Forget castles or countryside estates, more and more couples are choosing to tie the knot on a
cruise
.
Travel agents and
cruise lines
There is an increasing trend of people showing interest in getting married aboard their favorite ships.
P&O Cruises
recorded a historic high in reservations for waterfront wedding venues over the past year, marking an increase of 12 percent.
Several other cruise brands offer wedding ceremonies at sea, including
Celebrity Cruises
,
Cunard
,
Norwegian Cruise Line,
Royal Caribbean
,
Princess
,
Virgin Voyages
and
Holland America Line.
Dave Mills, the chief commercial officer at online travel agency Iglu, noted that destination weddings aboard ships are gaining popularity, particularly among couples over 40 years old who wish to merge their passion for sailing with a cost-effective wedding experience.
Mills stated, “One of the appealing aspects of having a wedding aboard a ship is that you have just one person at the cruise line who manages all your wedding arrangements and specifics. Plus, these weddings can be tailored—from tiny, private ceremonies to grandiose, extravagant affairs.”
“Of course, at the same time, customers will enjoy an integrated honeymoon period and valuable time to share with their loved ones. Every year, we will participate in numerous similar events, gradually yet steadily growing alongside the overall expansion in cruising and improved recognition of the chance to undertake such a romantic endeavor.”
Limits on guest numbers restrict the number of weddings permitted to guarantee that every couple remains the focal point of attention on their special day. For instance, Cunard only permits one wedding per ship per day, making early reservations essential.
Read more:
Top cruise savings for 2025
Wedding packages usually cost between £1,000 and £3,000, not including the price of the cruise itself.
The contents vary but can encompass a wedding cake, music, cuisine, beverages, and spa services.
Compared to this, the typical expense for a wedding in the UK amounts to £20,822 as per Bridebook, indicating that opting for a cruise ceremony and celebration might be more economical — though you’d still need to persuade your attendees to cover their costs to join.
Phil Evans, the managing director of Cruise Nation, stated, “Couples enjoy all the advantages of a traditional overseas wedding, plus numerous additional perks.”
“Stunning sunlight, leisure time, and exquisite cuisine at various locations; plus, an impressive array of onboard amenities awaits, including lounges, workshops, swimming pools, dining venues, and numerous diversions to engage your travelers throughout their journey.”
This is how two pairs of newlyweds marked their special day out at sea…
‘Sir Richard Branson performed our luxurious cruise wedding ceremony’
Ben Killeen and Emma Thomas from Hampshire weren’t big fans of cruising when they initially connected via a dating app in 2015, yet they quickly became enamored with it after their first voyage.
Virgin Voyages
Sailing in 2022, they enjoyed themselves immensely and decided to get married onboard a Virgin vessel, which was their fourth voyage with the company.
The couple tied the knot onboard Virgin Voyages’ ship.
Valiant Lady
During a week-long Celebration Voyage departing from Miami to Bimini last year, with stops including Puerto Plata, they concluded their trip by having their ceremony led by Sir Richard Branson himself.
Ben, who is 29 years old and works as a sales manager for a job board, mentioned: “We were exploring various alternatives when this chance presented itself.”
It felt dreamlike when we discovered that Sir Richard Branson himself would be present.
They chose the $4,000 (£3,000) You, Me And The Sea package, which features private ceremonies for both of them along with having either a captain or a ship’s officer perform the ceremony. It should be noted this cost is not included within the price of the cruise itself.
Additional benefits consist of premium boarding, access to stream the event, choice of entertainment and themes, a $200 (£150) credit for on-board expenses, and one spa treatment per person.
Read more:
Virgin Voyages boss – why no children is key to a successful cruise
Emma, who is 32 years old and works as a flight attendant, shared her experience: “Everything felt incredibly lavish. Passengers could visit for styling their hair, men could opt for trims or fresh cuts, and we even made our way up to Richard Branson’s rooftop area! That day, we enjoyed some beer and relaxed in the hot tub—where else would you find such an opportunity?”
The scenery was breathtaking. I recall gazing at the picturesque landscape of Puerto Plata and feeling amazed, ‘Wow, this is where we should get married.’ It remains a fantastic recollection to revisit.
After putting on her halter-neck satin maxi dress, Emma was guided by a staff member to the ceremony held at The Perch—a lounge area located on the upper deck—with Puerto Plata serving as the backdrop.
