In part the push to add ships to more areas outside the Western Hemisphere is based on the belief that the U.S. economy will recover significantly so that cruisers will be willing to pay higher prices than  are typically found in the Caribbean, Mexico and Hawaii.  It’s also to move ships away from these supersaturated cruising regions where  there are so many ships that cruise fares remain low.

There are always risks such as creating an over-capacity situation.  For example, in 2005 so many ships were positioned in the Baltic at one time that prices fell dramatically. And, Carnival, Royal Caribbean and NCL are betting that cruisers will select the enormous behemoths carrying up to 4,000 people. While these are popular with Caribbean cruisers it remains to be seen if the same holds true in Europe.

Below is an overview of  cruise lines making the largest increases in 2011.

2011  EUROPE DEPLOYMENT

Carnival Cruise Lines’ Carnival Magic, sister of the 3,690-passenger Carnival Dream, will sail on seven-, nine- and 12-day Mediterranean voyages from Barcelona (the first time Carnival has home ported in this city).  Add to this, Magic will sail a full May to October season.

Disney Cruises is returning to Europe in 2011 with the Disney Magic which sails from Barcelona on 10- and 11-night cruises.

In 2011 Holland America Line will feature seven ships cruising the Mediterranean, Baltic and Northern Europe.   Both ms Nieuw Amsterdam and ms Noordam will sail the Mediterranean all season. The Nieuw Amsterdam, which debuts on July 4, 2010, will offer 12-day sailings while the Noordam will feature seven- and 10-day cruises.

Norwegian Cruise Line’s newest vessel, the 4200-passenger Norwegian Epic will sail from Barcelona and Norwegian Sun will sail from Copenhagen during a season of Baltic Cruises.   Norwegian Jade — which sails year-round in Europe — will cruise from home port Venice on Greek Island voyages.  

Oceania Cruises‘ newest ship, Marina, will enter service 2011 and join Insignia and Nautica on a summer season in Europe.    Most of Oceania’s itineraries include an overnight stay in port and, because the ships are significantly smaller in size,  stop at more ports off the beaten path.

Princess Cruises has announced its most extensive Europe season ever for 2011 with a total of seven vessels sailing on 42 itineraries and more than 135 port calls.  New itineraries include Emerald Princess’ 11-day expanded Scandinavia & Russia cruise  stopping in Oslo, Berlin, Stockholm and a two night stay in St. Petersburg.  Ocean Princess sails on seven-day Greek Isles and Mediterranean cruises which may be combined into 14-day voyages without repeating a port.  Pacific Princess sails in the Holy Land, Black Sea and Crimean Coast.

Royal Caribbean will increase its Europe fleet from eight to ten vessels.  While the largest ships normally stay put in the Caribbean, the 3,634-passenger Liberty of the Seas will home port in Barcelona.  The 154,407-ton ship is second only to Oasis of the Seas in size.  Additional itineraries will be announced.

What do YOU think?  Any plans to sail in Europe in 2011?

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I can’t imagine how awful it is to get violently sick on my vacation and wondered why cruise ships seem to be associated with Norovirus most often, at least in the media.

So I asked Brian Rosenthal, MD, MPH (Master of Public Health), who teaches at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health in New York.  He’s also an avid cruiser who has sailed the world aboard all types of cruise ships.

As a public health physician who has sailed aboard dozens of cruise ship,  Dr. Rosenthal’s advice is timely.

AC:  Who is responsible when passengers get sick aboard ship?

DR: There are times when an infectious agent has been isolated on a ship and the cruise line is responsible.  An example is Legionnaires Disease, which is rare.

And, there is always the potential for bacterial food contamination such as e-coli but due to the CDC’s stringent inspections, it hasn’t been reported in many years.  Cruise Lines have become very vigilant about waterborne and shipborne diseases so the reported incidences is rare.   People used to get sick on ships all the time but we just didn’t know what the organisms were.  Now that we know, the media has a heyday with it.

But in the instance of Norovirus, passengers bear the brunt of passing the disease along.

AC: Why Do Outbreaks of Norovirus Happen Aboard Ship So Often?

DR. I don’t think this is a new illness but that we’re hearing about it more often.  I’m sure the outbreaks aboard ship aren’t any higher than they are on land.   There just hasn’t been much coverage of the disease on land.

