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Love at Sea

Love at Sea


Alison Hargreaves
Alison Hargreaves Updated:
4th of July 2022

The P+O cruise line is a well known British fleet of cruise ships. In addition to their traditional sun cruises, which are a great option for a stress-free honeymoon, they offer a number of mini cruises from Southampton suitable for hen weekends or romantic pre-wedding getaways. We had a look at their fleet as each ship serves a different audience:

 
Brittania is the newest ship in the fleet and is the only one unable to offer weddings at sea. One of their largest boats and suitable for all ages, it keeps a traditional feel but with a modern twist. 
[caption id="attachment_9320" align="alignnone" width="725"]P&O Cruises Britannia P&O Cruises Britannia[/caption]
 
Ventura and her smaller sister Azura are both great for newcomers and as such they attract a younger crowd.
[caption id="attachment_9321" align="alignnone" width="731"]Ventura. Beachcomber Pool Ventura. Beachcomber Pool[/caption] [caption id="attachment_9322" align="alignnone" width="736"]Ventura. Ramblas Ventura. Ramblas[/caption]
 
Oriana, Arcadia and the family-friendly Aurora all have a traditional feel and customers that return year after year. Oceana is a "sun chaser" with an itinerary based around being in the best destination for that time of year, but still has time for a few mini cruises in the winter. Her fly/cruise packages are great for anyone wanting to get straight to the sunshine!
 
[caption id="attachment_9325" align="alignnone" width="725"]Oceana. Starlights Oceana. Starlights[/caption] [caption id="attachment_9326" align="alignnone" width="730"]Oriana. Outside Stateroom with Balcony Oriana. Outside Stateroom with Balcony[/caption]
 
The three bigger ships, Brittania, Ventura and Azura appeal to a younger audience that the others as they have a wider choice of restaurants and bars, bigger spas and a large retreat area as part of their spas.
 
[caption id="attachment_9328" align="alignnone" width="731"]Ventura Ventura[/caption]
 
Getting Married at Sea
The law allows for weddings to take place at sea as long as the cruise ship is in international waters, defined as 12 or more miles from shore, as long as the cruise ship has been registered in certain countries. With the exception of Brittania, all the ships in the P&O fleet are registered in Bermuda. This allows the captain of the ship, or his representative if the captain is needed for operational duties, to carry out legal weddings. Same sex weddings are not currently permitted on board and weddings can't take place on the ship when it is port.
 
All the ships, except Brittania, offer wedding packages complete with invitations, flowers, music and the services of a wedding co-ordinator on cruises of 7 nights or more.
 
Images: P & O Cruises

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Alison Hargreaves

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Alison Hargreaves

Alison is the founder of Guides for Brides and Beyond Weddings. She has extensive knowledge of the most popular wedding and honeymoon destinations in the UK and overseas as well as researching, visiting and experiencing many unique locations for couples looking for something really different, from iconic cruise ships and train journeys to remote eco safari lodges.

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