QM2 becomes Queen of Hearts

Cunard flagship Queen Mary 2 became the Queen of Hearts when it arrived in Sydney, Australia, carrying a special marriage proposal.
A giant banner bearing the message “Marry me Jess?” was festooned below the ship’s funnel, and giant love hearts had also been applied to the ship – all to help make Valentine’s Day extra special for 32-year-old Stefan Libon pop the question to girlfriend Jess McGarrity.
“We’ve been together so long I really wanted to do something big to make the proposal memorable,” said Stefan.”When a friend who works with Cunard said they were looking for a way to mark Queen Mary 2’s Valentine’s Day arrival, I jumped at the chance to make my proposal to Jess as big and romantic as I could.”
The couple – with a photographer and TV crew in attendance – were at the local beauty spot of Mrs McQuarrie’s Point, overlooking the harbour as QM2 arrived. After Jess had said “Yes,” they were taken on board with their three-month-old baby Sebastian for a romantic Champagne brunch date.
Stefan works as a pilot, and his 29-year-old fiancée said: “He always joked he would propose with a banner on a plane so he has really surprised me by using a ship. I can’t believe he has been able to pull this off. It’s amazing and unforgettable.”
Not surprisingly, Cunard president Peter Shanks also took advantage of the occasion to remind the world that wedding ceremonies can now be conducted on his company’s ships now they have changed from UK registry to flying the Bahamian flag.
“They could become one of the first couples to get married on Queen Mary 2, or I hope to welcome them back on board for an anniversary,” he said. It has also been reported that the couple have been offered a honeymoon on the ship, as long as it can recorded for TV.
QM2 is currently circumnavigating Australia as part of its 2012 World Voyage, and will be back in Sydney on March 7.