(RNS1-FEB25) Passengers party during a gospel concert by former American Idol contestant Mandisa during a Premier Christian Cruise on board Royal Caribbean's Monarch of the Seas. Cruise companies are sometimes at a loss on how to meet passengers' religious needs. For use with RNS-CRUISE-FAITH, transmitted Feb. 25, 2010. RNS photo courtesy Premier Christian Cruises. | Download/Purchase this photo
February 24, 2010
NEWS DIGEST
Cruise companies navigate choppy religious waters
By Leanne Larmondin
(RNS) Before stepping aboard her first cruise back in December 2008, Pam Biedenbender and her husband attended Mass at a Catholic church in Miami; later, onboard the Carnival Valor, she learned she’d have to miss Christmas Mass because the ship had no priest.
“When I booked the cruise, I specifically asked, and they said there is usually a priest on board at Christmas and Easter,” said Biedenbender, who regularly seeks dispensation from her priest when she’s going to miss Mass.
She inquired about attending Mass in port at Belize on Christmas Day, but the ship’s crew discouraged her, citing safety reasons. Biedenbender said she enjoyed the cruise, but missing Mass on Christmas made her feel like she missed out on Christmas itself.
“I plan around holy days now,” said Biedenbender, of Fredericksburg, Va.
Like many industries and institutions, cruise lines navigate turbulent waters as they try to determine how much—if any—accommodation to provide to their religious customers.
With specialized cruises targeting different religious groups—from kosher cruises with Jewish entertainers, to wholesome Christian itineraries, to ships with Scientology seminars—travelers who want to sail the seas while practicing their faith face an array of choices.
Some travelers want to worship at sea; others say their vacation away includes a vacation from church.
Earlier this year, Celebrity Cruises, citing passenger feedback, ended its policy of providing an on-board Catholic priest for every cruise.
“(Guests) wanted to see more balance across different faiths,” said Tavia Robb, Celebrity’s public relations manager. “We wanted to be sure we were offering options that appealed to those who practiced faiths other than the Catholic faith.”
Under the change that took effect Jan. 1, Celebrity will provide religious services only on major religious holidays. Catholic and Protestant clergy will conduct services daily during Lent and on Palm Sunday, Easter and Christmas. A rabbi or cantor will conduct services during Passover, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur and Hanukkah.
The decision sparked a spirited discussion on USA Today’s travel blog. “Maybe Druids can demand trees and a shaman on their next ... cruise,” wrote one commenter under the name “Arubaman.”
The New York-based Catholic League, however, wasn’t amused. The group suggested that Catholic travelers who are “serious about their faith” examine their options before booking with Celebrity. Catholics are unique, the group noted, because the faith requires members to observe weekly liturgy, which can only be led by a priest.
“Why punish the Catholic priests and cruise-goers?” wondered Susan Fani, spokeswoman for the Catholic League. Instead of adding religious leaders from other faiths, she said, Celebrity was reacting to “anti-Catholic” complaints.
Some cruise lines, including Royal Caribbean, already had a policy similar to Celebrity’s, placing clergy on board for major holidays. During the rest of the year, Royal Caribbean offers weekly interdenominational worship, either a pre-recorded service or one led by a staff member.
Others, like Holland America, place Catholic priests on all cruises and Protestant ministers and rabbis on important holidays. The priests celebrate Mass daily and on Sundays; weekly interdenominational services and Sabbath services are typically led by passengers or crew.
“We have on-board surveys that (ask), `What do you use? What are you interested in? Is this a value to you?”’ said Erik Elvejord, director of public relations of Holland America. “They’re attended enough that we’re not going to get rid of them.”
Bob Thompson, a professor of popular culture at Syracuse University, said the minor uproar over Celebrity’s decision appears to be a combination of market forces and culture wars.
“If the problem is one faith is privileged over another, one can either cut them all, or cut the one that’s being privileged, or add the ones that are not,” Thompson said.
It comes down to basic customer satisfaction, he said, comparing the controversy to the outcry when airlines discontinue a perk they once provided, like in-flight peanut snacks. When something is taken away, “people who liked those services or wanted those services and used to have them are going to feel strongly about it.”
One Catholic priest who has served on a dozen cruises all over the world said the working trips are his primary means of taking a vacation; priests are not paid for their services but cruise for free.
The Rev. David Farnum, a New York-based Paulist priest, said he celebrates Mass daily when he serves on a cruise. Once a week, he also leads an ecumenical prayer service and a Mass for the ship’s crew; he has also helped couples renew wedding vows and supported grieving families when tragedy has struck on board.
“I may not share their specific denominational identity or tradition but I’d like to think that I am trained well enough to be a pastoral presence no matter who I talk to,” he said.
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While he was scheduled for two Celebrity cruises this year, the policy change means Farnum is not needed for a July booking. He’ll still serve on an Easter cruise in April, and isn’t sure what to make of the wrinkle in his vacation plans.
“These cruise ships are not Christian organizations, so they have the right to offer whatever they feel is appropriate to offer to their passengers,” said Farnum.
“I just assumed that having a priest on board would make a cruise more attractive to passengers.”
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