The luxurious MSC Sinfonia hosted a record 122 symbolic weddings, engagements and renewal of vows ceremonies at sea during the six-month 2010/2011 summer season, indicating a steadily increasing preference for cruise ships as a romantic venue for South Africans.
Hundreds more South Africans chose MSC Sinfonia and MSC Melody for honeymoon cruises out of Cape Town or Durban to Mozambique and the Indian Ocean islands of Mauritius, Madagascar and Reunion.
Romantic ceremonies on MSC Sinfonia were most popular for passengers from Gauteng with 46 couples from Johannesburg and 19 from Pretoria choosing to celebrate aboard ship.
A further 28 couples from Durban, 19 from Cape Town and 10 from the rest of the country also enjoyed special ceremonies at sea.
“It is such a wonderfully exclusive setting and just so romantic that many couples even opt for a ceremony in which they simply declare their love for each other,” said Allan Foggitt, marketing director of MSC Starlight Cruises.
“Better still, they can invite friends and family to join them and make it a truly unforgettable experience that is as personal, festive and exotic an occasion as they wish,” said Foggitt, adding that the biggest wedding so far aboard MSC Sinfonia included over 90 guests.
He said the guests enjoyed it so much that they were already planning a first anniversary cruise with the bride and groom next season! - Saturday Star