Same Sex Marriages At Sea – Another Cruise Industry First.

Another first for the cruise industry with the announcement that legal same-sex weddings at sea will become reality in 2018. P&O Cruises recently became the first British cruise line to offer same sex weddings at sea, with ceremonies beginning in January 2018.

The change comes after a court victory in Bermuda, where the country’s Supreme Court revoked a ban on same-sex weddings.

UK law forbids any marriage to be carried out at sea but as the company’s fleet is primarily registered in Bermuda (except for Britannia), it is able to offer legally-recognised same-sex unions at sea for the first time. Couples tying the knot on P&O ships will be issued a Bermudan marriage certificate.

The first ceremony is set to be held in the Caribbean in January 2018, aboard the ship Azura. P&O Cruises exec 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 on board. Weddings at sea are very romantic and getting married by the Captain in the middle of the ocean is an unforgettable experience.”

According to the company, the wedding ceremony will usually be performed by the ship’s Captain, unless they are “unavailable”. The first same-sex coupled tied the knot in Bermuda earlier this year, after the country’s Supreme Court ruled that a ban on same-sex unions is a discriminatory violation of human rights. The Bermudan government subsequently confirmed it would not appeal against the ruling.

However, the issue may not remain settled indefinitely. An MP has already introduced a bill which would re-ban same-sex marriage in Bermuda.The bill, which is likely to win support from anti-LGBT lawmakers in Bermuda, could however risk derailing the plans entirely.

So there you go, the times they are a changing (again!).

Let me know your thoughts.

Bye for now.