Tuesday, April 2, 2024

Cruise Weddings: A Complete Guide to Getting Married on a Cruise Ship

get married on a cruise ship

You’ll have to take note of legal requirements when it comes to getting married on a cruise ship or on land. Some countries have residency requirements, meaning you have to reside on the island for a certain period of time in order to legally marry there—not possible if you’re just making a cruise stop. Of course, you could legally marry in your home country before your cruise and have a symbolic wedding at the port. When it comes to getting married on a cruise ship, you’ll need to follow the laws of the country where the ship is registered.

Best Cruise Lines for Weddings

For maximum fun on your wedding day, choose a ceremony followed by an onboard reception. Receptions are not included in the price of the ceremonies, but several add-on options are available, ranging from open bars and hors d'oeuvre to sit-down lunch and buffet meal service. Royal Caribbean weddings are great for multi-generational weddings, where kids, teens, adults and mature guests will all be attending. 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.

Coolest Perk of an MSC Cruise Wedding:

One of the first decisions couples need to make is whether to schedule their nuptials for embarkation day, at sea or in a port of call. You should also read your package details carefully to determine who will be performing the ceremony. Because ships carry finite resources, you won't necessarily have your pick of flowers or your own private DJ, but eliminating those extra choices right off the bat can take a ton of stress out of the planning process. If you've booked a shoreside package with your cruise line and that happens, they can accommodate your ceremony in another port. If you're looking to make your own shoreside arrangements, be diligent in checking out the cancellation policies for whichever services you're using, just in case.

Wedding Venues

On the luxe end, Cunard's Royal Ceremony at Sea package starts at $3,300. Of course, you will still need to pay for your own cruise fare, on top of the wedding package rates, as do your guests. Bernal says one couple arranged a fireworks show off the coast of Puerto Rico and worked with Celebrity Cruises to stop the ship in the middle of the ocean for the best view.

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Packages are available in a wide range of ports in the U.S. (including Alaska and Hawaii), Canada, Mexico, Europe, the Caribbean and Bermuda. This package adds priority embarkation for the couple and their guests (if the wedding is on embarkation day). Princess is a prime choice for cruise weddings because, of all the lines offering shipboard nuptials, it provides one of the best combinations of features, services and facilities. Princess' Tie the Knot packages are available on all ships, and most ships have dedicated wedding chapels.

Let's Cut The Cake!

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. "We find most weddings are celebrated on board during embarkation day. This allows attendees who aren't sailing with the couple to visit the ship for the ceremony," says Matt Lupoli, of Carnival Cruise Line media relations.

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. Note, too, that wedding parties of more than 50 guests require an additional wedding coordinator for an additional fee. Beyond that, an additional surcharge applies to weddings and vow renewals scheduled in May, June, September and October. Holidays -- such as New Year's Day, Valentine's Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Eve -- are also subject to higher rates. Norwegian Cruise (NCL) weddings come in a vast array of options, which can turn basic packages into full-blown extravaganzas. Its ships also feature a wide range of specialty restaurants for easy romantic dining for two.

So you can easily marry on certain cruise lines’ ships, while there are others where you can’t. Be sure to do your research, talk to a travel agent who specializes in weddings, and apply for licenses far in advance. What matters most on your wedding day is that you’ll be spending it with the person of your dreams. But if you could custom-design your dream wedding, how would you make it truly your own? Let’s start with where — a Carnival destination wedding lets you choose a scenic island as the background for your memories.

get married on a cruise ship

Apart from picking your package and adding customized options, the bride and groom have little to do except show up and say “I do.” Some cruise lines even offer free wedding websites to help keep your guests up-to-date and organized. A destination wedding on a cruise is more accurately a "destinations" wedding — you don't need to pick just one! This will not only thrill you and your future spouse, but loved ones as well as you will all enjoy a floating family reunion, toasting with frozen cocktails on the sunny pool deck and watching movies together under the stars on a moonlit Caribbean night. Grabbing the hand of your fiancĂ© 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. Follow that up with a Champagne toast and caviar for two on your balcony and dinner for two at the best table in your favorite specialty restaurant onboard, and you have a little bit of magic in the middle of the most unforgettable vacation of your life.

However, an inherent part of a cruise wedding is the cruise, which can fluctuate in price depending if the betrothed are looking to splash out on a suite or opt for a more modest cabin. Cruise wedding couples can choose to hold their ceremony in a homeport like Seattle or Miami before departure. This gives them the ability to choose their own clergy and invite day guests onboard for the afternoon before setting sail. Or they can choose a wedding in a port of call, like Mexico, either onboard the ship or at a venue like the beach of a resort.

As the cruise line returned to service after the COVID-19 pandemic began, it reported that smaller, more intimate ceremonies were becoming more popular. Being married at sea by the captain is still, by far, the most sought-after package, says Princess Cruises. Another popular option is to get married while the ship's at sea. This is a fantastic option because you won't have the time pressure of embarkation day, nor will you have to give up any fun activities or beach time in port. Getting married at sea or in a foreign country can be complicated and require paperwork in advance.

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At the lower end of the spectrum are weddings on HAL's private island, Half Moon Cay. As with any milestone event, you can keep it as simple as an intimate elopement or as lavish as a large ceremony with a banquet dinner with every upgrade on offer. Choosing a cruise line that provides options will help tailor your wedding day to fit within your means as well as your dreams.

"We're starting to see more weddings on the islands, whether their whole group is sailing with them or meeting them there," says Bernal. That means if your luggage is lost or you forget your veil or bowtie at home, you won't be able to just run to the store to replace what you're missing. The answer is a resounding "Yes!" Cruise lines make it easy by offering a number of packages at varying price points, but there are still some things you should know.

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