| So you're getting married on a cruise ship! | | | | be a shame to pay for extra photography only to |
| Congratulations on making the decision to get married | | | | have the ship be delayed and you lose some of your |
| on what is for sure going to be the ultimate vacation. | | | | contracted time. It's not uncommon for the ship to |
| Whether you're going to the Caribbean, Alaska or | | | | have to shorten or cancel events onboard so it will |
| someplace exotic, these floating cities on the sea are | | | | most likely be in the contract that they have the right |
| a great place to relax and be pampered after your | | | | to shorten your event without warning or |
| wedding day. But "turn around day", or the day when | | | | compensation of any kind. Would you be heart broken |
| old passengers are disembarking and the new | | | | if your reception were cut short or your hair |
| travelers are embarking, is very busy. There are some | | | | appointment cancelled? |
| things to look at before signing that contract. | | | | Another detail to ponder is the price of the details. |
| What sorts of things happen on "turn around day? | | | | Anyone who has ever cruised will tell you that buying |
| On turn around day, the pier is a buzz with activity. | | | | photographs onboard isn't cheap. Not even close. I've |
| With cruise ships now carrying upwards of 3500 | | | | seen high-end photographer charge less than what the |
| people and many ports have more than one ship at a | | | | cruise ship sells them for. Check your contract to see |
| time, during peak season there can be 12,000 people | | | | how many photos are included in the package and |
| trying to maneuver around the pier area. It's chaotic | | | | how much extras are. |
| and frustrating. Customs and Border Patrol also play | | | | Also make sure that the food and beverages being |
| an important factor. Should they delay the ship from | | | | served is also written in the contract. Although they |
| emptying, this puts off all events until they clear the | | | | probably reserve the right to change it and how it's |
| ship. Weather can cause a delay on the ship getting to | | | | served (they may need the extra staff for |
| the pier on time. Unfortunately, when the ship is late, | | | | embarkation) it's always good to have that in writing. |
| your wedding may not take priority to getting the ship | | | | A cruise ship wedding is truly beautiful. I'm not trying to |
| to sail on time so it doesn't lose money. This can | | | | be down on them in any way. I think it's important to |
| translate into several hot hours sweating in a cruise | | | | understand that they have so many different factors |
| terminal building. Being all dressed up and crammed in a | | | | than a land based wedding does and with so many |
| terminal is not a fantastic way to start a honeymoon. | | | | different things to coordinate with two different groups |
| Not to mention the wedding and reception would be | | | | (the coordination company and then the cruise line) |
| cut short. This doesn't make for a happy day! | | | | there is a greater chance of things going wrong. For |
| There are lots of things to look at when planning your | | | | some couples, it may be beneficial to look at getting |
| special day onboard the ship. For example, will you get | | | | married the night before from their embarkation port. |
| any of your money back should your event be cut | | | | Either way, going on a cruise is a great vacation and a |
| short? Wedding packages aren't cheap and it would | | | | perfect honeymoon. |