A wedding is supposed to be a happy celebration, but the logistics of having one often makes it seem daunting to plan.
Royal Caribbean wants you to have your wedding on one of their cruise ships, and they just overhauled their wedding department by bringing it all in-house.
While Royal Caribbean has offered weddings on their ships for years, frustrations with outsourcing the actual wedding planning to a third-party vendor left the line with less-than-ideal outcomes.
Now, the entire process has been gutted and the operation is conducted within the company, and they think it's an opportunity for a much better experience overall.
Jackie Diaz, Senior Supervisor of Royal Weddings, shared insights into the new wedding packages and how couples can enjoy a stress-free wedding at sea.
A seamless experience from start to finish
With Royal Caribbean’s newly enhanced wedding program, couples have access to dedicated wedding specialists who guide them through the entire planning process, ensuring that every detail is taken care of before they set sail.
Ms. Diaz explained, "We have a dedicated team of specialists who take care of everything from start to finish. Couples don’t have to worry about the logistics—they just enjoy their special day."
"Our onboard venues provide breathtaking settings that are unmatched, and our packages are designed to offer couples incredible value with premium inclusions."
The appeal of a cruise ship wedding is everything is included in one spot, from lodging, to vendors, to the ceremony and reception. Even the honeymoon can be taken care of by Royal Caribbean.
Because you can plan everything in one place with a Royal Caribbean cruise wedding, couples can reduce the stress of working with various vendors while being able to say “I do” in paradise.
Royal Caribbean offers three main wedding packages to accommodate different preferences and guest counts:
Forever Yours Package
Designed for intimate weddings with up to 20 guests, this package includes a private ceremony venue, a wedding officiant, décor, music, a wedding cake, and a sparkling wine toast.
Additional perks for the couple include a romantic dinner, breakfast in bed, and a couple’s massage.
The Knot at Sea Package
Ideal for larger gatherings, this package accommodates up to 75 guests and includes a DJ, a three-tier wedding cake, and an enhanced reception experience with a charcuterie display.
Couples also receive exclusive benefits like priority check-in and reserved show seating because The Key VIP package is included with the cost.
Love Sets Sail Package
This package allows non-sailing guests to attend the ceremony on embarkation day and enjoy a two-hour reception before disembarking.
It includes priority boarding, a bouquet and boutonniere, and an exclusive experience such as a helipad or North Star viewing for the couple and their close family and friends.
Yes, the Captain can marry you
Who marries you depends on what you're looking for, but the ship's Captain is an option.
In order to have a legal wedding onboard, it must be officiated by the ship’s captain while at sea. That will get the couple a legally recognized Bahamian marriage certificate.
For those opting for a legal wedding on embarkation day, the marriage license is obtained from the state where the ship is docked before departure.
However, if you want to have your own officiant (or prefer not to be married by the Captain), you can opt for a symbolic ceremony. You get to choose your own officiant, but must obtain a marriage license on your own.
Same-sex weddings are welcome too
Royal Caribbean welcomes same-sex couples to celebrate their love with a Royal Wedding.
For couples who wish to have a legally recognized ceremony, same-sex weddings can be performed on embarkation day in a U.S. port under the Love Set Sail Package. However, due to Bahamian law, legal same-sex weddings cannot be performed at sea.
Instead, couples opting for an at-sea ceremony or a wedding at Royal Caribbean’s private destinations, Labadee or Perfect Day at CocoCay, can have a symbolic wedding ceremony.
Ms. Diaz assures, “We strive to make every couple’s wedding dreams a reality, and our team is dedicated to ensuring all love stories are celebrated beautifully on board.”
Royal Caribbean added options to renew vows or help with a proposal
Vow Renewal Package
The Still the One Package allows couples to renew their vows in an intimate ceremony with up to 10 guests. It includes a private venue, an officiant, music, and several romantic amenities such as a celebratory cake, a champagne toast, and a special dinner for two.
Marriage Proposal Package
For those planning to pop the question, Royal Caribbean offers a thoughtfully designed proposal package. The proposal is disguised as a professional photoshoot, where the big moment is captured by the onboard photographer. The package includes a private setting, a celebratory toast, and a keepsake photo to remember the occasion.
Jackie Diaz explains, "Our vow renewal and proposal packages allow couples to create unforgettable memories at sea, whether they’re celebrating a milestone or beginning a new chapter together."
Additional Wedding Enhancements
Ms. Diaz believes there is a great deal of choice in how you want to customize your special day, "We offer a level of customization that allows couples to make their wedding truly unique, from selecting their perfect venue to personalizing every little detail."
To personalize their special day, couples can add:
- Customized Wedding Cakes with various flavors and fillings.
- Reception Packages with a range of food and beverage options, including specialty dining tastings and open bar selections.
- Entertainment choices such as live musicians, DJs, or a sound technician for custom playlists.
- Photography Packages capturing every moment with professional onboard photographers who know the best spots for breathtaking wedding shots.
- Floral Arrangements, with fresh flowers available for sailings from U.S. ports or artificial arrangements for longer itineraries/foreign homeports.
You can even get married at CocoCay
Instead of being married on the ship, you could have your ceremony at one of Royal Caribbean's private destinations, Labadee and Perfect Day at CocoCay.
The only catch is the wedding will be a symbolic one, not a legally binding one.
How to book your cruise wedding
Royal Caribbean makes the process easy. Couples can contact the Royal Weddings team at 1-888-WED-RCCL to begin planning.
Once a wedding date is confirmed, a wedding specialist is assigned to coordinate the details leading up to the big day. Royal Caribbean even has its own wedding registry that guests can use and buy things for the couple.
Upon boarding, an onboard coordinator ensures everything runs smoothly.
According to Ms. Diaz, "Our team is with you every step of the way. From the moment you book until you walk down the aisle, we make sure everything is seamless and stress-free."
