From Cabin Prank to Wedding Bells: A Cruise Love Story
This Valentine's Day, many couples are celebrating their relationships, but for Hannah and Mitchell Still, their romance has a uniquely nautical twist. The couple, who are approaching their one-year wedding anniversary and have a baby, credit cruise holidays for bringing them together, with a tale that began with a playful prank at sea.
A Fateful Meeting on the Ventura
Hannah, 25, from Southampton, and Mitchell, 28, met in September 2019 aboard P&O Cruises' Ventura ship during separate holidays sailing to Amsterdam and Bruges. Hannah, who had been cruising with P&O since age 11, was traveling with her family, while Mitchell was with friends. On the first night, Hannah encountered Mitchell's friends at Brodie's Bar, where they dared her to wake him up as a joke.
"I remember saying to him, 'hello, it's the girl of your dreams' and somehow, I was right," Hannah recalls. "I was 19 and convinced it was just a holiday romance." However, their connection deepened throughout the North Sea voyage, with their first date ashore in Bruges and a memorable first kiss in Ventura's Cuban-themed Havana nightclub, albeit under the watchful eye of Hannah's father.
From Proposal to Wedding at Sea
The couple's love story continued to blossom, leading to a proposal in 2023 while cruising through the Norwegian fjords on Britannia. They tied the knot in May 2025 aboard the Azura ship in the Planet Bar during a Greek islands sailing. Hannah describes the experience as surreal: "Walking around the ship afterwards with everyone clapping was surreal – I felt like a film star. Even the entertainment hosts remembered us from our very first cruise years earlier and gave us a wedding gift. It honestly felt like all the stars had aligned."
Now, with their first child, Mae, born in November 2025, the couple is excited to introduce her to cruising, with a Norwegian fjords trip booked for June with extended family. Hannah adds, "Cruising has always been part of my life, and continuing that tradition for Mae feels so special. To know that P&O Cruises played such a huge role in our love story – and that we're now continuing it as a family – feels incredibly special."
How to Get Married on a Cruise Ship
Cruise weddings are gaining popularity, with travel agents and cruise lines reporting increased interest. P&O Cruises noted a record number of bookings for at-sea weddings last year, up 12 per cent. Other brands offering ceremonies include Celebrity Cruises, Cunard, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean, Princess, Virgin Voyages, and Holland America Line.
Wedding packages typically range from £1,000 to £3,000, on top of the cruise fare, and may include elements like a wedding cake, music, food, drinks, and spa treatments. In comparison, the average UK wedding costs £20,822, according to Bridebook, making cruise ceremonies potentially more affordable, though guests would need to pay for their own travel.
This trend reflects a growing desire for unique and memorable wedding experiences, blending travel and celebration in one seamless package.
