Engaged couples can now experience the romance of a wedding at sea performed by the Captain, onboard a Royal Caribbean International ship, through the Royal Romance weddings and vow renewal programme. The Commonwealth of the Bahamas has approved the cruise line to conduct legal weddings onboard cruise ships while at sea.
As a special introductory offer, couples wishing to share their special moment with friends and family and booking 12 or more staterooms on a 2013 Royal Caribbean International sailing will receive a complimentary ‘Romance at Sea’ nuptial package, inclusive of the ceremony performed by the Captain, photography and more.
The ‘Sweethearts at Sea’ promotional offer is available for booking beginning 1st January 2013.
“Thanks to the support of the Bahamas, our guests can now be married during the course of their Royal Caribbean International cruise and bask in the romance of the sea as they exchange their vows,” said Adam Goldstein, President and Chief Executive of Royal Caribbean International. “Royal Caribbean International’s staff and crew will cater the affair with our world-renowned friendly and engaging service to help make the day extra special for the couple and their guests.”
“The Bahamas is happy to participate in this venture with Royal Caribbean International,” said Senator Allyson Maynard-Gibson, Attorney-General and Minister of Legal Affairs, the Bahamas. “This premier cruise line has been bringing visitors to our beautiful country for many years, and we know that the Royal Romance weddings and vow renewal programme will encourage even more visitors to our beautiful shores.”
From day one the Royal Romance team of wedding specialists assists in all aspects of the wedding planning services, including any legal requirements pre-departure and once onboard the Royal Romance Co-ordinator ensures that every last detail is taken care of.
Several options can be customised, including the new ‘Royal Romance at Sea’ wedding package that celebrates a couple’s big day and includes all the essentials for creating the perfect wedding such as: a groom’s buttonhole, a 12 long-stemmed rose bouquet for the bride, cake, recorded music as well as a live soloist during the ceremony, wine, a speciality restaurant dinner for the bride and groom, photography services, including 30 8×10 prints and one CD with 15 images, champagne and strawberries in the couple’s stateroom plus the ceremony performed by the ship’s captain.
The ‘Sweethearts at Sea’ promotion offers couples wishing to share their happy memories with family and friends a complimentary ‘Romance at Sea’ package when their wedding party books 12 or more staterooms on a 2013 cruise of five nights or longer, or they can enjoy a complimentary stateroom upgrade, bar service and an hors d’oeuvres reception when the party books 25 or more staterooms.
Royal Romance also offers vow renewal packages, ceremonial services and customised proposals. Complementing Royal Romance’s packages is Royal Caribbean International’s honeymoon registry which continues the romance with friends and family contributing to a couple’s ideal Royal Caribbean International honeymoon cruise. Instead of buying another toaster, the couple’s family and friends can instead contribute to a dinner at a speciality restaurant, a couple’s massage, or an excursion. Couples can add all of the onboard activities they would like into the new registry, creating a wish list where their family and friends can even contribute to the cruise fare and help make the dream of travelling to far-off places a reality.
Weddings onboard are legally recognised by the Bahamas through the newly passed Marriage Act. The act allows for marriages in international waters, which is defined as outside the 12-mile limit of the territorial waters of any nation. The actual location of the ship when the marriage takes place is then recorded in the Marriage Record book of the Bahamas.
