In 2011 the historic and famously British Cunard line broke with 171 years of tradition and changed all of its ships’ registries to Bermuda. Marking the first time that the quintessentially British Cunard didn’t have a ship registered in the United Kingdom. The reason for doing so may surprise you. It wasn’t for tax purposes, or at least not just. Captains of ships that are registered in Bermuda can perform marriages at sea. Ships registered in the UK cannot. While the decision was made for reasons more financial than sentimental, weddings aboard ship are after all lucrative for a cruise line, it is hard to beat a wedding aboard for the sheer majesty of the setting. The possibility of an inclusive drinks package doesn’t hurt either.
What You Need to Know Planning a Cruise Wedding
When planning cruise weddings, the first thing you should be aware of is the legalities involved. A ceremony can be full of pomp, tears, and soulful looks, and not legally binding in the slightest. Perfunctionally signing some papers in front of the right people can be binding, but lacks the sentiment and formality most people crave. The truth is that the majority of cruise ship captains can’t legally marry a couple. This is a side effect of each ships flag of registry, international law, and maritime law. The cruise lines do maintain notaries that can make a marriage legally binding or arrange for an officiant to come aboard who can. It really depends on the particulars of the ship and where it is at the time. What is required to get married is different from port-of-call to port-of-call, and differs yet again when the ship in international waters.
It isn’t uncommon for couples to hold a small legal ceremony on land, and then have a purely ceremonial event aboard the ship, so it is worth noting that Port Canaveral does have a wedding venue at the port: The Exploration Tower. It stands in the middle of the port and offers seven levels that culminate in some spectacular views of the ocean, Cape Canaveral (both the town and the launch complex), and the Banana River. It is an option that is worth considering on the way to your cruise. Inquiries can be made here.
Bear in mind that all costs given for wedding packages are in addition to cruise fare. Any guests you want accompanying you on the cruise will have to book a stateroom for themselves, or depart the ship immediately after the ceremony. If you want to have your wedding on the high seas with the wind in your hair and all your loved ones looking on, then you or individuals your wedding party is going to have to spring to book staterooms for them.
It is very much worth noting that Princess, Carnival, and Norwegian cruises share the same wedding planning company. Royal Ocean Events handles cruise weddings from Vancouver, to the Caribbean, and on to Australia. If your wedding is on one of these cruise lines then it’s likely Royal Ocean will be the planners handling things, but surprisingly not if you’re cruising with Royal Caribbean.
In the Harbor
Carnival Corporation owns Cunard of the previously mentioned Bermudan registration, as well as Princess Cruises which is widely acknowledged to be the champions of wedding cruises. So it comes as a shock that Carnival doesn’t do wedding ceremonies on the open sea. All of Carnival’s wedding packages take place in port, or at a destination. It is most likely the result of how their ships are flagged.
Instead Carnival offers five packages that cover weddings in port, including the port of embarkation and on the day of embarkation, as well as destination packages. Carnival’s packages are reasonably priced and cover a range of weddings. On the low end “Just You & Me” accommodates the bride and groom plus 6 guests and includes photos, flowers, cake, and keepsakes like the cake topper and the champagne flutes you toasted with. A wedding planner handles everything and for $1,355 is a great value. An extra $249 dollars for a total price of $1,595 nets you all of the above and a multi-course reception for up to 20 people. An open bar for 90 minutes costs $1,975. These packages are only available while the ship is in port and non-sailing guests are limited to 50. The “Island Breeze” package takes place ashore, but it only covers the bride and groom. Your guests are going to have to find their own way to the venue which can be a beautiful Caribbean beach, or as pedestrian as a courthouse in Nassau.
All of this requires some planning ahead, and coordinating with your guests. Cruise weddings are popular, and only so many can take place on the same day. Popular seasons like May and June will have to be booked well in advance.
Norwegian Cruise Lines does offer weddings at sea, but only on certain ships. Purely symbolic ceremonies are available on all their ships, but like Carnival the majority of Norwegian’s official and legal wedding packages take place while the ship is in port, or at a destination.
