Travel exec to be Godmother of new Celebrity ship
Celebrity Cruises has appointed travel executive Michelle Morgan to serve as Godmother of its new ship, Celebrity Silhouette.
Morgan is president and CEO of Signature Travel Network, a cooperative of North American and Canadian travel agents.
It is the first time an industry executive has been chosen to serve as Godmother of a Celebrity Cruises ship.
“We are thrilled and honoured to have a woman of Michelle’s calibre serve as Godmother of this exceptional ship,” said Richard D. Fain, chairman of Celebrity Cruises and chairman and CEO of parent company Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
“Her achievements in business are remarkable, and her personal life is as inspiring as her professional life.”
Like her mother – and each of Celebrity's Solstice Class Godmothers – Morgan has courageously battled breast cancer.
While working, she has endured two series of chemotherapy, surgery and radiation.
“I learned many lessons as I went through the treatment,” said Morgan.
“I found that if I continued with my life and work, and behaved positively – showing unflinching confidence and optimism to my family, friends, co-workers, and doctors, and banishing any doubts or negative thoughts – it would take over the core of my belief system, and it did.
“More importantly, my family, friends and industry friends brought me endless joy and hope.”
Celebrity Cruises has supported breast cancer causes since 2008 and will introduce a variety of fundraising activities to further support breast cancer research this year.
Morgan will preside over Celebrity Silhouette's naming ceremony to be held in Hamburg, Germany, on 21 July.
Following the two-night naming cruise, the ship will sail from Hamburg to Civitavecchia (for Rome) where it will offer 12-night roundtrip Mediterranean/Holy Land voyages until October.
The ship will offer Celebrity's first Solstice Class sailings from the Northeast of America beginning in November 2011, when Celebrity Silhouette offers 12-night Caribbean cruises roundtrip from the port of Cape Liberty (Bayonne) in New Jersey.
by Bev Fearis
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
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