With UK weddings costing an average of £23,250 and couples typically spending a further £4,255 on a honeymoon (according to the website hitched.co.uk), it’s no wonder weddingmoons at sea are becoming popular with those looking for a more affordable, simpler but no less romantic option.
Last year, P&O Cruises saw a 12% year-on-year increase in weddings and vow renewals on its ships, with more millennials than ever before choosing to tie the knot at sea.
What is a sea wedding like?
Pat Curtis, an Independent Agent with The Holiday Village, married husband Gary on P&O Cruises’ Ventura in August 2016.
“I’d already booked the cruise and one day Gary said to me, ‘You might as well see if they do any weddings at sea’. So I did, and we booked the wedding!”
Pat and Gary (main image) were joined on the cruise by two friends and Gary’s mum. “It was so simple and relaxed, and the wedding co-ordinator handled everything,” said Pat.
“We didn’t want a fuss and I think our wedding package cost us under £1,100, which included everything we needed, including flowers, a wedding cake, Champagne and a special dinner on board.
“We were on a 14-night cruise and I wanted our wedding in the first week. The day after you board, you meet the wedding coordinator who goes through everything with you about the actual wedding day. It really was so easy. My one piece of advice is to send all your documents as soon as they ask for it, then it’s done.”
On the morning of her wedding Pat had her hair and make-up done in Ventura’s spa before getting ready in her cabin. Their wedding was booked in the ship’s Ivory Suite for 11am and afterwards the wedding party had a meal in the Epicurean restaurant. They had photos taken by the ship’s photographer, which they could purchase.
Reflecting on the day, Pat said: “It was wonderful. The captain married us at sea, somewhere near France, and we had the best time. And of course, everyone was congratulating us around the ship too.”
Since her own wedding at sea, Pat has booked another four weddings and a vow renewal, all with P&O Cruises.
While agents don’t earn commission on the wedding package, clients often book upgraded cabins and drinks and dining packages, which are commissionable. “It’s all part of the personal service and you touch base with the client regularly,” said Pat.
“With one group of eight I had, only the bride and groom were my clients before, and since then I have booked the six other guests on their own individual holidays, which is great.”
She added: “It’s easy to sell once you’ve done it, and even if you haven’t, the team are super helpful.”
Last year, Hays Personal Travel Consultant Charlotte Hopkin booked a 90-guest wedding party onto a Carnival cruise, with a total value of more than £120,000.
Are weddings at sea legal?
Celebrity, Cunard, P&O Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean are all able to offer legally binding weddings at sea, as they are all registered outside the UK.
Cruise lines usually require at least 90-150 days advance notice and your client will then request which day during their cruise they’d like to get married.
Costs vary, but they will all include pre-voyage support from the wedding coordinator throughout.
Princess, which has wedding chapels on some ships (pictured below), start at $3,495 (£2,630) for its ‘Perfect Pair’ package, which includes a captain-led ceremony, photo and bridge tour, flowers, music, cake, sparkling wine, photography, romantic in-room extras’ and a keepsake certificate.
P&O Cruises packages start at £3,420 for up to 10 guests, which includes a captain-led ceremony, priority check-in at Southampton, cake, champagne, music, bridal hair and makeup, flowers, a speciality dinner, and a signed certificate.
Other cruise lines including Ambassador, Disney Cruise Line and MSC offer symbolic ceremonies, but these are not legally recognised in the UK. Virgin Voyages has also launched symbolic wedding ceremonies this year.
Virgin’s You, Me and The Sea package costs $4,000 (£3,000) and includes the ceremony, priority check-in, $200 onboard credit, beauty appointment, Champagne and flowers.
Vow renewals are usually cheaper. Prices start at $999 (£750) with Cunard for up to 10 guests. It typically includes a similar offering to the wedding package.
Luxury lines such as Regent Seven Seas Cruises also offer vow renewals at sea, and the more adventurous can have a symbolic wedding with expedition line Swan Hellenic, which launched packages earlier this year. The package includes a zodiac adventure for the newlyweds.
