Possible Carnival Cruise wedding!

GauchoSteph · August 14, 2012

Hi Arch713!

I don't have any information YET - but I'll reach out to them today so we can get more clarification on Carnival/Celebrity Cruises.

Happy planning!

Ryves · August 29, 2012

Hi guys. I so grateful for thie thread. I am schedule to get married this Dec on carnival. I have since changed the type of entertainment package from pianist to dj. To be honest I really didn't like thepiano bar. Does any one know if there's a basic videographer package?

Ryves · August 29, 2012

@ Dianna 12179 If you call the wedding department they will email all the details and pics. The Dj will play a top 40 list and then songs of your choice.

shealeilinton · March 8, 2013

Hello all I am planning a wedding for June 2014 on the carnival cruise line sailing out of Galveston, Texas. I am confused on all the wedding information I have a ton of questions. I am thinking I will have about 20-30 people sailing with us and probably be topped out on the non sailing guests able to board (50). Many of us have children under the age of 12 are children discounted or is the discount by how many people rooming in the same room? Is there any activities for the children to do while aboard the ship besides the pools and excursions? Do you have to get your passport to be able to board the ship? Do you get any kind of group discount for so many people purchasing tickets? This is just a start thank you everyone!!

Shealei

LueseeWin · March 23, 2013

Hi everyone,

My Fiance and I want to plan a small cruise wedding with our closest friends and family for 2014. I personally never been on a cruise so I don't know what to expect. I read all the different packages Carnival has to offer and I just want to know what would be the best deals for small group about 10-15 people and kind of wanted to know the lay out of how everything is going to. We wanted to be kind of cheap and inexpensive for our guests so we to port from Orange County L.A. area since it is a lot closer to home.I can be kind of a control freak, so not knowing how the ceremony will go or reception wise is killing me.

Please Help. Lucy

LueseeWin · March 24, 2013

Hello Everyone, Im planning a small wedding around May-July 2014 from Southern CA to Mexico and I just have Tons of questions. Like which package would be more suited for us. How the whole ceremony situation works, does the ceremony happen when your still at the port or at sea. Are the photographer photos worth buying or should I just buy the CD ROM and blow up canvases myself? Can we pick the flowers for our bouquet. Is there a first dance during the reception. I honestly never been on a cruise, So I really don't know what to expect. And I was wondering if there were group rates, I would love for both sides of our family to be there.

Please Help, Lucy

mscheryl10 · March 25, 2013

Originally Posted by emilyj

I am thinking about Montego Bay. I want to have a shore side wedding and then get back on the ship for the 2 hour reception. I wanted to have a reception with DJ but the only location this is offered is in the nightclub, which I would rather not do so I am trying to figure out music options in other locations.

Many people have said that they are using Ipod/Ipad music...maybe that would be a solution in a location other than the nightclub.

CAKnight · April 23, 2013

Originally Posted by shealeilinton

Hello all I am planning a wedding for June 2014 on the carnival cruise line sailing out of Galveston, Texas. I am confused on all the wedding information I have a ton of questions. I am thinking I will have about 20-30 people sailing with us and probably be topped out on the non sailing guests able to board (50). Many of us have children under the age of 12 are children discounted or is the discount by how many people rooming in the same room? Is there any activities for the children to do while aboard the ship besides the pools and excursions? Do you have to get your passport to be able to board the ship? Do you get any kind of group discount for so many people purchasing tickets? This is just a start thank you everyone!!

Shealei

Hi Shaelei!

From what I have read, if you book more than 8 staterooms then you are eligible for a discount. So, the more people you have above that minimum should equate to a higher discount. However, you would need a booking number in order to link all of the accounts together (otherwise, how would they know who is a part of the group?) Personally, I would use a TA. From what I've seen, they can get special discount and other "bonuses" that you can not get from booking online or directly through the cruise line. I've seen deals through a TA where you can have no deposit, on-board cruise cash, free upgraded room, etc. Plus I think you (and your guests) are better able to have a payment plan (and deposit extensions) from what I've seen.

When you have more than 2 people in a room, the 3rd and 4th cruisers in the room are a reduced cost per person. I know one of the cruise lines has (or recently had) a promotion where children sailed for $99.

As far as activities go, from my experience aboard the RCCL, they normally have a children's section and a teen's section aboard the boat. (I included a link below that can give you some awesome info about this topic)

In regards to passports, since the ship is leaving a US port and returning to a US port, you do not need a passport to sail. However, it is strongly suggested that everyone has a passport while sailing for several reasons. One in the event of extraordinary circumstances and you have to return to the US for whatever reason, you must have a passport to return to the US. If you do not have a passport, then I believe you must possess a certified birth certificate whenever you go through any of the foreign country's customs and US customs (it seems like a lot of hassle, if you ask me). I believe that children might also have to have a certified letter stating they can leave the country if they are not travelling with both parents. In essence that hassle and time saved by applying and possessing a passport will be worth its wait in less stress. If you go to the FAQ on the Carnival website, one of the most popular questions is "What is the required travel documentation for all ports?" It provides additional info should you wish to share it with your guests.

Here is a video that should answer more of your questions, along with some of the questions you asked above (and a great video to put on a wedding website):

Hope this helps you and others!

Let me know if you have any additional questions!

CAKnight · April 23, 2013

Originally Posted by LueseeWin

Hello Everyone, Im planning a small wedding around May-July 2014 from Southern CA to Mexico and I just have Tons of questions. Like which package would be more suited for us. How the whole ceremony situation works, does the ceremony happen when your still at the port or at sea. Are the photographer photos worth buying or should I just buy the CD ROM and blow up canvases myself? Can we pick the flowers for our bouquet. Is there a first dance during the reception. I honestly never been on a cruise, So I really don't know what to expect. And I was wondering if there were group rates, I would love for both sides of our family to be there.

Please Help, Lucy

Hi Luesee!

If you decided that you want to get married aboard a cruise, the only option you have is to marry in one of the ports. If you would like family and friends to be there and they don't want to sail with you, then you should always get married on the ship before it leaves to start the cruise. So essentially, you can get married in the port of call on the cruise ship or in the actual port itself.

HOWEVER, if you would like to get married at sea, Princess Cruise Line is one of the few cruise lines that will allow you to get married at sea. (Sorry I can't remember the others of the top of my head!)

BTW, if you get married in Mexico, I believe they require a blood test for you and your FI to get married. They may also require both of you to translate your required wedding information into Spanish. You might want to research these two topics!

As far as getting discount, from what I have read, 8 or more staterooms qualify for a discount. 3rd and 4th cruisers to a room also qualify for a cheaper rate than the 1st 2 cruisers.

Hope this helps!

If you have any additional questions, feel free to ask!

Linda Ottesen · September 10, 2013

i was married on carnival sensation cruise on 04/07/13 we did the delux romance package. It was the best wedding imaginable. had tons of fun. we had 100 guests total and 40 sailing with us,. Unfortunatley it was pricey but well worth it. and even though we had so many traveling we did not get any extra perks. that was the only bad part... tjhe photagrapher is pricey but we had a good friend take pics for us the came to the wedding who has a good camera and only purchased a few pictures from carnival. but we did pay for the vidoeographer about $600 and well worth it...

here is a link to the wedding

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kYOckNQTTQ

and reception

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VieksQt9ZB0

good luck best wishes