The thing about ships is that because you’re in a confined space the rate of exposure is statistically greater.  Contrast Disney World.  People aren’t staying in the same hotels or eating in the same restaurants as they are aboard a cruise ship.

AC:  How Can We Avoid Getting a shipborne illness?

DR: There are certain universal precautions that are even more important when you’re aboard a ship.  As important as washing your hands, you have to learn to KEEP YOUR HANDS AWAY FROM YOUR EYES, NOSE AND MOUTH. This is a normal human condition.  If you sit at a restaurant and watch people eat for five minutes you’ll see what I mean.  Most viruses are not spread by hand to hand contact alone.  They are spread by hand  to hand to mouth (or eyes or nose).  If you had it just on your hands, you wouldn’t get sick.

Shaking hands with the Captain or anyone else won’t get you sick assuming you have no cuts on your hands.  Of course one must be careful about where one puts one’s hands.   If you’re able-bodied, don’t use the banisters or railings if you don’t need to.   This is true in any public space, not just ships …. Train stations, malls. 

If you have children it’s an entirely different matter.  All kids put their hands in their mouth — that’s what children do.  And when they play in groups beit a nursely school or a ship, it’s problemmatic.  If your child does become sick, take a lot of precautions that he or she is the only patient in the family.

And, it is as important that you wash BEFORE you eat as it is after you go to the bathroom which is why the hand sanitizers in food lines are a great idea.

AC: Does the Fear of a Shipborne Illness stop you from Cruising?

DR: Absolutely not!  Everytime out go outside your home is a rish.  You must weigh this against the benefits of having a wonderful time and sharing experiences with family and friends.

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This was a question asked by a cruiser who had sailed on many ships and noticed that, in every instance, the ship’s daily program had the same event listed:  Friends of Bill W.  

Bill W is Bill Wilson, the founder of Alcoholics Anonymous, the 12 Step program for recovering alcoholics.  No one in the cruise industry seems to know who first came up with the idea of scheduling AA meetings on cruises but for two decades or more,  they’ve been routinely held aboard the ships of every cruise line.

So, I asked around and found a cruiser who religiously attended meetings on ships all over the globe.  In the spirit of the fellowship I’ll call him Alan.

“When I first got sober the idea of traveling anywhere scared the hell out of me.  But someone told me that AA meetings are scheduled daily aboard cruise ships.  I’ve been cruising ever since,” he said. 

I asked him if meetings varied by cruise line.  “No, they’re always the same.  Meetings are scheduled in an empty room — a conference room or closed bar — during the late afternoon.  No one from the cruise line is present unless he or she is also an ex-drinker.  The alcoholics who attend decide on a format similar to meetings back home,” he said.

Since drinking is an integral part of cruising, I asked Alan if it is a wise decision to vacation in a setting where cocktails, wine and beer are pushed so enthusiastically by the cruise lines.  Alcohol is, after all, one of the major sources of on-board revenue.

“I wouldn’t recommend it to recovering alcoholics only a few months removed from their last drink.  However, when AA meetings are only a few decks away I feel completely comfortable aboard a cruise ship,” Alan replied.

He also said that, over the years, he’s not only made friends at shipboard AA meetings but has been able to help a few people who were newly sober and shaky.  “While I’ve met people with 30+ years, I’ve also encountered a teenager who had just walked out of a rehab; I doubt that he got through a week without drinking. I couldn’t have done it.”

I told Alan that if a travel agent makes the mistake of telling a cruise line that the group he or she is booking is a bunch of recovering alcoholics or fundamentalist Christians, the cruise line automatically raises group rates to offset they money they won’t make from selling drinks. 

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MyBestFareFinder bring deals right to your inbox and eliminates the need to hop around the Internet searching for the best cruise prices.  After registering at the web site you simply fill out a form with your preferences (itinerary, ship, stateroom, departure date, etc.). After it is submitted, travel agents will bid for your business by offering the lowest price.

What is especially appealing is there is no fee and or requirement to buy anything.   Your personal information, such as email, never appears until you decide to book with a specific travel agent.   And, MyBestFareFinder screens all travel agents who sign up to participate in the reverse auction to insusre they are legit.

You’ll start receiving no-obligation offers in a few hours to a few days.   After a half dozen so quotes arrive by email from travel agents eager to get your business, it’s pretty safe to assume you’re getting a terrific deal.

