Tips for Planning Your Wedding Aboard a Cruise Ship
The Venue On Jun 22nd, 2015 2327 0
Have you always dreamed of a wedding on the open seas surrounded by waves and star light? A cruise ship is the perfect venue for seeing your dreams fulfilled, but getting married aboard a cruise takes extra planning. Here are the most important things to consider.
 
1. Surcharges
 
 
While you’re wedding will undoubtedly be one-of-a-kind, you aren’t the only one to ever have wanted to marry on a ship. In fact, some major cruise lines are so inundated by reservations they’ll add a surcharge to your booking depending on the season. Obviously, booking during off-seasons will get you a better rate, so if you’re pinching pennies, that’s something to keep in mind.
 
2. Who will have you
 
Most small cruise lines don’t offer full-service, on-board weddings. Elite and luxury liners with small fleets are, no surprise, the most common exception to this rule, but if you aren’t stoked on booking with a big, mass-market fleet, never fear. There are a few small, but affordable lines that offer excellent wedding services, you just have to hunt harder and plan further ahead.
 
3. What you’ll see
 
 
Did you and your fiancee fall in love aboard a romantic Ellis Island ferry? Maybe you’ve always dreamt of watching the whale migration, or visiting the Caribbean? Whether you want a perfect view of your beloved city, or a majestic view of icebergs, you’ll want to do some research into which kinds of cruises are considered “in season” during the infamous wedding season. Prices and availability will be massively impacted by these small considerations.
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4. Who will marry you
 
You’ve already got your future spouse booked, but what about the person who’ll be in charge of helping you say “I do?” Bringing a rabbi, reverend, or wiccan priestess with you on your cruise will be an expense you’ll likely be unwilling to make.
 
For this reason, many people choose to employ the services of an officiant sea captain, most of whom work for big cruise lines like Celebrity. So, plan ahead on this front, too. Maybe it’s time to pay for a friend to become an officiant online?
 
5. Where exactly you’ll get hitched
 
 
Many people choose to cruise to their beach wedding location (often island based), and that’s a great idea, which can save money and resolve certain booking conflicts. However, there are lots of ports of call to choose from, and some of them aren’t reliable.
 
If you plan to have the wedding, avoid places where, due to high winds (like in the Caymans) ships often don’t make port. Also keep in mind that hurricane season in the tropical Caribbean starts in June. Winds mean unstable ports, which could result in a wedding flop.
