Wedding ceremonies on cruise ships, yachts and other vessels are perfect for couples who want to push the boat out. Joanna Booth reports
Couples searching for something a little bit different are choosing to have their ceremonies afloat, and there is a wide variety of venues to choose from – from river cruise ships in New York to luxury gulets in the Maldives.
Kuoni senior wedding co-ordinator Fred Harrison said: “Those who feel the beach wedding has been done before are looking for something different to make their once-in-a-lifetime day truly memorable. They’re not generally sailing enthusiasts – there’s no need to know port from starboard.”
All sorts of destinations can offer the bride and groom the opportunity to exchange vows on the bows. Cyprus and the Greek islands – perennial favourites for weddings abroad – have plenty of ship-based options.
Sunvil’s Greek Islands Club is working with specialist consultancy Ionian Weddings, who can organise a ceremony on board a cruise ship or a traditional wooden caique in Crete, Santorini, Corfu, Zante and Lefkas. Ships leaving from the latter can even drop anchor inside the vast Papanikolis cave for the ceremony. Prices range from £800 to £7,000.
Cypriot yacht weddings are sold by Kosmar, Thomas Cook and Planet Holidays, which offers tailor-made weddings and same-sex commitment ceremonies sailing from Paphos and Ayia Napa.
Planet Holidays managing director Mathilde Roberts said: “Parties range in size from 50 people down to just the bride and groom. The boat can be decorated, a full menu provided and even a DJ supplied for the reception. It can cost from around £1,000 to more than £4,000, depending on the package.”
Tying the knot on the World Yacht in New York is popular, with the Manhattan skyline forming a backdrop. The package costs £920 per couple, and £125 per guest through Kuoni. For a more private – but pricey – option, charter the Calypso yacht for £4,366 – previous passengers include Will Smith and the cast of The Sopranos.
A wedding package on a yacht in Miami costs £1,629 with Virgin Holidays. Kuoni can also charter a luxury yacht in Sydney (£1,920), conduct the ceremony aboard a cruise in Fiji (£744) and now offer weddings on a catamaran in Mauritius (£1,144) and even on a dhow in Kenya (£754).
Harrison said: “Usually, the more remote the location, the smaller the wedding party.”
Find oriental flavour at the Rayavadee Hotel in Thailand by making your pledges on a Siamese junk from £1,488.
Weddings in the Maldives are not legally recognised, but you can have a blessing ceremony on the water in full Indian Ocean luxury. The Banyan Tree’s 98ft luxury gulet, Banyan Velaa, is available through The Private Travel Company for £1,300 per day and is big enough for 20 people.
If you want to take a gamble, Virgin can organise a wedding in a gondola at the Venetian in Las Vegas for £579.
And if floating isn’t enough, it’s possible to romance your partner under water too. In the Maldives, Virgin offer divers the chance to renew their vows on a coral reef, or at the world’s first underwater spa at Huvafen Fushi hotel.
Bahamas Flavour offers – alongside its yacht weddings – the chance to say ‘I do’ splashing around with dolphins acting as ring bearers.
Case study: Elaine Winchester
Elaine Winchester from Oxford got married on a Princess Cruise in July.
What could be more romantic than getting married in the middle of the ocean surrounded by your loved ones?
We chose to get married on our day at sea during a seven-day cruise calling at Amsterdam, Oslo, Copenhagen and Helsingborg. We held the ceremony in the wooden-panelled wheelhouse surrounded by 41 guests, who all got to have a holiday as well as attend our wedding.
Princess sent all the relevant documents with our tickets, and made the legal side of things completely effortless for us. It also worked out to be a much cheaper option than getting married at home.
We spent less than £7,000 on everything, including my dress and the suit hire – much less than the £20,000 which is the average cost of a wedding at home.
Checklist
- What does the packages include? Consider decorations and flowers, transfers, photos and DVD, cake and entertainment.
- Is it a legal wedding or just a symbolic ceremony? What licenses will the couple need, and are they included?
- Check what paperwork clients will need to bring, and call them with a reminder to pack it.
- What’s the weather like? Manhattan’s waterways can freeze over in January, so a wedding on the World Yacht could be a disappointment.
- Make sure the couple’s wedding attire matches the climate.
- Who will perform the ceremony? Is it the captain, or a registrar who may want to disembark before the boat sails?
Cruise ship wedding packages
Princess Cruises (below), Royal Caribbean International, P&O Cruises and MSC Cruises all offer wedding packages. Prices can be competitive – with full-board stays there is no need to budget for catering unless you want a special wedding breakfast.
MSC’s packages start from £269. Watch out for extra costs, however, as many cruise companies charge on top of the package for the necessary licences. If money really is no object, Princess will let out an entire cruise ship for your big day – but for the princely sum of £10 million.
Older couples looking for peace and quiet can opt for a cruise down the calm Gota Canal in the heart of Sweden. The Gota Steamship Company offers six-day cruises in small historic vessels for £1,225 per person with no extra cost for a wedding.
The waterway includes more than 50 locks and has earned itself the nickname ‘divorce ditch’, but with a full crew on hand to do the hard work, your marriage should survive the trip intact.
