BRITISH CAPTAINS WANT IN ON ‘WEDDINGS AT SEA’
Skippers long for law amendments to legally marry couples on their ships
The British want their marrying ships back.
In order to entice them to return, laws could be amended to allow British cruise ship captains to marry couples at sea. Captains of many ships registered in other countries are allowed to perform weddings and three years ago, British icon Cunard switched to such a flag of convenience (Bermuda) in order to perform “weddings at sea.”
If the Brits change the law, ceremonies would be allowed only on the ships that leave or return to British ports.
Would that be enough to hoist the ensign?
Britain not only wants to see the flag flying but, I’m sure, would love to recover that tax base.
I’m not sure how the whole “wedding at sea” thing started. Maybe The Love Boat did it, or perhaps when movie stars Humphrey Bogart and Katharine Hepburn were married in The African Queen — they were scheduled to be executed on a German gunboat, convinced the captain to marry them and eventually escaped.
Now there’s a honeymoon for the ages. Something that will be coming back is Carnival Live. In an exclusive interview with me, Christine Duffy — president and CEO of the largest cruise line in the world — said that although Carnival has yet to name the acts, “Carnival Live” will return in 2016.
Carnival Live performers this year included: Heart, Lionel Richie, Journey, The Band Perry, Boston, Styx, Rascal Flatts, Smokey Robinson and Little Big Town. (Past performers included the likes of Jennifer Hudson and Lady Antebellum.) They (and others) boarded select Carnival ships in port. The performers come on the ship during the day, hang out for photos (extra cost for passengers) at 8 p.m. or so, start rocking at 9 p.m., and then head off to a hotel and wait for the next Carnival ship.
Next week, I’ll have more from my interview with Duffy on what Carnival has in store in the future.
Silversea is the latest cruise line to join the fight for your luxury dollars. Contemporary suites dressed in earth tones and eight restaurants, including three outdoor venues, are among the newly announced features of the cruise line’s next new ship, Silver Muse.
The line is claiming the highest number of large (and connecting) suites for family and friends: 36 square metres is a lot of room and that’s only in the Classic Veranda Suite. The biggest is the Owners Suite, at 129 square metres.
The Muse will carry 596 passengers when it starts sailing in 2017. Itineraries should be announced soon. Leading restaurant row will be Atlantide, an elegant European-style restaurant that will feature seafood, fish and steaks. Then there’s Relais & Châteaux, the outdoor hot rocks venue where diners will grill their own fresh seafood and prime cuts, followed by La Terrazza, a slow food-inspired, à-la-carte restaurant.
And finally, complaining might not work with your local city council, but it does in cruising.
Carnival’s policy has been to stop passengers from bringing soft drinks in cans onto ships. But the people spoke — and objected — and now “a small quantity of non-alcoholic beverages (i.e., sparkling water, sodas, juice, and milk) packaged in cans or cartons may be brought on board.”
This news comes from Carnival’s senior cruise director, John Heald, who explains that “a small quantity is considered a maximum of 12 sealed cans/cartons of 12 ounces each or less per person.” Visit portsandbows.com, sponsored by Expedia Cruise-Ship-Centers, 1-800-707-7327, www.cruiseshipcenters.com, for daily updates on the latest cruise news, best deals and behind-the-scenes stories from the industry. You can also sign up for an email newsletter on the site for even more cruise information. Phil Reimer may be contacted directly at portsandbows@gmail.com.