As an added perk, you’ll find a travel agent who is more likely to be experienced in selling cruises.

Happy bargain hunting!

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Instead, I became a convert of Botox and plan to get the procedure next time I take a cruise.   Previously I warned cruisers to avoid getting any procedures on a cruise ship that should be performed by a licensed professional such as teeth whitening, which is administered salon staff instead of a dentist.

(Read no further if you don’t have a vain bone in your body. This posting is for shallow people like me who watch shows like “Housewives of New York” and try to guess the combined amount the “stars” have spent on plastic surgery)

Then I met Dr. Victor Medina in Norwegian Gem’s spa/fitness center who told me Botox treatments were first offered on NCL’s ships but have spread to Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean and Princess ships.  The handsome doctor (who admits he administers his own Botox) works for Steiner’s Leisure Group, which operates spas on the majority of ships in the cruise industry. A Miami plastic surgeon trains doctors and administers the cruise ship program.

Dr. Medina, who is also a surgeon, told me the Botox and Restylane  (used on smile and laugh lines) are popular and with good reasons: treatments take 15 minutes and downtime is minimal;  patients are told not to lay face down for four hours.  Add to this,  the treatments aren’t permanent or non-surgical and very few people have adverse reactions.   And, while Botox lasts four months, Dr. Medina said he advises clients to only get two treatments per year.

While botox is used to treat wrinkles and lines in the upper half of the face (frown, forehead and laugh lines) another medication — Restylane (Dysport) — takes care of  lips, creases and smile lines.

I asked why anyone would get treatments on a cruise ship versus going to a doctor back home.  “Some don’t want their friends to know, others like the convenience of having a doctor close by and, in some cases, it’s less expensive than going to a shore-side physician”, he said.   Botox treatments begin at $300 (crows feet) and go up to $350 (area between the eyebrows) and $400 (forehead lines).  Restylane is more expensive and starts at $700 for smoothing lines from thenose to the corners of the mouth, softening lines from the corners of the mouth to the chin and lip enhancement.

You’ll see improvement from Botox injections within one or two days, with the maximum benefits appearing within a week.   Restylane improvements appear in 24-48 hours.

Regarding the potential hazards of Botox,  the medical website EMedTV advises “While most people have no problems when taking Botox, side effects are possible. In clinical studies, commonly reported side effects included droopy eyelids, muscle weakness, and difficulty swallowing. These side effects were generally mild and easily treated.”

Dr. Medina says certain people should avoid Botox and Restylane, including pregnant women, those allergic to aminoglycoside (an antibiotic), on blood thinners or with neuropathy. He’s treated patients as young as 18 but doesn’t recommend Botox for people 65+ because wrinkles have settled too deeply.

A good source of information on Botox is Web MD, which says in large doses, the drug can create botulism. Of course you should consult your physician if you’re considering on getting Botox or Restylane treatments.

Ok, I’m vain and therefore a good prospect for a sales pitch on something that really will make a difference in how I look. And I admit that the biggest sales tool was the before and after photos Dr. Medina whipped out.

Of course this is a personal decision and I certainly don’t recommend it for everyone.
Have you had Botox? Would you consider getting a treatment aboard a cruise ship?

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1. CRUISERS CONTINUE TO BOOK AT THE LAST MINUTE

According to a November, 2009 American Express survey of 405 member travel agents, 79% of customers are waiting until the last minute to book travel as a way of scoring the best deals. As long as the cruise industry continues to steeply drop cruise fares a month or so before departure the public will be conditioned to wait as long as it takes to score a deal.

AMEX travel agents also say that many travelers are choosing more “all-inclusive” types of vacations such as all-inclusive hotels and resorts (seen by 43% of agents) and cruises (seen by 40% of agents)

*** I personally think it’s better to book a cruise four to six months in advance, especially when your heart is set on a balcony cabin or suite. These staterooms sell out first and those who wait may only find inside and outside accommodations available.

*** Always factor in incentives offered by travel agents such as on-board credit, free gratuities and, in some cases, free airfare and shore excursions. Cruise enticements like these can lower the total cost of your cruise significantly.

2. LOWER CRUISE FARES WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE NORM

In its fourth quarter earnings report, Carnival Corporation forecast 2010 fares to be flat or up a bit.  An executive of the company, which owns Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America, Princess, Seabourn, Costa and Cunard, said that while bookings are the strongest they’ve ever had, prices haven’t increased. According to Jeffrey Sherota, Sr. Vice President of Cruises Only, “ in 2010 we’ll see a gradual increase but prices won’t rebound to 2007 levels for a while.”

