Navigating Vows on the Bow

As parents of a recently married son, we were caught up in the usual high costs of a traditional church wedding and reception. But if we had it to do over again, we would consider arranging a less expensive ceremony aboard a cruise ship, especially since the bride and groom had already planned a honeymoon cruise to Alaska.

A basic shipboard wedding for a couple booked to sail the same day costs less than $600. Most major cruise lines usually include transportation to the ship terminal from the airport, the ceremony, floral arrangements for bride and groom, wedding certificate, wedding cake and sparkling wine, and the services of the ship’s photographer. Some throw in a free wedding picture. Others charge for them at the usual cruise ship photo rates, about $7.95 a shot.

In addition, at a fixed charge per guest, the ship’s wedding planners can arrange a post-wedding reception--something as simple as a cocktail party or as elaborate as a luncheon on board before sailing.

Since most ships limit the number of weddings, it’s essential to reserve as far in advance as possible. In addition, the bride and groom are expected to bring their own marriage license, but some cruise lines will arrange it for a surcharge.

Here’s a rundown on cruise line wedding packages:

American Hawaii Cruises provides a basic package with all the items listed above, plus 24 photos in a souvenir album, for $595. Because the couple is required to appear at the Marriage License Bureau in Hawaii during business hours Monday through Friday for their license, the line offers, for an extra charge, an additional hotel lodging package for one or two nights before the ship sails. (Saturday is sailing day for seven- and three-night cruises, Tuesdays for four-night cruises.) Telephone (800) 474-9934 for more details.

Carnival Cruise Lines offers a $525 Just-for-the-Bride-and-Groom package that includes the basics plus a free 8-by-10 photograph. For $950, a reception with one-hour open bar, hot and cold hors d’oeuvres, a wedding cake and coffee service is included. A Deluxe Romance package adds an ice carving and lengthens the reception to 1 1/2 hours. The line also offers live music, tuxedo rentals and video services. Ceremonies are available on embarkation day in any of Carnival’s continental U.S. ports plus San Juan, St. Thomas or Grand Cayman (on port call days). Tel. (800) 933-4968 for details.

Celebrity Cruises’ basic wedding programs start at $575, with an optional limousine transfer from airport to ship for an additional $60. The line’s wedding planner is a Fort Lauderdale-based company called A Wedding for You; tel. (800) 929-4198 or (954) 472-0320. The services of a shipboard photographer must be reserved in advance for a surcharge. Tuxedo rentals are also available. Receptions after the ceremony range from $21 per person with a minimum of 15 to a maximum of 100 for stand-up receptions, to $38 per person for a five-course, sit-down luncheon on board. Marriage or renewal of vows ceremonies are available in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; New York; Los Angeles; Key West, Fla.; Bermuda; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; Barbados; Grand Cayman; Cozumel, Mexico; Vancouver, Canada; and Juneau, Alaska, depending on ship arrival dates and cruise seasons.

Costa Cruises prices the basic wedding package at $525, also through A Wedding for You; tel. (800) 929-4198 or (954) 472-0320. Additional options include a five-course luncheon on board for six to 40 guests ($29 to $40 per person, including beverages) or a champagne party with hors d’oeuvres for four to 40 guests ($28 to $31 per guest). The ceremony is available aboard either CostaRomantica or CostaVictoria from Fort Lauderdale (winter season only).

Dolphin Cruise Line offers an intimate ceremony for the bride and groom with notary public, witnesses and a wedding certificate for $275; $325 with champagne toasts; or $425 with wedding cake, a bottle of champagne and two crystal flutes to take along. For $560, they’ll add a bridal bouquet, and for $750 throw in a wedding album with 36 photos from the ship photographer. Options also include music, catering and shipboard luncheon, the latter $35 per person. Up to 10 guests who are not sailing are permitted to attend the ceremony at no extra charge. Dolphin’s sister line, Majesty Cruise Line, offers similar programs starting at $375 for the ceremony. For details on either cruise line, see a travel agent or call (800) 645-8111.

Norwegian Cruise Line works with Miami-based Story Book Weddings, tel. (305) 253-4293, to conduct ceremonies on board their Miami- and Fort Lauderdale-based vessels Norway, Leeward and Dreamward, plus the Norwegian Crown during the winter season. The classic package costs $499, including assistance with getting a Florida marriage license through the mail, a 24-photo wedding album and a silk wedding bouquet. Optional extras include fresh flowers, limousine service to the ship and a videotape of the ceremony. A petite wedding package without photo album or license assistance costs $225. For cruise reservation information, see a travel agent or call (800) 327-7030.

Princess Cruises does not provide shipboard weddings but does offer shore-side ceremonies in St. Thomas or Grand Cayman on port calls to those islands. Prices begin at $525 for a basic ceremony on Seven Mile Beach in Grand Cayman or $650 for an outdoor ceremony in St. Thomas. Call Karen Emery at A Wedding for You, tel. (800) 929-4198. However, if you can wait until 1998, Princess will provide a wedding chapel aboard its new Grand Princess.

Royal Caribbean Cruise Line provides optional services for couples who want to get married on board before their cruise, including reserving a public room for a reception; furnishing a cake, champagne and musicians; and an open bar and buffet luncheon. Prices vary, but arrangements should be made through a travel agent at the time the cruise is booked.

Other cruise lines such as Holland America and Crystal Cruises provide renewal-of-vows ceremonies and honeymoon packages.

Finally, forget about having the captain tie the knot. A ship captain is not empowered to conduct a legal marriage ceremony, “at least not one that will last longer than the cruise,” as one skipper said.