Newbuilds to be delivered in 2016

Newbuilds to be delivered in 2016:

Finesse, AIDAprima, River Voyager, AmaViola, AmaStella, AmaDessa, America, Samatha, Princess Panhwar, Avalon Passion, Avalon Imagery II, Carnival Vista, Elbe Princesse, Origin, Emerald Belle, Koningsdam, Seven Seas Explorer , Ovation of the Seas, Harmony of the Seas, Scenic Amber, Scenic Spirit, Scenic Azure, Scenic Aura, Seabourn Encore, Dream Cruises’ unnamed ship , Grace, Joy, Mein Schiff 5, Ganges Voyager II, Amadeus Silver III, Viking Sea and Viking River Cruises’ six Longship class river cruise vessels. 

AIDA Cruises 

  • AIDAprima (3,250 – March 2016) Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (See image)
  • Unnamed new class ship (3,250 – Unknown: previously announced March 2016) Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
    New ship design (6,600 – ) Meyer Werft
    New ship design (6,600 – ) Meyer Werft

    AMA Waterways 

  • AmaViola (158 – 2016) (“Certo-class” ship) Vahali Shipyard
  • AmaStella (164 – 2016) (River cruises in Europe)
  • AmaDessa ( – 2016) (“Certo-class” ship) Gendt Shipyard
    (March 2015: AmaWaterways’ Executive Vice President and Co-owner Kristin Karst has confirmed the line will build two more ships in 2017 for river cruises in Europe)

    American Cruise Lines 

  • America (185 – Early 2016) Chesapeake Shipbuilding Corp.
  • Queen of the Mississippi ( – 2017) Chesapeake Shipbuilding Corp.
    Unnamed coastal cruise ship (170 – Spring 2017) Chesapeake Shipbuilding

    APT, Travelmarvel and Maing Fong Company 

  • Samatha (30 suites – January 2016) Shipyard in Yangon (River cruises on the Burma River in Myanmar)
  • Princess Panhwar (36 suite – January 2016) Shipyard in Yangon (River cruises on the Burma River in Myanmar)

    Avalon Waterways 

  • Avalon Passion (2016)
  • Avalon Imagery II (2016)
  • Avalon Myanmar (36 – September 2015)

    Blue Star Line

  • Titanic II Project (2,435 – Delayed to 2018) CSC shipyard

    Carnival Cruise Lines

  • Carnival Vista (3,954 – Spring 2016) Fincantieri
  • Unnamed Vista class ship (3,954 – March 2018) Fincantieri

    Carnival Corp & Plc
    March 2015: Carnival Corp & plc is ordering a total of nine cruise ships, five from Fincantieri and four from Meyer Werft. The new ships would be delivered over a four-year period between 2019 and 2022. Fincantieri will build five of the new vessels at its shipyards in Monfalcone and Marghera in Italy while Meyer Werft will construct the remaining four at both its German yard at Papenburg and its new and larger capacity Finnish yard at Turku. June 2015: it was announced that the two at Meyer Werft will be for AIDA Cruises. July 2015: the two at Meyer Turku will be for Costa Cruises.

    Celebrity Cruises

  • Project Edge class ship (2,900 – Fall 2018) STX France (Letter of intent)
  • Project Edge class ship (2,900 – Early 2020) STX France (Letter of intent)

    Costa Cruises Asia

  • Unnamed ship (4,200 – 2019) Fincantieri
  • Unnamed ship (4,200 – 2020) Fincantieri

    Costa Cruises 
    New ship design (6,600 – 2019) Meyer Turku (See image below at right)
    New ship design (6,600 – 2020) Meyer Turku

    Croisieurope 

  • Princesse Elbe (80 – Spring 2016) Saint-Nazaire shipyard (Paddlewheel river cruise ship)
  • Princesse Apsara (60 – ) (Cruises on the Mekong)
  • Daniele (24 – ) (Barge)
  • Deborah (24 – ) (Barge)

    Crystal Cruises
    The Crystal Exclusive (Artist concepts courtesy of Crystal Cruises)

  • New Crystal Exclusive class ship (1,000 – 2018) Lloyd Werft (Letter of Intent) (See image at left)
  • New Crystal Exclusive class ship (1,000 – ) Lloyd Werft (Letter of Intent)
  • New Crystal Exclusive class ship (1,000 – ) Lloyd Werft (Letter of Intent)

    Crystal River Cruises
    The Crystal river yacht vessels (Artist concepts courtesy of Crystal Cruises)

  • Crystal Bach (110 – March 2017) Lloyd Werft (See image at right)
  • Crystal Mahler (110 – March 2017) Lloyd Werft
  • Crystal Ravel (84 – March 2017) Lloyd Werft
  • Crystal Debussy (84 suites – March 2017) Lloyd Werft

    Dream Cruises – Genting Hong Kong
    (November 2015: Genting Hong Kong announced the launch of Dream Cruises with the two new ships under construction at Meyer Werft for Star Cruises)
    The Genting Dream (Rendering courtesy Dream Cruises)

