But wait, there’s more! In last month’s newsletter, we told you about Seasite’s list of “Top 10 Cruise Trends” and why they’re good news for meeting and event planners. We’d like to post an addendum to the list:

11. WEDDINGS AT SEA. According to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), cruise lines are reporting a huge jump in cruise weddings – up to 60% during the last decade. It’s no wonder – cruise ship weddings make planning easy and offer an unforgettable wedding destination and honeymoon in one. The ceremony takes place while the ship is in port, either onboard or at a romantic setting ashore – and the celebration continues as family and friends enjoy the fabulous dining and entertainment options onboard their ship.

WIIFY  (What’s In It For You): Personalized wedding packages take the stress out of planning – cruise ship weddings offer simplified “one stop shopping” for ceremony and reception venues, décor, flowers, menu, entertainment, and honeymoon destination. As an added bonus, the couple can relax and rejuvenate at the ship’s luxurious spa before (or after) tying the knot, so they look and feel their best. Wondering which ship and wedding package to choose? Relax – Seasite’s got you covered. The only thing you need to worry about is getting to the ship on time.

Read the full CLIA report:

TYING THE KNOT AT SEA
Sea-Going Destination Weddings Gain in Popularity as Couples Discover Romance, Pleasure and Value of Cruising for Romance

Fort Lauderdale September 09, 2009 —

Over 60 percent of travel agents report their cruise wedding business has increased in the last two years. Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) member lines report increases of as much as 60 percent in the last decade. More and more cruise lines offer shipboard wedding packages, amenities and wedding planning services, including legal marriages performed by ships’ captains virtually anywhere in the world.

Couples have gotten the message that a cruise can be the setting for an ideal destination wedding – an easily planned, fully-personalized marriage ceremony, reception and honeymoon all rolled into one convenient package. The options are boundless: a shipboard wedding on embarkation day followed by a honeymoon for two; a shoreside wedding on a tropical beach; or a sunset marriage ceremony at sea with everyone in the wedding party enjoying the entire cruise are among the many choices.

Whatever the plan – a wedding close in the Caribbean or Bahamas on one of the newest and largest ships in the CLIA fleet or on an  all-suite luxury vessel in Europe or the South Seas – couples and wedding planners will find outstanding value at every price level, often with costs significantly less than a similar land-based wedding and reception. It is even possible to charter an intimate luxury yacht or elegant river cruise ship and have total control over all the details, even the itinerary. And, besides weddings, many CLIA lines offer honeymoon and vow renewal packages, bachelor and bachelorette parties, even programs for “popping the question” – the ultimate engagement party at sea.

To gauge the significance of the cruise wedding market and its trends, CLIA recently surveyed those who sell approximately 90 percent of all cruises. More than three hundred travel agents provided their input on who they are booking destination weddings at sea for and what their wedding clients are looking for. Here are the highlights of the findings:

• Almost 40 percent of travel agents have sold shipboard or destination wedding cruises
• Cruise weddings are getting more popular: Travel agents report booking more day-of-embarkation wedding cruises (18.3 percent); more shipboard weddings with guests going along for the cruise (22.1 percent) and more in-port weddings during the cruise (18.3 percent)
• Over 60 percent of agents report their cruise wedding business has increased in the last two years
• The best reasons to have a cruise wedding? Almost 35 percent of agents say their clients want to combine a wedding with a honeymoon; over 23 percent said value offered by cruise lines was the top reason
• For romance, nothing beats the Caribbean/Bahamas: Over 80 percent of agents rank this destination as the overwhelming favorite among cruise wedding clientele
• The typical wedding cruise is a seven-day voyage in the Caribbean and/or The Bahamas, on a large cruise ship with less than ten guests in the group. However, almost 30 percent of agents report booking wedding groups of 10 to 20 guests and over 10 percent book wedding parties of 20 to 30, and some cruise lines have reported wedding parties of as much as 200
• The typical cruise wedding clientele are mid-priced travelers aged 44 or younger who book eight to 10 months ahead

Here is a sampling of how CLIA member lines cater to bridal couples and other romantic travelers:

AZAMARA CRUISES
Azamara offers legal, captain-led wedding ceremonies, vow renewals and in-port wedding programs. Partnering with The Wedding Experience, a variety of packages feature everything from private receptions in the ship’s specialty restaurant to cake, Champagne and more. Guests should book in advance to ensure processing of legal documents and licenses.

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES
Some 2,300 couples will take advantage of Carnival’s all-inclusive wedding packages this year, a 50 percent increase from a decade ago. Carnival’s wedding programs include an official civil ceremony, reception and other value-added features and can be tailored to the couple’s wishes. Shipboard ceremonies are available on embarkation day in Carnival’s U.S ports and many Caribbean destinations. Vow renewal packages are also available.

CELEBRITY CRUISES
Celebrity’s most popular wedding package is the “Nautical Nuptials” program featuring a captain-led wedding ceremony at sea offered on all Celebrity ships except Celebrity Xpedition. Other packages available include a “Bridesmaids’ Tea Party,” a “Cigar and Cognac Party,” a “Test the Waters” package and a “Welcome Reception.” Vow renewal celebrations are also offered.

COSTA CRUISES
Costa’s cruise weddings take place while the ship is in port, either onboard or on land, with the company’s wedding planners taking care of all the details. Couples may invite guests to join the full cruise or simply spend wedding day with the bride and groom. Among the choices are a “Caribbean Island Wedding” in a beach or garden location, or an “Italian Shipboard Wedding” in keeping with Costa’s romantic heritage.

