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# Here comes the Pride! Celebrity cruises holds historic wedding at sea
- URL: https://www.scenemag.co.uk/here-comes-the-pride-celebrity-cruises-holds-historic-wedding-at-sea/
- Published: 2018-01-30T14:43:02.000Z
- Updated: 2018-01-30T14:43:02.000Z
- Description: In a historic ceremony hosted on board Celebrity Equinox yesterday, January 29 at 14.30 EST, Francisco Vargas and Benjamin Gray became the first same-sex couple ever to be legally married at sea on a major cruise line.
- Author: Besi
- Tags: In The South, Travel, Same Sex Marriage

## Same-sex couple tie knot on Celebrity Equinox in an intimate ceremony between the grooms and their families.

![](https://www.scenemag.co.uk/content/images/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/web-600-90.jpg)

**In a historic ceremony** hosted on board *Celebrity Equinox* yesterday, January 29 at 14.30 EST, **Francisco Vargas** and **Benjamin Gray** became the first same-sex couple ever to be legally married at sea on a major cruise line.

The grooms were joined by their immediate families for an intimate ceremony officiated by **Captain Dimitrios Manetas**, en route from Key West, Florida to Puerto Costa Maya, Mexico.

*“Words cannot express how proud I am to congratulate Francisco and Benjamin at this truly historic moment, both for them and for Celebrity. It’s a true privilege to know that the ceremony performed on board Celebrity Equinoxhas made history as the first legal same-sex marriage at sea,”* **said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, President and CEO, Celebrity Cruises.**

*“Together we are paving the way for couples around the world to know that their love and commitment is to be celebrated equally, and that everyone is welcome on board a Celebrity cruise.”*

**Benjamin added:** *“There are only so many firsts in life, and we are thrilled to be the first ever LGBT+ couple to marry at sea.”*

*“We are humbled to follow the trailblazers in the LGBT+ community who paved the way for us.”*

The ceremony follows a transformative vote in Malta, where a majority of the Celebrity fleet is registered, which passed the country’s parliament 66-1\. The long-awaited referendum opened the door for Celebrity Cruises to legally recognise same-sex marriages performed onboard while at sea, and have the fleet’s captains officiate the ceremonies.

**Francisco, said:** *“Traveling is in my blood – and when we heard Celebrity Cruises was celebrating equality and embracing our communities, we wanted to be a part of it. We are grateful for the outpouring of support from our Cruise Planners family and hope our story brings strength for others in the LGBT+ communities to confidently love whoever they choose.”*

The Celebrity Wedding Cruise programme offers onboard ceremonies and destination weddings for lovebirds. The *Nautical Nuptials at Sea* package includes a Captain-led ceremony, an event coordinator’s services, live music, one hour of photography, cake for two, a bottle of champagne, plus additional romantic turn down amenities post-ceremony, and much more.

To learn more about the Celebrity Weddings programme and The Wedding Experience, visit [Celebrity Wedding Planner](https://celebrityweddings.eweddingcalendar.com/calendar/weddingPackagesEdit/optId/753/?ref=scenemag.co.uk) and say *“I do.”*