  • Unnamed ship (3,364 – October 2016) Meyer Werft
  • Unnamed ship (1,682 cabins – Fall 2017) Meyer Werft

    Ecoventura

  • Origin (20 – January 2016) Shipyard in Guayaquil, Ecuador

    Emerald Waterways

  • Emerald Belle (182 – Early 2016) (Den Breejen Shipyard)
  • Unnamed sister ship (182 – 2017)
  • Unnamed sister ship (182 – 2017)
  • Unnamed sister ship (182 – 2017)

    European Waterwayas 
    Finesse (8 – May 2016) Hotel barge

    Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts 

  • Four Seasons Ocean Residence (48,600 grt – ) Kvaerner Masa (Aker Yards) (Conditional contract)

    General Maritime Transportation Company (GNMTC) 

  • Unnamed ship (1,739 – December 2012) STX Europe St Nazaire
    (June 2011: STX France has rescinded the contract and is looking for a new buyer. March 2012: sold to MSC Cruises)

    Holland America Line

  • Koningsdam (“Pinnacle” class ship) (2,650 – March 2016) Fincantieri (See image)
  • Second “Pinnacle” class ship (2,650 – November 2018) Fincantieri

    Knud E Hansen (Naval architects)

  • New green-design expedition ship (300 – )(See image)

    Lindblad Expeditions

  • Unnamed coastal vessel (100 – Second quarter of 2017) Nichols Brothers Boat Builders
  • Unnamed coastal vessel (100 – Second quarter of 2018) Nichols Brothers Boat Builders

    Lüftner Cruises – Amras Cruises – Amadeus Cruises

  • Amadeus Silver III (168 – 2016) De Hoop, Holland

    MSC Cruises 

  • MSC Meraviglia (4,500 – May 2017) (Vista project ship ) STX France
  • MSC Meraviglia sister ship (4,500 – 2019) (Vista project ship ) STX France (See image at right)
    (MSC Cruises has options for two further Vista project ships to be delivered by 2022)
  • MSC Seaside (5,300 – November 2017) Fincantieri
  • Second Seaside class ship (5,300 – May 2018) Fincantieri
    (See image below

    Norwegian Cruise Line 

  • Norwegian Bliss (4,200 – Spring 2017) Meyer Werft
  • Breakaway-Plus class cruise ship (4,200 – Spring 2018) Meyer Werft
  • Breakaway-Plus class cruise ship (4,200 – Autumn 2019) Meyer Werft

    OVDS – Hurtigruten – Norwegian Coastal Voyage 

  • Fram’s sister ship (2008) Fincantieri (Option to be confirmed)

    Peace Boat

  • New Ecoship (1,700 – 2020) (Subject to financing by donations or investors) (See image at right)

    Pearl Seas Cruises 

  • Unnamed sister ship of the Pearl Mist (214 -) (Originally the ship would be built at the Irving Shipbuilding, in Halifax, Nova Scotia but in March 2008 Pearl Seas decided to built the second ship in a different shipyard)

    P&O Cruises Australia

  • Unnamed ship (2,400 – 2019/2020) Fincantieri

    Polar Cruise Enterprises

  • Ursus Maritimus – Ice breaking cruise liner (240 – ) Rauma yard of STX Finland

    Princess Cruises

  • Majestic Princess (3,560 – Summer 2017) Fincantieri
  • Fourth “Royal Princess” class vessel (3,560 – 2019 / 2020) Fincantieri

    Residential Cruise Line Ltd.

  • Magellan (residential cruise ship) – Aker Yards (Memorandum of Understanding)

    Riva Waterways – Evergreen Tours

  • Riva Royale (180 – April 2014) Shipyard De Hoop (River ship)
  • Riva Princess (180 – April 2014) Shipyard De Hoop (River ship)

    Regent Seven Seas Cruises
    Seven Seas Explorer (Rendering courtesy of Regent Seven Seas Cruises)

  • Seven Seas Explorer (738 – Summer 2016) Fincantieri Sestri Ponente (See image at right)

    Royal Caribbean International

  • Ovation of the Seas (4,100 – Mid 2016) Meyer Werf
  • Harmony of the Seas (5,400 – Mid 2016) STX France
  • Third ship of the Oasis class (5,400 – Mid 2018) STX France
  • Fourth Quantum-class ship (4,100 – Spring 2019) Meyer Werf
  • Fifth Quantum-class ship (4,100 – Fall 2020) Meyer Werf

    Saga Shipping – Saga Cruises
    The new Saga's cruise vessel (Artist impression, courtesy Saga / Meyer Werft)
    Unnamed new class ship (540 suites and cabins – 2019) Meyer Werft (There is an option for a second ship with delivery in 2021) (See image at left)

    Scenic – Luxury Cruises & Tours

  • Scenic Amber (169 – March 2016) River ‘Space-Ships’ class (Den Breejen shipyard)
  • Scenic Spirit (68 – January 2016) Cruises on the Mekong River in Asia
  • Scenic Azure (48 cabins – March / April 2016) (Portugal’s Douro River cruises)
  • Scenic Aura (24 balcony suites – September 2016) (Myanmar’s Irrawaddy River cruises)

