“There are a number of very good reasons why a cruise makes a perfect wedding venue. Many cruises offer a variety of services to help you plan a shipboard or shoreside ceremony, followed by a romantic cruise honeymoon. This enables couples to get married in a beautiful location without the immense hassle of wedding planning. A cruise wedding can also prove a cost-effective option, with prices starting from as little as £1,010, on top of the cost of the cruise. In addition, family and friends can join you for just the ceremony, or the full cruise – so it makes an interesting experience for everyone.
“For anyone looking for a cruise wedding, there are a variety of ceremony options and price points. Here are four of some of the best:
“Princess Cruises offers three wedding venue packages.
Its "Tie the Knot at Sea" package costs £1,794, plus a £358 license fee and includes: use of the onboard wedding chapel or other select ship venue, a ceremony officiated by the captain, a wedding coordinator, live music, two floral arrangements, a rose bouquet for the bride and groom's boutonniere, the services of a photographer and a selection of prints, wedding cake, bottle of Champagne or sparkling wine and two keepsake flutes, a commemorative wedding certificate, chocolate-covered strawberries, deluxe breakfast for two, dinner for the couple at a speciality restaurant and rose petals on the bed at turn-down. Not only can your ceremony be 
conducted at sea by the captain, but the line also features state-of-the-art technology that allows you to broadcast the ceremony live, via webcam, to friends and family on land. Some Princess captains are pretty romantic. On one particular cruise over Valentine's Day, the captain casually announced he'd conduct vow renewals for anyone who wanted them, and about a half-dozen couples showed up.
“Beginning at just £1,200 P&O’s "Weddings at Sea" package includes the ceremony venue, ceremony conducted by the ship's, floral arrangements, music, a commemorative certificate, Champagne, an onboard wedding coordinator, invitations and thank-you notes. In wedding parties of 16 or more, the bridal couple will receive up to £200 in onboard credit. Each couple within the party will also receive up to £100 onboard credit and up to three complimentary cabins may be provided - one for every 20 booked.
“Celebrity Cruises’ "Nautical Nuptials at Sea" package begins at £2,150 and includes a captain-led ceremony, an event coordinator's services, live music, one hour of photography, cake for two, a bottle of Champagne, a bouquet and boutonniere, plus additional romantic turn-down amenities post-ceremony. Couples can also arrange shoreside and in-port shipboard weddings, presided over by an officiant instead of the captain. Couples who book the "Nautical Nuptials at Sea" package each get a few romantic extras, such as chocolate-covered strawberries, one bottle of Champagne, two Champagne flutes, his-and-hers robes, fresh in-room floral arrangements and rose petals on their bed on their wedding night.
“For a fun and quirky choice, Disney Cruise Line offers a low-stress, low-hassle package. Its "Fairy Tale Weddings" are available on all four Disney Cruise Line ships. Packages 
start at £2,154 and include fresh floral options for the couple, the services of a Disney wedding coordinator and officiant, a solo musician (typically a pianist), Champagne toast, an elegant wedding cake with keepsake topper, a commemorative Disney wedding certificate, £70 onboard stateroom credit for the wedding couple and dinner for the bride and groom at Palo, the line's adults-only alternative restaurant, found on all Disney ships. The package can accommodate eight guests, plus the couple. Dress-steaming is included in the package price. We also love that you can opt for a ceremony on Castaway Cay, Disney's private Bahamian island.”
There’s are a number of options out there, so it’s worth reviewing what other cruisers have said about their own weddings at sea on www.cruisecritic.co.uk before you book. Here is an article detailing 9 Things to Know When Planning a Cruise.”
Adam Coulter, UK Managing Editor, Cruise Critic
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