The cheapest prices continue to be Mexico cruises due to the number of high-capacity ships repositioned to this region and lack of itinerary options. Unless you want to cross the Pacific to Hawaii (five days of sea travel), cruisers must settle on taking 3-, 4- and 7-day voyages along the coast of Mexico. Cheap? We’ve seen a few seven-day Mexico cruises starting at $199 per person, double occupancy.

3. FEWER SHIPS IN ALASKA

Alaska cruising has changed more than any other popular destination.  While for years the average annual increase in passengers was a healthy 12%, the number of cruisers dropped significantly last year. Much of it was price related: not only are airfare and shore excursion very pricey, but the State of Alaska levied a $50 per person tax. Last year, cruise lines began pulling ships from this region or basing them in Seattle for the season because airfare is lower.    With fewer ships you’ll likely find prices a bit higher in 2010, but there will still be lots of bargains.

According to the Anchorage Daily News, “the cruise industry — the biggest player in Alaska tourism — is sending fewer ships to Alaska next year due to the taxes and environmental restrictions approved by voters three years ago. That will mean roughly 140,000 fewer cruise ship passengers for Alaska.”  Last summer you could get a one-week Alaska cruise for fares starting around $350 but rates may be higher in 2010 because of decreased capacity.  Your best option is to pick a ship sailing round-trip from Seattle because flights are more convenient and less expensive.

4. NEW LARGE SHIPS ADD TO CAPACITY

According to Micky Arison who heads Carnival Corp., in 2010 capacity in the Caribbean will increase by double digit numbers due to the influx of new mega liners such as Carnival Dream and RCI’s Oasis of the Seas plus a steady steam of enormous new vessels entering service during the next 12 months.

In 2010 we’ll continue to see brand new mega ships enter service.  Norwegian Cruise Line debuts the 153,000 ton Norwegian Epic, Celebrity Cruises introduces Celebrity Equinox (an identical sister ship of Solstice) and Royal Caribbean continues to trump all its competitors by welcoming Oasis of the Seas‘ sister ship, the 6200 passenger Allure of the Seas.

Other new ships are Holland America’s 86,600 ton Nieuw Amsterdam, sister ship of Eurodam, MSC Cruises’ 93,300 ton MSC Magnifica and Cunard Line’s brand new Queen Mary at 92,000 tons.

Fortunately there are still a few small ships entering service, including the 450-passenger Seabourrn Sojourn, which joins the ultra luxury fleet of the Yachts of Seabourn.  American Cruise Lines, which specializes in small ship cruising off the beaten path welcomes two new vessels,
104-passenger Independence and the 210-passenger Pearl Mist.

*** 5. WILD CARD: AIRLINE FARES AND CAPACITY

When I flew to Fort Lauderdale to board Oasis of the Seas last November the airport was mobbed already thanks to the addition of a 6,200-passenger ship.  Will this airport be able to handle another influx of passengers when sister ship Allure of the Seas starts sailing from the same home port this year? And, will consumers decide they don’t want to fly to take a ship because air travel is too much of a hassle after Christmas Day terrorist incident and subsequent new security measures?

In the end, it’s airfare prices that will determine whether many people can afford a cruise this year. Airlines cut capacity in order to keep fares as high as possible and this can make or break cruises departing from major cruise home ports like Florida.

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Seasickness does exist and is probably the primary reason people avoid cruises. The best definition of what mal de mer is comes from the U.S. Coast Guard: “Motion sickness occurs when the brain receives conflicting signals from the areas of the body that detect motion. This conflict typically results in motion sickness.”

It’s important to keep in mind that you’re less likely to get sick in some areas of the world than others. The Caribbean is frequently calm as a lake because the islands act as a barrier to the Atlantic Ocean. Rivers and canals guarantee smooth sailing. If you’re prone to motion sickness, I recommend avoiding the oceans of the world, especially the Atlantic.

Here are some steps you can take to decrease – or eliminate – seasickness.

