Elizabeth Dole To Serve as Carnival Spirit's Godmother

Elizabeth Dole will serve as godmother to Carnival Cruise Lines' new Carnival Spirit, the first in a new series of 88,500-ton vessels for the line. Mrs. Dole will officially name Carnival's newest ship at ceremony held dockside at the Port of Miami Friday, April 27.

A former president of the American Red Cross who resigned her position in 1999 to pursue her own campaign for the U.S. presidency, Mrs. Dole's public service career began with her appointment as Deputy Assistant to President Nixon for Consumer Affairs in 1971.

Over the years, she has directed U.S. public policy serving as a member of the Federal Trade Commission, Secretary of Transportation under President Reagan, and Secretary of Labor under President Bush.

Mrs. Dole's role as godmother marks the beginning of a series of introductory activities for the new Carnival Spirit. Following its two-day preview voyage, the vessel will depart Miami April 29 on its inaugural 16-day Panama Canal cruise, arriving in Los Angeles May 15.