Wedding Cruises
Congratulations...you're getting married! Since the days of "The Love Boat," a cruise has been considered a wonderful choice for a relaxing honeymoon getaway. It's a very special day; one filled with family, friends and love cruise lines knows how to bring them all together for an affair to remember at a value you'll never forget. Think exotic destinations, beautiful decorations and a dedicated bridal staff and crew here to make your wedding day dreams come true.
Each year, more and more couples choose to say their vows in spectacular locations across the globe. However, planning and executing a successful cruise wedding can be a challenge, especially if you're not aware of the local regulations and marriage licensing requirements of your chosen wedding site. But don't worry, our CMIC travel group specialists are here to help.
For many couples, a cruise ship wedding is the perfect alternative to the extensive planning, out-of-control costs, and potential problems of a land-based wedding. Wedding coordinators from the cruise line are provided with every package to help arrange even the smallest details, eliminating stress for the soon-to-be newlyweds. While ship weddings are naturally more limited than other ceremonies, there are still dozens of features to choose from to create a personalized event to treasure through each anniversary.
First, you'll need to decide where your ceremony will take place. Only three cruise lines perform weddings at sea: Princess, Celebrity and Azamara. However, there are two other ways that couples can be legally married on a cruise vacation. With the help of a cruise line's wedding coordinator, you can plan the wedding of your dreams and be married while in port -- either on the ship itself or at an amazing site onshore. Or, to avoid complicated licensing requirements, you can choose to marry at home prior to your cruise and plan a symbolic wedding ceremony aboard the ship -- this is the preferred choice of an overwhelming number of couples.
Keep in mind that, regardless of your plans, all cruise lines require you to book a cruise before you reserve a wedding package. Cruise lines allow only a limited number of weddings per sailing, so couples should book early. Princess, NCL, Disney, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Azamara offer a variety of wedding packages for legal weddings at sea.
Your ceremony can be as simple or as elaborate as you like. It will be performed by the ship's captain, followed by a reception that can range from an intimate romantic dinner to a full reception with guests.
Cruise lines offer several levels of service for wedding packages, with different amenities and features for each one depending on the location and number of anticipated guests. For complete details about which cruise lines offer which options, couples should consult CMIC Travel for details.
Symbolic Weddings at Sea or in Port
Another option, and the most hassle-free way to go, is to marry legally at home, prior to your cruise, and plan a symbolic ceremony during your trip. You can avoid the hassles and costs of foreign wedding permits and processing fees, yet still enjoy the romance of a traditional wedding ceremony. At sea or in port, all cruise lines that offer wedding packages can arrange this type of ceremony.
Weddings in Port -- On the Ship or Ashore
A wedding in port, whether officiated on the ship or ashore, can be a wonderfully exotic and intimate ceremony that reflects your personality and enhances the beauty of this special day. You might exchange vows on a beach in the Bahamas, say "I do" in a church in St. Thomas or declare your love for one another beside a glacier in Alaska.
A great deal of planning goes into coordinating a wedding in port, which is why many couples opt to have the ceremony onboard the ship before the cruise embarks. Onboard weddings tend to be small, intimate affairs. Depending on which wedding package you purchase and the policies of the cruise line, there may be restrictions on how many guests can attend, especially if they are not planning to sail with you.
Typically, your wedding will be held inside, either in the chapel, the ship's library, a reception room or in one of the onboard entertainment areas. For couples who plan to wed on the day of embarkation, we strongly recommend arriving a day before departure.
Regardless of your ceremony location, here are some important issues to consider:
Licenses: You and your future spouse are responsible for obtaining a marriage license, for a fee, from your wedding destination. You also will need to be familiar with the regulations for marrying in that destination. Some places require that you apply for a license in person, while others allow you to submit an application over the phone or through the mail. Licenses can cost anywhere from $25 in Alaska to $150 in Florida. Often, your cruise line wedding coordinator can assist you in obtaining your marriage license (sometimes for a fee), or can provide you with the information needed to apply for one.
Who can attend? Security has been tightened on all ships, and there are new restrictions imposed on non-sailing guests. The wedding package you purchase through the cruise line will determine the number of guests you can invite to your ceremony and reception. Guests who are paying passengers on the cruise will be allowed to participate in your wedding. Non-sailing guests are generally permitted to come aboard for weddings and receptions, but you will most likely have to compile an accurate list of your guests, including their legal names, birthdays and/or state-issued identification numbers, and give this to the cruise line. Your guests will be asked to show proper identification upon boarding. The strictness of these regulations varies by cruise line and port. In some ports, particularly foreign ports, you may not be allowed to bring non-sailing guests onboard at all. Sailing and non-sailing guests count toward the maximum allowed guests listed for the wedding package you purchase.
