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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 felt natural to choose to get married on yet another cruise ship.
Who can Royal Caribbean marry?
Either a marriage in port or onboard can be legally binding, as long as the couple works with the cruise line to file the correct paperwork in advance. The decision to officiate a cruise wedding onboard or in port is a personal decision, but there are a few logistical differences between the two options. Pick a cruise itinerary that doesn’t rush your introduction to married life but isn’t too long or too expensive for your guests. A four- to seven-day cruise gives time for the ceremony and doesn’t require too much of their vacation time. 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.
Can you get married at sea by a ship’s captain?
According to Princess Cruises, two-thirds of its weddings have fewer than 10 people in the group and the average size of larger weddings is 25, with about two weddings each year with 40 or more guests. As the cruise line returned to service after the COVID-19 pandemic began, it reported that smaller, more intimate ceremonies were becoming more popular. Being married at sea by the captain is still, by far, the most sought-after package, says Princess Cruises.
How do cruise weddings work?
Once you get married on a cruise ship, you’ll receive an official marriage certificate that can then be used as legal proof of your marriage. 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. As with every aspect of a cruise wedding, it’s important to discuss how any changes (or heaven forbid, cancellations) will be handled with your coordinator so expectations can be managed. A ceremony at sea is the perfect way to celebrate your nuptials, with family and friends, during the cruise. For maximum fun on your wedding day, choose a ceremony followed by an onboard reception.
Further, while some packages enlist the captain to perform the ceremony, it's important for you to be aware that most don't have the authority to legally marry passengers (Select Princess Cruises captains do). Since the Bahamas does not allow same sex marriages, those could not be done legally on the ship itself. Same-sex marriages are a possibility in countries where they are recognized. Of course, any couple can also opt for a symbolic ceremony, meaning that there is still all the pomp and circumstance of a celebration, without it being legally binding.
If you’ve recently gotten engaged (congratulations!) and are looking into celebrating your wedding on a cruise, there are a couple of things you should decide before saying “I do”. "We start with a package and design your ceremony to be just for you," says Bernal. But you do need to get your paperwork in order before the wedding day.
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On our Celebrity Weddings and Events site, you can search all of our wedding port options and find out important information including estimated pricing (for both shipboard and on land weddings), marriage licensing requirements, and venue options. Using a travel advisor who specializes in cruise weddings could be helpful in selecting the right vessel for your preferences and perhaps most importantly, your budget. It’s also helpful to note that not every ship in a cruise line’s fleet accommodates legal marriage ceremonies. Each cruise line has a dedicated wedding coordinator to help plan the absolute best cruise weddings. Typically, there are a variety of packages on offer, much like at any banquet hall or more traditional wedding venue. Cruise wedding couples can choose to hold their ceremony in a homeport like Seattle or Miami before departure.
It's not necessarily the most romantic thing to stay in bed with your sweetie all day while your guests are onboard and fully aware of what you're up to. If you enlist the help of a travel agent, it's possible you could score yourself some extra perks like specialty dinners or bottles of alcohol. The further in advance you reserve your cabin, the sooner you can get the ball rolling toward marital bliss, and the more time you have to pay everything off and ensure all details are perfect. Whether you cruise multiple times per year or you're new to cruising, the goal of Royal Caribbean Blog is for it to be a useful resource for keeping up to date with what's new and exciting with Royal Caribbean.
If you want family and friends to attend your at-sea wedding, consider whether you can sneak away when needed without hurting anyone's feelings. Each country has its own requirements for in-port and at-sea weddings, and the cruise line's weddings department will assist in obtaining the information and, ultimately, the license. For example, if you want to get married while the ship is in the Bahamas, you need to first obtain a marriage license from that country, a process that can take up to 90 days. To get married in a U.S. port, you only need a marriage license from that state. The final option is to get married at a cruise line's private island or during a port stop in another country. For local flavor, you might be able to weave in reggae music in the background while in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, or gift guests leis in Honolulu.
Shoreside ceremonies — in a port of call on the ship's itinerary — also welcome non-sailing guests but have capacity limits. This option is trickier, however, because you are only in port for one day, most likely. Cruise weddings can range in size, though cruise lines do limit numbers. In many cases, the size of the venue restricts the number of guests allowed. Another popular option is to get married while the ship's at sea.
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. Royal Caribbean's and MSC Cruises' family-friendly onboard amenities, such as waterslides and large kids clubs, are a huge hit for couples planning to invite guests of all ages. Royal Caribbean offers four packages for weddings at sea with sailing guests, embarkation-day ceremonies with sailing and non-sailing guests, portside events around the world and elopements with just the couple or up to 10 guests. As with weddings on land, this answer will be different for every couple, depending upon the number of guests, the simplicity or elaborateness of the wedding package you choose and the add-ons and additional events you book.
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. Weddings, reunions, birthdays, or getting together with friends and family. For any group celebration or occasion, we are by your side each step of the way. Trying to coordinate all the details and desires of group travel can be a daunting task indeed. Our large group cruises and event cruises make it simple to seamlessly plan and customize your special events to ensure they are memorable occasions you can look back on fondly for years to come. There are certain occasions when guests can board a cruise ship and celebrate your wedding with you even if they aren’t passengers.
It might sound surprising, but turning the fantasy of getting married on a cruise into reality is easier than you might think. For starters, your ship comes equipped with all of the amenities and facilities you need for your wedding festivities — from the ceremony to the reception and even the honeymoon. There's even a spa onboard should you choose to treat yourselves to some wedding-day relaxation, and nightlife available should you opt to have the bachelor and bachelorette parties on the same sailing before tying the knot. Ready to start planning your dream wedding or proposal on board? Visit the Weddings page on our website and find out more about Celebrity Cruises wedding packages and destinations. Leave the planning to us and we’ll make sure to take care of every detail— all you’ll need to worry about is saying “I do” when the time comes.
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