Cruising backs YES

THE Australian cruise industry heavyweights have moved to express their support for yesterday’s results of the same sex marriage survey.

Ahead of the announcement, Princess Cruises’ Golden

Princess sailed into Sydney Harbour yesterday morning with a huge rainbow flag covering the front deck

(pictured) above. The brand’s parent company, Carnival Australia said it looked forward to all Australians having marriage equality.

“Carnival Australia joined with other organisations in advocating a ‘yes’ vote in the survey because we saw marriage equality as the right thing to do and a matter of fundamental fairness,” said Carnival Australia executive chairman Ann Sherry.

Sherry said Carnival Australia’s lines whose ships currently host onboard weddings will “soon be able to offer these ceremonies to all Australians with full equality under marriage laws”.

Last month Celebrity Cruises began offering same-sex marriage at sea following a vote in the line’s flag state of Malta ( CW 12 Oct).

Celebrity Cruises Australia & NZ md Adam Armstrong said the line was “absolutely thrilled” with the results.

“The resounding yes from Australia is inspiring, and Celebrity Cruises is celebrating with all the Australians who took a stand for the LGBTI community these past few months,” he said.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) also voiced its support, after backing the yes vote in Oct ( CW 10 Oct).

“Just as NCLH encourages equal rights and opportunities for all our employees and customers, we also believe in equal rights for the entire community, irrespective of their gender, age, sexual preference, nationality or religion,” said Steve Odell, svp and md Asia Pacific for NCLH.