P&O Cruises colleagues tie the knot on board Iona in ‘perfect’ ceremony at sea

P&O Cruises colleagues tie the knot on board Iona in 'perfect' ceremony at sea

P&O Cruises colleagues René Palguta and Yricka Espinosa Fausto are celebrating after meeting and then getting married on board Iona.

Customer services manager René, from Slovakia and assistant shore excursions manager Yricka, from the Philippines, exchanged vows in Iona's Ivory Suite, with the ship's Captain officiating the ceremony in front of family, friends and fellow crew members.

The newlyweds tied the knot midway through their contracts at sea, spending the day carrying out their regular duties before donning their wedding attire and celebrating with loved ones and colleagues.

The couple first met aboard Azura in 2023, when René was showing Yricka around the ship during her first days on board.

René said: "At the time, I never imagined that a simple introduction would eventually lead us here. Yricka was incredibly kind, friendly and always smiling. She had such a positive energy that made everyone around her feel comfortable."

Yricka added: "René made me feel welcome from the very beginning. He was patient and genuinely cared about helping others. Looking back now, it's funny to think our story started with something so ordinary."

As they worked across different ships and contracts, their friendship gradually developed into something more. Time spent apart presented challenges, but the couple say it only strengthened their relationship, making every reunion even more meaningful.

Their time together on board Iona confirmed they had found something special, with everyday moments such as sharing a coffee after work, watching the sunset from the open deck and exploring destinations together becoming some of their happiest memories.

René proposed at sunset on the private island of Lakawon in the Philippines in December 2025, before the couple decided there was only one place they wanted to begin married life together.

Getting married on board Iona was a natural choice, reflecting a love story that began at sea.

Yricka said: "Getting married on board felt like the perfect way to celebrate our story because it's where everything began. We met through P&O Cruises and fell in love while working at sea."

"Being surrounded by colleagues who have become close friends made our wedding day incredibly special. We joined P&O Cruises to build our careers, but we found so much more."

"Life at sea teaches you resilience, patience and teamwork. Living and working together in such a unique environment meant we learned how to support one another and appreciate the time we had together. Being apart during different contracts also made us value every reunion even more."

"Working at sea offers a chance to grow personally and professionally, experience incredible places and build friendships with people from all over the world. You never know where one chance meeting might lead."

Carnival UK & P&O Cruises president, Paul Ludlow, said: "René and Yricka's story is a wonderful example of the friendships and connections that can develop through life at sea. Our ships bring together talented people from around the world, creating a unique community where colleagues support one another both professionally and personally.

"We were delighted to celebrate this very special milestone with them on board Iona and wish them every happiness for their future together."

For more information, call P&O Cruises on 0344 338 8003, visit www.pocruises.com or visit a travel agent.

A selection of images can be downloaded, here.

ENDS

For further press information please contact:
Michele Andjel, [email protected] 07730 732 072
Sam Balls, [email protected] 07879 198864

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About Carnival Corporation Ltd.
Carnival Corporation is the largest global cruise company and among the largest leisure travel companies, with a portfolio of world-class cruise lines - AIDA Cruises, Carnival Cruise Line, Costa Cruises, Cunard, Holland America Line, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises, and Seabourn. Carnival Corporation trades under the ticker symbol CCL on the NYSE and is included in the S&P 500.

For more information, please visit www.carnivalcorp.com, www.csmartalmere.com, www.aida.de, www.carnival.com, www.costacruises.com, www.cunard.com, www.hollandamerica.com, www.pocruises.com, www.princess.com, and www.seabourn.com.

To learn more about Carnival Corporation's purpose and our commitment to sustainability, go to Our Impact.

About P&O Cruises
P&O Cruises is part of Carnival Corporation, the world's largest cruise company with a portfolio of cruise lines operating in over 800 ports & destinations worldwide. (NYSE: CCL). P&O Cruises is Britain's favourite cruise line, welcoming guests onboard its seven ships to experience holidays with a blend of discovery, choice, relaxation and exceptional service catered towards British tastes. With a proud history spanning more than 187 years, each ship has its own appeal from family friendly or exclusively for adults with every sailing delivering each guest a holiday like never before.

With over 180 destinations worldwide, P&O Cruises itineraries are carefully curated to inspire discovery and are varied to suit newcomers and experienced guests alike. P&O Cruises prides itself on working with top culinary talent; Food Heroes include chefs Marco Pierre White and José Pizarro as well as award-winning drinks expert Olly Smith.

Recent awards for P&O Cruises include:

1. Wave Awards 2025 - Best Advertising & Marketing Campaign

2. British Travel Awards 2025 - Best Cruise Line for Family Holidays

3. The Travel Industry Awards 2025 by TTG - Industry Marketing Campaign of the Year

4. Sailawaze Excellence Awards 2025 - Best in Entertainment

5. Best in Cruise Awards by Cruise Critic Awards 2025 - No-Fly Cruise Line (Ocean Category)

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