A Norwegian cruise wedding starts off like Carnival’s and for a comparable price of $1,995. Where things change is the variety of ways it’s possible to customize the package. Everything from the music to the cake to the dining can be customized. This applies to the destination wedding package as well which start at $2,595. To determine what best matches your plans and your vision for the rest of your life you really should see Norwegians brochure available here. Importantly, Norwegian offers group discounts on 8 cabins or more directly to you. Important if you want the wedding party to come along with you.
At Sea
A Disney Cruise wedding is far and away the best choice for a couple who wants to feel like princess and prince. From the venues aboard ship, on land at destinations on your cruise, or at the Disney Parks in Orlando it is as close to a storybook wedding as you’re likely to get. Paradoxically, it is also an excellent choice for couples who are giving the marriage thing another try and have the kids in tow. Disney is all about family vacations and a family honeymoon might be just the thing for a couple that is blending theirs.
Packages start at $3,000 and do include weddings on board the ship while it’s at sea. There are also the options to have the wedding at one of the Disney parks and add the cruise on as a honeymoon, or at Disney’s Private Island at Castaway Cay starting at $4,000. The basic package does include champagne and a live musician. Integral wedding features which you won’t find included with other cruise lines. There is however no reception included, and the reception options if you opt to pay extra for one are few. Castaway Cay weddings are performed by a Bahamian official, but oddly enough have no legal standing. Instead, the couple will have to be married before the trip. Weddings performed aboard the ship are legal however, and the captain officiates.
The final line operating out of Port Canaveral is Royal Caribbean, and like Disney they too offer weddings aboard ship that are overseen by the captain, or the first officer. For versatility and the ability to customize your wedding the Crown and Anchor comes through. Their Royal Romance program offers three choices for wedded bliss. However, Royal Caribbean cruise weddings are definitely not your cheapest option.
The Paradise Shipboard option is a harbor wedding and it starts at $3,195. Paradise Destination is the port of call option and it starts at $3,495, but does have the widest variety of locale choices of any cruise line. You can, if you wish, get married atop a glacier in Alaska. Finally, Royal Romance at Sea allows the couple to get married at sea by a senior officer. It starts at $3,995 and can be upgraded. An additional reception package can be bought and some impressive venues can be booked too. All of it is priced on a per head basis though. So costs can and do add up quickly. If you have the money Royal Caribbean does offer the most choices for tying the knot though.
Cruising in a Group
Finally, assembling your wedding party for a cruise, or any large cruising group, for that matter can be a challenge. Whether your party consists of family or friend from college getting everyone free from work and school at the right time is hard enough. Getting everyone from across the country assembled at the port at the right time can seem impossible. What we at Go Port recommend is flying or driving in a day early and staying in a hotel near the departure port. It mitigates the risk posed by a flight delay or cancellation. Doing so also allows your party a chance to assemble and finalize your plans before the cruise. It’s our specialty as a point of fact.
Our Fly Snooze and Cruise and Snooze Park and Cruise packages take care of cruise vacationers flying and driving into Port Canaveral for a cruise. For things like weddings we can tailor a custom package to accommodate everyone. A package where the bride and groom and her best friend forever fly in from Minnesota and the grooms’ parents drive in from Virginia the day before. The couple plus BFF catch a shuttle from the airport and check into their rooms the day before. The parents drive to the hotel later that night. In the morning they drive to one our lots where a shuttle picks them up and takes them to the port. That morning Uncle Ron who has to be different arrives at the Amtrak station in Winter Park, but it isn’t a problem because we’ve scheduled shuttle transportation to take him to Port Canaveral.
Handling these sorts of different accommodation and travel needs is literally what we do. To handle your cruise wedding turn to the wedding planner assigned by the cruise line. To get you, your soon-to-be spouse, and your friends and family to the cruise ship on time check us out.
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