Cunard Line’s cruise ships have been flying the UK flag for 171 years. Even after the company was taken over by the American Carnival Corporation 13 years ago its ships were still registered in the UK and they sailed under the British flag.

A small legal technicality might, however, soon bring an end to this: UK law fails to recognise weddings carried out by ships’ captains.

The Financial Times featured a report this weekend that Cunard is now considering registering its ships in Bermuda or Malta to allow its captains to perform wedding ceremonies at sea.

Such a change would enable Cunard to cash in on a highly lucrative section of the market, which earns a lot of money for sister lines P&O and Princess.

When P&O Azura was christened by Darcey Busell last year it was initially registered in Southampton, but this was subsequently changed to Bermuda a year later. Princess Cruises have 16 ships registered in Bermuda – many of which have wedding chapels and webcams so the ceremonies can be watched live by friends and family members.

The cost for a couple to get married in one of these floating chapels is a cool £2,000, which is further boosted by family members and friends travelling with the couple.

Peter Shanks, the MD of Cunard line, said “It's no secret that weddings at sea are now very big business. However, this business is currently denied to us as our fleet is registered in the UK, and we have for some time been examining our options.”