crystal cruises
It was back in 2013 when Crystal Cruises first introduced its Crystal Celebrations program, offering cruise passengers top-notch service for any occasion they wish to host on board the Crystal Serenity or Crystal Symphony. The cruise line partnered with Imagine VIP, a global event-planning company, to create special tailor-made events for guests looking for a ceremony or celebration at sea or ashore, vow renewals and weddings, as well as birthdays or anniversary parties—all with the assistance of an Imagine VIP Crystal Celebrations consultant. If you have clients tying the knot, a Crystal Celebrations consultant can find the ideal location on the ship, or at a venue in or near a port of call, to host the ceremony; and as a pre-event offering, the couple receives a tailor-made wedding website, a wedding registry and 25 save-the-date cards. Additional wedding amenities include a specially decorated stateroom, live music, an 18-rose bouquet hand-tied with Swarovski crystals for the bride, a specialty cake for two, keepsake toasting flutes, bottle of Champagne, an hour of photography service, dinner reservations for two in one of the ship’s specialty restaurants, and a 20 percent spa voucher. The Wedding Ceremonies package starts at $3,500. For couples wishing to renew their vows, Crystal also has a Vow Renewal Ceremony package that starts at $2,095. Legal onboard wedding ceremonies with Crystal Cruises can only be held in port, while symbolic ceremonies can be arranged at sea.
crystalcruises.com or crystalcruises.com/agent
cunard
Clients seeking either a large wedding celebration or an intimate commitment ceremony with only their closest family and friends can opt for Cunard’s luxury ships, the Queen Mary 2, the Queen Elizabeth and Queen Victoria. The cruise line’s 2015 Wedding package includes a list of nuptial services, from a wedding coordinator helping the bride and groom with all the logistics and a romantic ceremony conducted by the ship’s Captain, to floral arrangements and wedding music, a wedding certificate, bottle of Champagne, and a White Star Bellman to escort the bride to the ceremony. Package pricing varies: On the Queen Mary 2, pricing starts at $3,400, and the cost aboard the Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth is $2,800. Cunard’s Commitment Ceremony is another option for couples and includes similar offerings as the Wedding package, but note, this ceremony (unlike the onboard wedding) is not legally binding; cost starts at $2,000. Cunard also offers a Renewal of Vows ceremony ($600-$800). If traveling on a honeymoon to one of the many worldwide destinations Cunard sails to, couples can treat themselves with the Deluxe Bon Voyage package ($460), which includes a bottle of Champagne and chocolates in the stateroom upon arrival, a $100 spa certificate, flower arrangements in the room, two luxury Cunard bathrobes, and half bottle of Champagne with continental breakfast. cunard.com
disney cruise line
For couples who are truly kids at heart, and hoping to have Donald Duck bust a move at their wedding reception, Disney Cruise Line is a fun option for a wedding or honeymoon at sea. Couples can decide to exchange vows on board the ship at locations such as the Outlook, a private party space with ocean views on the Disney Fantasy, Disney Dream, and Disney Wonder; or the couple can opt for a beachside ceremony on Disney’s private island, Castaway Cay—all arrangements can be made with a Disney wedding planner. Prices for an onboard wedding begin at $3,000, and $4,000 for ceremony on Castaway Cay. Although Disney Cruise Line is made for families, honeymooners can find some private and romantic time on board one of the line’s ships. The Quiet Cove Pool is an adults-only space with whirlpool spas and a poolside bar, while the Senses Spa & Salon on the Disney Fantasy, Dream and Magic, and the Vista Spa & Salon on the Disney Wonder, are perfect for some alone time; and newlyweds can also indulge in a couple’s massage in a Spa Villa featuring an indoor spa treatment suite with a private outdoor verandah, jacuzzi, open-air shower and chaise longue. While on Castaway Cay, the newlyweds can stretch out on Serenity Bay, a section of beach only for adults and located about a mile from the family beach. disneycruise.disney.go.com
norwegian cruise line
This spring, Norwegian Cruise Line announced it will begin offering legally recognized weddings at sea—performed by the ship’s captain with the couple’s marriage license issued by the Bahamas—on the Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway; the service will be extended to the Norwegian Escape when the ship debuts in the fall. The cruise line’s Wedding at Sea package (starting at $2,199) includes the wedding essentials, from an onsite coordinator to a wedding cake and Champagne toast. In addition, Norwegian is offering couples a chance to select a Harborside Ceremony, which is performed on board the ship while docked in select ports of call, or a Destination Ceremony, which is performed ashore—destinations include Canada, Mexico, Europe, and the Caribbean, and prices vary depending on the port or destination. Your LGBT clients can also exchange vows with Norwegian, which is now offering legal same-sex ceremonies in stops where the union is recognized, including Hawaii, Los Angeles, Tampa, Miami, Port Canaveral, New York, Seattle, and Vancouver. Norwegian also offers a Vow Renewal package with ceremonial music, a cake for two, a commemorative vow
renewal certificate, canapes and chocolate-covered strawberries. Your clients can also pick from a slew of wedding services, including professional photography, flower arrangements, spa treatments, a cocktail reception with small bites and an open bar for a select few, or a 4-course luncheon for a minimum of 25 guests at $52 pp. ncl.com or norwegiancentral.ncl.com
princess cruises
Choices are good, and Princess Cruises offers three different options for couples who want to tie the knot on this cruise line. For the Tie The Knot At Sea package ($2,985), Princess can provide the couple with the location (i.e. onboard wedding chapel), a captain to perform the legal ceremony, a bouquet made with a dozen roses, a wedding cake and bottle of Champagne, two Princess logo toasting flutes, a Champagne breakfast for two, and dinner for two at a specialty restaurant. For couples with guests that are not sailing on the cruise, Princess offers its Tie The Knot Harborside package for ceremonies on the ship while it’s docked at port (prices vary depending on the destination); and the final option, Tie The Knot Ashore package (prices also vary), is for couples who want a wedding ashore at one of the many destinations where Princess sails. It includes a beach or garden setting, an officiant to perform the ceremony, a photographer, a wedding cake for two, and roundtrip transportation service for guests—Princess also offers a range of special photography packages, too. Honeymooners can opt for the Deluxe Honeymoon package, which includes Champagne breakfast in bed, two take-home Princess Cruises robes, one 25-minute therapeutic massage or facial at the Lotus Spa, and a personal invitation from the captain to visit the bridge while in port. Cost is $444.99 per couple. princess.com or book.princess.com/BookingSystem/login.page
