Royal Caribbean is famous for its modern fleet, stunning destinations and exceptional guest services. No matter what kind of ceremony you envision – an intimate soiree with your nearest and dearest or a grand celebration with friends – Royal Caribbean offers a range of wedding packages, ensuring something magical for every couple. Whether you dream of saying your “I do’s” at sea or on a beautiful tropical island, their fleet promises a gorgeous and unique wedding.
A fabulous wedding begins the moment the very first guests arrive. Choosing the location of the ceremony is an important first step for most couples. Many are drawn to locations that offer stunning scenery, magical memories, and abundant opportunities to celebrate with their family and friends. When you choose to get married on Royal Caribbean cruises, your wedding and honeymoon become a seamless, beautiful experience.
Read on as we share key information about Getting Married on Royal Caribbean, including available wedding venues, planning tips, legal considerations, reception ideas, and why couples prefer to get married on a cruise.
Why Choose Getting Married on Royal Caribbean?
A traditional at-home wedding requires a lot of preparation! Couples must plan, choose, and manage all the details, including coordinating with a large number of vendors. This planning is stressful and frequently overshadows the excitement of the engagement and upcoming event. These stressors fade away when you decide to get married on a cruise. You are left with more exciting and manageable choices – your dress, cake, and unique touches. The best part, your guests will have an amazing vacation during their visit to your wedding ceremony.
Here are some of the advantages:
- Picturesque oceanic views during the whole ceremony
- A range of wedding packages for different budgets and preferences
- Professional wedding planners
- Getting married and honeymooning on one cruise
- Abundant entertainment and leisure for every guest
- Dining, accommodation and transportation are included in one cruise
You do not need to spend your wedding day moving from one place to another, and your location is breathtaking.
Wedding Ceremony Options
A real advantage of Getting Married on Royal Caribbean is the versatility of options: you can choose the wedding style that suits your personality and plans.
Weddings at Sea
Imagine yourself standing with your partner framed by the endless blue ocean, a stunning metaphor for your love. Your ceremony is breathtakingly beautiful and romantic.
A cruise wedding is perfect for couples looking for something unique and truly memorable.
Weddings in Port
Some couples prefer holding their ceremony while the ship is docked in the port. Celebrating at fabulous ports of call not only promises beauty but also offers the opportunity for family members and friends to attend your event if they were unable to join you on the cruise itself.
It is a great choice for those with a large family or for guests who can only stay for a short time.
Destination Weddings
Royal Caribbean sails to many of the world’s most interesting and picturesque destinations. You can get married on a pink sand beach or choose from other picturesque locations on the cruise itinerary.
Some of the most popular destinations are:
- Caribbean islands
- The Bahamas
- Mexico
- Jamaica
- Lucia
- Aruba
- Barbados
The possibility of a wedding in a beautiful tropical destination becomes a reality with a cruise wedding.
Wedding Packages
Royal Caribbean offers a variety of wedding packages to choose from.
Wedding packages usually include:
- Professional wedding planning
- Location for the ceremony
- Wedding officiant
- Flowers (boutonniere and bouquet)
- Wedding cake
- Sparkling toast
- Photography package
- Music during the ceremony
- Certificate holder
- Receptions upgrades
Choosing the Perfect Cruise
Royal Caribbean ships are incredibly diverse and offer a multitude of sailing experiences. They range from mega resort ships – suitable for large groups of people and offering endless entertainment and variety – to smaller older ships for those seeking intimate weddings, sophisticated romance and exotic ports.
When choosing a ship for your wedding, you are also choosing the entire experience. It is important to consider the following:
Capacity
Choose a bigger ship if you have many relatives and friends attending the ceremony.
Destination
Choose an itinerary that features the destinations you have dreamed of visiting together. Your voyage is your romantic honeymoon come true.
Entertainment
Royal Caribbean offers Broadway shows, exciting live music, thrilling water parks, a surf simulator, an ice rink, games and many other entertainment opportunities to keep your guests delighted. Consider the aesthetic of your celebration, the experience you want to share, your preferences and your guests’ needs.
Dining
The culinary landscape on Royal Caribbean ships is diverse and expansive, ranging from casual to elegant eating experiences. All ships offer fantastic complimentary dining locations as well as world-class specialty restaurants, allowing you to create a perfect rehearsal dinner and reception.
