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.
