When picturing a cruise, the last thing on my mind is a wedding. For me, I imagine relaxing vacation vibes, and yet weddings are becoming increasingly more popular aboard cruise ships. So what is it about getting married on a cruise that has so many people excited?
Why Get Married On A Cruise?
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The NY Post shared details and potential benefits of getting married on a cruise. I have to say, after learning about them, I might have considered it myself if I hadn't gotten seasick. First and foremost, people are picking this option to avoid some of the wedding hassles. Between scheduling all the details and vendors and then organizing and corralling your guests, wedding planning can be exhausting.
On a cruise, most of that is taken care of for you. All your vendors will be aboard the ship, as will all of the guests who are attending your wedding. Pretty hard to get lost when you are all in the same place. Not to mention, you would have the wow factor, as it is still not the traditional method of getting married.
However, one of the biggest highlights of choosing to get married on a cruise is the cost. Regular weddings are no joke in the financial department; even budget-friendly weddings probably spend close to $20,000. However, with your cruise ship wedding, you are getting a vacation and a wedding all in one. Additionally, it helps that many cruise ships are now offering all-inclusive packages. This means that your food and drink are included, and now many of them are also including onboard wedding planners. It really doesn't get much simpler.
What Is The Price Difference?
The NY Post also shared some of the details regarding the difference in price points between land and sea weddings. They shared that the average cost of a wedding is $36,000, ranging widely depending on various factors. However, getting married on a cruise ship is a fraction of the cost. For example, they shared that "Carnival Cruises offers a 'Signature Ceremony' wedding package starting at $1.799." That package includes "a 15-to-20-minute ceremony for 10 guests, including the couple getting married." It also includes a "pre-cruise wedding planner, priority embarkation assistance for embarkation day weddings, a private shipboard venue, photography services, and a local officiant."
If you had a bigger guest list, there are packages for you as well. Royal Caribbean offers a "Love Sets Sail wedding package for $9,499. While this price is a bit steeper, it comes with some great inclusions. This package includes "a private ceremony venue for up to 100 guests, a bridal bouquet and matching boutonniere, decor for the ceremony, a DJ, a microphone, a three-tier wedding cake, and a sparkling wine group toast."
Granted, these are just the price of the wedding packages, and not the cruise itself. Additionally, your guests would have to pay for the price of their own cruise ship vacation, but still, many couples are opting for this choice. So, would you get married on a cruise ship?