    Seabourn Cruises

  • Seabourn Encore (604 – Second half of 2016) Fincantieri (See image)Seabourn Encore (Rendering courtesy of Seabourn Cruises)
  • Seabourn Ovation (604 – Spring 2018) Fincantieri (See image)

    Sea Cloud Cruises

  • Sea Cloud Hussar (136 – November 2010) Factoria Naval de Marin, Spain (She is a three-mast sailing vessel)

    Silversea Cruises 

  • Silver Muse (596 – April 2017) Fincantieri
  • Unnamed vessel (-) Fincantieri
  • Unnamed vessel (-) Fincantieri
    (October 2014: Shanghai-based ICBC Leasing announced that it had signed with Monte Carlo-based Silversea Cruises for the financing of three cruise ships to be built by Fincantieri in Italy)

    Star Clippers 
    Star Clippers' new ship (Illustration courtesy of Brodosplit Shipyard)

  • New five-masted sailing vessel (300 – Late 2017) (Brodosplit shipyard in Split, Croatia) (See image at right)

    Sunstone Ships

  • Project Unlimited (240 – ) (Expedition ship) Meyer Werft (Letter of intent)(See image)

    Tauck – Scylla AG
    MS Grace arriving in Hardinxveld The Netherlands

  • Grace (Inspiration Class ship) (130 – 2016) (See image at left))
  • Joy (Inspiration Class ship) (130 – 2016)

    TUI Cruises

  • Mein Schiff 5 (2500 – 2016) Meyer TurkuMein Schiff 3(See image sister ship Mein Schiff 3)
  • Mein Schiff 6 (2500 – 2017) Meyer Turku
  • Mein Schiff 7 (2500 – 2018) Meyer Turku Oy
  • Mein Schiff 8 (2500 – 2019) Meyer Turku Oy

    Uniworld River Cruises

  • Ganges Voyager II (56 – January 2016) (Ganges River Cruises. Haimark Travel is building the ship for Uniworld)

    Unknown cruise operator

  • New Expedition Vessel for Extreme Conditions (60 – December 2014) Kleven Maritime AS (Norway)

    Utopia Residences 

  • Utopia – private residential vessel (105,000 ton – ) (June 2011: the letter of intent for the Utopia is expected to become a firm contract) Samsung Heavy Industries

    Vantage Deluxe World Travel

  • River Voyager (176 – March 2016)
    (Ship for European river cruises)

    Victoria Cruises

  • Victoria Emperor (Over 200 – planning stage) (River cruises in China)

    Viking Ocean Cruises

  • Viking Sky (944 – February 2017) Fincantieri (See image sister ship Viking Star – Photo Neven Jerkovic at Shipspotting.com)
  • Viking Sea (944 – Mid 2016) Fincantieri
  • New luxury ocean ship (944 – Early 2017) Fincantieri
  • New luxury ocean ship (944 – Mid 2018) Fincantieri
  • New luxury ocean ship (944 – End 2020) Fincantieri

    Viking River Cruises
    October 2014: Viking has placed an order for six Longship class river cruise vessels with Neptun Werft in Rostock. The now ordered ships will be delivered in the Spring of 2016.

    Virgin Cruises
    Unnamed new class ship (2,800 – 2020) Fincantieri
    Unnamed new class ship (2,800 – 2021) Fincantieri
    Unnamed new class ship (2,800 – 2022) Fincantieri

    Xiamen International Cruise Co Ltd

  • China Xiamen (2,000 – planning for October 2018) Xiamen Shipbuilding Industry
    (August 2015: Cruise Industry News has reported that Xiamen Shipbuilding has dropped plans to build the ship) 

 

Celebrity Cruises to go mainly with bundle pricing

Celebrity Cruises is set to roll out a permanent change to its pricing structure, starting July 6.

The new system builds on Celebrity’s 123Go! promotion, which offers a menu of perquisites, such as free gratuities, beverage packages or an onboard spending credit.

The pricing structure, to be called Go!Big, Go!Better, Go!Best, adopts the rhythm and language of the 123Go! promotion, but Celebrity is emphasizing that it is not a temporary campaign.

The structure will be applied to nearly all inventory from Oct. 1, 2015, through April 2017, the most distant announced deployments.

Celebrity began describing the new structure to agents in a series of webinars that started on June 27.

Guests can choose among four perquisites: a Classic beverage package, free gratuities, unlimited internet or a $150-per-person spending credit.  All oceanview, balcony and suite accommodations will be priced at minimum with the choice of one perquisite built in.

In effect, cruise-only pricing at Celebrity will be eliminated, except for inside cabins.

A Go!Big price includes a choice of one option, while Go!Better includes a choice of two. Go!Best provides all four, and substitutes a Premium beverage package for the Classic package.

Celebrity said that the Go!Best option makes it the first premium segment cruise line to provide all-inclusive pricing. Although a shore excursion is not included, as it is with some all-inclusive luxury cruise products, the onboard credit can be applied to excursions, Celebrity said.

