Tuesday, April 23, 2024

9 Things to Know When Planning a Cruise Wedding

getting married on a cruise

A destination wedding on a cruise is more accurately a "destinations" wedding — you don't need to pick just one! Grabbing the hand of your fiancé and planning a wedding ceremony that's just for two can feel intimate and personal in its own way — a shared moment of exchanging vows both sentimental and sacred. Each cruise line has a dedicated wedding coordinator to help plan the absolute best cruise weddings. Typically, there are a variety of packages on offer, much like at any banquet hall or more traditional wedding venue. Just like its parks, Disney offers Fairy Tale Weddings on its ships.

What types of couples and weddings are cruise weddings best suited for?

You may not be the only bride on the boat, so be prepared to share the spotlight. Further, while some packages enlist the captain to perform the ceremony, it's important for you to be aware that most don't have the authority to legally marry passengers (Select Princess Cruises captains do). You should also read your package details carefully to determine who will be performing the ceremony.

Why Book With Celebrity Cruises?

Only couples with a relatively small guest list are able to conduct their wedding onboard a cruise ship. Most lines restrict onboard wedding parties to 50 non-sailing guests maximum. It’s important to decide if most of the wedding guests will only be along for the vows, or if friends and family are also cruising with you.

getting married on a cruise

Best Cruise Lines for Weddings

Every wedding is different, so we offer packages designed around your wishes. All of our weddings are offered on embarkation day, at sea, on the ship in a destination, or on land in a destination. The answer is a resounding yes, but there are some caveats, and some couples choose to make a trip to city hall before or after their cruise to get the legality out of the way and marry however they like during their sailing.

getting married on a cruise

Ilene and Carl had each been on dozens of cruises when they met on a cruise. It felt natural to choose to get married on yet another cruise ship. Because you’ll be embarking on your built-in honeymoon along with your wedding, be sure to choose a ship and itinerary that distinctly suits your style. A notable exception is popular cruise line Viking Cruises, which does not offer cruise weddings. It’s probably best to leave the giant gift box of fine China at home and opt for either a cash gift or utilize the couple’s registry to mail them their present ahead of time. Some cruise lines even offer their own registry and wedding websites.

Can you get married at sea by a ship’s captain?

However, if you’d like your ceremony to be officiated by a ship’s captain, then you’ll need to get married while sailing international waters. Most of our wedding and event packages include essentials such as an indoor or deck venue for ceremonies, reserved indoor area for receptions with food and beverage service, floral arrangements for the couple, cake and champagne, and a photographer. Deciding where you and your guests are going to sleep and eat is super simple on a cruise. The newlyweds can splurge on the Honeymoon Suite and guests have their choice of cabins — from interior to suite — depending on their budget. Norwegian‘s freestyle dining plan means there’s a huge variety of included restaurants onboard, plus specialty options for romantic dinners for two. Most cruise lines offer several packages, which vary in pricing and inclusions, but they cost far less than what you'd pay to plan a wedding back home.

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There is always a huge range of entertainment, dining, drinking and relaxing options on board even the smallest Royal Caribbean ship, making it easy to keep guests happy before and after the wedding itself. A ceremony at sea is the perfect way to celebrate your nuptials, with family and friends, during the cruise. For maximum fun on your wedding day, choose a ceremony followed by an onboard reception. If you’re looking for a special and memorable way to ask someone to marry you, Celebrity Cruises also offers proposal packages to help you pop the question at the most unexpected moment. If you’re a guest, take your cue on what to wear from the invitation and when in doubt, ask.

It's not necessarily the most romantic thing to stay in bed with your sweetie all day while your guests are onboard and fully aware of what you're up to. We understand that your wedding is one of the most important days of your life, and you want it to be flawless. However, it's key to remember that there's always room for Mother Nature to throw a wrench into the best-laid plans. Carnival Cruise Line, for instance, states that guests need to contact the Wedding Department no later than 60 business days (about 2.5 months) prior to the sail date. From custom bouquets to accents and arrangements, Royal Weddings offers an array of floral options to make your celebration more colourful.

“If the wedding party can sail along with the couple, then the party continues for the entire cruise and that could also be a very memorable event for all,” says Frank. And Carnival Cruise Line, which is very popular with young couples, has five packages, starting at $1,995. Ceremonies on the ship are conducted in port or at destinations, and captains do not officiate. If photos are your thing, a cruise ship wedding offers some of the world’s best and most creative backdrops, both on the ship and at port.

Princess' Tie the Knot packages are available on all ships, and most ships have dedicated wedding chapels. Weddings in port are available on Carnival cruise ships only in select ports (including embarkation ports), and there's a limit to how many weddings can take place on the same day. A maximum of 50 non-sailing guests may attend a wedding on the ship. Surcharges (ranging from $100 to $200) may apply for ceremonies during popular seasons, including Thanksgiving, winter holidays, Valentine's week and all of May and June.

Couples are drawn to the line's historic charm, formality and British influence, all of which make for a timeless experience. If it's classic romance you're after, a Cunard cruise wedding is probably the right choice for you. Planning a wedding on P&O Cruises means first selecting the right ship for your needs. Not all of P&O's ships cater to the same clientele and some don't allow children (which can be a plus for some couples). With that in mind, it's important to know your guest list (or at least the age restrictions of your wedding) before you book. Aurora and Arcadia are child-free (nobody younger than 18 is allowed onboard), while Azura, Brittania, and Ventura allow children.

A Vows at Sea package starts at $3,850 includes up to 50 guests and use of a private onboard wedding venue while the ship is at sea. The Embark on Romance option, from $5,600, lets the couple get married onboard the ship while it's in port on embarkation day, allowing non-sailing guests to participate in the ceremony before the ship departs. This package includes the same services above and covers up to 50 people, but adds priority check-in and a pier-to-ship escort for the couple and their guests.

Packages include extra amenities when a minimum number of staterooms are booked for guests and you'll find cool in-port wedding offerings, including glacier ceremonies in Juneau. The line caters to a mature clientele, making it attractive to older couples looking to wed. Watch out for a la carte charges that can add up on Royal Caribbean. For instance, couples who want to plan a wedding less than 90 days from sailing pay a fee that varies based on the package chosen.

Among the choices for Royal Caribbean wedding packages, you have an option to get married at sea, with your ship's captain or first officer officiating a ceremony that includes special nautical vows. There are three packages to choose from, including a small-scale ceremony option, though prices for the larger packages are on par with Disney Cruise Line. Also like Disney, a reception is not included in Royal Caribbean's wedding package prices. Add-ons cover additional decorations, a mimosa breakfast, silk flowers for the couple, massages, sparkling wine upgrades, larger cakes, and cake toppers. All Carnival wedding packages can be arranged to take place on embarkation day, onboard the ship in a port of call, off the ship in a port of call and onboard while at sea (symbolic only).

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