Forget castles or countryside estates, more and more pairs are choosing to tie the knot at unconventional venues.
cruise
.
Travel agents and
cruise lines
There is an increasing trend of people showing interest in getting married aboard their favorite cruise ships.
P&O Cruises
record-breaking number of aquatic wedding bookings were reported last year, marking a 12 percent increase.
Several other cruise brands offer wedding ceremonies at sea, including
Celebrity Cruises
,
Cunard
,
Norwegian Cruise Line,
Royal Caribbean
,
Princess
,
Virgin Voyages
and
Holland America Line.
Dave Mills, the chief commercial officer at online travel agency Iglu, noted that destination weddings aboard ships are gaining traction, particularly among couples over 40 years old who wish to merge their passion for cruising with a cost-effective wedding experience.
Mills stated: "One of the appealing aspects of having your wedding at sea is that you have just one person from the cruise line managing all the wedding arrangements and specifics. Whether you're looking for something small and private or an extravagant big affair, every detail can be adjusted accordingly."
“Of course, at the same time, customers will enjoy an integrated honeymoon period and valuable time to share with their beloved family and friends. Every year, we will participate in numerous similar occasions, gradually yet steadily growing alongside the general expansion of cruise travel and improved recognition of the chance to undertake such a sentimental journey.”
Limits on guest numbers restrict the number of weddings permitted to guarantee each couple becomes the main focus of attention on their special day. For instance, Cunard only permits one wedding per ship per day, making early reservations essential.
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Wedding packages usually cost between £1,000 and £3,000, not including the price of the cruise itself.
The contents can vary but typically encompass a wedding cake, music, cuisine, beverages, and spa services.
Compared to this, the typical expense for a wedding in the UK amounts to £20,822 as reported by Bridebook, making a cruise ceremony and celebration potentially more affordable—though you'd need to persuade your attendees to cover their own costs.
Phil Evans, the managing director of Cruise Nation, stated: "Couples enjoy all the advantages of a traditional overseas wedding, plus many additional perks."
“Stunning sunlight, leisure time, and delicious cuisine at various locations; plus, an impressive array of onboard amenities like lounges, workshops, swimming pools, eateries, and numerous distractions to ensure your travelers stay engaged throughout their journey.”
This is how two pairs of lovebirds marked their special day out on the water...
'Sir Richard Branson conducted our luxurious cruise wedding'
Ben Killeen and Emma Thomas from Hampshire weren’t big fans of cruising when they initially connected via a dating app in 2015, yet they quickly became hooked after their first voyage.
Virgin Voyages
Sailing in 2022, they enjoyed themselves immensely and decided to tie the knot aboard a Virgin vessel, celebrating this significant moment as their fourth voyage with the company.
The couple tied the knot onboard Virgin Voyages’.
Valiant Lady
During a week-long Celebration Voyage departing from Miami to Bimni last year, with stops including Puerto Plata, they concluded their trip by having their ceremony led by Sir Richard Branson himself.
Ben, who is 29 years old and works as a sales manager for a job board, mentioned, "We were exploring various choices when this option presented itself."
It felt dreamlike when we discovered that Sir Richard Branson himself would be attending.
The duo chose the $4,000 (£3,000) You, Me And The Sea package, which encompasses private ceremonies for both of them along with having either a captain or a ship’s officer perform the ceremony. It should be noted this cost is not included within the price of the cruise itself.
Additional benefits consist of premium boarding access, live coverage of the event, musical entertainment and ornamental arrangements, an onboard spending allowance of $200 (£150), along with individual entitlement to one spa treatment.
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Emma, who is 32 years old and works as a flight attendant, shared her experience: "Everything felt incredibly lavish. You could head over for a salon treatment, the men could opt for a trim or a new hairstyle, and we even visited Richard Branson’s rooftop area! That day, we enjoyed some beer and relaxed in the hot tub—where else would you find such an opportunity?"
The vista was stunning. I recall gazing at the picturesque scenery of Puerto Plata and feeling, 'Wow, this is where we should get married.' It remains a fantastic recollection to revisit.
