Cunard; famed ocean liner company to sever last ties with Britain

The luxury cruise operator Cunard has confirmed that its ships will no longer be registered in Britain for the first time in its 171-year history.

Cunard’s vessels will instead be registered in Bermuda, enabling it to take advantage of the lucrative market for weddings at sea – ceremonies which are not recognised under British law.

This means the home port of Southampton, which is currently displayed on the stern of the company’s three ships, Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth, is likely to be replaced by Hamilton, the capital of Bermuda.

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Sad but not terribly surprising. Most Western countries have laws on the books that make it very difficult for ships to fly the true flag of their home country.  Cunard is probably the last link to the glory days of travel when if you wanted to go somewhere it was either by train or boat, and "getting there was half the fun."