She Deserves a Proper Blessing.
For as long as sailors have put to sea, they have named their vessels and asked the water for safe passage. We help you honor that tradition — beautifully, intentionally, and exactly to order.
The sea has always demanded ceremony.
The naming of a vessel is one of the oldest maritime traditions on earth. Ancient Greeks poured wine into the sea and invoked the gods of wind and water. Vikings whispered the names of their ships into the prow before the first voyage. In the Royal Navy, a bottle of champagne broken across the bow was a blessing and a bond — the ship's life beginning in an act of joy and intention.
The tradition holds that a vessel has a spirit. She carries the name given to her, and with it, the wishes and prayers of everyone who loved her into being. A proper commissioning ceremony marks the beginning of that bond — between captain, crew, and the water she'll call home.
"May all who sail upon her be blessed with fair winds and following seas."
At Ishkeesh, we believe every boat — not just the grand yachts — deserves to be commissioned with intention. Whether she's a 22-foot center console or a 45-foot sailboat, her naming is a moment worth honoring.
Every ceremony is built for you.
Choose the experience that fits your vessel, your occasion, and your vision. Both begin with a conversation.
The Blessing Kit
Starting at $695 · Ship anywhereEverything you need to lead a beautiful, meaningful ceremony yourself — or to give as the most considered gift a boat owner has ever received.
- Vessel Blessing & Commissioning Kit
- Wax-sealed commissioning scroll (personalized)
- Saint Christopher medallion
- A Mariner's Blessing — printed on card stock
- Certificate of Commissioning
- Travel included locally — quoted beyond New Orleans
- Champagne recommendation letter
- Step-by-step ceremony guide
Guided Ceremony
Starting at $695 · AnywhereWe come to you. A fully coordinated, on-the-water commissioning ceremony — led by Ishkeesh and built entirely around your vessel, your people, and your moment.
- Everything in the Blessing Kit
- On-site ceremony coordination
- Custom ceremony program
- Personalized engraved ship's bell (add-on)
- Live music (add-on)
- Travel beyond Anywhere (add-on)
- Photography coordination (add-on)
Every detail, considered.
Ceremonies are priced to order. Add what matters to you and leave out what doesn't. There's no template here — only yours.
Engraved Ship's Bell
Cast in brass, copper, or blackened bronze. Hand-engraved with your vessel name, hailing port, and commissioning date. Made to order in 2–4 weeks.
From $89 — add to any ceremonyLive Music
A solo guitarist or small ensemble to mark the moment. We coordinate with local New Orleans musicians for a ceremony that sounds as good as it feels.
Quoted on requestTravel Ceremonies
Your vessel doesn't have to be in New Orleans. We travel for the right ceremony. Whether it's a Florida marina or a yard in the Chesapeake, we'll be there.
Quoted by locationPhotography
Ceremony coordination with a professional photographer so the day is documented the way it deserves to be. These are heirloom moments.
Quoted on requestLarger Ceremonies
Crew parties, marina events, multi-vessel commissioning days. We scale with you — full coordination for gatherings from intimate to a full dock celebration.
Quoted on requestCustom Ceremony Script
A fully written, personalized ceremony program with the vessel's history, the captain's words, and the maritime blessing — yours to keep and frame.
Quoted on request
The most beautiful gift a boat owner has ever received.
The Vessel Blessing & Commissioning Kit is the heart of every Ishkeesh ceremony. It's also the perfect gift — for a new boat, a renaming, a milestone season, or simply because someone you love has a boat and a story worth marking.
- Commissioning scroll — hand-personalized with vessel name & hailing port
- Wax seal in Ishkeesh anchor crest
- Saint Christopher medallion — patron saint of travelers
- A Mariner's Blessing — printed on heavyweight card stock
- Certificate of Commissioning — ready to frame
- Travel included locally — quoted beyond New Orleans
- Champagne recommendation letter
- Ceremony guide for self-led blessings
From first message to eight bells.
Tell Us About Her
Send us a note. Vessel name, hailing port, and what you're envisioning. Every ceremony starts with a conversation.
We Build Your Ceremony
We quote your ceremony to order — base blessing plus whatever add-ons matter to you. No packages that don't fit.
We Prepare Your Kit
Your personalized scroll, certificate, and medallion are prepared. The bell is engraved. Everything arrives in time.
Eight Bells & Away
The ceremony. The blessing. The moment she receives her name — properly, beautifully, and for keeps.
Ready to commission your vessel?
Tell us about her. We'll take it from there — built to order, exactly the way it should be.