Cunard, P&O UK and Princess to offer same-sex marriages at sea

We’re sorry, this feature is currently unavailable. We’re working to restore it. Please try again later.

Advertisement

This was published 6 years ago

Cunard, P&O UK and Princess to offer same-sex marriages at sea

By Sally Macmillan
Tying the Knot: Captain Peter Philpott on Cunard's Queen Mary 2. Cunard is among the first cruise lines to offer same-sex marriages at sea.

Tying the Knot: Captain Peter Philpott on Cunard's Queen Mary 2. Cunard is among the first cruise lines to offer same-sex marriages at sea.

Tying the knot

While Australia grapples with the same-sex marriage debate, cruise ships registered in Bermuda can now offer same-sex wedding ceremonies for couples who want to get married at sea. Three cruise lines under the Carnival Corporation umbrella – Cunard, P&O UK and Princess – are planning to offer same-sex weddings from next year, with the first ceremony taking place on board P&O UK's Azura in January. Princess has 13 ships registered in Bermuda and P&O UK has seven. Over the past five years, more than 250 couples have been married by the ship's captain on Cunard's three ships, Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth. "Cunard is proud to become among the first cruise lines to offer same-sex marriages at sea," said Josh Leibowitz, senior vice president, Cunard North America. See cunardline.com.au

Cruise news

Within days of each other, luxury lines Seabourn and Silversea released updates on their latest ventures: a traditional coin and launch ceremony was held at Italy's Fincantieri shipyard for Seabourn Ovation while Silversea announced it had signed an order for a ship that will be identical to 2017's Silver Muse. Tentatively called Silver Moon, it will also be built by Fincantieri – how I wish I had bought shares in the shipbuilding industry 10 years ago!

Both ships, which accommodate about 600 passengers each, cost millions of dollars to build and the companies wouldn't be investing all that money unless they were confident they would make a profit. And while economies of scale mean megaships are cheaper to build, per berth, the demand for boutique, luxury and expedition style cruising is clearly strong enough to justify the increasing number of small ships on shipbuilders' orderbooks.

German company Hapag-Lloyd Cruises has two more five-star expedition ships underway, which are due to launch in April and October 2019; Norwegian line Hurtigruten has contracted to build two hybrid-powered expedition ships for delivery in 2018 and 2019; Swedish line Star Clippers' 300-passenger sailing ship Flying Clipper is scheduled to launch early next year; and the sister ship to Regent Seven Seas' Explorer, "the most luxurious ship ever built", will set sail in 2020.

Meanwhile, French luxury-expedition line Ponant is doubling its fleet with four new 184-passenger Explorer class ships, the first of which will make its maiden voyage in Iceland in June 2018. Le Laperouse will introduce the revolutionary underwater Blue Eye Lounge, where passengers can view real-time screenings of the undersea world while sitting in "body listening sofas".

Scenic's first oceangoing ship, the 228-passenger Scenic Eclipse, which launches next August, brings some seriously luxe toys on board – two helicopters and a seven-seater submarine being the headline attractions – very similar to Crystal Cruises' Endeavor, which is coming in 2019. Another Australian company, Coral Expeditions, which has operated adventure cruises for 34 years, is also investing; it has ordered a 120-passenger ship for 2019.

It seems that every savvy travel company has its eye on cruising these days. Upscale hotel brand Ritz-Carlton, owned by the massive Marriott group, recently announced it is going into the cruise business and is planning to build a fleet of three – maybe five – 298-passenger ultra-luxury superyacht-style vessels, with the first one due to launch towards the end of 2019. Myanmar's The Strand Hotel already has a boutique vessel on hand for guests who want to explore the Irrawaddy River.

Advertisement

What does it mean for cruisers? More choice, if you have the dosh – and without doubt, the continuing elevation of the bar at all levels of cruising.

SHORE THING

THE PORT Amsterdam, The Netherlands

WHO GOES THERE Ocean lines: Celebrity, HAL, MSC, Oceania, Regent Seven Seas, Royal Caribbean, Viking Ocean. River lines: Crystal, Viking, Amadeus, APT, Avalon, Uniworld, Scenic, Tauck, Emerald (Evergreen), Riviera Travel.

WHY WE LOVE IT Amsterdam has thousands of historic houses, churches and monuments, picturesque tree-lined canals, world-famous art galleries and museums, and a thriving pub and restaurant scene.

TAKE A TOUR OR GO IT ALONE? Ocean and some river ships dock at the modern Passenger Terminal Amsterdam (PTA), within easy reach of Centraal​ Station (the main link to Schipol Airport) and about 10 minutes' walk to the city centre. Amsterdam is eminently walkable and strolling along one of the 165 canals is a free and enjoyable way to see the city. The main canals in the UNESCO World-Heritage listed Canal Ring are Herengracht, Prinsengracht, Keizersgracht and Singel. Several companies operate canal boat tours – another great way to see the city, especially for first-time visitors. Amsterdam Canal Cruises (see amsterdamcanalcruises.nl also runs a half-day bus trip into the countryside that includes a visit to the windmill village of Zaanse Schans and the historic towns of Edam and Volendam.

MUST SEE Museum Van Loon, a traditional canal house; Anne Frank House; Rijskmuseum; Van Gogh Museum; tulips in springtime at the Keukenhof gardens.

MUST EAT Traditional Dutch specialties include bitterballen (deep-friend crispy meatballs), cheese soup, raw herring, Indonesian rijstaffel, and stroopwafel (waffles filled with a caramel syrup). Foodies should head for Restaurant de Kas, a restaurant set in a former greenhouse — ingredients are picked from the surrounding gardens.

NEED TO KNOW River ships tie up at one of four docks, Ruijterkade Oost, Javakade, Steiger 17 & 18, or Westerdoksdijk, so make sure you know exactly where to find your ship.

ESSENTIALS iamsterdam.com/en/

MYTH: I DON'T NEED INSURANCE TO CRUISE LOCALLY.

REALITY: You do. Make sure your travel insurance covers you for medical expenses, luggage loss and lost deposits if you have to cancel unexpectedly.

NEWS

All aboard the Orient-Express

From next year, Azamara Club Cruises is offering a new pre and post Land and Sea program in Europe. Passengers can extend their holiday with a luxurious rail journey on the famed Venice Simplon-Orient Express, from Venice to London or vice versa. The train's original 1920s art deco carriages have been beautifully restored, with sumptuous sleeping cars, three elegant restaurant cars, a bar car and champagne bar. Classic French dishes are prepared on board and served in three and four-course lunches and dinners. Two different routes, the Gotthard and Alberg routes, take in spectacular views of the Swiss Lakes and Dolomite mountains. Azamara also offers Wilderness Express land and sea packages in Alaska and in 2019 will expand the program further with Canadian rail journeys on the Canadian Rocky Mountaineer.

See azamaraclubcruises.com

Tying the knot

While Australia grapples with the same-sex marriage debate, cruise ships registered in Bermuda can now offer same-sex wedding ceremonies for couples who want to get married at sea. Three cruise lines under the Carnival Corporation umbrella – Cunard, P&O UK and Princess – are planning to offer same-sex weddings from next year, with the first ceremony taking place on board P&O UK's Azura in January. Princess has 13 ships registered in Bermuda and P&O UK has seven. Over the past five years, more than 250 couples have been married by the ship's captain on Cunard's three ships, Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth. "Cunard is proud to become among the first cruise lines to offer same-sex marriages at sea," said Josh Leibowitz, senior vice president, Cunard North America. See cunardline.com.au

Sign up for the Traveller Deals newsletter

Get exclusive travel deals delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up now.

Most viewed on Traveller

Loading