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Sailing with more than 50 guests might be its own organizational challenge, but couples looking for a larger wedding at sea can opt to hold their ceremony at a land-based venue in one of their itinerary’s approved destinations. Each port has their own requirements to obtain a marriage license, which couples are responsible for handling. Documentation should be completed and submitted approximately two to three months prior to any legal ceremony at sea. Photographers can also take full advantage of the cruise ship, bringing the two of you — or your whole wedding party — to a series of locations that showcase the energy and excitement of the vessel itself. 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. In addition to selecting an officiant and a ceremony spot, you can plan as simple or as extravagant a reception as you choose.
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Some neat options of cruise wedding venues include the shores of San Juan; a winery in Santorini; cruise line private islands like MSC’s Ocean Cay Marine Reserve; or atop a glacier in Juneau, Alaska. The nice part about a destination cruise wedding package is that many cruise lines include roundtrip transportation from the ship to the venue for the couple in the cost of the package. Wedding packages start around $2,100 for a ceremony without guests and go higher for up to 10 guests. You’ll have to take note of legal requirements when it comes to getting married on a cruise ship or on land. 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.
How should you travel with valuable wedding essentials, such as rings and attire?
Receptions range from simple cocktail hours to takeovers of whole dining venues, aka a restaurant buy-out. Beyond total guest numbers, each cruise line has strict rules about how many non-sailing guests can attend your embarkation-day wedding. For example, Royal Caribbean allows a maximum of 75 wedding guests (out of 150 total) to be day visitors who come for the shipboard ceremony and then leave before the ship sets sail. While there are a lot of perks for traveling via cruise ship, there are some facilities available on most cruise ships that may surprise you.
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Many cruise lines and companies can accommodate weddings, including Princess Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, Carnival Cruise Line, Crystal Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Royal Caribbean, among others. These cruise lines offer a variety of routes and price points so it’s often best to work with a travel agent to find the exact cruise that best suits your desired event. “The Caribbean’s hurricane season is from June 1 through November 30, so I would avoid booking during this time period as to not have to deal with any unpredicted storms. Alaska cruises have a particular set of dates when they allow cruises.” Frank notes that holidays and the family vacation season (summer) can be quite expensive and crowded and might not be the best for a cruise wedding.
Of course, you will still need to pay for your own cruise fare, on top of the wedding package rates, as do your guests. 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. Shoreside ceremonies — in a port of call on the ship's itinerary — also welcome non-sailing guests but have capacity limits.
Coolest Perk of a Disney Cruise Wedding:
Plus, you'll pay above and beyond the price of whichever wedding package you choose every time you invite more people. Note that licensing fees are almost always extra, as are the right to invite guests and the option to have your wedding ashore instead of onboard. Royal Caribbean International lists licensing fees between $220 and $700 for ceremonies at port (Bahamas, Bermuda, Grand Cayman, Florida, St. Thomas) and $900 for those at sea. Name a popular cruise line and chances are you can get married on one of its ships. One of the first decisions couples need to make is whether to schedule their nuptials for embarkation day, at sea or in a port of call.
Surcharges (ranging from $100 to $200) may apply for ceremonies during popular seasons, including Thanksgiving, winter holidays, Valentine's week and all of May and June. If you’re considering getting married abroad but can’t decide on a single location for your big day, you may want to consider a cruise wedding. Getting married on a cruise allows you and your guests to visit multiple destinations and easily stay close to one another—plus you can all enjoy the amenities a cruise ship has to offer. There are certain occasions when guests can board a cruise ship and celebrate your wedding with you even if they aren’t passengers. In order for non-sailing guests to be allowed to attend events onboard, your wedding ceremony and reception have to take place in one of our embarkation ports on sailing day. Sure, most mainstream cruise ships easily accommodate thousands of passengers, but most wedding packages limit the number of guests the bridal party can invite to the actual onboard ceremony for logistical reasons.
Some couples who opt for a memorable wedding at sea are frequent cruisers who use the moment to celebrate their favorite way of traveling as well as their shared love for one another. Ilene and Carl had each been on dozens of cruises when they met on a cruise. It might sound surprising, but turning the fantasy of getting married on a cruise into reality is easier than you might think.
