It has come to my attention that we do not have a thread on this site about Weddings on a Cruise.
Has anyone ever planned a wedding on a cruise ship or had any experience with this? Was it a good experience or bad? Can guests who are not cruising go to the wedding? Was it worth the cost? What about little things like will they let you use your own photographer?
Didn't get married on a cruise ship not have we ever attended a wedding on a cruise ship.
But -- have seen weddings on cruise ships. All the ones I have seen have been while we were either in Ft Lauderdale or San Diego. Depending on the size of the wedding, some had a big room reserved for the service while others had had a small room. Some have had a luncheon in the dining room while others had just a few guests and served champagne and had a small cake. All that I have seen have had their own photographers. Some of the guests stayed on the ship to cruise with the honeymooners.
I haven't planned or attended a wedding, but on my first cruise was invited to a vow renewal. It was lovely, in the chapel...and then there was a short champagne reception in a room in the conference area.
Other guests commented that some of the weddings aboard ship were more complicated and fancy. The renewal I attended was elegant and straightforward. All of the guests were in their lovely clothes, the service was lovely, and the children of the couple were the best hosts ever, and everyone was able to mingle in a lovely atmosphere. The only drawback I can see is what their son told me, is that many of the folks they had invited on land could not come, for whatever reason. Thats why we "board friends" were invited.
Outside guests are variable depending upon the line. Celebrity allows for 10 non-sailing guests without additional charge. Above 10, you have to book their "reception package". They provide priority boarding to the entire party since the wedding obviously has to be completed before the ship sails (if non-sailing guests are involved). The captain doesn't perform the ceremony, so either BYOP or they'll provide a local government type to do a civil ceremony. Ditto with photographers. BYOP or they'll supply one for you.
On HAL, those that had the sit down luncheon, had their service around 11:30 - 12 with the reception and lunch in the dining room and they had to be off the ship by 3 - 3:30. Nothing was free - all paid by the bride, her family, etc. (whomever wanted to pay for it).
My hubby knows someone who had gotten married on the Diamond Princess when it was still brand new. We tuned into the wedding cam at the time of the wedding and it was dark. The couple (the bride works for Princess) had the camera turned off for the ceremony.
A few months later, we were on the Sapphire and my hubby was talking to some guy who was part of a wedding party (a daughter or niece was getting married as far as I can remember) onboard. Hubby got the impression that this family had money. I think one of their parties (pre-wedding or reception) was in Skywalkers.
haven't been to a wedding aboard a ship unfortunately. But Princess is the only line that the Captain can marry you and while at sea in the chapel.
The chapel onboard the Star Princess is very pretty...has beautiful stained glass windows etc.
Other cruise lines, you must be in port...and married by a local official. Sometimes the captain can "officiate" for pictures...but it must be actually done by the local JP, Priest, Minister or whathaveyou.
I thought I read last week that one of the cruiselines was re-registering their ships to a different home port/country, so that the Captain could then perform on-board weddings.
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