Your Cruise Your Way Cruise Blog

Both Azamara Cruises and Celebrity Cruises will soon be offering cruisers the opportunity to be married in port on any of the vessels in the fleet. Celebrity jokingly referred to the sailor’s knot being known for its ease of tying, but difficulty to break. Cruisers who wish to be married at sea by captains of Azamara Cruises’ and Celebrity Cruises’ ships will soon be able to tie the proverbial knot at sea. Both cruise lines are launching legal, captain-led wedding ceremonies this year to complement their existing vow renewal and in-port wedding offerings. With the upscale atmosphere that both cruise lines have to offer, it should prove to be a spectacular and romantic backdrop that even the most discerning of brides to be could want. Both cruise lines offer everything needed for a complete package, including vows, receptions, and a complete planning service.

“While many of our guests come onboard seeking a once-in-a-lifetime wedding or vow renewal location, and we’ve been happy to provide them with in-port weddings led by a local official, their number-one request is for captains to perform the ceremony,” said Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, Azamara Cruises and Celebrity Cruises Vice President of Hotel Operations. “Now, we’re able to fulfill that wish, while sailing the open waters of the world.”

Celebrity has long partnered with The Wedding Experience to offer onboard vow renewals at sea and in-port wedding ceremonies, and with the recent re-registration of seven of Celebrity’s eight ships in Malta, where Azamara’s two ships also are registered, government regulations have changed to allow for captains to perform legal marriages while the ships sail the seas of the world.

Guests being married at sea by Azamara and Celebrity captains will be offered a variety of packages that include anything from private receptions in their ship’s specialty restaurant to cake, champagne, and more. Basic captain-performed wedding packages begin at $2,500. Guests should book their wedding in advance of their sailing in order to allow time for the processing of licenses and other legal documents.

Guests who wish to take their love to new heights may also delight in Celebrity’s unique offering on its cruisetours to Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge and The Hotel Alyeska. There, guests can be married or renew their vows amidst the breathtaking hanging glaciers of the Girdwood Valley, or with stunning views of Mt. McKinley as a backdrop. These ceremonies can take place from June to September, as part of a Celebrity Cruises pre-or post-voyage cruisetour.

More information on how to plan your wedding is available for Azamara Cruises at http://media.azamaracruises.com/azamara/content/pdf/brochure/Azamara_Web.pdf and for Celebrity Cruises at http://media.celebritycruises.com/celebrity/content/pdf/brochure/Celebrity_Brochure_Final_01_2007.pdf