With the date set for Prince William and Kate Middleton's Royal Wedding how can you make sure you won't miss the big event, yet take full advantage of the stacked up bank holidays for an early summer break?
If you are thinking of booking or have already booked your cruise fear not, you can enjoy that extended holiday, without hammering your holiday time, and still see the special day as a whole host of major cruise lines have already announced their plans to broadcast the event.
So with the January deals looming and the thought of escaping those April showers for warmer or more exciting climates, fear not it is all under control. Most ships now enjoy TVs in all cabins and have plenty more in the bars dotted around the ship so the Royal Wedding will be easy to watch wherever you are. Sailing around the Med relaxing with a cocktail or enjoying the stunning Caribbean weather and waking up in your cabin, as long as there is satellite cover you won't miss the couples special day at St. Pauls on the 29th April.
Official engagement photograph of Prince William and Catherine Middleton taken by photographer Mario Testino on 25th November 2010 in the State Apartments of St. James’s Palace, London, 11 December 2010.
© 2010 Mario Testino
I have put together a list of which cruise ships will be making the most of the event and will update this as more information comes to light.
Cunard Line - Royal Wedding Plans
As you would expect the quintessentially British Cunard Line have announced plans to show the ceremony onboard in the Royal Court Theatre's big screen. As all their ships will be at sea there will be a special commemorative menu at dinner and a champagne toast to the newlyweds. The understated glamour and elegance will surely make for a wonderful day of celebrations onboard.
P&O Cruises - Royal Wedding Plans
As you would expect P&O Cruises will be televising the wedding to all 14,000 passengers onboard their ships on 29th April. The Ventura will be sailing from Southampton on the day and plans are in place for a special sail-away party, full of flag waving and of course champagne.
Royal Caribbean, Celebrity Cruises & Azamara Club Cruises
Royal Caribbean have announced that they will be showing the wedding onboard all 40 ships across all three cruise lines. Passengers departing on the Celebrity Eclipse sailing on the 29th April can take a seat in the theatre to watch the ceremony before the ship departs, and passengers onboard the Independence of the Seas will be able to watch the ceremony in Studio B, the Pyramid Lounge and the Alhambra Theatre.
“This is the first major Royal wedding for the British people in decades, and a very good reason for a celebration on-board one of our ships,” said Dominic Paul, vice president and managing director RCL Cruise Ltd, UK and Ireland. “As soon as we knew the date, we started working to ensure our guests can relax in comfort and style whilst watching one of the most globally anticipated events of 2011”.
Cruise & Maritime Royal Wedding Plans
Both the Marco Polo and Ocean Countess will be sailing from the UK on the 29th, from Tilbury and Hull respectively. Celebrations are being planned for each evening onboard, though more details are expected.
Swan Hellenic & Voyages of Discovery.- Royal Wedding Plans
Both Swan Hellenic and Voyages of Discovery will be showing the ceremony live onboard through either the BBC or SKY TV, yet any additional plans have yet to be announced.
Princess Cruises have yet to announce their plans, though you would expect them to follow sister line P&O Cruises and show the ceremony onboard. Fred Olsen have also yet to confirm their exact plans, but I couldn't expect anything less than a decent screening and a flag filled party. Thomson Cruises will more than likely be getting out the flags and affordable bubbles for the day, given their British crowd.
The moral of the story is the biggest wedding of the decade will surely been shown somewhere onboard, so watch this space as more news is announced.
