- Cruise Ship Weddings - Salvatore Vuono
Since 1998, Princess Cruises has enabled bridal couples to combine a wedding and honeymoon into a romantic cruise vacation. Princess' Tie the Knot wedding program offers some of the best wedding cruises at sea as well as in port. Here's what to expect.
Facts About Princess Cruises Weddings
Legal Cruise Wedding Ceremonies – The bridal couple must be on the cruise in order to host a ceremony on the cruise ship. Princess Cruises is one of only a few cruise lines that offer legal wedding ceremonies performed by the captain while at sea. While in port the civil ceremony is performed by a non-denominational local officiate.
Marriage License – The bridal couple is responsible for obtaining a valid marriage licence from the port of call they have selected to host their wedding.
Wedding Guests – Cruise wedding packages will allow up to ten non-sailing guests to board the ship for the ceremony at no additional cost. Princess Cruises will allow additional non-sailing guests if a wedding reception is purchased.
Wedding Coordinator – Cruise wedding packages include a Tie the Knot wedding coordinator to assist the bridal couple with planning the wedding and also for the wedding day. An additional wedding coordinator is required when the number of guests exceeds 25. Furthermore, if a reception is booked, there's an extra wedding coordinator charge of $150 for each coordinator.
Onboard Wedding Reception – A one-hour reception with hot and cold hors d'oeuvres and an open bar costs $21 per person. A one-hour lunch buffet with bar service is $30 per person and a four-course gourmet luncheon starts at $25 per person but does not include an open bar. For an open bar, add $13 per person per hour.
Other Professional Services – At an extra cost, the Tie the Knot packages can provide all other professional services such as photographer, videographer, tuxedo rentals, entertainment, flowers and salon / spa services.
Cost of Cruise Wedding Packages on Princess Cruises
Shipboard weddings are normally performed in the chapel (if applicable) or one of the onboard lounges. Tie the Knot at Sea package starts at $1,800 plus a license fee of $450. The cruise package includes getting married by the ship's captain, the use of a wedding coordinator, live music, flowers, photographs, a wedding cake for two and a bottle of champagne.
The Tie the Knot Harborside option starts at $1,300 depending on the port of call. In addition, the bridal couple is responsible for the licence fees that can be an extra $500. This is a good option for those that have non-sailing guests. It includes priority check-in for couple and their sailing guests, a ceremony performed by a local officiate, wedding coordinator, flowers, a wedding cake for two and a bottle of champagne.
- Juneau, Alaska – Harborside from $1,600 or rainforest garden from $2,200
- Vancouver, Canada – Harborside from $1,400 or garden wedding from $1,800
- Cabo San Lucas, Mexico – Harborside from $1,700 or beach wedding from $1,900
- Caribbean Wedding in St. Maarten – Harborside from $1,700 or beach wedding from $2,200
- Caribbean Wedding in St. Thomas, VI – Harborside from $1,700 or beach wedding from $1,800
- Fort Lauderdale, Florida – Harborside from $1,300 or beach wedding from $1,800
Since there is only one bottle of champagne and a small cake for two included in most packages, bridal couples may choose to host a wedding reception onboard for an additional cost. But, even when adding up the cruise wedding costs, a cruise wedding has the potential of being cheaper than a traditional land-based wedding.
Renee Ruggero - Renee is a published travel writer and cruise industry insider with more than 1,000 days on cruise ships, visiting over 50 countries.
