BARCELONA -- Chef and cookbook author Claudine Pépin on Wednesday christened a new ship for Oceania Cruises during a heart-warming ceremony in Barcelona.
The co-host of a series of PBS cooking shows, who has long ties to the food-focused line, pulled the lever of a brass ship's telegraph to send a champagne bottle smashing against the hull of the 684-passenger Sirena -- a former Princess vessel that Oceania has purchased and revamped.
"Our family has proudly felt like a part of the Oceania family for many years," Pépin said from a stage in front of Sirena before pulling the lever. "I'm looking forward to many wonderful and delicious moments on board."
Pépin is the daughter of famed chef Jacques Pépin, who has serve as Oceania's culinary director since its founding in 2003. Both she and her father have been a frequent presence on the line's annual Jacques Pépin Cruise, which is known for culinary events and cooking demonstrations.
The elder Pépin sat proudly in the front row during the ceremony, and he took the stage along with his daughter and other family members when it came time to smash the champagne. The extended Pépin family is sailing on Sirena's maiden voyage, which kicked off Wednesday after the ceremony.
Claudine Pépin will offer cooking demonstrations during the voyage and hold a book signing for her new book, Let's Cook French.
Originally built in 1999 for now-defunct Renaissance Cruises, Sirena had been sailing for Princess for more than a decade, first as Tahitian Princess and later as Ocean Princess.
Taking place under cloudy skies at the Barcelona Cruise Terminal, Wednesday's ceremony included a lively Spanish dance performance as well as a touching speech by Oceania's founder, Frank Del Rio, who now is CEO of the 13-year-old line's parent company, Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. Del Rio noted Oceania got its start at the very port where Sirena was docked.
"It seems just like yesterday we were here in Barcelona christening our very first ship," Del Rio said, recalling a similar ceremony for the line's original vessel, Regatta, in 2003.
Sirena is a sister to Regatta and two other former Renaissance vessels already in the Oceania fleet, Insignia and Nautica. That prompted Oceania president Jason Montague, who also spoke at the christening, to quip the company was making history by naming two sister ships 13 years apart.
Sirena will offer many of the same amenities as Regatta, Insignia and Nautica including a Canyon Ranch SpaClub; deck-top pool area; six lounges and bars; and a small casino. But it's not a carbon copy of the other ships. After taking possession of Sirena last month, Oceania spent nearly $50 million on an overhaul that brought a new Asian eatery, Red Ginger, and a new Italian steakhouse called Tuscan Steak. Sirena's forward-facing observation lounge, Horizons, also received a major makeover as did the vessel's Owner's and Vista suites. All cabins received new bedding and other soft goods.
Scroll through the carousel below for USA TODAY Cruise's new video tour of Sirena's sister ship Nautica.
