Tie the Knot Onboard with a Cruise Wedding

Cruise ships are essentially floating resorts, with everything a nuptial venue needs – plus the bonus of a built-in honeymoon. Many cruise lines offer special wedding packages complete with a wedding coordinator. Planning your wedding at sea can save both time and money.

Guests can join you on your cruise, or you can choose to say ‘I do’ on embarkation day – in which case your friends and family can come onboard to attend the ceremony and reception, but you can enjoy a private honeymoon.

Celebrity, Princess, Cunard, Royal Caribbean, and NCL all provide designated wedding planners who will arrange everything for your big day, so your choice comes down to style and budget.

Package prices vary and are comparable to costs at hotels. Most cruise lines offer a ceremony venue on the ship, followed by cake and champagne as a basic option. Cunard’s Ceremonies at Sea package also offers optional extras, including live music, floral decorations, and gifts. Royal Caribbean offers a highly flexible plan with three different wedding photography packages and several food and beverage options, priced per person per hour.

As for style, whether you want formal or fun, intimate or extravagant, there’s a cruise line that will provide it. For a fairytale wedding at sea, consider Disney Cruise Line. Or perhaps you’d like your wedding photos taken on MSC’s Swarovski crystal-encrusted staircases? Luxury cruise lines such as Regent Seven Seas will customize an intimate yet extravagant romantic celebration at sea for guests and their fellow cruisers.

You can also ask the ship’s captain to officiate – which is an included perk on certain cruise lines. This ceremony will not be legally binding, so you’ll need to tie the knot officially elsewhere. It’s possible to do this in port, but rules differ from country to country, and there may be a lot of paperwork to complete in advance. Your cruise line’s wedding planner can assist with this process. Keep in mind that ports can be missed due to weather or other factors out of the cruise line’s control, such as political unrest.

Whichever cruise line you choose for your wedding, there’s one thing you can be sure of – you will be treated as a VIP. Whether it’s your first time at the altar or you simply want to renew your vows, there’s no more romantic way to say: “I do.”

Let’s get started planning your luxury vacation. Reserve your complimentary consultation call with me to begin!

Featured photo by Jordan Arnold