Outrage in Italy: Ambani's Opulent Pre-Wedding Cruise Stirs Controversy

Anant Ambani Pre-Wedding Party

Ahead of their grand wedding, the families have arranged a second pre-wedding bash for the couple – a four-day long extravagant cruise trip across Europe.

Many Bollywood celebrities, sports celebrities, and businessmen were reported to be present onboard the luxurious cruise party  

The European luxury cruise will embark on a picturesque 4,380-kilometre journey from Italy to France.

May 29: The celebration kicks off with a welcome lunch, followed by a ‘Starry Night’ gala where guests will dress in Western formals.

May 30: The theme for the day is ‘Roman Holiday.’ Guests will tour Rome dressed as chic tourists and finish the day with a Greco-Roman ‘Toga Party.’

May 31: The day includes cruise festivities, a masquerade ball in Cannes, and an after-party themed ‘Pardon My French.’

June 1: The final day, themed ‘La Dolce Vita’ (The Sweet Life), wraps up the celebrations in Portofino, Italy.

To ensure the comfort of their esteemed guests, the Ambani family has organized for 600 hospitality staff to be on board.

Ambani's hosted another European celebration aboard a cruise ship, making stops in Rome and Portofino. Residents and businesses in Portofino and Genoa expressed anger as the cities were shut down and locals were disturbed by unruly guests attending the pre-wedding bash for India’s richest man's younger son.

Ambani’s Facing Backlash: 

The bash angered Portofino locals and businesses because the entire bay was blocked off, denying access to residents and other tourists. This picturesque village has been a favorite spot for celebrities seeking an idyllic wedding location — both Australian singer Sia and reality TV star Kourtney Kardashian tied the knot here — but it had never been closed down for any event before.

According to reports, nearly a dozen restaurants were offered amounts ranging from €7,000 to €10,000 to cater the event, which was planned to include focaccia, paneer tikka, and beetroot goat cheese kebab.

However, Andrea Miroli, manager of the renowned restaurant Il Puny, which has served celebrities such as Denzel Washington, Steven Spielberg, Sir Elton John, and Silvio Berlusconi, revealed that they were requested to provide lobster sandwiches and were only notified 20 days prior to the event.

Andrea Miroli expressed his dissatisfaction, stating that they were offered €10,000 only 20 days before the event. He described the situation as offensive, disrespectful, and inappropriate, emphasizing the need to protect both his customers and the restaurant’s esteemed reputation.

One user on X complained that many other celebrities and billionaires have celebrated in Portofino without ever restricting access to the main point for others.

Many billionaires have frequented this party venue, yet none have previously restricted access to the main part of the city. Who do they believe themselves to be? They cannot simply arrive, host their party, and impede people from carrying out their daily tasks.

A tourist in the area expressed frustration, stating that they were unable to see the main attractions of Portofino over the weekend due to a private event organized by an Indian or Pakistani billionaire for his son. While acknowledging past events hosted by billionaires, the tourist noted that none had previously closed off the area.

While local entrepreneurs typically view events of this scale as beneficial, as they stimulate business activity, the Ambani pre-wedding bash did not garner any favor.

A local tour guide in Portofino expressed disappointment at the closure of the city for a private event. Their livelihood relies on tourism, and they regarded this weekend as a significant setback.