Wilby will perform at the launch of the new Royal Caribbean vessel later this month

Royal Caribbean International has announced that travel agent Emma Wilby from Sunderland is to be the godmother for the world’s newest and most advanced cruise ship Anthem of the Seas.

Upholding a timeless maritime tradition, Wilby will officially christen Anthem of the Seas and perform a special song for more than 1,300 invited special guests and dignitaries at the ship’s inaugural ceremony on April 20th, 2015.

Designed to revolutionise the industry, Anthem of the Seas will sail its inaugural season from Southampton before the ship repositions to its permanent homeport of New York in November.

“We are delighted to welcome Emma Wilby into the Royal Caribbean family as Anthem of the Seas’ godmother,” said Richard Fain, chairman, Royal Caribbean Cruises.

“Emma is among many submissions from truly talented travel agents across the UK and the judging was very difficult.

“We thank all travel agents, who we value and are honouring by naming a fellow travel agent as the godmother of our newest ship.”

In addition to being a travel agent for Thomson in Elgin Scotland, Wilby is a military wife and budding singer who performs in the Military Wives Choir in Kinloss, Scotland, where she is based with her husband, a Royal Engineer for the British Army.

The godmother role is a lifetime title bestowed upon an individual, who figuratively presides over the ship and imparts good luck and divine protection over the vessel and all that sail aboard.

Traditionally, godmothers have celebrity status or even royal connections, such as Royal Caribbean godmothers Gloria Estefan, Jane Seymour, Whoopi Goldberg and Steffi Graf, to name a few.