After putting on her halter-neck satin maxi dress, Emma was guided by a staff member to the ceremony held at The Perch – a lounge area located on the upper deck – with Puerto Plata serving as the backdrop.
Travelers can pick their location onboard and have a specific tune for walking down the aisle or simply proceed directly into the ceremony, as they chose to do. Additionally, you can opt for your preferred cake fillings and bouquet.
Emma mentioned, "Sir Richard Branson greeted us there, and everything felt somewhat hazy yet wonderfully so. He was incredibly friendly and hospitable."
“There weren’t any guests – it was just the two of us – however, we had Virgin Voyages crew members observing, which added a nice touch. They inquired whether we wished to recite our own vows or preferred Richard to speak instead. We chose for him to share some words, and it turned out to be exactly what we wanted.”
Following the ceremony, they made their way to The Wake, Virgin Voyages' upscale steakhouse, for their evening meal.
Emma remarked, "It was like being in New York. We even sliced the wedding cake there and savored every single moment."
It was also Scarlet Night that evening, with a grand celebration happening all around the ship, and Boy George took charge of the turntables as the DJ, adding an extra touch of excitement to the day.
Emma mentioned, "It turned out to be an incredible experience. Our friends and relatives couldn't believe us until we shared the photographs with them."
It was full of energy and incredibly contagious. Discussing it brings out strong emotions as I adored every bit of it. There’s an enchanting quality to it all—the individuals involved, the locations explored, the adventures experienced. From beginning to end, everything felt luxurious. I simply cannot endorse it highly enough.
'We dedicate our lives to cruising, so we had to tie the knot on board.'
Jay Cannon, aged 32—a cruise content creator—and Dan Wailing, who is 29 and works as a magazine publisher, have embarked on over 70 voyages together since their meeting in 2020. It was only natural for them to tie the knot at sea.
Jay's initial sail took place when he was 12 years old aboard a Fred Olsen ship, and he later brought a doubtful Dan into cruising in 2021.
Since then, they have created one of the largest YouTube cruise channels in the United Kingdom.
Set Sail with Dan and Jay
—with 41,000 subscribers, and initiated
Sail Away
magazine in October 2023.
They initially asked about a wedding ceremony with Celebrity Cruises but later received an offer from Holland America Line to cover the cost after they reviewed it.
Nieuw Statendam
ship.
The Holland America Line offers packages starting at $1,800 (£1,350) for a simple non-legal ceremony and ranges up to $2,000 (£1,500) to $2,500 (£1,900) for an official harbour-side ceremony. For weddings held on shore, prices begin at $3,000 (£2,250).
The costs encompass benefits like premium boarding, a dedicated wedding planner, exclusive ceremony space, an officiant, musical arrangements, and photography services.
The couple got married onboard.
Nieuw Statendam
In September 2024, during a voyage around Turkey, Greece, and Egypt.
They were greeted onboard with champagne in the suite and rose petals scattered across the bed.
Read more:
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The duo received an announcement over the ship’s public address system and were praised for their outfits by guests as they made their way to their private ceremony at the B.B. King's Blues Club aboard the vessel.
They entered to "Wait a Minute" by Willow, followed by "You've Got the Love" by Florence and the Machine playing as they exchanged their vows, with their proud parents looking on.
Jay mentioned, "We couldn't have had our wedding anywhere except on a cruise ship. It felt like the perfect match for us."
It was an exquisite location, with the captain overseeing the ceremony. The experience felt akin to a two-week-long wedding as we reveled in exploring the entire ship throughout our journey.
“After getting access to the service, we changed into our swimming attire, something not typically done at weddings.”
We subsequently had our inaugural dance in the evening at BB King's Blues Club. It felt like a realization of a long-held dream.
Jay mentions that a cruise wedding might end up being more affordable compared to hosting one on land. He stated, "All arrangements were made for us, covering meals and photographs; the sole exception was the absence of a wedding car."
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