Posted on Monday, 14 November 2022

Choosing a venue is core to planning a wedding. But perhaps you’re looking at somewhere different from a church, a stately home, or even a beach setting?

Maybe you’re even wondering, can you get married on a cruise ship?

Well, the answer is, yes you can!

Here we take a look at why people are choosing to get married at sea, and exactly how to get married on a cruise ship.  

Why get married on a cruise ship? 

Couples chose to tie the knot at sea for a variety of reasons.

They may be enticed by the romance of the open sea or the simplicity of organising a ship-based wedding. They may also be attracted by the fact an at-sea wedding can be much cheaper than a land-based ceremony.

Average UK wedding cost

A report by the Bridebook wedding app revealed the average cost of a UK wedding stood at £16,005. Other studies suggest an average figure of more than £30,000!

Given a sea-based wedding can cost a fraction of this sum, nautical nuptials may be ideal for those on a budget.

Cruise wedding options

There are three main ways to have a cruise-based wedding.

You can choose to get married:

• At sea in international waters
• In port, before embarkation
• Ashore at a destination of your choice - such as a Caribbean beach or the Alaskan wilderness.
  
  

Getting married at sea

Who can officiate a wedding on a cruise ship at sea?

Getting married in international waters means the captain must perform the ceremony.

Licences and laws

To get married at sea, you also need to ensure the cruise ship you book is licensed for at-sea weddings.

In order for a wedding ceremony at sea to be legal, ceremonies need to be conducted under the laws of the country in which the ship is registered.

Getting married in port

When getting married in port, you can have a local member of the clergy come aboard to perform the ceremony.

Guests can board the ship for the wedding, then leave before you set sail.

This option is likely to require more planning than getting married at sea. You'll also need to be familiar with local marriage laws.

Getting married on land, at your destination

This is also likely to demand more planning than an at-sea wedding. You'll also need to arrange a member of the clergy to perform the ceremony, and once again you'll need to adhere to local marriage laws.

Some cruise lines - such as Disney - have private islands on which you can get married.

Are there chapels on cruises ships?

Whilst some cruise lines do still have chapels on their vessels, many of these are being converted into alternative facilities when the ships are taken into dry-dock, due to the venues being underutilised.

Princess Cruises still has chapels available across an extensive number of their fleet, in which to hold your wedding ceremony. Many other cruises lines however, such as Royal Caribbean Cruises, are instead opting to provide less traditional indoor venues, or deck venues for ceremonies.

What's included in a cruise wedding package?

Packages vary, but an at-sea wedding ceremony is likely to include:

• Use of the onboard wedding chapel or other suitable venue
• Officiation by the captain
• A wedding coordinator
• Live music
• Flowers
• A wedding cake
• Champagne
• Photography services.

A harbourside wedding is likely to include the same kind of offerings.

Additional services for your cruise wedding

Cruise lines offer a range of extras to add to your cruise wedding package, such as:

• Cocktail pianists
• Piano entertainers
• Harpists
• Elaborate floral arrangements
• Gift services
• Spa services

These can of course add significantly to the base cost of a wedding ceremony.

Getting married on a cruise ship cost: How much is a cruise wedding likely to cost?

Basic cruise ship wedding packages can cost less than £1,000, in addition to the cost of a wedding licence (£250 - £400) - and the price of the cruise itself.

Considering the average cost of a land-based wedding is in excess of £16,000, a cruise wedding can offer incredible value.

Why a cruise wedding may be cheaper than a land wedding

Cruise lines offer complete wedding packages that are often cheaper than land-based weddings.

Such packages are more cost effective because there is only one provider - i.e. there aren't multiple different companies trying to make a profit on your wedding.

Do cruise ship weddings cost more during specific times of the year?

The cost of cruise wedding packages tends to fluctuate less than land-based weddings, where spring and summer ceremonies can cost significantly more than winter or autumn weddings.

Equally, getting married on a Saturday on land can be more costly than, for example, mid-week - but on a cruise ship the cost does not fluctuate as much.

That said, there may be supplements if you get married over Christmas, New Year, or on Valentine's Day.

Combine wedding and honeymoon

It makes a lot of sense to have your honeymoon onboard the cruise ship where you are getting wed - it means less planning and may well be a lot cheaper than booking a separate honeymoon with different providers.

Guest limits for cruise ship weddings

If you choose a harbourside wedding, the good news is your guests need only attend for the day in question (rather than booking onto the cruise). They can then leave before embarkation.

However, there are usually limits as to how many guests can attend your ceremony.

Wedding vow renewals

Couples who have been together for a long time can choose to renew their wedding vows aboard ship - and can enjoy the same kind of services as offered by a regular at-sea wedding.

Travel agent support for your cruise wedding

You may wish to involve your travel agent in your cruise wedding plans before you make any bookings.

They may be able to help you get a good deal - particularly when it comes to group bookings.    

Are cruise weddings worth it?

With a bit of forward planning, the savings that can be made from having an at-sea wedding as opposed to a land-based ceremony, coupled with the ability to combine your wedding with your honeymoon, can be an attractive proposition for many couples.

It's important to make sure that you have the right travel insurance provisions in place, for your big day at sea though.

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