Britain’s Cruise Line, P&O Cruises, will on Thursday celebrate the naming of its new ship, Arvia, here which Tourism and International Transport Minister, Ian Gooding-Edghill, says provides “an opportunity for Barbados to be featured” internationally.

“You can’t pay for that,” said Gooding-Edghill, adding “we have been partnering with P&O over a number of years in Barbados.

“It has been a very long, very satisfying business relationship … and I would encourage everybody to view it (the ceremony) when it is being telecast because it’s a wonderful accomplishment for Barbados and the Caribbean,” he added.

The first-ever naming of a cruise ship in the Caribbean will feature the world’s largest bottle of rum for the traditional bottle smash.

Arvia will be officially named by international performer Nicole Scherzinger in a beachside ceremony. With the well-known words “I name this ship Arvia, may God bless her and all who sail in her” a lever will release the specially commissioned bottle, which will hold 15 liters of the Barbados produced Mount Gay Black Barrel.

 “Our naming party in Barbados is a world first and so it had to be rum. Rum is the very essence of Barbados and as the world’s oldest ocean cruise line we simply had to pair with the world’s oldest running rum distillery and create what we believe to be the world’s largest bottle of rum. Mount Gay has a long and distinguished history and affiliation with the sea – it is a perfect mix,” said P&O Cruises president, Paul Ludlow.

 Mount Gay managing director Antoine Couvreur said Mount Gay has had a long historical connection with sailing.

 “At the heart of this shared story is Barbados, the birthplace of rum. Since 1703, honoring our authentic heritage has made Mount Gay the drink of choice for sailors and the maritime industry as a whole. We are delighted to partner with P&O Cruises for this historic bottle smash as we celebrate our 320th anniversary this year,” he added