For some, the open sea is just a setting for a vacation. For others, it’s the very heart of their life’s most memorable chapters. That’s certainly the case for Hannah and Mitchell Still, a young couple whose romance, marriage, and family have all unfolded to the gentle rhythm of waves and the hum of cruise ship engines. Their story, which began with a lighthearted prank on a cruise in 2019, has since blossomed into a tale of love, tradition, and even a connection to a local cheese that now graces the tables of cruise liners around the globe.
It all started in September 2019 aboard the P&O Ventura, when Hannah, then just 19 and living in Southampton, was introduced to Mitchell’s friends during a night out on the ship. According to the Daily Mail, Mitchell was asleep in his cabin when his friends dared Hannah to wake him up—a prank that would change both of their lives. “I remember saying to him, ‘hello, it’s the girl of your dreams’ and somehow, I was right!” Hannah recalled. What began as a simple joke quickly turned into a spark, igniting a romance that would weather more than just ocean storms.
The couple’s first date was spent exploring the historic streets of Bruges, followed by a first kiss in the Ventura’s Cuban-themed nightclub—while Hannah’s father watched protectively nearby, giving Mitchell what Hannah described as the “I have my eyes on you” look, reminiscent of Robert De Niro in Meet the Parents. The cruise, which also stopped in Amsterdam, provided a unique backdrop for their budding relationship. “We spent so much time just talking, including an entire night at the buffet one evening,” Hannah shared with the Daily Mail. “It all just clicked, and I think the uniqueness of the peaceful backdrop of the sea coupled with the energy on board brought out this beautiful chemistry in us.”
When the cruise ended, reality set in. Hannah, from Southampton, and Mitchell, originally from Milton Keynes, faced the challenge of maintaining a long-distance relationship. Hannah admitted, “I cried all the way home.” But distance didn’t diminish their connection. Instead, cruise holidays continued to be a central part of their story, providing both a literal and figurative vehicle for their love to grow.
Four years after their fateful meeting, during a cruise through the breathtaking Norwegian fjords aboard the Britannia, Mitchell decided it was time to take the next step. He proposed to Hannah beside a waterfall in Flåm, Norway. The setting could hardly have been more picturesque, and Hannah said yes. “When I realised you could actually get married at sea, there was no question. It had to be a P&O Cruises ship. I didn’t care about anything else,” she told the Daily Mail.
Their wedding took place in May 2025 in the Planet Bar on the Azura, as the ship sailed through the Greek Islands. The ceremony, with sweeping ocean views as a backdrop, was surreal for the couple. “Walking around the ship afterwards with everyone clapping was surreal – I felt like a film star,” Hannah recalled. Even the entertainment hosts from their first cruise remembered them and surprised the newlyweds with a thoughtful wedding gift. It was, as Hannah described, as if “all the stars had aligned.”
But the story doesn’t end there. In November 2025, Hannah and Mitchell welcomed their daughter, Mae, into the world. Now, as a family of three, they’re preparing to embark on their first cruise together with Mae in June 2026, setting sail on the Iona to explore the Norwegian fjords once more—this time with extended family in tow. “Cruising has always been part of my life, and continuing that tradition for Mae feels so special,” Hannah said, brimming with anticipation. She added, “Watching her look out at the fjords for the first time – I can’t wait. We can’t wait to tell Mae one day that it all started on a ship.”
The Stills’ story has even caught the attention of cruise line executives. Paul Ludlow, president of Carnival UK & P&O Cruises, praised their journey as a touching example of the connections that can form at sea. He noted that their ships are designed to facilitate meaningful relationships and create unforgettable memories that accompany life’s significant milestones.
Yet, the romance of the sea isn’t limited to love stories alone. It extends to the very food served aboard these majestic ships, thanks to another local legend: Lyburn Cheese. Just a short drive from the Stills’ Southampton roots, Lyburn Farm in Landford, bordering the New Forest, has been quietly making waves in the world of cheese for decades. The farm’s story began in 1952 when Mike Smales’ father bought 50 acres near Salisbury, milking just three cows. “We have milked cows twice a day, every day since 1952 – we have never missed a milking,” Mike told the Southern Daily Echo.
About 30 years ago, Mike decided to diversify, turning a Portakabin into a mini cheese plant. “I decided we needed to add value to our milk around 30 years ago and wanted to get into cheese,” he explained. The gamble paid off. Lyburn Cheese, now 25 years old and run by Mike’s nephew Rob Macpherson, produces a variety of cheeses, including the award-winning Stoney Cross, which was named best cheese in England at the World Cheese Awards in 2025.
A chance meeting at the Central South Food and Drink EXPO about six years ago connected Lyburn Cheese with Cavendish Ship Stores, a supplier for cruise companies in Southampton. “Over the years we nurtured that connection – now we supply around four tonnes of cheese for cruise ships,” Mike said. Today, Lyburn Cheese can be found aboard P&O Cruises, SAGA Cruises, and Carnival ships, adding a taste of the English countryside to voyages across the globe.
For the Stills, the cheese may be just another delicious detail in their cruising adventures. But for Mike, Rob, and the team at Lyburn, it’s a testament to how local tradition and innovation can find their place on the world stage—sometimes, quite literally, at sea.
As Hannah, Mitchell, and little Mae prepare for their next voyage, their story is a reminder that sometimes the greatest journeys begin with a simple hello—or perhaps, a playful prank—on the high seas. And whether it’s love, family, or even cheese, the magic of cruising continues to bring people together in unexpected and unforgettable ways.