Best Time for Getting Married on Royal Caribbean
All the cruises run year-round; however, some seasons are preferable for different destinations.
For cruises to the Caribbean, most couples prefer:
- January – April because of the balmy weather
- May and early June before the summer season starts
- November and early December because of the comfortable climate
If your itinerary includes areas that may experience hurricanes, consult with your destination wedding planner before booking.
Legal Issues
When considering Getting Married on a Royal Caribbean cruise, couples naturally have questions about the legal requirements.
There are different legal requirements depending on the location of your ceremony.
They can differ in the following:
- Requirements for a marriage license
- Residency
- Required identification documents
- Number of witnesses
- Required paperwork
Many couples complete all the legal procedures before their cruise and hold a symbolic ceremony on board. edited
Working with experienced wedding planners is essential to ensure you understand and complete all the legal paperwork before your cruise.
Planning of Guest Experience
A cruise wedding is a totally immersive experience promising your guests memories for a lifetime. Your guests will revel in this shared adventure culminating in your celebration. Couples often create the perfect wedding holiday experience for their guests by curating a variety of shared events.
Some couples arrange:
- Welcome party
- Joint excursions
- Rehearsal dinner
- Spa day
- Private cocktail party
- Farewell brunch
Your shared ocean adventure sets a new standard for “quality time”, creating a collective experience that a traditional venue simply cannot match.
Wedding Photography
A cruise wedding creates exquisite photo opportunities, combining the romantic majesty of the ship with the transcendent beauty of the sea.
Your photographer will take pictures of:
- Sunset over the ocean
- Open deck
- Grand staircase
- Beaches
- Elegant dining rooms
- Architecture of the ship
- Locations of private islands
Natural beauty and a luxurious environment create breathtaking wedding photos.
Wedding Reception Ideas
After the official ceremony, the celebration begins. Couples can select from a variety of reception festivities to ensure the magic, laughter, and love continue with their vision in mind. Popular reception ideas are:
Private Dining
Order a private dining room and hold an elegant reception for guests.
Cocktail Reception
Have cocktails, appetizers, music and conversations overlooking the ocean.
Dance Party
Some packages offer the option of a dance party in a private event space.
Budget Considerations
Your wedding investment and the final cost of getting married with Royal Caribbean depends on many factors:
- Length of the cruise
- Ship selection
- Wedding package
- Number of guests
- Destination
- Upgrades for photography
- Reception style
- Floral arrangements
- Excursions
Many couples find that choosing a cruise wedding package and having accommodation, meals, transportation between destinations, and entertainment included in the cruise pricing simplifies the process. Budgeting is easier than with a traditional wedding.
Helpful Tips
Planning makes for a smooth and easy wedding experience.
Here are some useful tips:
- First, seek the guidance of a destination wedding specialist with expertise in the unique world cruise weddings. A dedicated professional will guide you through the details, making your planning stress-free and exciting.
- Book your cruise as early as possible, especially if you want to travel in busy seasons.
- Notify your guests about your wedding in advance to give them enough time to book flights and passports if necessary.
- Compare all wedding packages carefully before you make your decision.
- Buy travel insurance.
- Collect all necessary documents and keep them accessible.
Is Getting Married on Royal Caribbean Right for You?
Getting married with Royal Caribbean is a great choice for couples who love the romance of the sea, new adventures, the ease of all-inclusive packages, and who wish to share their momentous occasion with their families and friends.
It is especially perfect for:
- Couples wanting a destination wedding
- Couples who love the majesty of ships and the romance of the sea
- Couples with their families
- Intimate celebrations
- Multi-day wedding experiences
- Getting married and honeymooning in one trip
- Couples who seek a more unique celebration
- Adventure-minded couples who wish to visit multiple locations
Let Liz Moore Destination Weddings Help Plan Your Royal Caribbean Wedding
Planning a cruise wedding is exciting and involves making choices that match your vision and needs. Selecting the cruise with the best itinerary, comparing available wedding packages, and planning the trip for your guests, along with many other details, requires collaboration with a destination wedding specialist who has a deep understanding of the cruise wedding landscape.
Liz Moore Destination Weddings specializes in planning unique destination weddings, including celebrations on Royal Caribbean cruises. The team at Liz Moore works closely with every couple to understand their wedding wishes, sift through the possibilities, and help design the cruise wedding of their dreams.