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December 2009 Finds The Tahitian Princess With A New Name
The Tahitian Princess cruise ship will now be called the Ocean Princess cruise ship. The official Christening of the vessel's new name is happening December 2-18 2009.
The Tahitian Princess cruise ship was commissioned in 2002 and has been serving primarily Tahitian cruises along with the Polynesian Islands and Hawaii. The Tahitian Princess is one of the smaller ships of the Princess fleet at only 700 feet in length. Due to the desire of the Princess cruise line, the Tahitian Princess will now be serving even more wide open ocean cruises, so the company thought it fitting to rename her the Ocean Princess. 
Princess appears quite proud of there renaming of the Tahitian Princess to the Ocean Princess. However, I have been a commercial fisherman for a few decades now and know the folklore surrounding such a decision. Renaming a boat that has already been Christened is a very dangerous endeavor. Most boats that have had a name change no longer exist due to fires, lightning, and sinking. To rename a boat is a very risky move and I sincerely hope that the Ocean Princess cruise ship survives this renaming.
There are ways to properly rename a boat, but first the vessel must be purged of its old name. Every item and detail of the vessel's name must be romoved, even below deck markings or fish hatch markings. If even one detail is missed, you must start over with the entire purge and purging ceremony. Here I will briefly list parts of the ceremony and give a link for you to read it in its entirety.
From BoatSafe.com http://boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/rename.htm
“Oh mighty and great ruler of the seas and oceans, to whom all ships and we who venture upon your vast domain are required to pay homage, implore you in your graciousness to expunge for all time from your records and recollection the name (here insert the old name of your vessel) which has ceased to be an entity in your kingdom. As proof thereof, we submit this ingot bearing her name to be corrupted through your powers and forever be purged from the sea. (At this point, the prepared metal tag is dropped from the bow of the boat into the sea.)
In grateful acknowledgment of your munificence and dispensation, we offer these libations to your majesty and your court. (Pour at least half of the bottle of Champagne into the sea from East to West. The remainder may be passed among your guests.”
This clip is merely the very beginning of the ceremony. Do you think that a corporation like Princess would go through this procedure? Praying to Poseidon may seem awful silly to you, but to me it is a matter of fact after witnessing the demise of several renamed fishing boats.
The new itinerary will find the Ocean Princess cruise ship virtually all over the world. She will service Africa, Europe, Asia, and even New York and Ireland. Ocean Princess cruises will be anywhere from 14 day vacations to a whopping 63 day trip. Perhaps the Tahitian Princess is aptly being renamed the Ocean Princess, I wish her no foul luck.
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December 2009 Finds The Tahitian Princess With A New Name
