The Real Cost of a Cruise Ship Wedding

A wedding at sea sounds like the ultimate romantic idea. But how much does it actually cost?

For some couples, a cruise wedding can be surprisingly affordable. For others, the extras can add up quickly.

Between ceremony packages, photography, receptions and legal fees, the final price can vary a lot depending on the cruise line and the type of wedding you want.

So what do cruise weddings really cost… and which cruise lines offer the best value?

Cruise Line Wedding Packages and Prices

Cruise Line	Price for 10 guests
Carnival	From $1,799
Celebrity Cruises	From $2,595
Disney Cruise Line	From $4,000
NCL	From $2,059
P&O Cruises	From $3,600 (£2,700)
Princess Cruises	From $2,995
Royal Caribbean	From $5,499

What’s Included in a Cruise Wedding Package

While the exact inclusions for cruise ship wedding packages will vary, there are some features that are almost always included.

1. Guests

You’ll typically be allowed to have a small number of guests present for your wedding – often basic packages will start with 10, and you can upgrade if you want more.

If those guests aren’t booked onto the cruise, then it means your wedding will take place on embarkation day – they’ll be allowed to board the ship, enjoy the ceremony with you, and then leave before the ship sets sail.

2. Pre-Cruise Planner

Typically, you’ll be given the services of a wedding planner for your cruise wedding, who’ll be available over email or phone so that you can arrange the minor details such as the music, the decorations, etc.

3. A Private Venue

Basic cruise wedding packages will always include a private venue. You don’t need to worry about random guests wandering around behind you as you exchange your vows. Upgraded packages will be available for guests who want to get married ashore.

4. A Local Officiant

While some cruise ship captains will marry guests, that may be a service only offered for upgraded packages. At the very least, you’ll have an officiant for your wedding who will lead the service and ensure all the proper legal documents are signed.

5. Wedding Certificate Keepsake

You’ll normally be given a keepsake version of your wedding certificate so you have a nice memento to remind you of the day, along with the legal documents that you need to prove you are married.

6. Wedding Cake

The cake is normally included in your cruise wedding package, but it may be a relatively simple one. It’s normal to expect a two-tier cake on basic packages, with the option to upgrade to a three-tier one if you pay more.

7. A Toast

Normally, you’ll get a glass of sparkling wine for your guests to toast you as a newly married couple, with the option to upgrade to Champagne if you choose a higher-tier package.

8. Photography Services

You need to be careful with this one – cruise weddings will usually give you the services of a photographer, but not the actual photos.

The idea is that you’ll get some amazing photos that you can then buy. You might get one free photo with your wedding package, but you’d then need to pay for the digital copies or any prints of the rest.

9. Decorations

Basic decorations will be included in a cruise wedding package, including an aisle runner and chair decorations.

Other Things You’ll Need to Budget For

1. The Actual Cruise

The cost of a cruise wedding does not include the cost of your cruise fare, so you’ll need to budget for that separately. If you’re booking a shorter cruise then the wedding package might be a lot more than the cruise fare, but you still need to pay for it.

2. Wedding Licensing

This one’s super-important – not all cruise line wedding packages include the legal and regulatory fees for your ceremony, and you may need to pay extra for these. A license for a wedding at sea will typically cost between $500 and $750.

3. Upgraded Ceremonies

You need to look at the different wedding package options for your cruise line, because basic ones might not have everything you want. You’ll need to budget for things like extra guests, a longer ceremony if you want to have readings included, or the extra cost for a destination wedding if that’s what you’d prefer.

4. Reception (Food and Drinks)

A cruise wedding only tends to include the ceremony as standard. You can normally arrange a reception too, but that will cost extra. It’ll include continued use of a private venue, along with food and drink options for you and your guests.

5. Photography

Again, you’ll normally have a photographer’s services included in your cruise wedding, but the actual photos will cost extra.

There are usually different bundles you can choose from when planning your cruise, offering photo albums, digital copies or special prints.

6. Videography Services

Videography services are extra for a cruise wedding – if you want a professional wedding video to be arranged by the cruise line, you’ll need to pay extra for that. It might be better to just ask a guest to film it for you – phones these days will do a perfectly fine job, unless you want that really professionally edited final product.

7. Spa Services

Cruise ships have spas onboard, which are ideal for some pre-wedding hair and beauty treatments. These will cost extra, but they do mean you don’t need to worry about arriving at a bustling cruise port looking immaculate already.

8. Romance Packages

Cruise lines will often have extra packages available for the happy couple just to make the whole day feel that bit more special.