As with 123Go!, a buyer of a bundled fare that has a third or fourth guest in their cabin will receive nonalcoholic drink packages and 90 minutes of free Internet for those guests, Celebrity said.

The new pricing will not apply to Celebrity’s Xpedition ship or to transatlantic and transpacific crossings.

By bundling the noncommissionable items into the standard fare, Celebrity is effectively raising the commissions that travel agents can earn selling most Celebrity cabin categories.

It said the structure is also good for consumers because buying the perquisites separately would cost more than the bundle.

Celebrity said that with the introduction of the Go!Big, Go!Better, Go!Best pricing structure, the 123Go! promotion launched in 2013 will be retired.

Donra Ritzenthaler, Celebrity’s senior vice president for sales, trade sales and service, said the new pricing was more than two years in the making. Among the internal debates was whether it should be rolled out as a promotion or brand strategy.

In the end, the line’s CEO, Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, said “the team was aligned” on a pricing strategy. “We wanted to raise the bar.”

Ritzenthaler and Lutoff-Perlo tested the waters with the concept by giving a sneak peak of the strategy to large accounts early last month.

Upon hearing the plan, World Travel Holdings co-president Brad Tolkin said he liked the “crisp and clean” simplicity of it.

“Are specialty restaurants over and above [the price of the cruise]?” he asked.

“Yes,” Lutoff-Perlo responded. “But the onboard credits would get that covered.”

“We needed to completely change what’s going on,” Ritzethaler told Tolkin. “Our guiding principles were to give consumers ultimate choice, raise APDs (average per diems) and make it easy.”

When the strategy was outlined to him, Vacations To Go president Emerson Hankamer said he felt it was “a very strong, proactive thing for the trade.”

Although his company focuses on attracting consumers with the prospect of low prices, he understands the attraction of value-adds, even when they represent an alternative to lowering prices.

“If you load up with amenities but the price is high, you’ll get a higher-quality customer who spends more,” he said.

The 11 Best Cruise Lines for Weddings

We’ve all seen or heard how intense and frenzied planning a wedding can be. So, what can you do if you want to get married in a beautiful location but don’t want to tackle the challenge of putting together a formal sit-down dinner for 300 of your closest friends? Many cruise lines offer a variety of services to help you plan a shipboard or shoreside ceremony, which, of course, will be combined with a romantic cruise honeymoon.

Planning a cruise wedding can be as easy as making one call. Just dial, and poof! In-house wedding coordinators will begin arranging the ceremony, menu, cake, flowers and music. Some will even help you to obtain wedding licenses or provide invitations and thank-you notes. And it’s easy to let them handle all the extras — from tuxedo rentals to hair and spa appointments.

An onboard wedding can be a great value, as well. Prices start around $795 (the sky’s the limit) on top of the cost of the cruise. Typically, onboard weddings are held in a ship’s chapel (if one exists), a lounge, the library or a boardroom. But larger ships can offer offbeat ceremony spots aboard a carousel or on a rock-climbing wall. While the wedding couple must be passengers on the cruise, most lines with full-service packages include options for wedding guests to come onboard for a few hours for the event.

Married folks can also get in on the fun with onboard vow-renewal ceremonies — a perfect way to celebrate on an anniversary trip.

These 11 cruise lines offer a variety of ceremony options and price points for anyone looking to plan a cruise wedding. Before you sign on to a wedding at sea, make sure you’ve read our 9 Things to Know When Planning a Cruise Wedding.

1. Princess Cruises

Why? Princess is a prime choice because, of all the lines offering shipboard wedding options, it provides the best combination of features, services and facilities. Princess’ “Tie the Knot” packages are available on all ships, and most ships have dedicated wedding chapels. (The exceptions are Diamond Princess, Sapphire Princess, Dawn Princess, Ocean Princess, Pacific Princess, Sea Princess and Sun Princess.)

Package Details: Princess offers three wedding packages. The “Tie the Knot at Sea” package, for $1,800 plus a $466 license fee, includes use of the onboard wedding chapel, a candlelit ceremony officiated by the captain, a wedding coordinator, live music, two floral arrangements, a rose bouquet for the bride, groom’s boutonniere, the services of a photographer and a selection of prints, wedding cake, Champagne and two keepsake flutes, and a keepsake wedding certificate. The “Tie the Knot Harborside” package — ranging from $1,700 to $2,800 plus licensing fees up to $500, based on the destination — includes priority check-in and boarding for the couple and guests, an onboard wedding ceremony performed by a nondenominational officiant, a wedding coordinator, recorded music, silk floral arrangements, a rose bouquet and boutonniere, a photographer, wedding cake, Champagne and a keepsake certificate. The “Tie the Knot Ashore” package, ranging from around $2,000 to $4,900, includes a ceremony at a beach or garden (or even at a glacier in Alaska), transportation for the couple, an officiant, a wedding coordinator, a bouquet and boutonniere, a photographer, cake for two, Champagne and a keepsake certificate. Receptions, photography packages and enhanced ceremony options are available at extra cost.

