THE Queen, royal princesses, film stars and television personalities have all sent the traditional bottle of champagne crashing as they named ships in Southampton, but for the first time ever a teacher has been chosen to do the honours tomorrow.

Kathy Mellor, a middle school English teacher from the American state of Rhode Island, will go top of the class when she officially names the world's newest cruise ship, Royal Caribbean International's 90,090-ton Jewel of the Seas, in the city's Eastern Docks.

Not only has Royal Caribbean taken the unusual step of inviting a teacher to perform the naming but the shipping line is also holding the ceremony on board Jewel of the Seas rather than the more normal dockside event.

It's been quite a fortnight for Kathy as she accepts the honour of being the ship's godmother. Only last week she was at the White House in Washington DC to receive the award of America's National Teacher of the Year for 2004.

Kathy now joins a distinguished list of Royal Caribbean godmothers, including champion athletes Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Katarina Witt and Steffi Graf, and performers Whoopi Goldberg, Gloria Estefan and Lauren Bacall.

Richard Fain, Royal Caribbean's chairman and chief executive officer, said: "Each of us remembers a favourite, special teacher from our schooldays who had a great impact on our lives and opened our minds to new experiences. So it is a great privilege for us to have an extraordinary teacher like Kathy Mellor serve as godmother."

Jewel of the Seas is due to leave Southampton on Saturday on her official maiden voyage, a seven-night cruise to Spain, Portugal, France and Guernsey.

FACTFILE:

Cruise Line: Royal Caribbean International

Builders: Meyer Werft, Papenburg, Germany

Tonnage: 90,090 tons

Length: 962 feet

Width: 106 feet

Draught: 28 feet

Cruising speed: 24 knots

Passenger decks: 12

Maximum passenger capacity: 2,501

Crew: 842

Cabins: 1,055

Propulsion: two gas turbines

Passenger facilities include: six dining rooms and eating areas, various bars and lounges, theatre, rock climbing wall, swimming pool, conference centre and boardroom, library, cinema, night club, fitness centre, miniature golf course, jogging track, shopping complex and medical centre.