Cruising definitely went red carpet this year. Ships have always aspired to glamour, especially when a famous “godmother” is involved in order to bring luck and protection to the vessel (and yes, there might be complimentary sailings involved too). But 2019 has been a standout, especially when Scenic Eclipse was christened in New York on September 10 by Dame Helen Mirren.
Cunard delivered similar Oscar power to the seas in August, when Queen Mary 2 played host to director Steven Soderbergh and actor Meryl Streep, along with their film crew, on the ship’s New York to Southampton trans-Atlantic crossing. They were shooting scenes for the movie Let Them All Talk and passengers so inclined had the option to appear as extras.
Fiona CarruthersTravel editorFiona Carruthers has written and edited travel for the Financial Review for almost a decade. She has held senior roles with ABC Radio National, Deutsche Welle Radio, TIME and The Australian, and was deputy editor of Traveller. Email Fiona at fcarruthers@afr.com