Coolest Quirk: Not only can your ceremony be conducted at sea by the captain, but the line also features state-of-the-art technology that allows you to broadcast the ceremony live, via Webcam, to friends and family on land. Some Princess captains are pretty romantic. On one particular cruise over Valentine’s Day, the captain casually announced he’d conduct vow renewals for anyone who wanted them, and about a half-dozen couples showed up.

Caveat: Depending on the destination, licensing fees can add an additional $500 to a “Tie the Knot Ashore” package.

2. Celebrity Cruises

Why? Celebrity captains can perform ceremonies at sea (except on Xpedition). The line’s fleet of ships offers a pleasant mix of fun and luxury, leaving the happy couple and their guests with plenty to do before and after the big day. Celebrity also offers such extras (for a fee) as a welcome reception, bridesmaid tea party, and cigar and cognac party to set the tone for the wedding cruise.

Package Details: The “Celebrity Weddings” program offers onboard ceremonies and destination weddings. The “Nautical Nuptials at Sea” package begins at $2,500 and includes a captain-led ceremony, an event coordinator’s services, live music, one hour of photography (photographs sold separately), cake for two, Champagne, a bouquet and boutonniere, plus additional romantic turndown amenities post-ceremony (see Coolest Quirk). Couples can also arrange shoreside and in-port shipboard weddings, presided over by an officiant instead of the captain. Both in-port shipboard weddings (starting at $2,195) and shoreside weddings (starting at $2,895) include all of the “Nautical Nuptials” features, except for the turndown services. Shoreside ceremonies also include transportation to the ceremony site.

Coolest Quirk: Couples who book the “Nautical Nuptials at Sea” package each get some romantic extras, such as chocolate-covered strawberries, one bottle of Champagne, two Champagne flutes, his-and-hers robes, fresh in-room floral arrangements and rose petals on their bed on their wedding night.

Caveat: Licensing and regulatory fees are not included. (A wedding license is $700, for instance.) Also, the number of wedding ceremonies performed on each sailing is based on the captain’s availability. A $100 surcharge is in effect for May, June, September and October weddings. Couples should book their wedding packages in advance to allow time for the processing of marriage licenses and legal documents; all legal documentation should be completed and submitted about 10 weeks prior to sailing.

3. Disney Cruise Line

Why? It’s a fun and quirky choice, particularly for second-wedding folks who have young kids, andDisney offers a low-stress, low-hassle package.

Package Details: Disney’s “Cruise Collection” wedding package is available on all cruises out of Florida. Packages start at $3,000 and include a bridal bouquet and boutonniere, the services of a wedding coordinator and officiant, a solo musician (typically a pianist), Champagne toast, two-tier wedding cake with keepsake topper, a special wedding gift and commemorative Disney wedding certificate, $100 onboard credit for the wedding couple, in-cabin Champagne and strawberries, and dinner for two at Palo, the line’s adults-only alternative restaurant, found on all Disney ships. The package can accommodate eight guests, plus the couple.

Coolest Quirk: Dress-steaming is included in the package price. We also love that you can opt for a ceremony on Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island. (Packages start at $4,000.)

Caveat: Beyond the cake and Champagne, Disney’s wedding package does not include a reception or other services for wedding guests, though an appetizer/open bar reception is available at an additional cost. You can invite additional guests to your wedding ceremony, but events with more than 10 guests require special permission and incur an extra cost. Note that, if the couple is married onboard, the captain or a ship officer will preside over the ceremony. Disney’s wedding packages do not include the marriage license, so the couple is responsible for providing any necessary legal documentation. If the wedding occurs on Castaway Cay, the ceremony will be performed by a Bahamian official, but it is not a legal marriage; the couple will need to already be legally married before the ship departs the U.S.

4. Carnival Cruise Line

Why? Carnival appeals to younger couples with its spirited ships and more affordable wedding package prices. Carnival Spirit, Carnival Pride, Carnival Legend and Carnival Miracle have onboard chapels, though you can buy Carnival’s wedding packages on any of the ships in the fleet.

wedding-deck-chairs

Package Details: Carnival offers five wedding packages. The “Just You & Me” package accommodates up to eight guests, including the bride and groom, and starts at $1,355. The package includes services of a personal wedding planner, assistance of a wedding coordinator, a private shipboard location, priority check-in, a ceremony performed by a nondenominational officiant, a bouquet for the bride and a boutonniere for the groom, a Champagne toast with keepsake flutes, a tiered wedding cake with keepsake cake topper, recorded wedding music, a decorated bridal aisle and a photographer. (Prints are extra.) The “Time to Celebrate” package accommodates up to 20 guests ($22 fee for each additional person). The cost is from $1,795 and includes all the aforementioned amenities, plus a cocktail hour with an open bar and hot and cold hors d’oeuvres. The “Time to Celebrate…Big!” package starts at $1,975 and includes all of the above, plus a 90-minute open-bar reception and an ice carving, also for 20 guests. The fee for additional guests is $30 each.

