Norwegian breaks tradition, picks man to christen ship

Christening ships is a long and storied tradition that goes back at least 4,000 years, to when the Vikings offered up human sacrifices to appease the Gods and bring good luck. Today’s christening ceremonies are a lot more rarefied. Usually some famous actress or personality breaks a bottle of Champagne across the hull of a ship before its inaugural voyage. She becomes known as the ship’s ”godmother,” and virtually anyone can be picked, so as long as she is a “she.” But now, Miami-based Norwegian Cruise Line is taking the tradition into a whole new era: It recently selected a man to christen its Pride of Hawaii ship May 20 in Los Angeles.