Planning a wedding can be a stressful and challenging time, but a cruise wedding is different and can be as simple as making one phone call!
As soon as you have selected your chosen package the in-house wedding coordinators will begin organising and arranging all of the details on your behalf; everything from the ceremony, menu, cake and flowers right down to assisting with your wedding licenses, invitations and thank-you notes!
Many cruise lines offer a variety of services to help make your onboard or shoreside ceremony as simple and stress-free as possible.
Our Cruise Experts have selected the following as their top ten picks for cruise ship weddings:
Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises have some of the best combination of features, services and facilities for cruise ship weddings. Their "Tie the Knot" packages are available on all ships, and most ships also have dedicated wedding chapels.
If you choose to have your ceremony conducted at sea by the captain, then you can also arrange for this to be broadcast live, by Webcam, to your friends and family at home.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Line offers a huge array of options, allowing anything from basic packages to full-blown extravaganzas. They also offer legal same-sex ceremonies in destinations where these are recognized by law.
They also offer legally recognized weddings at sea performed by the ship’s captain on Norwegian Breakaway, Norwegian Getaway, and on Norwegian Escape with Marriage certificates being issued by the Bahamas.
The ships feature a wide range of restaurants with easily available romantic dining for two and there is a huge range of a la carte options, including spa and beauty services, flowers, photography, tuxedo rentals and a wide variety of wedding receptions.
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Captains can perform ceremonies at sea onboard all ships with the exception of Celebrity Xpedition. They can also offer extras such as a bridesmaid tea party, or a cigar and cognac party for the Groom and Best man prior to the wedding.
Some packages such as the "Nautical Nuptials at Sea" include some romantic extras including chocolate-covered strawberries, Champagne, his-and-hers robes and rose petals on the bed on their wedding night.
Royal Caribbean International
Royal Caribbean International offers a wide range of wedding packages, including an option to get married at sea in a ceremony that includes special nautical vows. Receptions are not included in the price of the ceremonies, but options are available for an additional fee.
Voyager-class, Freedom-class and Oasis-class ships all have onboard chapels and they have become so popular in recent times that these carry a surcharge.
Ceremonies conducted in May, June, September and October as well as specific holidays such as New Year, Easter, Independence Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas also incur higher rates.
Holland America
Holland America line offers a good range of onboard packages with the basic package starting at $795 for a simple onboard ceremony for two on North America and Caribbean sailings. Almost all ships have dedicated wedding chapels.
It is also possible to marry on Holland America's private island in the Bahamas, Half Moon Cay at certain times of the year as well as destination weddings on the island of St. Kitts, or one atop a glacier in Alaska.
Their Group Advantage Program provides extra amenities when a minimum of eight staterooms are booked. The bride and groom will receive a free stateroom upgrade and a commemorative wedding cake for 16 guests and the entire group receives a lunch at the Speciality dining Pinnacle Grill, a private wine tasting and chocolate-covered strawberries, plus a bottle of in-room Champagne.
There is also a surcharge on packages in May and June as well as Christmas, New Year and Valentines day.
Disney Cruise Line
A Disney Cruise Line wedding is a fun choice, and is particularly popular for second-marriages for those who already have small kids.
The "Cruise Collection" package is available on all cruises departing from Florida and can accommodate eight guests, plus the wedding couple. The package does not include a reception for guests, however, an open bar reception is available as an additional extra.
You can also opt for a ceremony on Disney's private island, Castaway Cay, however this will be performed by a Bahamian official rather than the Ships Captain and would not be a legal marriage so the couple would need to already be legally married before the ship departs the U.S.
Carnival Cruise Line
Carnival appeals to younger couples due to it’s more affordable prices and lighthearted feel. Weddings are only available when the ships are in port (including embarkation ports), and there is a restriction to how many weddings can take place on the same day so planning ahead is a must.
The wedding packages are available on any of the ships in the fleet, however, only not every ship has onboard Chapels.
Carnival also offer a free online gift registry that is very simple to use which allows guests to contribute to a couple's wedding by providing a wedding website, blog, email wizard, photo album and Facebook/Twitter uploaders.
P&O Cruises
Not all of P&O's ships are suitable for weddings with children. Adonia, Arcadia and Oriana are adult -only ships and therefore do not permit anyone under the age of 18 onboard.
The "Weddings at Sea" package includes a civil service, conducted by the ship's captain which is legally recognized under Bermudian law. The package also includes invitations and thank-you notes.
Wedding parties of 16 or more guests automatically qualify for additional onboard spending money. The bridal couple receive £200 onboard spending money and each couple within the party also receive £100 onboard spending money. Weddings also qualify for up to a maximum of three complimentary cabins; one free for every 20 booked.
Cunard Line
Cunard Line ships, although maintaining a very British influence, are registered in Bermuda allowing Cunard's captains to conduct wedding ceremonies at sea.
Their "Royal Wedding at Sea" package is available onboard any of its ships and includes a bottle of Veuve Clicquot Champagne for the happy couple and a bride and groom's Champagne breakfast in bed.
Weddings can only take place on sea days and on cruises of at least seven days duration.
Crystal Cruises
Crystal Cruises offers upscale tailormade wedding packages both onboard the ship and in port to a number of exotic destinations throughout the world.
Package prices here are more expensive but this is reflected in the standard of onboard services and amenities on offer.
They are the only cruise line to offer themed reception decoration packages, where you can choose from a sleek modern black-and-white, a tea party-inspired option, a beach themed option or a traditional white wedding theme.
Whether you prefer a wedding at sea or on shore at an exotic destination, our Cruise Experts are here to assist you in choosing the right package for you.
Call us today on 0800 197 8050