1) The position of your cabin. One of the big ironies of shipbuilding is that the higher the cabin, the higher the price will be. However, the higher you are on a ship the more acutely you’ll feel the rocking and rolling of the ship. Cabins with the least motion will be found mid-ship on the lowest passenger deck. On his honeymoon cruise in Europe, my brother asked for access to crew quarters so he and his wife could wait out a major storm. They sat on the floor mid-ship and weren’t seasick in the least.

2) Prescription Medication. The Transderm Scopolamine Patch is the primary prescription medication. The patch is placed behind your ear before boarding the ship. The common side effects are blurred vision, dizziness, drowsiness and dry mouth. Be sure to consult your physician before trying this drug.

3) Over the Counter Medication. Most people have excellent results with Bonine, which is found in pharmacies. The medication only works if you take it prior to rocky seas and some people start taking the medication the day before the cruise departs.

4) Ginger. I used to think this was an old wives remedy but it isn’t: even the U.S. Coast Guard recommends ginger as a motion sickness remedy. You can buy it in the supermarket or in tablet form. Many cruisers take a bag of candied ginger.

3) Sea-Band is a non-medicated wristbands which relieve motion sickness by acting on acupressure points. Tested by the Australian Yacht Club, many cruisers swear by these bands. They are available in pharmacies and aboard most ships.

4) The ship’s doctor. If all else fails, you can head for the ship’s doctor who will administer a very expensive but highly effective antihistamine injection. You’ll probably sleep for a day or so but it sure beats seasickness.

5) Aboard ship. An officer gave me invaluable advice when I felt queasy aboard ship. Eat crackers and apples (to absorb the acid in your stomach), avoid fluids and do not lie down. Go outside on deck and stare at the horizon (not the waves!) and avoid enclosed areas such as elevators.

Have you been seasick? Which remedies worked best for you?

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1.  To arrive with wrinkle-free clothing for dressy nights, put each outfit in a plastic dry cleaner’s bag and lay in suitcase. I put items on hangars so they go directly from bag to closet.

2.  If you like to lie in the sun, use a very high sun block and reapply frequently, even if the label claims its waterproof.  Since I love a tan as much as anyone, I apply it the morning right after my shower with a self-tanner.

3.  When flying to meet a ship sailing from a port that is more than a ten minute ride from the airport, buy an airport transfer from the cruise line through your travel agent.  Saves time, money and aggravation.

4. NEW RULE! Never cruise without buying insurance from your travel agent.   I’ve been told by knowledgeable insiders that Access America and Travel Guard are more likely to reimburse justified expenses than the cruise lines’ own insurance company.

5.  I never board an airplane without ear plugs or an iPod.  Crying babies drive me nuts!

6. If you’re sailing from New York’s Manhattan or Brooklyn pier, take Amtrak to avoid driving.  Not only is gas prohibitively expensive but it costs $30 per day to park a car in the Manhattan port parking lot.

7.  Take a bunch of singles for tipping all the people who have earned a gratuity along the way.

8. NEW RULE! When flying to meet the ship, don’t pack any items in your suitcase you can’t stand to loose forever.  These include documents, medication, jewelry, eye glasses, electronics gear.

9.  I consider a carry-on bag with wheels necessary because of all the stuff I have to haul because my suitcase may not arrive outside my cabin door for three or four hours.  In addition to the items cited in the above tip, add a change of clothes and shoes plus toiletries.

10. If your heart is set on a cozy table for two at dinner aboard a ship with assigned seating, ask your travel agent to pull whatever strings necessary to reserve one the moment you book.  If that’s not possible, run to the dining room the moment you board to reserve your table.

11. When planning your own shore excursions, take the name and phone number of the cruise line’s local port agent, which is listed in the daily program delivered to your stateroom.   If a problem or delay occurs, it’s an important contact number to have.

12.  The moment you board the ship plan to run to the spa to book treatments, the VCR library (the best go first) and make reservations in an alternative restaurant.

13. Is it me or have cruise lines reduced staff on the pier, resulting in extra long waiting time to process documents and board the ship?   Take the torture out of waiting by having an Ipod, trashy book or magazine to read while standing in line.

14.  If you plan on buying a cruise line T-shirt in the ship’s boutique, wait until the last day when stacks of them are on sale.

15.  Don’t even think of buying grass during your Caribbean or Mexico cruise then packing it in a suitcase to disembark the ship.  Before you reach your bag on the pier dogs with remarkable olfactory talents will have scanned all the luggage.  Getting busted by DEA agents is a lousy ending to a perfect cruise.