They’ll vary by cruise line but may include breakfast in bed the next day, flower petal decorations for the stateroom, a bottle of chilled bubbly waiting for you, a couple’s massage… Anything the cruise line can offer that feels romantic.

9. Live Music

Cruise weddings will include the use of pre-recorded music for the ceremony, and for the reception if you book one. But if you want to upgrade that to include live musicians, that’s usually an option, but you’ll be looking at an increase of at least $200, likely more, depending on how long you want them to play.

10. Clothing and Flowers

You’ll need to remember to budget for your outfits and for any flowers you want to use in the ceremony. The outfits are on you to arrange, but the cruise line may be able to help with bouquets and boutonnieres for the gents.

Bear in mind you aren’t allowed to bring fresh flowers on board, so you may need to make do with fake ones.

Here’s What Each Cruise Line Offers

Carnival Weddings

Carnival offers three main types of wedding package:

• Signature Ceremony – Ceremony-only packages
• It’s a Celebration – Packages that include a reception
• Love Ashore – Destination weddings

The cheapest of the Carnival cruise wedding packages is the Signature Ceremony, which starts at $1,799 for a wedding with 10 guests (including the couple). You can add additional guests for $29 plus tax, and there are plenty of optional extras if you want to upgrade the experience.

The package includes a pre-cruise wedding planner, private ceremony venue, officiant, pre-recorded ceremony music, a two-tier wedding cake and a sparkling wine toast. You’ll also get ceremony décor, photography services and a honeymoon dinner for the couple.

There are lots of ways to personalise the day too, including choosing cake flavours and decoration styles. If you want a reception afterwards, food packages are available with a mix of hot and cold bites served tapas-style rather than a formal sit-down meal.

View the Carnival wedding brochure here

Celebrity Cruises Weddings

Despite Celebrity Cruises being a premium cruise line, its wedding packages are still relatively affordable compared with many land-based weddings.

The cruise line offers both symbolic ceremonies and legally binding “Legal at Sea” weddings. The symbolic ceremonies are usually conducted by the Captain or Cruise Director, while the Legal at Sea option is performed by the Captain and includes the official marriage paperwork.

Shoreside weddings are also available with Celebrity Cruises if you’d prefer to get married near the embarkation port before starting your cruise honeymoon. Destination weddings can be arranged too.

Celebrity also offers Deck Weddings, where your ceremony takes place outdoors beneath a canopy with ocean views. This option is available as an upgrade and usually comes with an additional fee.

Learn more about Celebrity Cruises wedding packages here

Disney Cruise Line Weddings

It probably won’t surprise you to learn that Disney Cruise Line weddings are among the most expensive, with prices starting from around $4,000 for the Fairy Tale package.

This does include a slightly larger guest allowance than many cruise lines, with up to 16 guests included as standard.

Disney’s packages also come with a few special touches you won’t always find elsewhere. A solo musician, often a pianist, is included for the ceremony, and the wedding toast is served with Champagne rather than sparkling wine.

The couple will also receive a commemorative Disney wedding cake topper, and dress steaming is included so your outfit is perfectly prepared for the ceremony.

There are also plenty of upgrade options. One of the most popular is a destination wedding on Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island in the Bahamas, although this premium experience can increase the cost significantly.

Learn more about Disney Cruise Line weddings here

NCL Weddings

NCL is another cruise line that offers several different wedding packages, including a Symbolic Ceremony at Sea, a Harborside Ceremony, or a Destination Ceremony.

The Symbolic Ceremony at Sea is the cheapest option, starting from $2,059. This ceremony takes place onboard while the ship is sailing and is conducted by a senior ship’s officer.

If you’d like to invite guests who aren’t sailing with you, you’ll need to choose the Harborside Ceremony, which starts from $3,099 and takes place in port before the cruise departs.

There’s also the option of a Destination Ceremony in one of the ports on your itinerary, although prices vary depending on the location.

There are plenty of extras you can add to customise the day, including upgraded flowers, decorations, entertainment and spa treatments. Just be aware that if you host a larger wedding, additional wedding coordinators may be required for every 25 guests, which will increase the overall cost.

Read the NCL wedding brochure here

P&O Weddings

P&O Cruises’ entry-level wedding ceremony is designed just for the couple and starts from £2,700 (around $3,600). If you’d like to invite guests, you’ll need the Ceremony at Sea package, which costs from £3,200 (around $4,300) and allows up to 10 guests to attend.

You do get some nice perks for the price. The ceremony is conducted by the Captain or Deputy Captain, and you’ll have support from both a pre-cruise wedding planner and an onboard coordinator to help organise everything.

