Celebrate Your Special Day with a Luxury Cruise

See also: Honeymoon cruises

Getting Engaged Aboard Ship

Princess Cruises has a special ‘Engagement Under the Stars’ package whereby you can propose to your loved one in a personal video just before an evening movie at the outdoor large screen venue aboard some of the company’s ships. The cost: US$695.

Getting Married Aboard Ship

Instead of the hassle of arranging flights, hotels, transportation and packages, you can let a specialist wedding planner do it all for you. As in all those old romantic black-and-white movies, a ship’s captain can indeed marry you when at sea – unless the ship’s country of registry prohibits, or does not recognize, such marriages.

First, you would need to inquire in your country of domicile (or residence) whether such a marriage is legal, and ascertain what paperwork and blood tests are required. The onus to provide the validity of such a marriage is yours. The captain could be sued and perhaps held criminally liable if he marries a couple not legally entitled to be married.

Arranging to get married aboard almost any cruise ship when it is alongside in port is simple, provided you take along your own registered minister (note that US citizens and ‘green card’ residents may need to pay sales tax on wedding packages). Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, and Princess Cruises, among others offer special wedding packages. These include the services of a minister to marry you, wedding cake, champagne, bridal bouquet and matching boutonniere for the bridal party, a band to perform at the ceremony, and an album of wedding photos.

Carnival Cruise Lines’ programme includes a marriage ceremony on a beach in Grand Cayman or St. Thomas. Princess Cruises offers weddings on a beach in St. Thomas (prices range from US$525 to US$1175 per package). Or you could arrange a romantic wedding Disney-style on its private island, Castaway Cay.

Princess Cruises offers weddings aboard its ships (except Pacific Princess, Royal Princess, Tahitian Princess) The ceremonies are performed by the captain, and are legal because of the ships’ registry, Bermuda.

UK-based passengers should know that P&O Cruises hosts a series of cruises called the ‘Red-Letter Anniversary Collection’ for those celebrating 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, or 60 years of marriage; the cruise comes with a complimentary gift, such as a brass carriage clock, leather photograph album, or free car parking at Southampton.

Renew Your Vows on a Luxury Cruise

Many cruise lines now perform ‘renewal of vows’ ceremonies. A cruise is a wonderful setting for reaffirming to one’s partner the strength of commitment.

A handful of ships have a small chapel where this ceremony can take place; otherwise it can be anywhere aboard ship (a most romantic time is at sunrise or sunset on the open deck).

The renewal of vows ceremony is conducted by the ship’s captain, using a non­denominational text.

Although some companies, such as Carnival Cruise Lines, Celebrity Cruises, Holland America Line, P&O Cruises and Princess Cruises, have complete packages for purchase, which include music, champagne, hors d’oeuvres, certificate, corsages for the women, and so on, most other companies do not charge (yet).

Berlitz Guide © Apa Publications 2008