When a couple decides to finally tie the knot, it's time to get cracking on those long awaited wedding plans. Gone are the days of the average church wedding and in comes the generation of the cruise wedding.
Destination weddings are always something to look eagerly forward to since they are always meant to be full of surprises. Having a wedding on a cruise is like getting married at the honeymoon destination where the wedding party can visit can explore the location and all its bounty right after the ceremony.
Getting married at the Sunshine Coast is by all means a great choice. Betrothed couples from all across the world choose to get married here and have the Noosa river be their star witness. There's no coincidence why this destination is so popular.
It is practically a treat of an experience to be here just as a tourist due to the diversified cuisines, local activities and of course, the variety of opulent cruises. Cruisers like the Noosa Cruiser restaurant offer special Dinner cruise wedding packages in the Sunshine coast which is quite affordable for large parties and worth every penny.
In this post, any future Misters and Misses' can read about all the aspects that goes into planning a cruise wedding. So let's get started!
A Couple's guide to the Noosa :-
Follow these brief list of guidelines to gain better foresight as to what possible contingencies should be reserved in backup before finalizing a cruise package.
Not all Cruises are Wedding Planners :-
Organizing a wedding on a cruise ship requires a considerable amount of space which not all cruises are equipped to facilitate. It is rather optimistic to think that a cruise willing to host a wedding would have every factor covered to the 'T'.
It is more likely that the wedding couple would have to manage, if not all but a majority of the ritualistic logistics on their own. There are of course those cruiser which offer full-service wedding packages where they take care of all the details for small party weddings.
Expect Seasonal Surcharges :-
Around the holidays, cruise ships tend to charge more due to the rise in demand for their packages. Some of the most popular cruise liners like Holland America or Royal Caribbean add charges during events like Valentine's Day or New Year while providing special offers and events on those special occasions. Getting married during such novel dates can cause the wedding bill to grow larger than the groom's tie.
Not All Captains are Officiants :-
In light of the scarcity in Cruise Captains lining up to become officiants, having the wedding ceremony performed by the decorated leader of the ship staff may not be such a great idea. It is more of an exclusive experience limited only to a handful of cruises such as the Noosa Cruiser Restaurant on the Sunshine coast.
Perform Vow Renewals on a Private Island :-
It is quite understandable when a couple gets really excited to get married but such excitement can often lead to hasty decision making. What is important to consider is whether or not it is legal to get married on a cruiser in the region where the wedding is taking place. It is customary to have a judge or an officiant who is licensed to perform a wedding ceremony to be present.
Also, the actual marriage or the signing of papers needs to be conducted at port before the couple sets sail. Usually, in case of overseas wedding couples, popular cruising brands like the Disney Cruise line conducts their weddings onboard their cruise at the Castaway Cay.
Does Cancelling the Port-Call means Cancelling the Wedding :-
One cannot predict nature like how they cannot predict who to love. Most seaport wedding destinations are prone to experiencing unforeseen harsh weather, which often requires the cruise ship to be tendered (requiring support from a smaller ship or boat) in order to escort the passengers safely ashore. Planning the choice of cruise destination more judiciously or keeping the details of the weather forecast are only but few simple precautions to prevent having to cancel the wedding.
Pre-sailaway Weddings offer the Most Perks :-
Conducting a full scale wedding ceremony on a Cruise that's still at port is much more practical than having a large wedding party concentrated on a floating boat. There are much less variables to account for on a pre-sailaway wedding ceremony.
The staff, clergyman and guests can all embark and debark the cruiser at port until it finally sets sail. This way, the honeymoon is followed shortly after the completion of the ceremony.
Is a Cruise Wedding Truly Worth It?
Finally, it is time to consider whether a cruise wedding is truly the best course of action for a couple to perform their nuptial vows together. The experience may not be as rewarding as it seems. For some, getting married at their hometown was their true dream and a cruise ship might not do more than just squeeze that dream into a small congested box.
There are many instances where a couple had to reschedule their wedding due to an upsurge of private cruise chartering. Another such perspective would be choosing to bring the entire family to the wedding. It might end up turning their honeymoon into an entourage.
What is included in the Cruise Fare :-
Boarding a cruise can often be discouraging for some travelers who are more weary of hidden cruise fares. There are often instances where an item that is usually included within the price of a cabin is billed separately when consumed in a different context. This can lead to passengers scratching their heads in confusion, especially when they are organizing a wedding party of a 100 people or more.
The following enlists some of the items that may or may not be included in the Cruise Fare;
1. Food :-
The meals served in the ship's common dining space, buffet counter or designated venues are included in the cabin fare. There are also special dishes that are sometimes included in the package for specific luxury liners. The food that is charged extra are those which are special orders such a specific cut of steak, or what is only available at select onboard restaurants and bars.
2. Drinks and Beverage :-
Before counting the bubbles fizzing in the champagne let's consider what is paid for and what's not. All regular drinks like coffee, tea, tap water and certain freshly squeezed juices are available at the breakfast stall, dinner table or buffet table completely for free.
Some cruise lines may even offer allow sparkling water and wine onboard, brought on by the passenger themselves. On the other hand, we have drinks that are ordered at the bar or select dining venues that incur an extra fee. Even if a guest brings their own wine, uncorking it might be charged separately.
3. Entertainment :-
What is a cruise if not a floating tent of activities. There are a select few cruises that are known specifically for organizing exclusive events and shows featuring celebrity artists, which is the primary reasons why they charge an exorbitant amount.
On top of that, there are multiple facilities in place such as game rooms, escape rooms, cooking classes and such which are meant to keep the passengers entertained whenever they like.
4. Spa and Fitness :-
Spa, Sauna and onboard gym facilities are usually amenities which are open to all the passengers and do not incur any extra expenses if self-serviced. There are also certain fitness classes which are open to all. Whereas spa treatments. salon appointments, premium fitness classes and personal training can add extra expenses to the bill.
5. Childcare :-
Passengers can leave behind children (between the age 3 and 17) at the day care centre and they won't be charged extra for it, but in case of in cabin babysitting or odd hours care incur extra fees. It is advisable to plan such expenses in adavance.
After reading this, making clear and well defined choices while organizing a cruise wedding gets much easier. Conducting a wedding ceremony on a chartered is becoming much more trendy as cruises begin to add on more facilities to its arsenal. It is often wise to delegate the affair of managing the wedding to a third person as cruise weddings are quite an expensive affair and requires all hands on deck!
Comments