What it's like to have a wedding on a Disney cruise - Business Insider
What it's like to have a wedding on a Disney cruise.
Posted: Wed, 29 May 2019 07:00:00 GMT [source]
This setup is perfect for couples who want to mix the joy of inviting friends and family to their wedding with the excitement of embarking on a private honeymoon voyage right after. The line also has two additional wedding packages with increasingly stepped-up amenities for either legal or symbolic ceremonies at select ports in North America, the Caribbean, Europe, Australia and New Zealand. The Anchors Away Harborside package, starting at $2,000, adds priority check-in for the couple and their guests, and photography services. Add-ons cover additional decorations, a mimosa breakfast, silk flowers for the couple, massages, sparkling wine upgrades, larger cakes, and cake toppers.
Don't have your heart set on being married in a specific port on a specific day at a specific time -- especially during hurricane season -- or you could find yourself disappointed if your vessel is forced to skip the call due to bad weather. We understand that your wedding is one of the most important days of your life, and you want it to be flawless. However, it's key to remember that there's always room for Mother Nature to throw a wrench into the best-laid plans. Part of deciding whether marrying at sea will be cheaper than marrying on land is asking yourself the right questions. For instance, since you'll probably be bringing fewer people to a wedding at sea, the overall reception price might be less. Ultimately, if you're a person who wants a hassle-free wedding, with a one-stop shop for planning and a built-in honeymoon, then swapping vows ashore, in port or at sea might just be your dream affair.
Deciding whether to have your wedding ceremony on board a majestic cruise ship or at a picturesque port calls for a bit of nautical know-how and personal preference. For those considering a wedding ceremony in a domestic port, like Miami, Seattle, New Orleans, or Fort Lauderdale, the process is quite straightforward. You can bring your officiant to conduct a legal wedding, much like you would at a land-based venue.
For maximum fun on your wedding day, choose a ceremony followed by an onboard reception. Royal Caribbean weddings are great for multi-generational weddings, where kids, teens, adults and mature guests will all be attending. There is always a huge range of entertainment, dining, drinking and relaxing options on board even the smallest Royal Caribbean ship, making it easy to keep guests happy before and after the wedding itself. If you're holding anything more than an intimate wedding on a Norwegian cruise, you'll be charged an extra fee for an additional wedding coordinator for every 25 guests beyond the first 25.
Check with your provider before boarding and look into travel health insurance for concerns over recouping any out-of-pocket costs. When thinking of a cruise, we generally imagine sailing away for a relaxing vacation of sun and fun. Lots of food, perhaps a drink with an umbrella in it and the magnificent ocean.
A Vows at Sea package starts at $3,850 includes up to 50 guests and use of a private onboard wedding venue while the ship is at sea. The Embark on Romance option, from $5,600, lets the couple get married onboard the ship while it's in port on embarkation day, allowing non-sailing guests to participate in the ceremony before the ship departs. This package includes the same services above and covers up to 50 people, but adds priority check-in and a pier-to-ship escort for the couple and their guests. Note that there is a $250 surcharge for every additional 25 guests as well as other related charges (see our caveat below).
Celebrity Cruises has also started to see more larger cruise weddings post-pandemic. Plus, if you want guests at your ceremony, they will need to book and pay for the entire cruise (or you'll have to pony up for their cabins). From a bustling city centre with shimmering skyscrapers to endless beaches, Miami is an urban paradise all year long. If you crave an exhilarating day of adventure on the water, head to Oleta State Park for a myriad of water sports in the Biscayne Bay. If you’re needing an art fix, explore the Perez Art Museum or historic Vizcaya Museum and Gardens.
Within this small archipelago, each of the Galapagos islands is uniquely diverse. Some have shorelines draped in mangroves, others are rugged volcanic outcrops jutting defiantly from the sea. Best of all, these explorations are all-inclusive and group booking here only require five staterooms. We can create group shore excursions including everything from standard tours to over-the-top experiences like Private Journeys.
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