Gay cruise ship tourists to tie the knot in Port City

Matrimony Many gay couples expected to take advantage of Canadian law during Saint John stopover

SAINT JOHN - Many cruise ship passengers who arrive in Saint John single this morning will pull out of port tonight married.

When the Norwegian Dawn docks at 9 a.m., 2,300 gay and lesbian passengers will disembark to what R Family Vacations' co-founder Gregg Kaminsky hopes will be a huge outpouring of hospitality.

Rosie O'Donnell, talk show maven, activist and blogger, will be at the helm. R Family Vacations is a charter company co-founded by Kaminsky and O'Donnell's partner Kelli Carpenter O'Donnell.

"One of the reasons we chose two of the ports in Canada is because we love going to places we feel welcome," said Kaminsky. "We did go to Halifax a few years ago and everyone loved it."

During the Halifax visit in 2005, Rosie praised Canada's progressive gay marriage laws.

"We have gone to a few places on our cruises where we have not been welcome," said Kaminsky. "It's frustrating. You're on vacation. Gay people love Canada in America."

They love it so much, in fact, that 20 couples are planning on getting married during their Saint John stopover.

Some are planning to tie the knot at Mahogany Manor, confirms owner Carl Trickey. The bed and breakfast owned by Trickey and his partner, James Crooks, is an apt place for the weddings given that, in 2005, Trickey and Crooks were one of the first same-sex couples to be legally married in New Brunswick....