bobolink

Planning to cruise in May and wondered if any cruise line has a priest on board especially for Sunday masses?

Eschew

Most ship would have a chapel for interfaith service but I don't believe anyone of them will have priests on board.

cd

We had a Catholic priest friend who used to sail free for his services.. That was a few years ago, so don't know if the cruise lines stil do it but I would call and find out.

jacketwatch

Specifically I doubt of cruise ships had a priest for services as they would be obliged, I think to have rabbis, imams, reverends, etc.

Sassafrass

Can't remember if it was a TA cruise on Crown Princess or a Greek Island cruise on Star Princess, but on one of them, there was a priest (and two other clergy of some kind) who had different services every day. We had breakfast with them a couple of times. That is how I know. I don't remember if they said they went on other ships, but they did it often for Princess. They got use of a free shared cabin and food, though no actual pay. They said their services were often needed.

So, you might check with the ships you are considering and see if the will have one on your cruise. Some did say that they might get on at one port for just a day or so, get off and return to their own church and be replaced with another - rotating minister or local minister during the cruise.
This was four years ago - longer voyagges.

SusieQQ

There was a Catholic Priest on Holland America's Panama Canal Cruise that I was on last January. I also seem to remember that their was one on QM2....but, check with the cruise line.

Dayenu

I have a Christian friend who cruised with her church group, they had a... minister? and everybody was invited to participate in the service(s)

I doubt religious clergy is employed on a ship unless prior arrangements are made for a group - but you can call and ask. Or you can find out if there is a proper church at the port of call.

SusieQQ

The priests aren't employed by the Cruise line. They get a free cruise in exchange for their services.

Bette

We had a Catholic priest on our cruise on the Holland American Ryndam. This was a 14 night cruise along the coast of Norway in July 2011. We took advantage of attending the Sunday masses, however, there was a daily mass offered for those interested.

charli

I have been on a couple of ships that had, as paying passengers, clergypeople who offered to do a service. Also, a number of years ago was on one at Passover and Easter who had a Rabbi and a priest on board for services. Don't know if they were paying passengers or brought on. Inter-faith services by crew members have been offered on quite a number of cruises. I doubt today it would be considered "politically correct" to sponsor a clergyperson from just one Christian denomination to a ship full of many different believers. That would be rude IMHO.

SusieQQ

I checked this out and found that Holland America and Costa Cruises have Catholic Priests on board for all cruises. Many others have them during Holidays.