The “Let Us Serve You” package starts at $1,595 and includes all the aforementioned ceremony amenities, plus a multicourse sit-down dinner with wine and Champagne, rather than a cocktail reception. It’s available for a minimum of eight guests, including the bride and groom. Additional guests incur fees of $34.50 per adult and $17.25 per child (12 and younger). From $1,395, Carnival also offers an on-island ceremony package called “Island Breeze,” which is similar to the “Just You & Me” package, but it doesn’t include priority check-in. Ceremonies may take place outdoors or at a local courthouse. Transportation for the bride and groom is included, but guests are extra. Prices for packages and marriage licenses, which are extra, vary based on the port in which the ceremonies are performed. Videography services, live music and tuxedo rental are also additional.

Coolest Quirk: We like the free and easy-to-use online gift registry that makes it simple for guests to contribute to a couple’s destination wedding. It provides couples with a wedding website, blog, email wizard, photo album and Facebook/Twitter uploaders.

Caveat: Plan ahead, if possible; weddings are available only when in port (including embarkation ports), and there’s a limit to how many weddings can take place on the same day. A maximum of 50 non-sailing guests may attend a wedding (fees apply). Surcharges apply for ceremonies during popular seasons, including Thanksgiving, winter holidays, Valentine’s week, and all of May and June.

5. Norwegian Cruise Line

Why? Norwegian Cruise Line offers a vast array of options, which can turn basic packages into full-blown extravaganzas, and its ships feature a wide range of restaurants with easily available romantic dining for two.

Package Details: Norwegian offers three wedding packages. Its “Symbolic” ceremony, starting at $1,799, is performed onboard while at sea and officiated by a ship officer or staff member. This package includes a bridal bouquet, boutonniere, 6-inch cake, recorded music, bottle of sparkling wine, chocolate-covered strawberries, canapes, one 8×10 portrait and a keepsake certificate. It also offers the use of a group service coordinator, who can make dinner reservations, organize group seating at shows and otherwise assist the couple and their guests, in addition to overseeing the wedding. Because captains can’t legally perform marriage ceremonies on Norwegian ships, you’ll need to get married ashore and bring your official marriage certificate with you.

The “Harborside” package, starting at $1,995, allows couples to be married onboard at select ports of call. Packages are available in a wide range of ports in the U.S. (including Alaska and Hawaii), Canada, Mexico, Europe, the Caribbean and Bermuda. This package adds priority embarkation for the couple and their guests (if the wedding is on embarkation day).

The “Destination” weddings start at $2,595 and offer a range of exotic onshore locations to hold nuptials: a glacier in Alaska, a bay in St. Thomas, the sands of Bermuda and more. It adds roundtrip transportation for the bride and groom to the wedding location in port and Champagne instead of sparkling wine.

Marriage licenses are extra in all cases, and prices vary depending on local authorities.

In addition to the basic packages, there is a huge range of a la carte options, including spa and beauty services (not available on embarkation day), flowers (including custom orders), live music, photography and videography, transportation to and from the ship or wedding location, tuxedo rentals and a wide variety of wedding receptions — from cold hors d’oeuvres with an open bar at $37 per adult to a full sit-down luncheon for a minimum of 25 guests at $52 per person (only on sailings 5 p.m. or later and must commence by 3 p.m.).

Coolest Quirk: Couples can add a conch shell aisle ($250 and up) or fresh rose arch ($700 and up) to shoreside ceremonies.

Caveat: An extra wedding coordinator, at $250, is required for every 25 guests above the first 25.

6. Royal Caribbean International

wedding-photo-bride-groomWhy? Royal Caribbean offers a wide range of wedding packages, including an option to get married at sea, with your ship’s captain or first officer officiating a ceremony that includes special nautical vows.

Package Details: The line’s “Royal Romance” program offers three avenues to tie the knot. The “Paradise Shipboard” option starts around $3,195.

It’s the most basic and includes priority check-in for you and your guests, a wedding coordinator, onboard ceremony with an officiant, a photographer and 20 prints, recorded music, a bouquet and boutonniere, chocolate-covered strawberries and sparkling wine. The “Paradise Destination” option, from $3,495, lets the couple get married onboard the ship or at a number of exotic locales — such as on a glacier in Alaska, alongside a waterfall in Hawaii or among ancient ruins in Greece — while the ship is in port. This package allows for a few more extras, including a wedding cake for the couple, nicer flowers in the bride’s bouquet and taxi transportation to and from the ceremony. A photographer is included, but images are not. “Royal Romance at Sea” allows the couple to get married while the ship is sailing, with the captain or first mate conducting the ceremony. The package, starting at $3,995, includes upgrades like an eight-inch wedding cake for the couple, one dozen long-stemmed white roses, a bottle of Champagne, breakfast in bed and dinner for two in a specialty restaurant.

Receptions are not included in the price of the ceremonies, but several options are available. They include a formal wedding lunch at $48 per person, a buffet with bar service for $48 per person or hot and cold hors d’oeuvres and bar service for $32 per person. There’s a 25-person minimum for the lunch or buffet and a minimum of 16 and maximum of 50 guests for hors d’oeuvres. Other add-ons include entertainment, cake and ice carvings.

