Tuesday, April 2, 2024

Cruise Weddings: The Pros and Cons of Getting Married on a Cruise Ship

get married on a cruise ship

Therefore, it is important to plan travel plans around arriving at the port early. This applies to the cruise line and ship you choose, the destination you pick and the wedding package you purchase, as they can all affect how much you enjoy your voyage and how smoothly your big day goes. If you’d prefer privacy on your wedding day, either choose a small cruise line or get married on land. You may not be the only bride on the boat, so be prepared to share the spotlight.

Wedding Venues

If you are considering tying the knot or a vow renewal, you may not have any idea where to start. While many brides start planning their dream nuptials a year to 18 months in advance, don't jump the gun by planning land-based, post-cruise celebrations too early -- or ordering invitations, keepsakes with the wedding date, etc. Couples have been bumped from their wedding cruises -- because of full-ship charters after they booked -- forcing them to reschedule everything. If you've always dreamed of picking out each flower yourself or getting married in your hometown in front of 300 people, you might not be happy with this simple approach. If you want to get married at sea by the captain, you're limited to only a handful of cruise lines, due to legal limitations that are based on ships' countries of registry.

Princess perfect proposals

For local flavor, you might be able to weave in reggae music in the background while in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, or gift guests leis in Honolulu. The drawback is that you can't control all of your surroundings; for example, the ceremony might be on a public beach. Weddings in ports of call can be fabulous, but what happens if the ship has to cancel the call? Consider very carefully ports that require ships to tender; Grand Cayman, for instance, can be a highly unpredictable site, as winds often hamper tender operations, causing cruise ships to skip stops at the island. For the same reason, we don't recommend planning a shoreside wedding at a Caribbean or Mexican locale during hurricane season (June through November). “The Caribbean’s hurricane season is from June 1 through November 30, so I would avoid booking during this time period as to not have to deal with any unpredicted storms.

Cruises

Renewing your vows on a Carnival cruise is, honestly, a lot like a wedding… which is perfect, because wouldn’t you marry them again? While the second time isn’t legally-binding, we make it officially fun with everything you need for a memorable event for you and your guests. However you spend it, you’ll definitely remember the moment forever. Since Carnival makes fun memories happen every day, just imagine what we can do for an event like your wedding, honeymoon, vow renewal ceremony… or even the proposal itself!

What is included in wedding cruise packages?

On the "can officiate" list are Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises, whose ships are registered in Malta; Norwegian Cruise Line, through the Bahamas; and Princess Cruises and Cunard, with ships in Bermuda. 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. If you’re planning on combining your wedding with a honeymoon, a five to seven-day cruise will likely be ideal.

One drawback of an at-sea wedding is that you may be forced to host events indoors because of high winds, rain or limited deck space, and the hours to rent a specific venue have to mesh with the ship's other programming needs -- including other weddings. Plus, if you want guests at your ceremony, they will need to book and pay for the entire cruise (or you'll have to pony up for their cabins). One of the best things about cruise weddings is that, in addition to their affordability, they can bring even more value to the happy couple by serving as a wedding and a honeymoon. 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). Imagine tying the knot under a palm tree on a Caribbean island or being married by a uniformed captain in the middle of the ocean.

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Disney's ships are already some of the most well-liked in the world, with large rooms and plenty of on-brand entertainment. Additionally, Disney offers a low-stress, low-hassle package that -- while not cheap -- certainly delivers on bringing fairytales to life. In terms of the packages, cruise weddings are a considerable value when it comes to how much is spent on the ceremony and reception in comparison to the average land-based wedding.

get married on a cruise ship

Captains, for example, can perform marriage ceremonies once the ship is in international waters, and the marriage will be legally recognized in the Bahamas. But Bahamian marriage licenses require at least 90 days to process, so you'll want to plan ahead if this is your choice. Holland America (HAL) weddings are available on a variety of ships and itineraries worldwide. 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.

