Saying “I Do” Onboard Cruise Ships Are More Popular Than Ever

Planning a wedding, is not only one of the most stressful tasks, but also the most special experience in your life. So don’t limit yourself to the “normal” wedding, think outside the box, and ponder over the opportunity of a wedding at sea onboard a luxury cruise ship.

Weddings onboard a cruise are becoming ever more popular as couples search for both value and hassle-free preparation. It’s also a great way to wow and gloat to your friends and family.

So why are countless couples each year choosing to tie the knot on a cruise ship?

For starters, all the worry is taken away from you, from choosing your wedding bouquet, making the bride looking like a queen with the onboard hair salon and beautician, to capturing your special day with photographers, and your own personal caterers and bar staff.

With the stunning views, it’s your choice to go small or have an extravagant wedding with your most dearest friends and family sharing your perfect bond in union, even including your own unforgettable honeymoon.

In excess of 2.600 couples annually say “I Do” on Carnival Cruise Line ships alone.

If you have friend and family that are not able to go on the cruise, you can get married on embarkation day while your ship is in port – or tie the knot on an exotic island, choosing from beach destinations in the Pacific and a number of beautiful ports of call around Australia.

Or you can be a fish out of water, and contemplate a dream wedding at sea. Princess Cruises debuted the first-at-sea shipboard wedding chapel on the Grand Princess in 1998, and has been offering weddings onboard (and on shore) ever since. A “Love Boat” Captain – devised after the famous “Love Boat” TV show, which was filmed on a Princess Cruises ship – or other senior officer will conduct your at-sea ceremony, your celebratory marriage certificate detailing the coordinates of where you said your vows.

On Cunard’s three ocean liners, shipboard weddings take place on sea days, as well as for the duration of transatlantic crossings. Wedding packages chock-full with niceties include a White Star Bellman to escort the bride to the ceremony venue and a bottle of Veuve Clicquot Champagne.

Say “I Do” on Holland America Line and joyful couples become one in such exotic destinations as the pretty little white wedding chapel at the cruise line’s private Bahamas island of Half Moon Cay. Or start your life together at Bluebeard’s Castle on St. Thomas; overseeing the sacred pond of King Kamehameha on Kona, Hawaii; or on top of a glacier in Juneau, Alaska.

Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Cairns, Newcastle, Fremantle and Auckland are places where passengers on P&O Cruises Australia ships can romantically tie the knot pierside on embarkation day.

Already Married?  Why not renew your vows with family and friends witnessing your romantic bond in union.

Create your own lifetime memory!

 

Cruise Ship Wedding Planning Tips

Here are 10 tips for those contemplating a cruise ship wedding:

Take a cruise. Start by testing the waters, if at all possible on the ship you are considering for your big day. This is especially essential if you have never been on a cruise.

Survey your friends and family. See if the important people in your life will join you for your cruise wedding. With adequate guests you may be suitable for discount fares.

Think about venue. Shipboard options may include the wedding chapel, library, clubs, lounges, restaurants, the open deck or other public spaces. Pick the venue that’s right for you.

Reserve space early. With cruise weddings becoming more and more popular, you’ll want to start your planning as far in advance as possible.

Use a travel agent. You’ll need to reserve a block of staterooms, plan activities for diverse ages and make sure everyone gets to the ship on time. Consider calling in a professional.

Listen to your wedding planner. Your cruise line will allocate a wedding planner. She’s your new BFF, the professional who is able to see the big picture and guarantee hassle-free planning.

Make your wedding your own. Wedding packages outline the basics, but the sky is the limit in terms of custom-crafting your experience. Want ice sculptures and a string quartet? No problem. There’s a shipboard creative team at your disposal.

Reserve playtime.  With family and friends along for the cruise, plan in advance so your party can dine together. Also consider booking everyone on a celebratory shore excursion.

Share with others. Put your cruise on your bridal registry, so that friends and family back home can be part of the action. They may purchase onboard credits, which you can use for perks such as his-and-her massages (great for eradicating any pre-wedding butterflies).

Choose the right stateroom. You are celebrating in a once in a lifetime event, so go with the best you can afford. A private balcony for your stateroom is worth the splurge.