Anne Kalosh, Editor, Seatrade Cruise News & Senior Associate Editor, Seatrade Cruise Review

May 23, 2018

2 Min Read
Credit: Seatrade Cruise News

The Grammy Award-winning singer Queen Latifah officially named the ship then went on to win a Lip Sync Battle with a showstopping 'It's Raining Men.'

'I've been a Queen for a long while but I never expected to be asked to serve as the godmother to a cruise ship. It's one of the coolest things I've ever been a part of,' Latifah told the crowd from a platform in Carnival Horizon's multi-story atrium.

'I'm all about unity and bringing people together, and my experiences today reinforced that,' Latifah said, referring to her time on the ship and seeing the diversity of Carnival Horizon's crew, who hail from more than 50 nations.

Support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital

The ceremony highlighted St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, supported by Carnival Cruise Line to the tune of $16m so far and by Latifah herself. The monumental 'Dreamscape' installation in Carnival Horizon's atrium is decorated with the art of 33 St. Jude patients. Some were on hand for the naming with their families.

Latifah blessed the ship before she and Capt. Luigi De Angelis poured a huge bottle of Moët & Chandon Champagne over Carnival Horizon's inaugural bell.

Then everyone adjourned to the ship's Liquid Lounge for a featured event of the naming: Lip Sync Battle Horizon, with Queen Latifah facing Jake Elliott, kicker for the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles and another St. Jude backer.

Arnold Donald and Christine Duffy perform Black Eyed Peas hit

But first the crowd got a big surprise when Carnival Corp. & plc CEO Arnold Donald and Carnival Cruise Line president Christine Duffy took the stage, enthusiastically dancing and lip syncing to The Black Eyed Peas' 'I Got a Feeling (Tonight's Gonna Be a Good Night).'

'They say fun starts at the top,' the master of ceremonies quipped.

Jake Elliott as Whitesnake

Then Elliott, in a huge blonde wig, wowed the crowd with Whitesnake's 'Here I Go Again.' But the Lip Sync champion was Latifah who, performing The Weather Girls' 'It's Raining Men'—backed up by beefcake dancers who stripped off their raincoats down to red boxer shorts—'totally rocked the house,' as the emcee put it.

For more images of the festivities, follow @SeatradeInsider

About the Author

Anne Kalosh

Editor, Seatrade Cruise News & Senior Associate Editor, Seatrade Cruise Review

Anne Kalosh covers global stories, reporting both breaking and in-depth news on cruising's significant people, places, ships and trends. A sought-after expert on cruising, she has moderated conferences around the world, including the high-profile State of the Industry panel at Seatrade Cruise Global. She created and led the acclaimed itinerary-planning case study for Seatrade's cruise master classes held at Cambridge and Oxford universities. She has been the cruise columnist for AFAR.com, and her freelance stories have appeared in a wide range of publications, from The New York Times to The Miami Herald.

The latest cruise news, analysis and more straight to your inbox
Get the free newsletter read by industry experts

You May Also Like