Destination weddings continue to rise in popularity for three reasons: Having a wedding coordinator at the destination to handle all the details like arranging the florist, caterer and photographer takes away (almost) all the stress of wedding planning; Destination weddings can be considerably less expensive than a traditional sit down dinner and dancing reception for 200 of your closest friends; Couples can combine their wedding and honeymoon into one fun-filled event shared with family and friends. Add weddings at sea on full service, luxury cruise ships to the mix and you have a truly royal way to start your lives together.

Royal Caribbean International® has recently received permission from the government of the Bahamas to perform legal weddings at sea. Royal Caribbean ships are registered in the Bahamas, so regardless of the location of the ship at the time of the ceremony; the marriage is recorded in the Bahamas. Royal Caribbean has long offered weddings in port, both onboard and shore side, but now they join only a handful of cruise lines that are able to officiate weddings at sea, meaning beyond the 12-mile international waters demarcation.

What’s Included in Royal Romance Weddings at Sea

Royal Caribbean offers several different packages for “Royal Romance” weddings at sea and vows renewal. All packages include preplanning with a Royal Romance Wedding Specialist and a Personal Wedding Coordinator on hand during the ceremony. Romantic ceremonies are performed at a choice of beautiful locations both onboard and on land by a Royal Romance Wedding Officiant. Travel Maestro tip: Only Royal Romance at Sea ceremonies are performed by the ship’s captain.

• Paradise Shipboard – A simple, romantic onboard wedding that includes a choice of wedding locations onboard – even the rock climbing wall and the FlowRider® – recorded music during the ceremony, the bridal bouquet and groom’s boutonniere, a bottle of sparkling wine and photography services with 30 prints and one CD. If the wedding is held on sailing day, priority check in and an escort onboard from the pier to stateroom is included.

 

• Paradise Destination – Choose an exotic wedding location in port like on a glacier in Alaska, beside a waterfall in Hawaii or overlooking and ancient ruin in Greece for the ultimate destination wedding. Packages include taxi service for the bridal couple to the wedding site, the bridal bouquet and groom’s boutonniere, a bottle of sparkling wine and wedding cake at the site, along with photography services including 30 prints and one CD. Travel Maestro tip: Pick your port carefully! Winds often hamper tender operations in Grand Cayman and the weather can be risky in the Caribbean anytime during hurricane season (June through November).

 

 

• Royal Romance at Sea – A true wedding at sea with special nautical vows and the ship’s captain presiding. Choose the perfect onboard location – maybe the ship’s chapel or on deck with an endless view of the ocean. At the ceremony, enjoy recorded music with a live soloist, an elegant bridal bouquet and groom’s boutonniere, wedding cake and sparkling wine for toasting and photography services including 30 prints and one CD. In addition, the bridal couple will have flowers, Champaign and chocolate-covered strawberries in their stateroom on their wedding night, breakfast in bed and dinner in a specialty restaurant during the sailing.

• Royal Receptions – After the wedding, celebrate with friends and family at a reception with food, cocktails, cake and music tailored to your style. Choose from a two-hour formal wedding luncheon with wine in the main dining room, a one-hour private lunch buffet with bar service (both minimum 25 guests) or hors d’oeuvres buffet with bar service (minimum 16 guests).

Other Royal Romance at Sea 

• Royal Devotions – Celebrate an anniversary by marrying your partner all over again in a vows renewal ceremony either onboard or at a private beach destination. Packages include romantic recorded music at the ceremony, a bridal bouquet and groom’s boutonniere, chocolate-covered strawberries delivered to the stateroom and photography services including 30 prints and one CD.  Travel Maestro tip: This is a sentimental, not a legal ceremony.
• Royal Proposal – Work with a Royal Romance Specialist to “pop the question” in style at the perfect memorable moment on board. Enjoy champagne breakfast in bed and chocolate-covered strawberries in the stateroom one evening.

Destination weddings at sea are so easy with Royal Caribbean because they have already included everything you need for the most romantic and memorable event and an onboard wedding coordinator to make sure every detail is perfect. For ship itineraries and wedding package pricing contact Covington’s Cruise Specialists today.