Claudine Pepin to be godmother of Serina

Oceania Cruises has announced that the godmother of its upcoming ship will be Claudine Pépin, daughter of Jacques Pépin, the master chef and executive culinary director of the cruise line.

The 684-passenger Sirena is due to be launched on April 27, at a ceremony in Barcelona.

“Claudine’s passion for food, wine, travel and deep family traditions make her the perfect choice for Sirena’s godmother,” said Jason Montague, president and chief operating officer for Oceania Cruises. “If the culinary world had a royal family, it would be the Pépin family.  As we continue to expand upon our finest cuisine at sea offerings, we are excited to deepen our relationship with the Pépin family and absolutely thrilled to have Claudine serve as godmother for Sirena.”

Jacques Pépin has been involved in the cruise line since its inception and has been the personal chef to three French heads of state, including Charles de Gaulle. Claudine has since joined her father on board to help co-host culinary demonstrations.

Both Claudine and Jacques will be present during the ship’s maiden voyage, after the bottle-breaking ceremony in Barcelona.

During the maiden voyage, Claudine will give cooking demonstrations and sign her latest cookbook, Let’s Cook French, which all guests will receive for free.

“It’s truly an honour to be Sirena’s godmother, and to celebrate its christening and maiden voyage with my entire family,” said Claudine. “We’ll be cooking together, enjoying delicious food – and, of course, laughing as much as possible. It will be a pleasure to share this special experience with all guests aboard Sirena.”