CRYSTAL CRUISES
Crystal offers captain-led wedding vow renewal ceremonies and it is rare that one of the company’s ships sails without at least one honeymoon couple. Focusing on helping guests plan and enjoy a completely customized honeymoon rather than a pre-packaged program, Crystal offers such romantic options as a candlelight dinner on a suite’s verandah, onboard florists, a portrait studio and private shore excursions.

DISNEY CRUISE LINE
Guests on Disney Cruise Line can exchange vows onboard the ship or step ashore for a romantic beach-side ceremony on the line’s private island paradise, Castaway Cay. With a magical Fairy-Godmother functioning as wedding planner, Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings handles all the details, including floral arrangements, elegant cakes and Champagne toasts. For many couples, Disney is also the ultimate honeymoon experience.

HOLLAND AMERICA LINE
Holland America offers a Wedding Package as part of its Group Advantage Program (GAP). The wedding couple enjoys a free stateroom upgrade and a commemorative wedding cake with at least eight staterooms booked and the entire group enjoys numerous amenities, including a Pinnacle Grill lunch, private wine tastings, and chocolate-covered strawberries and Chase Limogere Brut in their staterooms.

MSC CRUISES
MSC offers a variety of amenity packages to enhance cruise honeymoons and other romantic occasions. These range from a bottle of Asti Spumante and a special fruit basket or a bottle of Ferrari Perle and cold canapés, to a “Romantic Sunrise” – Champagne in commemorative flutes, orange juice and pastries – to a “Romantic Sunset” – Champagne in commemorative flutes and chocolate-covered strawberries.

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE
Norwegian offers two wedding packages – “Onboard Aisles” and “On Shore Aisles” – available in ports in the U.S., Canada, Europe, the Caribbean, Mexico and Bermuda. Both include a ceremony conducted by a local official plus all the features of a wedding, from music to wedding cake and sparkling wine. Norwegian also offers vow renewal packages and an “Engagement Aisles” program for the ultimate proposal at sea.

PAUL GAUGUIN CRUISES
French Polynesia in the South Seas is the setting for “A Lifetime of Memories” as the staff of Paul Gauguin create an unforgettably romantic event for honeymooners or those celebrating an anniversary. Among the features are a celebratory bottle of Champagne, a Polynesian blessing ceremony performed by Les Gauguines, an exclusive pillow gift and a photo portrait.

PRINCESS CRUISES
Princess pioneered weddings at sea more than a decade ago, and since then ship captains have married thousands of couples while sailing in locations around the globe. The unique “Tie the Knot at Sea” program offers ceremonies in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Alaska and other exotic locales, which couples can customize with live music, flowers and reception options. In addition, a harborside option enables couples to be married in port, and ashore weddings are available in a variety of scenic ports.

REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES
Guests wishing to make customized wedding plans in conjunction with a Regent Seven Seas cruise may use the services of Royal Ocean Events, which can handle all the details and requests. A honeymooner package features a letter of congratulations from the captain, Veuve Clicquot Champagne and caviar, in-suite canapés every afternoon, a miniature wedding cake and Leonidas chocolates and more.

ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL
In addition to a “Royal Romance” package featuring a one-hour wedding ceremony onboard ship or on shore on embarkation day, couples on Royal Caribbean can exchange vows while climbing the ships’ rock walls or ice-skating or even catching the waves on the shipboard Flowrider. Shoreside wedding venues include the glaciers of Alaska, European castles, rainforests and an Italian vineyard.

SEADREAM YACHT CLUB
SeaDream offers two wedding vow renewal ceremonies – one designed for couples only, the other for as many as 12 guests – and both conducted by the yacht’s captain. Iced Champagne and canapés, a cake and flowers add special touches to the elegance of an elegant luxury yacht experience. SeaDream points out four couples who have completed the legal process at home, the shipboard vow renewal ceremony can serve as a wedding.

UNIWORLD BOTIQUE RIVER CRUISES
Offering an intimate and elegant atmosphere, Uniworld’s boutique hotel-style ships provide the ideal situation for couples to charter the vessel and create the wedding of their dreams. Uniworld can accommodate 82 to 160 guests, depending on the ship, and offers flexibility to customize itineraries and inclusions. Short of this, Uniworld river cruise itineraries are perfectly suited for honeymooners whether they want to explore Europe or even the treasures of the Nile in Egypt.

WINDSTAR CRUISES
Windstar invites couples celebrating honeymoons, renewing wedding vows or honoring a special anniversary to discover romance at sea. Chilled Champagne, chocolate-dipped seasonal fruit, breakfast in bed, “Time for Two” massages and elegant dinners for two at sunset are among the amenities featured on the line that has been named “Most Romantic Cruise Line” by Porthole Magazine.

About CLIA
The nonprofit Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) is North America’s largest cruise industry organization. CLIA represents the interests of 25 member lines and participates in the regulatory and policy development process while supporting measures that foster a safe, secure and healthy cruise ship environment. CLIA is also engaged in travel agent training, research and marketing communications to promote the value and desirability of cruise vacations and counts as members 16,000 travel agencies. For more information on CLIA, the cruise industry, and CLIA-member cruise lines and travel agencies, visit http://www.cruising.org/

To search for your perfect wedding ship, go to www.seasite.com/CruiseSearch.

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