How to Get Married on a Cruise

There is nothing more romantic than a wedding cruise. Just imagine leaning against the rail with your new hubby, sipping champagne in the tropical moon light. Ah amore’!

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• You and the one you love

1. The common misunderstanding is that cruise ship captains can conduct regular ceremonies onboard anytime they please – that’s only done in the movies. In fact only a few cruise ship captains can conduct onboard ceremonies. The Princess’s Diamond, Coral, and the Grand-class ships have wedding chapels dedicated for the occasion.
2. Most ships bring a clergyman or civil official on board to conduct the ceremony in a decorated public room. Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, and Princess Cruises offer special wedding packages.
3. You can also get married at a port of call, such as a Caribbean island. Carnival Cruise lines include a wedding on a beach in Grand Cayman or St Thomas. Disney cruise lines will also arrange a romantic wedding on its private island – Castaway Cay.
4. You will need to make arrangements for the ceremony, the reception, and your wedding license in advance. Many cruise lines have wedding departments that help you refine the details and help with the outside wedding coordinators.
5. Many cruise lines also offer vow-renewal packages.
6. Princess Cruise line even has a special "engagement under the stars" package so you can propose to a loved one.

Tips & Warnings

• Tips: Cruise line wedding packages usually include the services of an official (unless you bring your own), a bouquet, a boutonniere, champagne, keepsake glasses, a wedding cake, and services of a photographer (however, the pictures actually cost extra). Prices go up from there based on the complexity and size of your reception. A vow-renewal package usually includes the ceremony, a commemorative certificate, an orchid bouquet, boutonniere, champagne, souvenir glasses, framed formal portrait, a champagne breakfast in bed, a visit to the spa, canapés in your stateroom, and a visit to the bridge by the captain – while in port of course.