Valentine's Day might be over, but that is not likely to stop couples on P&O Cruises' ships tying the knot. Apparently they have been doing it in ever-increasing numbers since the line started offering weddings at sea in 2006.
Until that point, only sister cruiseline Princess Cruises offered weddings at sea, with the captain doing the honours. In fact, I am one of the thousands to wed on a Princess ship. My wedding (pictured) was on Grand Princess, between Copenhagen and Stockholm. You can read all about it in the Daily Telegraph.
Some 371 couples said "I do" on P&O ships in 2008 - that's a third more than in 2007. Why? Because it's different, it's romantic, it's easy (you just say what you want and someone else does all the work) - and it's also a bargain compared with getting hitched in the UK.
Apparently an average UK wedding now costs £19,200. P&O weddings at sea packages start from just under £1,000. Of course you have to pay for the cruise, but hey. That's the honeymoon taken care of at the same time.
Anyway, the reason P&O Cruises got all romantic in time for Valentine's Day is to announce they have launched a dedicated weddings website. If wannabe brides and grooms need help planning their big day at sea, this is the place to look.
Jane Archer