Coolest Quirk: Shoreside ceremonies run the gamut from simply scenic (a beach in San Juan, Puerto Rico) and funky (a winery in Santorini, Greece) to exotic (a ceremony atop a glacier in Juneau, Alaska).

Caveat: Watch out for a la carte charges that can add up. For instance, couples who want to plan a Royal Romance wedding less than 45 days from sailing pay a fee that varies based on package. You’ll need to pay for a wedding coordinator if you have an onboard reception, and wedding parties of more than 25 guests require an additional wedding coordinator for an additional fee. Weddings on Voyager-class, Freedom-class and Oasis-class ships (which have chapels) have become so popular that there’s also a surcharge for shipboard wedding ceremonies on those vessels. Beyond that, an additional surcharge applies to weddings and vow renewals scheduled in May, June, September and October. Holidays — such as New Year’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Easter, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve — are also subject to higher rates.

7. P&O Cruises

Why? Not all of P&O’s ships cater to the same clientele; knowing who you’re sailing with comes in handy when planning an event as important as your wedding. Adonia, Arcadia and Oriana are child-free (nobody younger than 18 allowed onboard), while Aurora, Azura, Brittania, Oceana and Ventura allow children.

Package Details: Beginning at £1,200 (depending on the region), the “Weddings at Sea” package includes the ceremony venue, ceremony conducted by the ship’s captain (a civil service legally recognized under Bermudian law), floral arrangements for the ceremony, music, a commemorative certificate, Champagne, an onboard wedding coordinator, invitations and thank-you notes.

Coolest Quirk: In wedding parties of 16 or more, the bridal couple will receive £200 onboard credit, each couple within the party will receive £100 onboard credit, and up to three complimentary cabins may be provided (one for every 20 booked).

Caveat: Other services — like the cake, professional photographer, wedding album, Champagne breakfast in bed, reception parties/dinner, videography, and spa and salon services — are not included. Pricing is available upon request.

8. Holland America

Why? Holland America offers a variety of ships and itineraries worldwide, extra amenities when a minimum number of staterooms is booked and cool in-port offerings like on-site ceremonies at a glacier in Juneau. The line caters to a mature, sophisticated clientele, making it attractive to older couples looking to wed. Almost all of Holland America’s ships have dedicated chapels.

Package Details: Weddings for couples only (no guests) start at $795 for a simple onboard ceremony for two on North America and Caribbean sailings. That price includes priority check-in for the bride and groom, an on-site wedding coordinator, an officiant and a keepsake wedding certificate. The line also has three additional wedding packages with increasingly stepped-up amenities. The “Anchors Away Shipboard Wedding” package, starting at $1,395, adds a bridal bouquet and matching boutonniere, a single-tier wedding cake, an elegant table with flowers and linens, a bottle of Champagne, photography services, one 8×10 photo, a commemorative photo album and recorded music. Shipboard weddings take place on the day of sailing, prior to departure in Fort Lauderdale, Tampa, Key West, Halifax, New York, San Diego, Seattle and Vancouver. In Key West and Halifax, the price is $1,695; in New York, the price goes up to $2,495. The “Rembrandt Shipboard Package” ($1,895) — available in Fort Lauderdale, San Diego, Seattle and Vancouver — offers all the amenities of the “Anchors Away” package, but it adds 10 5×7 photos and transportation for the bridal couple via chauffeured limo to the pier the morning of the wedding (within a 10-mile radius of the port). And, the line’s “Royal Dutch Deluxe Package” for $2,595 ups the offerings of the Rembrandt package with a more elaborate bridal bouquet, a bottle of premium Champagne, an additional 20 5×7 photos, an in-cabin floral arrangement, chocolate-dipped strawberries and a bottle of Champagne at turndown, and a 30-minute massage for two. The package is available in Fort Lauderdale, Seattle and Vancouver.

For those who want to wed on Holland America’s private island in the Bahamas, Half Moon Cay, the $1,900 package includes a Bahamian wedding officiant, the marriage license fee, a copy of the marriage license, a tropical bridal bouquet and matching groom boutonniere, chocolate-dipped strawberries set up on a table with linens and fresh flowers, a bottle of Champagne, recorded ceremony music, a photographer, one 8×10 photograph, a commemorative wedding album and a keepsake wedding certificate.

The line also offers packages for destination-based weddings in various ports of call, including a two-hour event on Cockle Shell Beach in St. Kitts, starting at $2,150, or one atop a Juneau glacier for $2,975.

Coolest Quirk: The line offers special wedding extras when at least eight staterooms are booked for a destination wedding through its Group Advantage Program. The bride and groom get a free stateroom upgrade and a commemorative wedding cake for 16 guests. The entire group gets lunch at Pinnacle Grill (Holland America’s upscale alternative restaurant), a private wine tasting and chocolate-covered strawberries, plus a bottle of in-room Champagne. We also love the destination wedding options with packages for events atop a glacier in Juneau or among lush tropical foliage on a sacred pond in Hawaii.

