THE world’s biggest bottle of rum will be smashed to name P&O Cruises’ newest ship in the Caribbean next week – specially commissioned to reflect maritime heritage and tradition.

Arvia will be officially named by the ship’s godmother, chart star Nicole Scherzinger, in a Barbados beachside ceremony on Thursday March 16, and broadcast live on YouTube. 

Read more: Nicole Scherzinger is new ship’s godmother

With the time-honoured words “I name this ship Arvia, may God bless her and all who sail in her” she will release the bottle holding a whopping 15 litres of Mount Gay Black Barrel.

It’s an apt choice. Ships brought rum from Barbados to every port in the old world and it was during these long voyages that barrel ageing was discovered.

The bottle to be used for the naming is a Demi John, traditionally used from the 18th Century to store and transport rum.

Mount Gay Black Barrel is crafted from a blend of intense and aromatic rums, distilled in traditional copper pot and column stills, matured between three to seven years in American whiskey casks and then finished for six months in deeply charred Bourbon casks.

“Our naming party in Barbados is a world first and so it had to be rum,” says P&O Cruises president Paul Ludlow. “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.

“Seafarers have always believed that breaking a bottle as the ship was launched afforded it luck and good fortune for the many journeys that lay ahead. Spirits were traditionally used for these ceremonies and it is only in more recent years that this has been replaced by Champagne.

“We are delighted to partner with Mount Gay and we will be proud to have a replica bottle remain with us on board Arvia to sail around the world as a reminder of this very special day.”

Mount Gay managing director Antoine Couvreur adds: “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, honouring 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.”

Arvia’s naming party will be hosted by DJs Trevor Nelson and Sara Cox and will feature an exclusive performance from Olly Murs as well as a closing finale performance Nicole Scherzinger.

Read more: Olly Murs to perform at Arvia naming ceremony

To watch the event live on YouTube, watch from 7.30pm UK time on Thursday March 16 at https://bit.ly/arviasnamingceremony