Licenses
In all cases you should contact the relevant government officials or a cruise line wedding coordinator for marriage license requirements and fees. The following chart should be used only as a resource and not as a definitive list. It is subject to change without notice.
Wedding Costs packages are usually calculated based on the specific features and upgrades a couple chooses for their perfect day. The cost of the package is in addition to the standard cruise fare (which varies based on the cabin choice, itinerary, and other factors), and typically ranges from $700 for a small package (bride and groom plus very few, if any, guests) to over $2,500 for deluxe packages involving dozens of guests.In addition to the base rate of the package, couples need to consider the additional costs of cruise weddings: the fees for marriage licenses and other paperwork, plus per-person charges for additional guests above what the package initially includes. Holiday cruises may incur additional wedding surcharges, and port fees vary based on difficulty, customs, and the time the ship will be docked. Furthermore, some items are not included at all - the wedding rings, for example. All of these costs can add up quickly, and while basic wedding cruises may be less expensive than traditional affairs, an elaborate ceremony will be just as costly as a similar event on land.
LIMITATIONS OF WEDDING CRUISES
Couples planning a seagoing wedding need to be aware of the packages' limitations. While there are many ways to personalize a cruise wedding, there are also many options that are not available. For example, most cruise ships supply a wedding cake, but the couple has only limited flavor and decorative options. The same goes for flowers and music, though some lines permit the couple to provide their own music within guidelines (typically based on timing). Because of customs regulations, brides cannot usually bring their own flowers under any circumstances. Menus, while delicious and representative of the decadent cuisine available on all cruises, may be limited as well. Furthermore, depending on the ship's itinerary, not every destination is available for wedding ceremonies, and couples may be required to comply with blood test and residency requirements for the ceremony to be legally binding. The number of guests may be limited based on the ship's size and the wedding location, though most ships can accommodate up to 200 non-sailing guests without excessive problems (guest lists and reservations need to be supplied well in advance).
One limitation few couples consider about cruise weddings is exclusivity. Because weddings must be performed in port, typically on the day of departure, it is not uncommon for multiple weddings to be performed in a short period of time, which may make brides feel less like it is their special day. If this emotional aspect of the wedding day is a concern, a cruise ship wedding may not be the best option.
For details please contact CMIC Travel: 1-800-654-9681
Each year, more and more couples choose to say their vows in spectacular locations across the globe. However, planning and executing a successful cruise wedding can be a challenge, especially if you're not aware of the local regulations and marriage licensing requirements of your chosen wedding site. But don't worry, our CMIC travel group specialists are here to help.
For many couples, a cruise ship wedding is the perfect alternative to the extensive planning, out-of-control costs, and potential problems of a land-based wedding. Wedding coordinators from the cruise line are provided with every package to help arrange even the smallest details, eliminating stress for the soon-to-be newlyweds. While ship weddings are naturally more limited than other ceremonies, there are still dozens of features to choose from to create a personalized event to treasure through each anniversary.
First, you'll need to decide where your ceremony will take place. Only three cruise lines perform weddings at sea: Princess, Celebrity and Azamara. However, there are two other ways that couples can be legally married on a cruise vacation. With the help of a cruise line's wedding coordinator, you can plan the wedding of your dreams and be married while in port -- either on the ship itself or at an amazing site onshore. Or, to avoid complicated licensing requirements, you can choose to marry at home prior to your cruise and plan a symbolic wedding ceremony aboard the ship -- this is the preferred choice of an overwhelming number of couples.
Keep in mind that, regardless of your plans, all cruise lines require you to book a cruise before you reserve a wedding package. Cruise lines allow only a limited number of weddings per sailing, so couples should book early. Princess, NCL, Disney, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Azamara offer a variety of wedding packages for legal weddings at sea.
Your ceremony can be as simple or as elaborate as you like. It will be performed by the ship's captain, followed by a reception that can range from an intimate romantic dinner to a full reception with guests.
Cruise lines offer several levels of service for wedding packages, with different amenities and features for each one depending on the location and number of anticipated guests. For complete details about which cruise lines offer which options, couples should consult CMIC Travel for details.
Symbolic Weddings at Sea or in Port
Another option, and the most hassle-free way to go, is to marry legally at home, prior to your cruise, and plan a symbolic ceremony during your trip. You can avoid the hassles and costs of foreign wedding permits and processing fees, yet still enjoy the romance of a traditional wedding ceremony. At sea or in port, all cruise lines that offer wedding packages can arrange this type of ceremony.
