Weddingtrip
Wedding Cruises
A bride dressed in the traditional white veil and gown and wearing a life jacket. The most intriguing moment of the cruise lifeboat drill. How did it work out, having family and friends along for the honeymoon? Were all the details covered or were shoes, the cake and grandma accidentally left behind?
Karen Weisberg enjoyed a wedding cruise aboard the Grand Princess. She says, "It was great having our family and friends with us. There is so much to do on the ship, so no one gets in the way of anyone else. . . . There is still plenty of time to spend alone, because your guests understand that it is your wedding and honeymoon. It's not weird at all."
Karen and her husband wanted a cruise wedding on the Grand Princess because they had become engaged on the same ship the year before. Being on the ship before their wedding, with everything done for them, meant that they could relax and enjoy being waited on instead of rushing themselves into a frazzle before the big day.
Vickie and Charlie Carroll, along with 12 guests, took a Carnival cruise to St. Thomas and married at Bluebeard's Beach Club. They found this preferable to a wedding on the ship, though others have tied the knot onboard and only visited the various stop overs.
Palm trees, bouganvillea and hibiscus shaded the Carroll's wedding location. Instead of the miserable February weather of Washington D.C, it was a balmy 85 degrees.
After the ceremony, the couple moved a few steps to the beach where they shared wedding cake and champagne with their invited guests and two uninvited iguanas which lingered in hopes of another bite. The celebration continued back at the ship.
Vickie and Charlie feel that "being on board the Destiny was like having a week-long wedding reception. Daily we sunned ourselves and rested and nightly we danced, sang Karaoke, and laughed and just enjoyed being all together far away from the daily grind."
The couple give this hint. "The ship has many places set up in the evening to take formal photos. We used every one of them and got some great wedding photos without the cost of a professional."
The Carrolls point out that the cruise line recommends that the wedding party arrive a day ahead of the cruise in case of any problems. An ice storm hit Washington as they were about to leave for Miami with flights canceled and rerouted. With the extra day, they still ended up in good time for the embarkation. Another good idea is for everyone to take their wedding clothes onto the plane in a garment bag as part of the carry-on luggage. If baggage goes to California, the wedding can still carry on.
Karen Weisberg says to make sure to use a reputable company so all the couple need do is show up and relax. She used, A Wedding for You Inc. A note for those not living in the United States. Using a travel agent in your own country can prevent loss of money if a cruise is canceled. At least make sure your cruise is insured with an agent who will pay even if the company isn't based in your country. A Canadian, I have used both an American Company over the Internet and my local travel agent with success.
On the romance side, Paul Motter of has some savvy advice for a great honeymoon. His Couple's Survival Kit includes nose strips, blindfold, earplugs and a booklite. Sounds kind of kinky.
The nose strips and ear plugs stop the snores in a small cabin. A midnight novel reader uses the booklite while his or her mate uses the blindfold to sleep. Seasickness pills or patches may also be useful, but many of the boats are so large, they'll feel like a train rather than a boat. The kit wouldn't be complete without condoms, a cruise ship rivals a train when it comes to the good times. Something about the vibrations of a large moving vehicle.
Cruise weddings range from an intimate ceremony with cake cutting and pictures with 8 guests for $650 to $850 to a deluxe romance package with a reception and half hour open bar for up to 20 guests for $1,550. Upgrades can include a limousine to the dock, better wedding cake, extra flowers which will all add to the cost.
With Carnival cruises, each package includes the bouquet and boutonniere for the groom, sparkling wine and champagne flutes, wedding cake with keepsake topper, recorded wedding march, photography and wedding album. As the price increases, hors d'oeuvres and ice carvings are included.
Guests are required to disembark right after the ceremony in various ports of call, so it would be wise to have any guests sailing also sign up for the cruise. A notary public or non-denominational minister conduct the ceremonies not the ship's captain. Taking Karen's advice and using an experienced wedding planner or travel agent will help prevent wedding horror stories.
