Thomson agent shines at Anthem naming ceremony
Thomson travel agent Emma Wilby sang Katy Perry’s hit Firework at the naming ceremony of Royal Caribbean’s new ship Anthem of the Seas yesterday.
The 27-year-old, who works for Thomson in Elgin, Scotland, was chosen to be godmother to the ship, which sailed from Southampton for a two-night inaugural cruise last night. 
She sang with Britain’s Got Talent stars, Welsh choir Only Boys Aloud, to celebrate the ship’s naming, watched by colleagues and her mother and father.
Ms Wilby is a military wife and budding singer who performs in the Military Wives Choir in Kinloss, Scotland.
Her husband, a royal engineer for the British Army, was unable to attend but sent a video message.
RCI chairman and CEO Richard D. Fain said the company wanted to do something different with the godmother role this time.
Traditionally, ship godmothers have celebrity status or royal connections.
He said Ms Wilby was chosen for her role as an agent, her singing talent, and her drama therapy work with children.
The Reading Scottish Pipe Band also performed at the ceremony, which was attended by more than 1,300 agents, press and other guests and dignitaries.
Anthem of the Seas spans 18 decks and can carry 4,180 guests at double occupancy in 2,090 staterooms.
The ship has a number of stand-out features, such as a robotic barman and a viewing pod (pictured here).
She will sail out of Southampton for her inaugural season before departing for New York and her new homeport of Cape Liberty Cruise Port in Bayonne.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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