Weddings in Port -- On the Ship or Ashore
A wedding in port, whether officiated on the ship or ashore, can be a wonderfully exotic and intimate ceremony that reflects your personality and enhances the beauty of this special day. You might exchange vows on a beach in the Bahamas, say "I do" in a church in St. Thomas or declare your love for one another beside a glacier in Alaska.
A great deal of planning goes into coordinating a wedding in port, which is why many couples opt to have the ceremony onboard the ship before the cruise embarks. Onboard weddings tend to be small, intimate affairs. Depending on which wedding package you purchase and the policies of the cruise line, there may be restrictions on how many guests can attend, especially if they are not planning to sail with you.
Typically, your wedding will be held inside, either in the chapel, the ship's library, a reception room or in one of the onboard entertainment areas. For couples who plan to wed on the day of embarkation, we strongly recommend arriving a day before departure.
Regardless of your ceremony location, here are some important issues to consider:
Licenses: You and your future spouse are responsible for obtaining a marriage license, for a fee, from your wedding destination. You also will need to be familiar with the regulations for marrying in that destination. Some places require that you apply for a license in person, while others allow you to submit an application over the phone or through the mail. Licenses can cost anywhere from $25 in Alaska to $150 in Florida. Often, your cruise line wedding coordinator can assist you in obtaining your marriage license (sometimes for a fee), or can provide you with the information needed to apply for one.
Who can attend? Security has been tightened on all ships, and there are new restrictions imposed on non-sailing guests. The wedding package you purchase through the cruise line will determine the number of guests you can invite to your ceremony and reception. Guests who are paying passengers on the cruise will be allowed to participate in your wedding. Non-sailing guests are generally permitted to come aboard for weddings and receptions, but you will most likely have to compile an accurate list of your guests, including their legal names, birthdays and/or state-issued identification numbers, and give this to the cruise line. Your guests will be asked to show proper identification upon boarding. The strictness of these regulations varies by cruise line and port. In some ports, particularly foreign ports, you may not be allowed to bring non-sailing guests onboard at all. Sailing and non-sailing guests count toward the maximum allowed guests listed for the wedding package you purchase.
Licenses
In all cases you should contact the relevant government officials or a cruise line wedding coordinator for marriage license requirements and fees. The following chart should be used only as a resource and not as a definitive list. It is subject to change without notice.
Wedding Costs packages are usually calculated based on the specific features and upgrades a couple chooses for their perfect day. The cost of the package is in addition to the standard cruise fare (which varies based on the cabin choice, itinerary, and other factors), and typically ranges from $700 for a small package (bride and groom plus very few, if any, guests) to over $2,500 for deluxe packages involving dozens of guests.In addition to the base rate of the package, couples need to consider the additional costs of cruise weddings: the fees for marriage licenses and other paperwork, plus per-person charges for additional guests above what the package initially includes. Holiday cruises may incur additional wedding surcharges, and port fees vary based on difficulty, customs, and the time the ship will be docked. Furthermore, some items are not included at all - the wedding rings, for example. All of these costs can add up quickly, and while basic wedding cruises may be less expensive than traditional affairs, an elaborate ceremony will be just as costly as a similar event on land.
LIMITATIONS OF WEDDING CRUISES
Couples planning a seagoing wedding need to be aware of the packages' limitations. While there are many ways to personalize a cruise wedding, there are also many options that are not available. For example, most cruise ships supply a wedding cake, but the couple has only limited flavor and decorative options. The same goes for flowers and music, though some lines permit the couple to provide their own music within guidelines (typically based on timing). Because of customs regulations, brides cannot usually bring their own flowers under any circumstances. Menus, while delicious and representative of the decadent cuisine available on all cruises, may be limited as well. Furthermore, depending on the ship's itinerary, not every destination is available for wedding ceremonies, and couples may be required to comply with blood test and residency requirements for the ceremony to be legally binding. The number of guests may be limited based on the ship's size and the wedding location, though most ships can accommodate up to 200 non-sailing guests without excessive problems (guest lists and reservations need to be supplied well in advance).
One limitation few couples consider about cruise weddings is exclusivity. Because weddings must be performed in port, typically on the day of departure, it is not uncommon for multiple weddings to be performed in a short period of time, which may make brides feel less like it is their special day. If this emotional aspect of the wedding day is a concern, a cruise ship wedding may not be the best option.
For details please contact CMIC Travel: 1-800-654-9681