High seas romance for love boat couple

In fact Nicci Harper and Mark Hodgkins' brief friendship fizzled out when their week-long tour of the Mediterranean came to an end.

But one year later, opportunity came knocking again - and this time their holiday cruise liner really did prove to be a 'love boat' for the couple.

Despite going their own ways after their initial trip - they were able to rekindle their friendship and romance when, in a fortunate coincidence, their paths crossed while at sea once again 12 months later.

In fact the relationship blossomed so much the pair decided to tie the knot. And where did they receive a marriage blessing?

Where else but the very cruise ship where they had met twice before.

Nicci, who lives in High Street, Wordsley, said the pair had got on well when they met for the first time in 2010 on a Thomson Dream cruise liner, which included Rome and Barcelona in its ports of call.

The 46-year-old said: "I was on holiday with friends and Mark, who works with adults with behavioural problems, was on holiday with them.

"The ship wasn't that big and everyone was really friendly. You got to know lots of different people and we hit it off straight away," she said.

"We met in the middle of the week-long holiday so we only had a few days together. "When the cruise ended we didn't keep in touch for one reason or another. We just didn't swap numbers," she said.

Twelve months later Nicci and Mark, 52, who has a 23-year-old son and was living in Yorkshire, boarded the same ship for a seven day break - each with their own group of friends.

Nicci continued: "Neither of us knew the other was going on the same cruise 12 months later. Me and my friends boarded the ship and we were sat on the deck and Mark just walked past.

"I couldn't believe it when I saw him. We spent the whole week together and it was different from the year before. We had real feelings for each other.

"He has a beautiful personality and is very kind natured. I guess that it what attracted me to him and he's a good looking chap."

She added: "When the cruise finished we booked time off work and spent some time together."

That was in August 2011 and by October that year Mark got down on bended knee and popped the question.

The pair got married on March 14 this year at Mango Bay in Barbados in front of seven of their family and friends.

Nicci wore a pearl coloured gown and Mark wore a suit with a cream jacket. They exchanged vows on the picturesque beach at the resort.

A week later they were blessed on the same Thompson Dream cruise ship where they first met.

And it's certainly not the last 'love boat' adventure for the couple as they plan to take to the ocean waves again.

"We are hoping to go on the cruise again early next year. It holds very good memories for us," said Nicci

"I do feel it was fate that we met 12 months later. We were meant to be together. Mark is my rock."

Nicci works for Midcounties Co-operative Travel in Walsall as a knowledge and skills manager and Mark is a senior support worker who deals with adults with behavioural problems.

The pair now live together in Wordsley after Mark moved down from Yorkshire.

Mark said it was Nicci's 'bubbly personality' and 'caring' nature that attracted him to her.

He said: "I was working the first time we met on the ship. We would all socialise together and me and Nicci just didn't swap numbers at the end of the holiday.

"It was a complete coincidence the second time we met on the cruise 12 months later. I was up on the deck by the pool and I heard the words 'look there's Mark'. I turned around and couldn't believe my eyes.

"We got talking again and it just blossomed from there really.

"I was attracted to her bubbly personality and she was very caring.

"I'm not sure it was fate but someone out there had something to do with it and it was not me. We are hoping to go on the cruise ship again next year. It holds some great memories for both of us," he said.