Weddings At Sea And In Port

Imagine the romance of being married on board a gorgeous cruise ship, then sailing off to begin your new life together. Or picture yourselves exchanging vows in the destination of your dreams. Perhaps you would prefer a tropical beach in Hawaii or the garden of a lovely Italian villa; then it's back on board to continue your honeymoon celebration!

Your wedding is one of the most important events in your life and today's cruise ships are just the place to make your special day uniquely beautiful and romantic. An entire range of wedding packages and locations is available, and you can choose from simple to extravagant, or from traditional to adventurous. Hold the ceremony in the elegant shipboard chapel* or select from the wide variety of shoreside options. And you'll be pleasantly surprised at how affordable and hassle-free the planning will be. Plus, it's a fantastic and memorable way for all of those you love to share your experience with you; either by joining you on the vacation or viewing the ceremony live via webcam!

Getting Started

To begin, your CruiseCheap.com cruise expert will help you and your fiance to choose the perfect honeymoon cruise. Then decide if you'd like to be married on board or in one of the ports of call. Lastly, choose from the variety of wedding packages offered by your cruise line and the ideal location for your ceremony. Customize it with some additional options if you like, and start packing! CruiseCheap.com's wedding administrator will work with until it's time to leave home.

The cruise line will assist you in obtaining and processing a marriage license and also provide an officiant. And many cruise lines provide on-board wedding coordinators to ensure that everything runs smoothly and just the way you would want.

An example of a basic menu offered for weddings on board the ship can include:

• Priority check-in and escorted embarkation
• Recorded music
• Bridal bouquet and boutonniere
• Keepsake marriage certificate
• Wedding cake
• Bottle of champagne
• Photographer and an 8 x 10 portrait in a silver engraved frame.

Packages with these inclusions can start as low as only $750!

More comprehensive options may also include:

• Chauffeured limousine transfers to the ship on sailing day
• Upgraded photography packages
• Champagne breakfast in bed and chocolate-covered strawberries.

All this prices from only $1495!

Customized options such as live entertainment, wedding day salon appointments, videography, additional floral designs, tuxedo rentals or printed announcements can add as little as $50 or up to $800 each to the total cost.

Destination Ceremonies

Destination ceremonies are the ultimate fantasy come true. In the Caribbean ceremonies can be held at waterfalls, in tropical gardens, and on the beach. Choices available in Europe include the terrace or rooftop garden of a winery, villa or castle. Or for some real excitement, choose a helicopter ride to the top of an Alaskan glacier! Prices range from only $1595 to $2500 per couple.

Onboard Wedding Reception

After your wedding, hold a reception for all your family and friends in one of the stylish lounges on board your honeymoon ship, including live entertainment and catering. Of course, the cost will vary depending on how many people will be in attendance and how elaborate you choose to be. The cruise line will provide a price list for you when you're ready. And if you like, don't let the party end there. Invite your wedding guests to join you on the cruise so you can enjoy one another's company as well as gourmet dining, fun activities and exciting nightlife every day until your cruise is over.

Cruise Ship Wedding versus Las Vegas Wedding

The following comparison chart demonstrates just how romantic and what a great value cruise ship weddings can be. Considering that you can easily spend $30,000 on a traditional wedding at home, we decided it was best to compare one of the cruise line's packages with one of those offered in Las Vegas.

We chose the largest and most inclusive wedding package offered by Royal Caribbean International and put it up against the top-of-the-line wedding package from the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino because they are comprised of almost identical items.

Then we took it a step further and compared the cost of a 7-night honeymoon cruise aboard the Navigator of the Seas against a 7-night stay at Mandalay Bay.

The prices on this chart are shown per person, based on two people in a room, for a 7-night honeymoon during the off-peak travel season, specifically between November 6-13, 2004. Air travel is priced from Chicago O'Hare airport using airline Internet fares. Room accommodations are as follows:

• Royal Caribbean's Explorer of the Seas Oceanview Stateroom with Balcony
• Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas City View Room

The rates used in this comparison were accurate on the day they were checked and used for this comparison exercise only. It's important remember that rates can change at any time. Promotional price cuts can appear and then disappear quickly once they've been booked.

After the comparison, all we could say was "wow." But you should have a look for yourself and make your own decision. Then contact CruiseCheap.com right away for more information and to begin planning both the wedding and the honeymoon of your dreams.

Cruise Ship Weddings versus Land-based Wedding
Cruise Ship Wedding	Wedding Package Items	Las Vegas Wedding
Royal Caribbean	Wedding Package Company	Mandalay
Navigator of the Seas	Wedding Location	Mandalay Bay
Included	Wedding Coordinator	Included
Included	Wedding Chapel & Ceremony	Included
Included	1 Hour Limousine Service	-
Included	Officiant	Included
Included	Recorded Music or Live Piano	Included
Included	Bridal Bouquet	Included
Included	Boutonnire	Included
Included	Keepsake Marriage Certificate	Included
Included	Wedding Cake	$150
Included	Bottle of Champagne	Included
Included	Champagne Flutes	Included
Included	1 Hour of Photography	Included
Included	8 x 10 Wedding Portrait	Included
Included	Photography Package with Photos and Wedding Album	Included
Included	Wedding Night Accommodations	Included
Included	Wedding Night Dinner for Two	Included
Included	Champagne Breakfast in Bed	Included
Included	Chocolate Covered Strawberries	-
$1,495	Total Per Couple	$2,255
	Honeymoon Package
Navigator of the Seas	Property	Mandalay Bay
Royal Caribbean	Company	Mandalay
	Rating
3,114	Number of Guests	6,600
7 Night Cruise	Honeymoon Length	7 Night Resort
Deluxe Oceanview w/ Private Balcony	Accommodations	Standard City View Room
$1,029 pp	Room Rate	$874 pp
$289 pp	Airfare from Chicago, ORD	$156 pp
$30 pp	Transfers	Included
Included	Baggage Handling	Included
Included	Meals, Snacks, Beverages	$700 pp
Included	Entertainment	$250 pp
$75 pp	Gratuities	$140 pp
$30 pp	Taxes and Fees	$31 pp
Miami, Florida Grand Cayman Costa Maya, Mexico Cozumel, Mexico Belize Days at Sea too	Places You'll Visit	Las Vegas
$2,906	Total Honeymoon Cost Per Couple	$4,302
$1,495	Total Wedding Costs	$2,255
$4,401	Total Wedding and Honeymoon	$6,407

*Note: wedding chapels are available only on certain ships; however, all cruise ships have ideal locations for the ceremony. Your wedding coordinator will provide suggestions.