Which Cruise is the best for Wedddings

[NfamslyEngaged]

Hello! We recently got engaged and were looking into cruise ship weddings. We saw some reviews but really can’t decide on a certain one.We have a big family (more sailing that not) that will be attending. We cut out Carnival because the reviews plus it looks crowded..can anyone that has experience with cruise ship weddings help?!

[Essiesmom]

Welcome to Cruise Critic.  Further down the boards page you will find Special Interest Cruising, and under that is Honeymoon & Wedding cruising.  Folks there can give you a lot of advice:  https://boards.cruisecritic.com/forum/18-honeymoon-amp-wedding-cruises/

[CPT Trips]

The wedding board will be your best resource. Just realize that a wedding at sea is a foreign wedding with all the associated paperwork, and then some. DD's wedding required several trips to our state Capitol for documents. Trips that would not have been necessary for a local wedding.

[NfamslyEngaged]

3 hours ago, CPT Trips said:

The wedding board will be your best resource. Just realize that a wedding at sea is a foreign wedding with all the associated paperwork, and then some. DD's wedding required several trips to our state Capitol for documents. Trips that would not have been necessary for a local wedding.

What kinda of paperwork ?

[Mike981]

Congratulations!

There is a lot more information needed to be able to truly help you.
But honestly, a good travel agent who has done several weddings will be wonderful asset.

[CPT Trips]

Oh lord, a ton of forms for Malta that had to be certified by the state's Secretary of State rather than just being notarized. In NJ all one needs to get a marriage license is:

Completed, but unsigned, application for a New Jersey marriage license.

Proof of identity, such as a driver's license, passport or other official US ID.

Social security card or number.

A witness, 18 years or older.

A $28 fee.

 

For the Maltese license, required to get married at sea by the Captain on Celebrity, all the following (and I might have forgotten something):

Long form birth certificates.

Adoption papers to authenticate name change.

Application for Maltese marriage license certified by NJ's Secretary of State not just notarized.

Authenticated copies of Passport.

Official state certifications of "no prior marriage;" if there was a prior marriage, then authenticated copy of proof of dissolution of the marriage (divorce papers, death certificates, etc.)

Notarized copy of proof of publication on bans in a local newspaper. 

Then an apostille had to accompany each document being submitted that had the signature of an state or local official, including notaries.

 

This list only applies to Malta. Ships flagged in other countries will have other requirements. Go to the wedding boards to get more up to date info on the various cruise lines.

 

I only agree with Mike if you have a group traveling. A TA will be no help with the wedding issues. The cruise line will require you to use their contractor for any wedding conducted onboard. Their services won't come cheap, and to be honest their performance was barely adequate. But a good TA can, and should, handle all the bookings for a group, arrange the cruiseline perks, and toss some additional perks your way as thanks for giving them a bunch of business.

 

 

[DarrenM]

Bloody expensive wedding for your guests to attend.

 

Imagine getting that invite. 

 

We have been invited to a wedding love.

 

Where?

 

A cruise it's only gonna be 2 grand each.