Honeymoon

The tips below are specifically for honeymooners. For general cruise tips that apply to lovers in general, read the Mistakes Romantic Cruisers Make web page in my Romantic Cruise section.

Inform the staff
Be sure the ship's hotel director and cruise director know you are on your honeymoon. Don't assume they know. And even if they do, the act of your personally telling them reinforces your status in their minds. Also discreetly share the news with your cabin attendant, waiters, bartenders, and other staffers. This increases service quality because it builds a stronger, more personalized bond between you and them.

Pre- and post-cruise stays
Some newlyweds spend a couple of days or so at a resort near the ship's embarkation or debarkation port. It's a good idea because it enhances the honeymoon experience. The pre-cruise option makes the most sense because it it provides insurance against a flight delay, cancellation, or misconnection.

Documents
If your marriage is going to change your last name but your passport and driver's license currently bear your maiden name, be aware of a potential pitfall. The name disparity could create a serious problem for you at the airport check-in counters and security gates (it's possible they won't let you board the plane). That's why it's wise to bring your marriage certificate and to have your airline ticket in your maiden name. And sometimes it's smart do the same for your cruise documents.

Cruise wedding tips & insights
Why you should consider a cruise wedding
It gives you a seamless transition from wedding to honeymoon. You don't have to contend with long airport security lines, boring waits to board the flight, and cramped/crowded airplane cabins. You also don't have to worry about missed connections or flight cancellations delaying the start of your honeymoon.

Two basic types of cruise weddings
Both are growing in popularity.

• Shipboard wedding
  They take place on the ship while it is at sea or in port. The venue can be a chapel (if one exists) or in a function room such as the boat's library.
  
• Destination wedding
  They take place on shore at either the embarkation port or at a mid-cruise port. Your wedding guests either book the cruise or stay ashore. The venue can be a church, resort, castle, villa, sandy beach, wherever. Some adventurous couples have exchanged vows on remote glaciers, hot air balloons, and underwater using diving gear.

Cruise wedding coordinators
Many cruise lines have them. If you like, they will make your shipboard or destination wedding hassle-free by handling nearly all the arrangements for your shipboard or destination wedding. This embraces entertainment, photographer, flowers, cake, champagne reception, tux rentals, marriage conductor (perhaps the captain), flights, and land accommodations for your non-sailing guests.

Cost
Cruise wedding packages vary from about $1,000 for a simple ceremony up to well into 5-digits for a large and lavish one. Those figures do not include airline and cruise tickets. When judging the cost, remember that the average American land-based wedding is approaching $30,000.

Related programs
Cruises are ideal for vow renewal ceremonies and anniversary celebrations.

Proposal program
The Princess cruise line's staff will record a video of the engagement seeker making the proposal, without letting the other party get wind of it. Later, that video is shown on a large outdoor movie screen. Everyone in the audience sees it, including the unsuspecting target.