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Last Updated: Feb 6, 2017 - 2:32:04 PM |
The Bahamas is positioning itself to benefit from the phenomenal growth that is taking place in the cruise weddings sector with the passage of the new Maritime Marriage legislation.
The Maritime Marriage Bill which legalize maritime marriages in Bahamian waters was passed in the Bahamas Parliament’s Lower Chambers - The House of Assembly on Thursday, July 08, 2011.
In his contribution on the new bill, Marco City MP and Minister of State in the Ministry of Finance, Hon. Zhivargo Laing told members that the Maritime Marriage Bill's purpose is two-fold: seeking to produce another source of revenue for The Bahamas and to facilitate the
"dream to get married in The Bahamas" even if it is aboard a seagoing vessel.
According to a survey of travel agents conducted by Cruise Lines International Association a marketing organization for 21 cruise lines and 16,500 North American travel agencies,
“second-marriage” couples represent the largest source of their business and 32% of them noted that they are booking more weddings on cruises. With the Caribbean and Bahamas being the most popular cruising destination for couples.
In 2010 the Bahamas recorded more than 5 million visitors to these chains of islands representing the largest number of visitors ever, with most visiting via a Bahamas cruise, making the Bahamas one of the most sort after destinations for a Caribbean cruise.
In fact 70 percent of the cruises to the Bahamas are Bahamas only cruises, meaning those book on the cruise visit no other destination on the cruise but the Bahamas.
And with the increased demand for a Bahamas cruise wedding most cruise lines including Carnival, Royal Caribbean and Disney Cruise Lines are already offering wedding cruise packages inclusive of the option of getting married either on board the vessel or on a secluded island in the Bahamas owned by the cruise line.
The report also indicated that of the 460 CLIA-member travel agents who participated, 20 percent of agents said the biggest change in their honeymoon and wedding business has come from more couples renewing vows aboard cruise ships.
Clearly indicating that Bahamas cruise weddings will get a boost from the passage of the new maritime Marriage legislation, as it will allow more persons to realize their dreams of getting married in the Bahamas.
Glenn S. Ferguson is your Wedding Officiant & Wedding Planner
at Bahamas Destination Wedding – Helping You To Create Your Memorable
Bahamas Wedding. Just email any question you may have about wedding in
the Bahamas to glenn@bahamas-destination-wedding.com or Tel: 1-242-327-2453 or
1-501-588-4621
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