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But it’s safe to say this is definitely a better deal than any land-based venue you can find. Cruise ship weddings, depending on the package, can get quite expensive at around $1,000 per guest. Norwegian offers four wedding packages that start at around $2,000. Its Wedding at Sea ceremony, priced from $3,099, is performed onboard while at sea and officiated by the ship captain on Breakaway, Getaway, Epic, Escape and Bliss.
IT’S A CELEBRATION!
For instance, since you'll probably be bringing fewer people to a wedding at sea, the overall reception price might be less. Examples of extra-fee add-ons include videography, photography or live entertainment at the ceremony or reception (Carnival Cruises charges $150-plus for some tunes to accompany your celebration). Your best bet is to choose a ship whose personality and amenities match your preferences. "The norm [for in-port weddings] is to sail with the whole group," she says, rather than have guests fly in for the ceremony.
Why Choose Disney for a Cruise Wedding?
If you can't stand the thought of sharing a romantic vacation with your extended family, consider an embarkation-day wedding and bid your guests goodbye after the reception. The trade-off is your pierside event might not be as scenic as an onboard ceremony with expansive sea views. For example, as of July, Royal Caribbean is fully sold-out for 2022 weddings and is not accepting bookings for additional nuptials this year.
Can I invite guests who won't be sailing with us?
On a large cruise ship with everything from carousels to gleaming glass-filled interior foyers and sun-dappled decks, the variety of options is as endless as your imagination. "They'll jump on the flight to the island and meet the couple and then stay on the island for a few days," she says. "You can have non-guests in ports of call come on the ship but usually the couple comes off the ship to get married on the beach." Renewing your vows on a Carnival cruise is, honestly, a lot like a wedding… which is perfect, because wouldn’t you marry them again?
However, it’s best for those who don’t mind letting go of the details and keeping things simple. “From the flowers to the music, cruise weddings tend to be simple and you likely won’t have many choices to pick from, if any,” says Heather. In terms of wedding size, cruise ship weddings tend to work for smaller guest lists—but some cruises can accommodate larger party sizes. Cruise weddings also can be ideal for couples who don’t want any guests at all, and who want to combine their wedding or elopement with a unique honeymoon experience. Disney Cruise's Fairy Tale Weddings are available on all of the line’s ships. You’ll have to take note of legal requirements when it comes to getting married on a cruise ship or on land.
We can even create a custom shore excursion package for your group. When you book a group of eight staterooms or more, we can hold cruise fare pricing for 30 days as you finalize arrangements. You’ll enjoy group cruise deals, low deposits, and a more flexible payment schedule. ✓ Fine dining, live music and shows, kids programs, fitness center, nightlife—it's all covered. "We start with a package and design your ceremony to be just for you," says Bernal. But you do need to get your paperwork in order before the wedding day.
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Additionally, Disney offers a low-stress, low-hassle package that -- while not cheap -- certainly delivers on bringing fairytales to life. As a final note, you should account for the possibility of bad weather if you’re at sea. Unfortunately, cruise ships may not be able to dock at a certain location if the water’s rough, so you may have to prepare a plan B. And if you were counting on a legal marriage, the worst-case scenario is that you can always have your wedding be symbolic and officiate it once you get back home. Going back to negative points, it’s important to acknowledge that your vendor choices will be limited on the cruise.
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. As with any cruise, all guests need to be flexible — even those exchanging nuptials. 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.
Flowers
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. 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. The line's at-sea wedding package is one of the pricier base rates on this list, starting at $3,300.
Following up on a point we mentioned earlier—guest accommodation is often not included in the wedding package. Many cruise lines are quite flexible and will allow you to have friends and family over while you’re docked (as long as they don’t stay past curfew). Getting married at sea sounds like a start to a fairytale, while having a destination wedding sounds like you’re off to a luxurious life. What if you could have both, without spending a ridiculous amount of money? Using a travel advisor who specializes in cruise weddings could be helpful in selecting the right vessel for your preferences and perhaps most importantly, your budget. It’s also helpful to note that not every ship in a cruise line’s fleet accommodates legal marriage ceremonies.
Since we’ve already thought of everything, all you need to think about is how great it’s going to be. Weddings start at $1,800 for HAL's onboard At Sea Symbolic ceremony with up to eight guests on all sailings. That price includes an onsite wedding coordinator, a ship officer to perform the ceremony, flowers for the couple, a bottle of sparkling wine, a small wedding cake, a commemorative photo album, recorded music and a keepsake wedding certificate. Wedding packages start around $2,100 for a ceremony without guests and go higher for up to 10 guests. Wedding coordinators and event managers for cruise lines — included with all packages — make the decision-making easy.
In addition to the beautiful ceremony and reception venues, couples and their guests also enjoy the unmatched amenities and entertainment onboard the iconic Love Boat. From world-class dining options to luxurious spas, vibrant nightlife, and thrilling onboard activities, Princess ensures an unparalleled experience for all guests. 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. We chose our vow renewal to be held the day we were docked in Labadee.
On the more casual and festive end, Carnival Cruise Line weddings start at $1,499; MSC Cruises' weddings cost roughly the same. 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. Shoreside ceremonies — in a port of call on the ship's itinerary — also welcome non-sailing guests but have capacity limits.
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. It's becoming more popular for couples to host a series of events on board the ship during the wedding week, says Bernal. Previously, couples have organized a whiskey tasting for the guys; afternoon tea for the girls; bachelorette parties at a ship's bar, club or lounge; or a private dinner in an onboard restaurant for guests the day after the wedding. Exact wedding package inclusions depend on the cruise line you're sailing, whether you're getting married at sea or in port, and the level of package you choose. Windstar Cruises' yacht-style smaller ships entice many couples planning a cruise elopement, with either just them or only a few guests.
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