A wedding onboard a cruise ship or in an exotic port of call is the epitome of romance. If you are considering tying the knot or a vow renewal, you may not have any idea where to start.
Here are some helpful tips for getting married on a Royal Caribbean cruise.
Where to begin
You will first need to contact the Royal Weddings department.
The weddings department requires a minimum of 90 days prior to your sail date but advise that you contact them even earlier than that, if possible.
You will choose your package and any add-ons that you desire. Then you’ll be assigned a shoreside coordinator who will work with you to customize your ceremony and reception to your specific needs.
They can also assist you with getting your marriage license. This may take 10-14 weeks after your cruise ends since the Bahamian maritime marriage license process requires at least 90 days for processing.
On embarkation day, you’ll meet with your onboard coordinator who makes it all happen!
Who can Royal Caribbean marry?
Pretty much anybody, as long as you’re familiar with the rules.
If you get married onboard the ship, your marriage will be legal in the Bahamas as that is where the ship is registered. The same goes for any port of call you choose to have your ceremony in.
Same-sex marriages can be performed ashore in the United States or any other port abroad that legally recognizes them.
Since the Bahamas does not allow same-sex marriages, those cannot be done legally on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship. However, the couple can have a symbolic ceremony at sea or at a select port of call if they wish.
Note that religious ceremonies are not available.
Read more: 10 tips for an amazing Royal Caribbean wedding
What does a cruise wedding package include?
Royal Caribbean offers four wedding packages to choose from. Details of each package can be found on Royal Caribbean’s website.
Intimately Yours Package
- Non-denominational wedding officiant
- Pre-cruise wedding planner
- Onboard wedding coordinator
- Bottle of Moët & Chandon champagne
- Pre-recorded musical accompaniment
- 2-tier wedding cake
- Dinner at a specialty restaurant
- Chocolate-covered strawberries
- Mimosa breakfast-in-bed
- Stateroom decor
- Keepsake wedding certificate
- Private wedding venue
Pricing for up to 10 guests: $1,950
Vows at Sea Package
- Non-denominational wedding officiant
- Pre-cruise wedding planner
- Onboard wedding coordinator
- Bottle of Moët & Chandon champagne
- Pre-recorded musical accompaniment
- 3-tier wedding cake (up to 50 guests)
- Dinner at a specialty restaurant
- Chocolate-covered strawberries
- Mimosa breakfast-in-bed
- Stateroom decor
- Keepsake wedding certificate
- Private wedding venue
Pricing for up to 50 guests: $3,850
Destinations I Do Package
- Non-denominational wedding officiant
- Pre-cruise wedding planner
- Onboard wedding coordinator
- Onsite wedding coordinator
- Bridal bouquet and matching boutonniere
- Couples wedding cake
- Bottle of sparkling wine
- Keepsake wedding certificate
- Transportation for the couple
Pricing for up to 50 guests: $4,650
Embark on Romance Package
- Non-denominational wedding officiant
- Pre-cruise wedding planner
- Onboard wedding coordinator
- Bottle of Moët & Chandon champagne
- Pre-recorded musical accompaniment
- 3-tier wedding cake (up to 50 guests)
- Dinner at a specialty restaurant
- Chocolate-covered strawberries
- Mimosa breakfast-in-bed
- Stateroom decor
- Keepsake wedding certificate
- Private wedding venue
- Priority check-in
- Allows for non-sailing guests (up to 75)
- Pier-to-ship escort for the couple and guests
Pricing for up to 50 guests: $5,600
Cruise wedding add-ons
If you really want to go all out you can add on, for an additional fee, salon services including hair styling and nails for the ladies or hair cuts, shaves, and beard trimming for the gentlemen.
You can add more hours with the photographer that includes all of your photos digitally. There are three photography packages you can select from, or there are various photography add-on options.
You can also arrange for a live band or a DJ at your reception. All entertainment is based on availability by each ship.
Speaking of receptions, you can book a venue and add bar services, hors d’oeuvres, or food stations.
You can make it as simple or as elaborate as you wish!
Vow renewals
You don’t have to be getting married to have a ceremony! Why not renew your vows in a picturesque setting? That’s exactly what we did. We got married on land and had our honeymoon on Freedom of the Seas. Since we love cruising so much, we decided to celebrate our 10-year anniversary with a vow renewal on the ship we took our honeymoon on.
We wanted it to be just the two of us. Our onboard coordinator took care of everything! We chose our vow renewal to be held the day we were docked in Labadee. We added extra time with the photographer so we had photos done on the island before the ceremony. We had the ceremony itself in the Cloud 9 card room on Deck 14 (which is now the suite lounge).
We provided our own music so we had a sound technician present that played the songs through a speaker system. Our onboard coordinator also performed our ceremony. Afterward, we had a champagne toast. We requested to have the chocolate-covered strawberries and the cake delivered to our room. Next, we took photos around the ship. Even though it was October 28th, the ship was already decorated for Halloween.
Read more: 20 tips for a Royal Caribbean honeymoon cruise
Our amazing wedding coordinator followed us around, deflating the decorations so we didn’t have ghosts and vampires in our photos then set them all back up again.
The photographer was happy to take photos in all of our favorite venues: Vintages, Giovanni’s Table, The Diamond and Viking Crown Lounges, and even the Next Cruise desk!
The one place I suggested that surprised our photographer the most was the main dining room. I love its three-story staircase and the giant chandelier. It turned out to be some of my favorite photos of the day.
Later in the cruise, we had our certificate delivered with our names, the date, the name of the ship, and it was signed by the Captain.
The whole experience was even more perfect than we planned.
But what does it cost?
That’s hard to answer because there are so many variables that affect the price.
Packages that include the couple and 10 guests start at $1,950. Packages that include up to 50 guests start at $3,850. Up to 75 guests start at $5,600.
Whichever package you select, the entire cost of the package is due upon booking.
Also, according to Royal Caribbean, "final payment for enhancements is due 45 days prior to sailing. We cannot apply GAP (Group Amenities Plus) points of Group/Cruise credits to your wedding package or enhancements."
For us, the experience and memories were worth every penny.