Guests aboard can pick the location onboard and have a chosen song for their processional, or simply proceed directly with the ceremony as they opted to do. Additionally, you can choose your cake fillings and bouquet.
Emma mentioned, “Sir Richard Branson greeted us there, and everything seemed somewhat hazy yet wonderfully so. He came across as incredibly friendly and hospitable.”
We didn’t have any visitors — it was just the two of us — however, we had Virgin Voyages staff members observing, which added a nice touch. They inquired whether we wished to recite our personal vows or if we’d rather have Richard speak instead. We chose for him to share some remarks, and it turned out to be exactly right.
Following the ceremony, they made their way to The Wake, Virgin Voyages’ upscale steakhouse, for supper.
Emma remarked, “It was as though we were in New York. We managed to slice the wedding cake and truly savor each instant.”
It was also Scarlet Night that evening, with a grand celebration happening all around the ship, and Boy George took charge of the turntables as the DJ, adding an extra touch of excitement to the day.
Emma mentioned, “It was an incredible experience. Our friends and family couldn’t believe us until we shared the photographs with them.”
It was full of energy and incredibly contagious. Discussing it moves me emotionally since I adored it tremendously. There’s an enchanting quality to it—the individuals, the settings, the adventures. The entire experience was luxurious from beginning to end. I simply cannot endorse it highly enough.
‘We dedicate our lives to cruising, so we decided to get married onboard.’
Jay Cannon, aged 32, who works as a cruise content creator, along with Dan Wailing, 29, a magazine publisher, have embarked on over 70 voyages together since their meeting in 2020. It was only natural for them to tie the knot at sea.
Jay’s initial sailing experience occurred when he was 12 years old with Fred Olsen, and he brought aboard a doubtful Dan for their cruise in 2021.
Since then, they have created one of the largest YouTube cruising channels in the UK.
Set Sail with Dan and Jay
— boasting 41,000 subscribers, and initiated
Sail Away
magazine in October 2023.
They initially asked about a wedding ceremony with Celebrity Cruises but ultimately received an offer from Holland America Line to cover the cost after evaluating their options.
Nieuw Statendam
ship.
The Holland America Line offers packages starting at $1,800 (£1,350) for a ceremonial but not legally binding service, ranging up to $2,000 (£1,500) to $2,500 (£1,900) for a formal harbor-side ceremony. For weddings held on land, they charge approximately $3,000 (£2,250).
The listed costs encompass benefits like expedited boarding, a dedicated wedding planner, a private ceremony, an officiant service, musical accompaniment, and photography.
The couple got married onboard.
Nieuw Statendam
In September 2024, during a voyage around Turkey, Greece, and Egypt.
They were greeted onboard with champagne in the suite and rose petals scattered across the bed.
Read more:
Holland America Line makes a comeback to the UK after a decade-long absence.
The couple received an announcement over the ship’s public address system and were praised for their outfits by guests as they made their way to their private ceremony at the B.B. King’s Blues Club onboard.
They entered to “Wait a Minute” by Willow, followed by “You’ve Got the Love” by Florence and the Machine playing as they exchanged vows, with their proud parents looking on.
Jay stated, “We couldn’t have had our wedding at anyplace besides a cruise ship. It felt like the perfect match for us.”
It was a stunning location, with the captain overseeing the proceedings. The experience felt akin to celebrating a wedding for more than just one day since we relished every moment aboard the entire ship throughout our journey.
“After we had the ceremony, we changed into our swimming attire, something you typically wouldn’t do at a wedding.”
We subsequently had our inaugural dance in the evening at BB King’s Blues Club. It felt like a realization of a long-held dream.
Jay mentions that a cruise wedding might end up being more affordable compared to hosting one on land. He stated, “All arrangements were made for us, such as dinner and photos; the only thing missing was the wedding car.”
Read more:
The finest vessels you should sail upon during your life journey
The Independent stands out as the globe’s premier source of unbiased journalism, offering international news, insights, and examination tailored for those with an independent mindset. This publication has attracted a substantial audience of globally dispersed individuals known for their independence, appreciating The Independent’s reliable perspective and dedication to fostering constructive transformation. Currently, fulfilling our purpose—driving progress forward—is more crucial than ever before.
Leave a Reply