Cruise lines only allot a certain number of weddings to take place on any given week or sailing. So, if you have a very specific date in mind, it’s best to book as far in advance as possible. The downside to this is that during that long stretch of time, something could impact the sailing affecting dates, ports of call, and more.

Same sex marriages can be performed on shore in the U.S. or any other port abroad that legally recognizes them. The weddings department require a minimum of 90 days prior to your sail date but advise that you contact them even earlier than that, if possible. If you're thinking about a wedding onboard or in port, here are some key things to consider before you take the plunge. You can also return to your cabin on your wedding day to find that, after a dramatic carried-over-the-threshold moment, your room is decked out in "just married" decorations and towel swans. Royal Caribbean's shoreside ceremonies run the gamut from simply scenic (a beach in San Juan, Puerto Rico) and bespoke (a winery in Santorini, Greece) to bucket-list affairs (like a ceremony atop a glacier in Juneau, Alaska). The good news is that with these all-inclusive packages, you know exactly how much your at-sea wedding will cost from the beginning.

Each country has its own requirements for in-port and at-sea weddings, and the cruise line's weddings department will assist in obtaining the information and, ultimately, the license. For example, if you want to get married while the ship is in the Bahamas, you need to first obtain a marriage license from that country, a process that can take up to 90 days. To get married in a U.S. port, you only need a marriage license from that state. The final option is to get married at a cruise line's private island or during a port stop in another country.

get married on a cruise ship

If you get married onboard the ship, your marriage will be legal in the Bahamas as that is where the ship is registered. Same goes for any port of call you choose to have your ceremony in. Getting married legally while at sea is complicated, so understand all the logistics before signing on, and plan well in advance. Legalizing a wedding in a foreign port can also be tricky, so ask your wedding planner to explain all the details and suggest which cruise port on your itinerary is your best bet for a wedding spot.

It's an affordable, efficient, and fun way to combine your nuptials with a honeymoon for you and a vacation for your guests. Whether you want to elope at sea during sunset, bring your entire family to watch you exchange vows on a Caribbean beach, or trek to the top of an Alaskan glacier to say "I do," a cruise ship wedding can make it happen. But along with the many cruise ship wedding pros, there are some cons you should consider as well. Below, we put together a list of the advantages and disadvantages of getting married on a cruise ship. Note that the cost for in-port marriage licenses vary by destination, from $200 to $700; a shipboard marriage license costs $900.

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Also, the number of wedding ceremonies performed on each sailing is based on the captain's availability. Couples should book their wedding packages in advance to allow time for the processing of marriage licenses and legal documents; for legal ceremonies at sea, all documentation should be completed and submitted about 10 weeks prior to sailing. Weddings on Celebrity cruises include the option to have the captain perform either a legal or symbolic ceremony at sea -- including legal same-sex weddings -- under the line’s Malta registration.

Decorations, which can range from balloons to flameless candles and towers of Champagne glasses, can be customized to your vision, with advance approval of the cruise line. Part of deciding whether marrying at sea will be cheaper than marrying on land is asking yourself the right questions. For instance, since you'll probably be bringing fewer people to a wedding at sea, the overall reception price might be less. Wedding packages on Cunard include some above-and-beyond extras, like a White Star Bellman to escort the bride to the ceremonial room and pressing service for bridal outfits. Couples getting married on a Norwegian cruise can add a conch shell aisle or fresh rose arch to shoreside ceremonies for extra charges.

Pressing of the couple’s attire and complementary hair and makeup for the bride are a nice addition to both packages on P&O cruises. Ultimately, if you're a person who wants a hassle-free wedding, with a one-stop shop for planning and a built-in honeymoon, then swapping vows ashore, in port or at sea might just be your dream affair. The caveat, however, is that the further in advance you book, you run a risk of change or cancellation as ships are known to swap itineraries or take ships out of service. In other words, don't play up Aruba or a specific ship — all your guests need to know early on is that it's a Caribbean sailing. Princess Cruises was the first cruise line to offer legal marriages at sea by the captain.

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