Having a wedding on a cruise ship is like getting married at an all-inclusive resort at sea. There are many benefits to having a cruise ship wedding: the stress of finding a caterer, reception hall, location and officiant is often taken care of once you decide on your wedding cruise package. Having a cruise ship wedding can also be a value when compared to a traditional wedding ceremony, depending on the size of your guest list, of course.
There are several important factors to consider when planning a cruise ship wedding. These include your budget, location, when you want to get married, and lastly the legal technicalities. It is also a good idea to check with travel agent or wedding planner who has experience with cruise ship weddings to ensure you and your guests get maximum benefit from your wedding cruise package.
Budget
The first, and possibly most crucial, part of planning a cruise ship wedding is deciding on your budget for your special occasion. Your budget will be the deciding factor on many aspects of your cruise ship wedding– number of guests, location, and length of your cruise.
When planning a cruise ship wedding ceremony with guests, you will need to consider the price of the bride and groom’s tickets, plus each guests ticket and any additional excursions, entertainment or meals. Most cruise lines also offer wedding packages that you can add-on after the cost of the cruise itself.
If you are getting married on the ship, cruise lines will generally offer different tiers of wedding packages. What is included in the wedding package will vary depending on which cruise line you are traveling with. Wedding packages can include everything from a wedding/event coordinator, flowers, music, catering, photographer, and the wedding officiant. Some cruise ships will even take care of all of the decor and party favors for your guests, so all the couple has to do is basically show up and enjoy their cruise ship wedding!
There are many benefits to booking your cruise ship wedding as a group once your guest list is finalized. Many cruise lines offer group rates for weddings, and there are often additional perks such as a free or discounted suite for the bride and groom, onboard credits, welcome gifts, and having all your guests seated together for meals. Many cruise lines also offer group rates for shore excursions during your cruise.
Location/Destination
When it comes to planning a cruise ship wedding, first you have to decide what type of cruise ship wedding you want. For example, many couples choose to get married aboard the cruise ship at the departure port, with guests having the option to attend just the ceremony or stay for the cruise. Check with your cruise line to see if there are any restrictions on how many guests can attend the ceremony if they aren’t planning on cruising with you.
Getting married while out at sea is only offered by certain cruise lines such as Princess, Celebrity and Cunard, to name a few. The majority of cruise lines prefer to hold the official ceremony while at port and have an unofficial ceremony at sea.
Another option is to choose a destination for your wedding, such as a private beach or resort near one of your ports of call. You will be responsible for all the arrangements if you choose to get married off the cruise ship. One exception is Disney Cruise lines, which offers weddings aboard their ship or while stopped off at one of their private islands, so you can experience a “Disney wedding.” In most cases, if you choose a destination wedding, it is highly recommended to hire a wedding planner who has experience at your wedding location to ensure all the details are taken care of.
Best Time for a Cruise Ship Wedding
The best time for a cruise ship wedding depends on the location of your cruise. For example, the Atlantic hurricane season is from June through November 30, so it would be best to avoid planning a wedding cruise to the Caribbean during that time. The Alaskan cruise season goes from April to September, so that is something to consider if you are planning a cruise ship wedding to Alaska. Another popular cruise destination, The Greek Islands, are generally closed during the winter months. Even with the most careful planning, incidents and natural disasters can still happen, so it’s a good idea to have a back-up plan in place for your cruise ship wedding just in case.
Another factor to consider when planning your cruise ship wedding is the length of your cruise. Four to seven days is the average duration for most cruise ship weddings, in general. It provides enough time for the ceremony and to enjoy your vacation, while not being too long to prevent your guests from joining you. It is also important to let your guests know well in advance, so that they can take care of any necessary arrangements in order to attend your event. There are many live streaming services available so you can share your big day with any family and friends who are unable to attend your cruise ship wedding.
Legalities
There are also legal factors to consider when getting married on a cruise. The bride and groom are responsible for providing the marriage license for the country in which the wedding ceremony will be taking place. You also must have a legally certified person as your wedding officiant.
Whatever options you choose for your big day, be sure to give yourself plenty of time to plan for your cruise ship wedding. It is recommended to start planning a year in advance in order to comfortably plan a cruise ship wedding.
