north shore news z = Say ‘I do’ aboard the Grand Princess AS the old song goes, It Had To Be You... and who else but Princess Cruises of Love Boat fame would come up with the first wedding- at-sea ceremony that’s legal? Repeat legal, and not just for the duration of the cruise. Setting will be the cruising industry's first wedding chapel (this is going to take a lot of superlatives) on the world’s biggest and most expensive passenger ship, the 109,000-ron, $600 million Grand Princess. Says Rick James, senior ice-president of Princess Cruises: “What could be more fitting than the largest Love Boat debuting the first wedding program at sea? Not only are we offering Passengers an easy and romantic way to be married and honeymoon, we're turn- ing cruising lore into reality by having the captain pertorm the wedding ceremony. Until now, it was a com- mon misconception that the captain was empowered to do this.” True, but there is a long tradition of necessity overrul- ing legality, and that goes back to the times of sailing ships when vovages could lasc for months. This was more than enough time for couples to become betrothed, and sometimes more, in which case the captain got out his Bible and did the honors. It was particularly com- mon on immigrant ships to Canada and more so to Australia, because even 100 years ago the fastest ship from London's Wapping docks to Sydney took 92 days. Of course, some ships had clergy- men on board, but even if'a man of the cloth officiated there was always the problem of docunentation, The wed- ding was at sea, after all. Marriages in the Grand Princess's Hearts and Minds chapel will be performed at sea by the captain of the ves- SENIOR TRAVEL CONSULTANT WANTED Busy North Shore GIANTS agency requires full-time senior agent who knows that atten- tion to detail, destina- tion knowledge, & good service bring excellent remuncration. Galileo. Fax resume, in confidence, to 980-5221 P//\ NSS 4EnRnd arene es Rea.vet ATLYNN TRAVEL LTD. sel under the authority of Liberian maritime law and are recognized under the law of Liberia as valid marriages. Bride and groom, who must be at least 18, can choose tron three wedding and three reception packages, the former ranging trom $1.400 (all prices U.S.) with taped music to $2,400, which includes a string quartet. Receptions start at $70 3 head with sparkling wine and are priced at $100 a person with Dom Perignon cham- pane. Menu selections trom Princess Cruises’ chets range trom Mexican pizza to Sevruga caviar, and the more you pay, presumably, the higher the wedding cake. Every package includes a video recording and phata album including a framed photograph of the couple with the captain. . There will also be cham- pagne in the cabin and the bride's bouquet will feature the flowers of her choice such as orchids or roses. Honeymoons will be dif ferent because unlike tradi- tional weddings where the newlyweds slip away together, part of the package on the Grand Princess is that the guests come along as well. And that could include the mothers-in-law. Destinations are just as romantic as the idea of get- ting married at sea by the captain. Grand Princess, cur- ren¢ly in its final building stages at a yard in Italy, will go into service in the Western Mediterranean in May with visits to ports between Istanbul and Barcelona. In the tall it crosses the Atlantic to its winter home port of Ft Lauderdale tor a season of seven-day Eastern Caribbean cruises, The ship is a destination in itself with a luxurious spa, the largest casino at sea, the first sea-going Virtual reality cen- tre, a blue screen video stu- dio, a Southwestern-themed restaurant, 4 swim-againsi- the-current lap pool. a pwo- level children’s and teen cen- tre, a disco suspended [50 tt. above the sea and 710 cabins with private balconies. Capacity of the ship is 2,600 Passengers. Surely it’s now only a mat- ter of time before an enter: prising cruise line comes up with divorces at sea, packages to include having your hus: band walk the plank, and burials at sea, in which vou can choose trom the tlig of vour choice to be wrapped in, and cannonballs Crraditionally used to add the necessary weight) of bronze, silver or gold. Sunday. March 1, 1998 — North Shore News - 39 Photo submitted ROMANTICS who dream of being married at sea by the captain can do it as Princess Cruises is now offering sea-going nuptials. Golf Kauai over the Easter break SWING into the Easter weekend with a golf getaway to the beautiful Hawaiian Island of Kauai. Signature Vacations has put together a seven-night golfer’s dream, with four days of golf at Kauai’s top four golf courses, including Poipu’ Bay, Princeville (the Prince course) and the Lagoon and Kiele courses at Kauai Lagoons. And since olf is a game of concentration, the Easter weekend = package — deal includes pre-booked — tee- times -— allowing vou fo save thar much-needed focus to concentrate on thar back- LOWEST AIRFARES | hme . 2. FLIGHT CENTRE gucronters to BEAT’ ony genuine. + + * quated cyergrit pencet _ SYDNEY | with Alr New Zealand I H | NEW YORK | MAZATLAN | HONOLULU I i] ! { f I *Now Open®* Park Royal North 913-1640 1305 Lonsdale Ave., N. Van 986-5855 From® 1 1 79: from? BOO: From? 529: From? BOQ: Also Open Sat/Sun All locations ore registured with the 8.C. Travel Register LIGHT CENTRE PISCOUNT: FLIGHT SPECIANIST swing. In addition to the four golf dates (which includes golf carts at cach course), the package features return air- fare from Vancouver, seven nights accommodation and a rental car for all seven days. Accommodations are one or two bedroom condos ar Kauai Beach Villas or a hotel room at QOuerigger Kauai Beach. Cost of the April 8 to 15 golfing vacation is $1,419 per persen (based on quad occupancy. Rental car will be upgrad- ed to a mini-van when vou make a quad occupancy booking). — Andrew MeCrediv RUSSIAN RIVER CRUISE 42-days Moscow to St, Petersburg Special rates —Depart June 24 or Sept. 16 Experience the Russia of yesterday and today on Swiss-managed MV Kirav. SLIDE PRESENTATION Mar. 10 @ 7:30 PM 1716 Marine Drive, West Van . MOROCCO $840* (5-day Souks, Medinas & Oases my Visit the ancient Royal Cities of Marrakesh. Rabat, Meknes & Fes. Eat cous-cous & drink mint-tea with the locals. *Per person land from Marrakesh ¥ jungle exploration 3 FE J 9 Enjoy Cooking Classes In Tuscany _ With James Barber... Now That's An Experience! For more information on this exciting travel opportunity call Roseway Travel at 926-4344. Or drop by our booth at the Travel Fair '98, March 14 at the West Vancouver Senior Centre 695 21st Street FULL out this coupon and drop it off at our booth and you could win a VER’S GULLIV The Travel Accessory Stove Name Address _ Civ Telephone #: