Relationships, togetherness, and la familia reclaimed their status in our otherwise hectic routines post-pandemic. The ripples of this transition were felt in the wedding industry too, with more and more couples seeking celebrations that are heartfelt, close-knit, and simmering with sophistication. From backyard soirees and weddings at family homes to festivities at exotic locales, ‘intimate’ is the season’s theme. Pioneering this fad are cruise weddings – lavish arrangements amidst storybook seas, cheery porpoises, and unmatched sunsets, where the echoes of laughter and waves laud your special day.

Nuptials extraordinaire: Deep dive into cruise weddings

Want to sidestep the routine rituals and turn your wedding into one big holiday? Consider booking a cruise for the perfect dose of fun, family time, and festivities. Make group bookings for better rates on a shore excursion with your friends and folks. Talking about her indulgent wedding onboard MSC Cruises, Brazil’s Alyssa Ohana Lima Rego Barros says, “Cruise weddings provide a wholesome atmosphere of celebration and togetherness, bringing the guests closer and allowing the group to enjoy a whole trip together, instead of one single day.”

From orchestrating your wedding photoshoot on decks riding the rippling waves and luxe stateroom suites to onboard DJs and stand-up comics, a fun-filled celebration is guaranteed. “The ceremony and the reception can be customised. It can be simple (just the ceremony) or you could add some services that make the experience more complete. For example, we chose and closed a whole room for our ceremony and the reception party. We kept the bar open for the guests and hired a musician and a DJ to play for 4 hours. Afterwards, we closed a restaurant to have our dinner with the guests. It was all optional. The ceremony can be quick because the wedding celebrant provided by the cruise speaks just a few words. So we asked some people from our family to give speeches and make the moment more special,” Barros tells T+L India.

The flexibility offered by most cruises makes planning fun and efficient at once. First, pick the duration of your cruise – a one-day gala or a shore excursion spread across multiple days, sunset soirees, al fresco meals, and collective adventures. The myriad entertainment options onboard, including theatre performances, casinos, live music, and play areas for kids ensure there’s never a dull moment. Pamper your guests further with onboard spas and salons for an idyllic wedding gala onboard a floating hotel.

Talking about her cruise wedding, Barros fondly recalls, “Everything was just perfect; everyone said it was the most special wedding they’ve ever experienced. The sunsets, in particular, were memorable. I remember looking at the vast ocean and the orange sky and thinking how lucky I was. It also felt very special when people all over the cruise congratulated me, said kind things, and asked to take pictures with the bride.”

Things to consider when planning a cruise wedding

Key factors to keep in mind when planning a cruise wedding include picking a mass-market cruise line experienced in hosting weddings, dodging the festive surcharges during the popular wedding and Valentine’s months, and pre-confirming the legality of your wedding over certain private islands. Popular cruise liners offering at-sea weddings include Cordelia Cruises, Oceania Cruises, MCS Cruises, Princess Cruises, Windstar Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean and Crystal Cruises.

On the flipside of cruise weddings, Barros says, “The biggest challenge is not having some people you love with you in this special moment, for many different reasons – the cost, the duration, lack of vacation days, and health issues, among others. You’ll most likely remember many people and wish they were with you during the trip.”

Iconic weddings that took place on a cruise

Following the grand three-day celebrations in Jamnagar, Gujarat, with the likes of Bill Gates, B-town A-listers, and Rihanna in attendance, Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant took their friends and families on a four-day European cruise for their second pre-wedding festivities in May 2024. The cerulean celebrations took place onboard Celebrity Cruises’ latest vessel, the Celebrity Ascent.

Here’s how to book a night on the luxury cruise that hosted the second Ambani pre-wedding event.

The 323 m-long vessel boasts two-deck Edge Villas, a luxury spa, martini-shaped hot tubs, The Theatre, and 32 dining options. The celebrations themed “La Vita E Un Viaggio”, translating to “Life is a journey”, were also graced by immersive performances by Pitbull and Katy Perry.

Danube Homes’ CEO Adel Sajan and Sana Khan were among celebrities and tastemakers who raised a toast to love onboard glitzy cruise liners before the Ambanis. In April 2017, the couple cast off on the swanky Costa Fascinosa, a Concordia-class cruise ship with 1,500 of their kith and kin. Their cruise wedding, worth over INR 100 crore, made port calls at exotic destinations like Barcelona, Marseilles, Cannes, and Savona.

(Feature Image Credit: @estudio_oliver for Alyssa Ohana Lima Rego Barros)

Related: Smooth Sailing: Embark on the Ultimate Cruise Adventure

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

– What are the main benefits of having a cruise wedding?
If you wish to side-step the general order of celebrations and turn your wedding into a huge holiday with friends and family, consider a cruise wedding. Additional advantages include unparalleled views, visiting multiple ports, and otherworldly wedding pictures.

– What are some popular destinations for cruise weddings?
Some popular destinations for cruise weddings include the Caribbean, the Bahamas, Hawaii, India, and Singapore.

– Which cruise lines are known for offering wedding packages?
Popular cruise liners offering at-sea weddings include Cordelia Cruises, Oceania Cruises, MCS Cruises, Princess Cruises, Windstar Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean and Crystal Cruises.

– Can we customise our cruise wedding?
Yes, cruise weddings offer plenty of scope for customisation of onboard venues, decor, entertainment amenities, indoor and al fresco dining options, and much more.

– What is typically included in a cruise wedding package?
Depending on the price and duration of the cruise wedding package, you can expect dinner at speciality restaurants, bottles of champagne, a local officiant, pre-cruise wedding planners, two-to-three tier cakes, couples massage, recorded ceremony music, and much more.

Written By