Saying “I do” on the high seas has never been easier or more romantic. Princess Cruises, the original “Love Boat” broke ground in 1998 with the first wedding ceremony at sea conducted by the ship’s captain. When we spoke with the captain of the Caribbean Princess, Marco Fortezze, he told us officiating a cruise destination wedding is one of his favorite roles and welcomed the opportunity to officially tie the knot for his guests. Most ships have a wedding chapel, but there are other romantic venues onboard as well. It’s easy to envision exchanging vows with a backdrop of the Italian coast or on the clear blue waters off an island paradise in the Pacific. 

It’s A Breeze at Sea…

Onboard wedding packages typically include all of the trimmings including, but not limited to music, photographers, tuxedo rental, flowers and reception, making it a piece of cake to plan. (Oh, the cake is included too!). You can also add pre-wedding pampering with spa treatments and salon services to round out the day and the onboard wedding coordinator makes it all happen for you.

Harborside or Ashore

Another option to ponder may be to tie the knot on the ship before sailing in the embarkation port. The advantage to this is that it enables guests to attend just for the day or continue on for the cruise. Or, you might also consider a ceremony at one of the scenic ports-of-call along the way. We discovered many hidden treasures among the options Princess Cruises offers for a once-in-a-lifetime event for you and your guests. Picture a ceremony on a pristine glacier in Juneau, Alaska or a beautiful beach wedding in Kauai, a medieval castle in Lucca, Italy, a park in New York City or a garden villa in Malta. On your own, these locations would be logistically challenging to say the least, but with the assistance of the cruise line, they become very feasible without a lot of effort on your part. 

Making it Legal

The ship’s captain only has legal authority to marry couples in international waters under the ship’s Bermuda registry. Princess Cruises’ wedding program assists with all of the required paperwork to ensure that your “I do’s” are legally binding. Non-denominational officiants conduct in-port weddings or blessings, but cruise line hassle-free packages handle the details for you. 

Nautical nuptials on the high seas or on a nearby shore – a love boat cruise wedding may be the perfect solution for the couple who wants a unique, but simple-to-plan wedding.