Cunard & P&O Cruises To Offer Same-Sex Marriages At Sea

From next year both Cunard & P&O Cruises will hold same-sex marriages at sea, following a recent Supreme Court ruling which has allowed the ceremonies to take place in Bermuda.

With the exception of Britannia all of P&O Cruises‘ ships are registered in Bermuda, whilst Cunard‘s three ships are also all registered there, meaning they can offer weddings at sea to same-sex couples.

The very first is set to be conducted on P&O Cruises‘ Azura on a Caribbean cruise in January 2018, with Cunard’s coming a bit later in November of next year.

The ceremonies will be performed by the ship’s captain or deputy captain and the marriage licence will be issued by Bermuda.

P&O Cruises‘ senior vice president, Paul Ludlow, said: “I am delighted that following this much anticipated change in the legalities we are now the first British cruise line to be able to arrange same sex weddings onboard.

“Weddings at sea are very romantic and getting married by the Captain (or deputy captain) in the middle of the ocean is an unforgettable experience.”

P&O Cruises‘ Weddings at Sea packages start from £1,200 and Cunard prices start from £2,800 on board Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria.

Simon Palethorpe, Cunard senior vice-president, said: “This is very welcome news and I am delighted that we have become one of the first British cruise lines to take a booking for a same-sex wedding. We look forward to welcoming this couple and many other couples too.

Azura will host P&O’s first same-sex marriage [Image: P&O Cruises]