Couples also receive breakfast in bed the morning after the wedding, complimentary pressing of their wedding outfits, salon appointments to get ready for the ceremony, a speciality restaurant dinner, and a keepsake certificate signed by the captain.

Learn more about P&O Cruises wedding packages here

Princess Cruises Weddings

Princess Cruises’ wedding packages are on the pricier side, but this is the cruise line famous for The Love Boat, so a lot of people want to get married on a Princess ship. 

Standard packages are usually designed just for the couple, so if you want guests to attend, you’re typically looking at prices starting from $4,495, depending on the ceremony location and guest numbers. Ceremonies can take place indoors or outdoors, and are often conducted by the ship’s captain or another authorised officiant.

Packages also include a solo musician for the ceremony, along with a selection of romantic stateroom gifts, such as breakfast in bed the morning after the wedding.

The price typically includes a photography package with both digital and printed photos, so you’ll have plenty of memories from the day.

In the past, Princess has also offered the option to livestream ceremonies so friends and family could watch from home. It’s not clear whether this is still available, but it’s worth asking about when planning your wedding.

Learn more about Princess Cruises weddings here

Royal Caribbean Weddings

Royal Caribbean offers a range of wedding packages to suit different budgets and guest lists, but prices have gone up in recent years. This reflects what the package offers, but it’s worth knowing what’s included before you book.

The most affordable option is the Forever Yours package, which starts at $5,499 and covers the couple plus up to 20 guests.

You’ll get a private ceremony venue, wedding officiant, ceremony décor, DJ and music, plus a 2-tier wedding cake and a sparkling wine toast for your guests.

The couple also receive some lovely extras, including Moët & Chandon in the stateroom, chocolate-covered strawberries, breakfast in bed, romantic stateroom décor, a speciality dining dinner, a couple’s massage and the Royal Deluxe beverage package.

If you want to go really big, the Love Sets Sail package is priced from $9,499 and allows up to 100 guests (including 50 who don’t have to sail). This includes everything in the smaller package, plus priority check-in for your wedding group, a bridal bouquet and boutonniere, a microphone for the ceremony, a larger three-tier wedding cake, early access to your stateroom to get ready, a second speciality dining dinner and a Behind the Waves ship tour, along with a few extra touches to make the day even more memorable.

You can also add extras like professional photography, upgraded receptions, and entertainment – but just be aware these can quickly bump up the total cost, so it’s worth factoring that into your budget.

Learn more about Royal Caribbean weddings here.

Budgeting Tips for Cruise Weddings

1. Book Your Cruise Early

Remember that, as the couple getting married, you need to budget for two separate costs – the wedding, but also the cruise.

So try to book your cruise as early as possible – look for when the dates are going to go on sale, and get in there as soon as you can. This can help you get the best deal on the actual cruise element and save money overall.

2. Reach Out to the Cruise Line Early With Your Requirements

Once you have the cruise booked, contact the cruise line to begin arranging the wedding as early as possible, too.

If you set out your requirements as soon as possible, the cruise line can provide a full breakdown of costs. This can help you save for it in advance, or you might realise that there are adjustments you’re comfortable with that won’t spoil the ceremony but will bring the price down.

3. Ask Guests to Contribute in Lieu of Gifts

This one splits opinion, but if you’re inviting guests to your cruise wedding, it’s reasonable to ask them to contribute to the cost, instead of buying you a wedding gift. It’s just the same as asking for contributions to a honeymoon, after all.

Suggested read: The Best Honeymoon Cruises

4. Set Up an Onboard Gift Registry

An alternative idea is to set up a registry for your cruise, so that guests can buy elements of it as your wedding gift. A lot of cruise lines can facilitate this for you. So you might list speciality dinners, or excursions, or even just some drinks. 

Having your guests pay for these as your wedding gifts means they’re essentially paying for parts of the cruise you’d otherwise have to budget for.

Final Word

While cruise weddings aren’t exactly cheap, they can be surprisingly good value compared with many traditional land-based weddings.

There are a few extra logistics to think about, such as whether guests will sail with you or attend on embarkation day. But the reward is something truly special.

Getting married with the ocean as your backdrop, then sailing straight into your honeymoon, is a pretty incredible way to start married life. And if you already love cruising, there may be no better way to celebrate.

Related Posts

• Carnival Cruise Honeymoon: 14 Things You Must Know!
• 5 Best All-Inclusive Honeymoon Cruises
• Why Do Cruise Ships Register In The Bahamas?