| To the Author of Note 288.
My wife and I tried to arrange a shipboard wedding for MAY91 and ran into
a plethora of complications. After hearing the discouraging news from
our regular travel agent, we decided to try several other agents and compare
notes. This is what we discovered(info acquired in spring of 1991)
in unison from the others as well.
Cruise lines do not provide on-board chaplins to perform the service.
If you want to be married on a ship, you have to bring and pay for
your own minister! Also, ship captains are not legally vested to perform
weddings at sea! Actually, they are legally vested with very little
other than commanding the ship and adhering to the laws of the seas.
As well, the cruise lines do not permit weddings in public areas
on the ships. We were told by the agents that weddings are
only permitted in your cabin!
Also, many complications surround validity of the service. If you
are married at sea outside of territorial waters, no-one can officiate
the wedding and vaildate your wedding certificate as an official
legal representative of the U.S. There are certain areas in the
Carribean and the Pacific that are legally recognized by the U.S. It
is best to check with a U.S. government office to find out who the are
the "friends or foes"! A U.S. territorial island wedding might be more
feasible.
Sorry to burst your bubble. It might be wise to have a nice home
wedding and honeymoon on a cruise ship. Practically speaking, it
much more achievable.
We ended up with a civil ceremony at the local court house, celebrated
the event with a fancy lunch and had an evening garden party at
our home with all our friends and relatives. The next day, we left for
our honeymoon. Though we didn't fulfil our dream wedding, our dream of
a happy, loving life with our "10"'s manifests itself every day when
we wake up in each others arms.
Our wedding day was a celebration of the event. Every passing day
is a celebration of our life together. We never have or will look back with
regrets because the shipboard event didn't occur. We have each other
and thats all that matters!
Good Luck nad Hvae A Happy Life!
BD @KAO
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| I was on the Sovereign of the Seas June of '88. We were in the Viking
Crown Lounge enjoying a cocktail, waiting for the ship to depart, when
up on deck comes a brides, groom, best man (in tux with shorts), the
maid/matron of honor, a JP, and other guests (about 12 in all).
Performed the cermony right below us between the two pools! Turned
out the newly-married couple was part of our group for the life boat
drill (pretty funny seeing the bride in a long white gown with a life
preserver on!). They told us that they had used one of the small
lounges for a mini-reception. Then the guests left the ship and the
happy couple stayed on for their honeymoon.
I'm not sure if the cruise lines let guests come on board before
they sail any more. My mother- and sister-in-law sailed on the
Nordic Empress last summer and could not bring any guests on board.
-Karen
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