The large cruise line Royal Caribbean has jumped on the PR bandwagon of a clever Brit to come up with names for its newest ship.
Twenty-six-year-old James Hand hit the headlines when—during an online survey to name an Antarctic survey vessel—he came up with the name Boaty McBoatface, which immediately took the lead in online voting. The viral nature of his suggestion was so great that the voting website crashed for a period of time.
Recognizing the opportunity for some free publicity, Royal Caribbean has invited Hand to enjoy a free cruise on its newest vessel, Harmony of the Seas, and work with the team assigned to name their next cruise ship.
“I’m really excited Royal Caribbean has given me the opportunity to test out my boat-naming prowess on its fleet,” Hand told USA Today. “The offer came as a massive surprise, as has all of the interest since I submitted the name Boaty McBoatface.”
According to an article in the March 31, 2016, issue of USA Today, “Hand said he’s never been on a cruise before and is looking forward to experiencing Harmony of the Seas. Scheduled to sail for the first time with paying passengers on May 22, the ship is one of five Royal Caribbean has on order, three of which have yet to be named.”
In a recent tweet, Hand called the whole thing “bonkers.”