16. No, you can’t bring bottles of any alcohol aboard ship.  But you may be interested in reading what other cruisers do to bypass this rule.  See the comments in “Taking Alcohol Aboard A Ship”.

17.  You can determine the age of passengers likely to sail on a ship by checking the duration of the voyage.  Two-to-five-day cruises carry the youngest passengers, on one-week voyages there will be a predominance of passengers aged 25 to 60 and on cruises over a week, most passengers are retired.

18.  To save money aboard ship, decide your cruise will be alcohol free.  If you have a problem doing that, check out ”Friends of Bill W” meetings scheduled daily aboard the ship.

19. NEW RULE! Do not cruise without travel insurance, especially if you must fly to meet the ship.  Delays and cancellations are rampant and without insurance, it’s your nickel to fly to the next port.  I recommend Travel Access and Travel Guard insurance, which is available through your travel agent or online.

20.  A night light comes in handy because black-out drapes mean the cabin will be pitch dark. It helps to avoid crashing into furniture when trying to reach the bathroom during the night.

21.  NEW RULE! Sometimes cruise lines offer lower-priced airfare to entice you to cruise (a good deal).  However, be sure to double check the air rate yourself.  If you’re booking far out, it may be better to purchase your own air — especially with cruise lines who won’t guarantee the air rate until the final payment is made.

22.  Before booking a cruise that will require you to purchase an airline ticket, make sure seats are available to and from the ship’s home port.  Airlines are cutting capacity to many vacation destinations (Orlando & Hawaii: -25%, Ft. Lauderdale down 10%).

23.  Never, never, never select one ship over another based on price alone, especially when food and service, children’s facilities or the itinerary is important.

24.  If you contact a travel agent to book a specific cruise line and the agent tries to steer you to another cruise company instead, I suggest finding a new agent.

25. Royal Caribbean, Carnival and Norwegian Cruise Line carry the most families with children.  While there are few kid-free cruises today, especially during school vacation period, you’ll find fewer children on Princess, Holland America and Celebrity if that’s what you’re seeking.

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Today, your carry-on bags are searched at the gangway and the liquor held until the last night of the cruise.  I suppose if you’re optimistic one could stuff a bottle in a suitcase, which not searched and delivered separately to your cabin.  Personally I’d start imagining my complete cruise wardrobe reeking of scotch.  If you do try this, be sure to put the bottle in the suitcase when you arrive at the port, before turning it over to baggage handlers. 

I’ve never heard of hotel or resort staff searching bags and luggage in search of alcohol so they may confiscate it.  Like cruise ships, hotels and resorts know they’ll make money from the sale of wine and alcohol to hotel guests.

CruiseMates did a terrific round-up of cruise line policies about bringing alcohol aboard ships.  Click:  Cruise Industry Policies About Alcohol.

Have you tried to carry alcohol or wine aboard a ship?  What happened? 

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I imagine one of the biggest pluses is that a company took care of all the details… all the mother, bride and wedding party had to do was show up.

Best of all, the options are boundless: a shipboard wedding on embarkation day followed by a honeymoon for two; a shoreside wedding on a tropical beach; or a sunset marriage ceremony at sea with everyone in the wedding party enjoying the entire cruise are among the many choices.

The two easiest — and most popular — ways of arranging a wedding aboard ship is through your travel agent, who works with the cruise line’s wedding planners or working directly with companies that specialize in cruise ship weddings.

There are two companies that specialize in arranging weddings aboard ship or on land when the ship is in port: A Wedding for You and The Wedding Experience (click links). My advice is to ask your travel agent for a quote from the cruise line and then compare prices and services with the two companies above.

*** If you live outside Florida and want to tie the knot in that state aboard ship before it leaves port, you’ll need an outside company to arrange a license and official before departure.

*** NOTE:  If your heart is set on getting married in a country like Bermuda or St. Thomas during a port stop, I recommend avoiding hurricane season.  If the ship has to bypass a port because of bad weather, you probably won’t get a refund for the missed service. 

Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) advises the options and programs with each cruise line.

AZAMARA CRUISES
Azamara offers legal, captain-led wedding ceremonies, vow renewals and in-port wedding programs. Partnering with The Wedding Experience, a variety of packages feature everything from private receptions in the ship’s specialty restaurant to cake, Champagne and more. Guests should book in advance to ensure processing of legal documents and licenses.

CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES
Some 2,300 couples will take advantage of Carnival’s all-inclusive wedding packages this year, a 50 percent increase from a decade ago. Carnival’s wedding programs include an official civil ceremony, reception and other value-added features and can be tailored to the couple’s wishes. Shipboard ceremonies are available on embarkation day in Carnival’s U.S ports and many Caribbean destinations. Vow renewal packages are also available.

CELEBRITY CRUISES
Celebrity’s most popular wedding package is the “Nautical Nuptials” program featuring a captain-led wedding ceremony at sea offered on all Celebrity ships except Celebrity Xpedition. Other packages available include a “Bridesmaids’ Tea Party,” a “Cigar and Cognac Party,” a “Test the Waters” package and a “Welcome Reception.” Vow renewal celebrations are also offered.

CRYSTAL CRUISES
Crystal offers captain-led wedding vow renewal ceremonies and it is rare that one of the company’s ships sails without at least one honeymoon couple. Focusing on helping guests plan and enjoy a completely customized honeymoon rather than a pre-packaged program, Crystal offers such romantic options as a candlelight dinner on a suite’s verandah, onboard florists, a portrait studio and private shore excursions.

DISNEY CRUISE LINE
Guests on Disney Cruise Line can exchange vows onboard the ship or step ashore for a romantic beach-side ceremony on the line’s private island paradise, Castaway Cay. With a magical Fairy-Godmother functioning as wedding planner, Disney’s Fairy Tale Weddings handles all the details, including floral arrangements, elegant cakes and Champagne toasts. For many couples, Disney is also the ultimate honeymoon experience.

HOLLAND AMERICA LINE
Holland America offers a Wedding Package as part of its Group Advantage Program (GAP). The wedding couple enjoys a free stateroom upgrade and a commemorative wedding cake with at least eight staterooms booked and the entire group enjoys numerous amenities, including a Pinnacle Grill lunch, private wine tastings, and chocolate-covered strawberries and Chase Limogere Brut in their staterooms.

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE
Norwegian offers two wedding packages – “Onboard Aisles” and “On Shore Aisles” – available in ports in the U.S., Canada, Europe, the Caribbean, Mexico and Bermuda. Both include a ceremony conducted by a local official plus all the features of a wedding, from music to wedding cake and sparkling wine. Norwegian also offers vow renewal packages and an “Engagement Aisles” program for the ultimate proposal at sea.

PRINCESS CRUISES
Princess pioneered weddings at sea more than a decade ago, and since then ship captains have married thousands of couples while sailing in locations around the globe. The unique “Tie the Knot at Sea” program offers ceremonies in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Alaska and other exotic locales, which couples can customize with live music, flowers and reception options. In addition, a harborside option enables couples to be married in port, and ashore weddings are available in a variety of scenic ports.

REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES
Guests wishing to make customized wedding plans in conjunction with a Regent Seven Seas cruise may use the services of Royal Ocean Events, which can handle all the details and requests. A honeymooner package features a letter of congratulations from the captain, Veuve Clicquot Champagne and caviar, in-suite canapés every afternoon, a miniature wedding cake and Leonidas chocolates and more.
ROYAL CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL
In addition to a “Royal Romance” package featuring a one-hour wedding ceremony onboard ship or on shore on embarkation day, couples on Royal Caribbean can exchange vows while climbing the ships’ rock walls or ice-skating or even catching the waves on the shipboard Flowrider. Shoreside wedding venues include the glaciers of Alaska, European castles, rainforests and an Italian vineyard.

SEADREAM YACHT CLUB
SeaDream offers two wedding vow renewal ceremonies – one designed for couples only, the other for as many as 12 guests – and both conducted by the yacht’s captain. Iced Champagne and canapés, a cake and flowers add special touches to the elegance of an elegant luxury yacht experience. SeaDream points out four couples who have completed the legal process at home, the shipboard vow renewal ceremony can serve as a wedding.

WINDSTAR CRUISES
Windstar invites couples celebrating honeymoons, renewing wedding vows or honoring a special anniversary to discover romance at sea. Chilled Champagne, chocolate-dipped seasonal fruit, breakfast in bed, “Time for Two” massages and elegant dinners for two at sunset are among the amenities featured on the line.

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