Ms Ross was due to christen Star of the Seas at a glittering ceremony at Port Canaveral in Florida on Wednesday but has pulled out due to “unforeseen circumstances”.
The cruise line announced over the weekend that research astronaut, payload specialist and mum Kellie Gerardi will be stepping into the role.
A Florida native, Gerardi grew up just hours from Port Canaveral and in 2023 flew aboard Virgin Galactic’s Galactic 05 mission, becoming the 90th woman to travel into space.
She is also widely recognised as author and social media personality, known for her groundbreaking work in bioastronautics and STEM advocacy.
“I’m honoured to join Royal Caribbean as godmother of Star of the Seas – a tradition that is close to my heart and a spirit that spans both sea and space,” said Ms Gerardi.
“A vacation on Star is the perfect combination of two of my biggest passions in life, a spirit of exploration and quality time with family, and I can’t wait for this journey to begin.”
Royal Caribbean says Gerardi’s “spirit of exploration and ability to inspire” makes her a natural fit for the role.
The naming ceremony comes just days after Star of the Seas (above) made her debut arrival in Florida, greeted with a water-cannon salute and a crowd of more than 2,000 Royal Caribbean staff.
Following a four-night preview cruise to Perfect Day at CocoCay, the ship will begin year-round seven-night Caribbean itineraries from its homeport of Port Canaveral.
Star of the Seas is the second vessel in the cruise line’s Icon class, among the largest passenger ships ever built. She can host more than 5,600 guests and 2,300 crew, with up to 7,600 passengers in maximum occupancy.
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