5 Things to Know Before Planning a Cruise Wedding
Cruise weddings are very underrated, and I think it is a travesty! With a cruise wedding there are so many options and so many destinations that are not always available when you consider a traditional wedding. Not to mention cruise weddings are affordable and give you a lot of bang for your buck. Let’s take a journey down the aisle to destination: cruise wedding! I know it was cheesy, but I couldn’t resist.
By Kavonda L. Rogers
There are several things you should know before you start planning a cruise wedding. In this blog post I will focus on the top five things. This will give you a strong foundation if you decide this type of wedding is right for you.
Book Your Cruise First
You will need to have your cruise booked and deposited before you can start planning your cruise wedding. The weddings department will not assist you unless you have a booked cruise. So, handle that first. If you are overwhelmed by the cruise line options then contact a travel professional (like myself) and they can help you navigate those murky waters.
Know Your Guest List
In the world of a cruise wedding there are two types of guests: sailing and non-sailing. Sailing guests are guests who will not only attend the wedding but will be sailing with you on the cruise. Of course, non-sailing guests are guest who will attend your wedding but not be sailing on the cruise. You are not limited in the amount of sailing guests you can invite but you are limited in the amount of non-sailing guests so keep track of who is on what list.
Be Prepared to Pay Upfront and In Full
Remember the part where I said keep track of your guests. This is where that part comes into play. Cruise wedding packages are based on guest count. Each package includes a base number of guests and if you go over it you will have to pay an additional fee. After you have chosen your wedding package and given your guest count you will be required to pay that amount in full. Your wedding will not be booked if you do not pay the full balance.
Cruise Weddings are Quick and to the Point
If you want your wedding to have a lot of glitz and glam then a cruise wedding is not for you. Cruise ship weddings are simple, elegant and QUICK! There is no playing around on the cruise ship. Everything will start and stop on time. There is no waiting for your cousin who is always late: they will miss your wedding. Cruise weddings are great for the couple who wants to do something special but the glam and the glitz is really not necessary.
Types of Cruise Weddings
There are three types of cruise weddings. Depending on the cruise line you chose they may have all three choices or just one choice.
- Embarkation Wedding– This is the most popular cruise wedding choice. It is the most popular because non-sailing guests can attend this wedding type. This wedding will take place the day the ship leaves the port (also known as embarkation) a few hours before the ship leaves. The wedding party is allowed to board the ship early in order to prepare for the wedding.
- Sea Day Wedding– This wedding will take place during the cruise on a day that the ship is not at a port (also called sea days). The wedding will take place on selected private areas of the ship. For obvious reasons only sailing guests can attend this wedding type.
- Port Weddings– This type of wedding will take place at a destination during the cruise, other wise known as a port. In this case the wedding will be handled by a local planner in that destination. The wedding party will be allowed to exit the ship early to travel to the wedding location.
These are the basics you need to know before starting your cruise wedding planning journey. Did you have a cruise wedding? Are you planning a cruise wedding? I would love to hear about it in the comments. Most importantly if you need help planning a cruise wedding, I would love to be a part of your team. Feel free to contact me.
