Cruise - First same-sex couple dared to board the TUI Mein Schiff Fleet

Same sex marriages on board MEIN SCHIFF fleet, as well on board CELEBRITY CRUISES. Both companies serve the upmarket mass market in the cruise industry.
A gay marriage on board a ship is the dream of many, which became an offer onboard many cruise ships, depending on the law of the flag state.

CELEBRITY CRUISES was a first to offer that oportunity. TUI CRUISES followed the same year, 2017. Both cruise companies fly the Maltese flag. Malta is member of the EU and it is a common agreement within the western EU countries following the basic human rigth of equal rights. Germany in a stride legalized at the end of the last legislation period same sex marriages.

by Earl of Cruise

Rachelle and Julia Esser on board MEIN SCHIFF 6, officially the first married same sex couple - courtesy TUI CRUISES

On 22.11.2017 Rachelle and Julia Esser have given themselves on board the Mein Schiff 6 officially the yes-word. This makes them the first same-sex couple to be married on board the TUI Cruises fleet. We congratulate them from the bottom of our hearts and wish them all the best for the future.

Rachelle Esser is Dutch, Julia Esser is German - the newly married couple lives together in Hamelin. She was married on a trip to Central America on board the Mein Schiff 6 by Captain Kjell Holm. Especially nice for TUI CRUISES: Julia Esser is a former employee of TUI Cruises.

Kjell Holm, captain of MEIN SCHIFF 4 - courtesy TUI CRUISES

Already in the beginning of 2016 the first same-sex partnering took place on board the TUI CRUISES MEIN SCHIFF fleet - the legal ceremony is carried out by our captains on board according to Maltese law.
When searching a film location for Charlie David and his producing partner for a cruise ship location for the planed sequel of "Make the Yuletide Gay", I contacted TUI CRUISES and heard a distrubing answer: "We don´t want to be a location in a gay film project." I was flabbergasted by the statement of that project managing lady back then. I told her that I for the sake of her and TUI CRUISES I did not hear that degrading answer, as it could be a backlash for the cruise company. For certain departure dates a great number of gay and lesbian booked cruises with TUI, which I allready by research knew, and as friends of mine did tell too. Also, that cruises seem to be ideal for LGBT, especially for gay men. I did remind her for that fact. And she became quiet ... This turned to the better, caused by demand and the laws EU and Germany implemented, as a good thing.

Rainbow Cruise Schirmherrin Gloria Viagra und Kollegin Melli Magic

TUI Rainbow Cruise patroness´ Gloria Viagra and colleague Melli Magic - courtesy TUI CRUISES

Since then TUI CRUISES officially, late but not too late, changed it policy ... From April 29th to May 7th 2017, TUI CRUISES was organising the first German-speaking cruise for the LGBT community and its friends. This was announced by the renowned Hamburg shipping company in a press release back then. TUI CRUISES had a strong followership within the LGBT community. And while the German public grew more and more open against LGBT, it was a logical step for TUI to embrace LGBT finally in its cruise branch.

Press photo of the "Rainbow Cruise": TUI Cruises has already understood how to address the gay target group (picture: TUI Cruises)

Press photo of the TUI "Rainbow Cruise": TUI Cruises has already understood how to address the gay target group - courtesy TUI CRUISES

On board the TUI "Rainbow Cruise" guests experienced parties with scene DJs and performances by artists from the fields of music, comedy, cabaret and travesty. Included in the show was WestBam, House DJ Rony Golding, Chansonnier Tim Fischer and the Drag Queens Cybersissy and Babyjane. TUI CRUISES had implemented further top acts on the trip.
MEIN SCHIFF 2 raised the rainbow flag in Palma de Mallorca. From where, the eight-day cruise went through the Mediterranean with stops in Barcelona (Spain) - with overnight, La Seyne (France), Corsica (France), Civitaveccia/Rome (Italy), Salerno (Italy) and Valletta (Malta).
In the Spanish gay metropolis Barcelona MEIN SCHIFF 2 was located overnight, giving its LGBT guests the chance exploring thriving LGBT Barcelona.
As the TUI "Heavy Metal Cruises", this cruise turned out to be a true success for the cruise company.
Also on the TUI "Rainbow Cruise", in April 2017, Rachelle and Julia Esser got married: Within the framework of a campaign with a large German online portal, TUI were looking for and found a lesbian and gay couple who dared to make the covenant for life on board of our Mein Schiff 2. A ZDF report on the trip and the wedding on board can be found here: Rainbow Cruise Wedding on ZDF (only in Germany, sorry).

It all started with the then legal form of "partnering" now following the full legalisation of same sex marriages, TUI CRUISES is offering the same service as ashore, according to Maltese right. If you want to have the marriage according to German civil right, you have to hire a marriage officiant (a solemniser, or "vow master" - a person who officiates at a wedding ceremony.

Schwul-lesbische Trauungen sind bei TUI Cruises auf hoher See möglich

Rachelle and Julia Esser with Ken and Peter on board MEIN SCHIFF 6, the wedding ceremony was held in the Diiamond of the main dining room - courtesy TUI CRUISES

Since the official introduction of same-sex marriage in both Germany and TUI CRUISES´ flag state Malta, TUI CRUISES has been in close contact with the relevant authorities in order to expedite the implementation and recognition of same-sex marriage on board the MEIN SCHIFF fleet as quickly as possible. "We are pleased to officially offer `marriage for all´", announced TUI CRUISES PR manager.

TUI CRUISES, a joint venture of TUI AG (TUI GROUP) and the globally active cruise company ROYAL CARIBBEAN CRUISES Ltd. has already made headlines with its own cruises for hit or heavy metal fans in the past. "With this trip, we want to set an example for diversity," explained Wybcke Meier, CEO of TUI Cruises. "We already have a lot of gay and lesbian guests. "he LGBT community is very keen to travel and has an affinity for cruising."

What a difference from my experience some years ago ...

More information about the wedding on board can be found here: Marriage on board

As TUI CRUISES is a German speaking oriented joint venture product of TUI GROUP and RCI, the info is in German. But if you are interested taking a cruise on a German oriented ship - ahoy, do it! Most German are capable of English, open minded and quite free spirited, especially the LGBT community.

Cruise - CELEBRITY CRUISES to offer legal same-sex marriages on board

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