Destination Weddings : The Love Boat

Love…
exciting and new
Come aboard
we’re expecting you

This is the first verse of the theme of the TV show Love Boat. For many couples, it inspired romance. What was there not to to enjoy. The adventure of going on a cruise, stopping at new places and enjoying a tour of the Carribean or Mediterranean while one was at it was extremely tempting to many.

If you’ve been inspired by this show and have decided to have your destination wedding on a cruise, there are a couple of things you should keep in mind so that your wedding matches your dreams. The last thing you want is to be on the ship but not having any fun. Nor would you want to be on board but unable to get married because something got left undone.

For example, the actual wedding is held at a port on one of the stops of the cruise. This means that you need to check that you have the necessary papers so that you can get married there. This therefore means that you need to know the route that your cruise will take before you start on your paperwork.

That being said, you have two things to do. The first is choose your cruise line or ship. The second is to find out the requirements to get married in the port or country of your choice.

If you want to be on the Love Boat, you’ll want to choose the Grand Princess Cruise Ship. This was the ship used for the the TV show. It truly is a beautiful choice. If you’re open to suggestion there are many other options.

Not all ships will allow you to get married on board. They may have wedding packages but their set-up for your wedding will most likely be done on the beach, which really isn’t a bad alternative. Those couples and guests who aren’t particularly good travelers by sea will surely thank you for the opportunity to have solid ground beneath them as you get married.

These cruise lines will allow you to get married on board:

• Carnival Cruise Line
• Norwegian Cruise Line
• Holland America Line
• Princess Cruise
• Royal Carribean Line

These two will not:

• Crystal Cruises
• Cunard Line

Since this is a destination wedding of a very special kind, this means that your guests are either all on board or flying to the port where your nuptials will be held. It is best to make sure that the ship will allow your guests to board if they won’t be sailing with you. Again, there is an advantage to the fact that you are getting married at the beach instead of on the ship.

If you will hold it on the ship, don’t expect that the captain will perform the wedding ceremony. Unless he is also a judge, a priest, a minister, a justice of the peace or a notary public, he is unlikely to be your officiant. The cruise lines though will usually provide one if you tell them ahead of time and it is part of their services.