Caveat: If more than eight non-sailing guests attend the onboard wedding, some form of reception must be booked. Weddings in Half Moon Cay are not available from September to mid-November. The line levies a $150 surcharge on package prices for sailings from December 24 to January 4 and February 11 to February 18. There’s a $100 surcharge for weddings in May and June.

9. Cunard Line

Why? Cunard can offer you a “Royal Wedding at Sea” onboard any of its ships. Now that ships are registered in Bermuda, Cunard’s captains can conduct wedding ceremonies at sea. Couples are drawn to the line’s historic charm, formality and British influence, which all make for a timeless experience.

Package Details: The wedding package starts at $2,800 and includes a wedding license, an onboard wedding coordinator, two floral arrangements for the ceremony, traditional wedding music (recorded, although live music such as a pianist, harpist or string quartet is available for a fee), commemorative wedding certificate, wedding invitations and thank-you cards, White Star Bellman to escort the bride to the ceremonial room and pressing service for bridal outfits.

Coolest Quirk: Cunard busts open the bubbly for the happy couple. Its package includes a bottle of Veuve Clicquot Champagne and a bride and groom’s Champagne breakfast in bed. You can even upgrade to a Champagne and caviar breakfast in bed.

Caveat: Weddings can only take place on sea days and on cruises lasting at least seven days. Additional cake, flowers, photography and reception services are available for a fee.

10. Crystal Cruises

Why? Crystal has partnered with Imagine VIP global event planners to offer upscale, customized wedding packages both onboard the ship and in port. This luxury cruise line sails to exotic destinations throughout the world, so you can tie the knot pretty much anywhere your heart desires (and get a legal license).

Package Details: Crystal offers two base wedding ceremony packages, along with a number of add-ons and upgrades. Rates for a ceremony aboard the ship start at $3,500 and include pre-planning with an event consultant, a wedding website, a wedding registry, 25 custom save-the-date cards, services of a wedding coordinator, special cabin decor, services of a local officiant, live ceremony music, ceremony decorations (including a monogrammed aisle runner), bridal bouquet and groom’s boutonniere, a specialty cake for two, keepsake Champagne flutes, a bottle of Champagne, one hour of photography services, an 8×10 print, a commemorative certificate, turn-down gift, dinner reservations at a specialty restaurant for the bride and groom, and a 20 percent discount at the ship’s spa. To be married ashore, rates start at $4,295, and include pre-planning with an event consultant, a wedding website, a wedding registry, local wedding venue and officiant, commemorative certificate, on-site coordinator and your choice of amenities from a set list. These options are organized into tiers, and you can choose two items from Tier 1 (photography services, live music, flowers, etc.), three items from Tier 2 (in-port transportation, wedding cake, aisle decor, Champagne) or four items from Tier 3 (wedding invitations, and flower girl and ring bearer accessories). Rates vary accordingly.

Caribbean Princess Wedding

Coolest Quirk: If you choose to get married onboard, Crystal offers four equally classy themed reception decor packages, including a sleek and modern black-and-white option, a tea party-inspired option, a beachy option and a traditional white wedding option.

Caveat: Ceremony rates do not include any reception options. However, there are many available. These are billed per person, with rates starting at $95 for a lunch buffet and topping out at $132 per person for a sit-down dinner. Plus, if you have invited any non-sailing guests, they will incur an additional $12 per-person beverage charge. Photo prints are not included in any of the in-port wedding options, but you may choose to purchase them separately. Crystal can arrange for your legal marriage license in most ports, but additional local fees do apply.

11. MSC Cruises

Why? Unlike many cruise lines, MSC allows couples to legally tie the knot onboard or ashore with its wedding packages. Couples aren’t required to be married before the sailing, nor do they have to worry about bringing legal documents onboard.

Package Details: MSC offers two packages: onboard weddings and shoreside weddings. The onboard option includes a pre-cruise wedding consultant, priority check-in for the couple and guests, pier-to-cabin escort service for the couple, a wedding coordinator, a nondenominational officiant, recorded music, a bridal bouquet with matching boutonniere, cake for two, a bottle of sparkling wine and one hour of photography coverage. Prices start at $1,600 for a shipboard wedding.

Shoreside weddings allow couples to marry in destinations such as Barbados, Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Jamaica, San Juan, Nassau, St. Thomas and St. Maarten. Couples also have the option to marry on embarkation day in Miami or New York. Similarly, the package includes a pre-cruise consultant and wedding day coordinator, a nondenominational officiant, a bridal bouquet with matching boutonniere, cake for two, a bottle of sparking wine and one hour of photography. The couple also will receive taxi transportation to and from the ceremony location. Prices start at $2,200 for a destination wedding.

Couples can customize either package by upgrading with photography and videography services, music, fresh flowers, food and beverages, specialty items such as favors and aisle runners,

transportation for shoreside events, and personalized stationary for announcements and invitations.

Coolest Quirk: Couples who book at least 13 cabins receive a complimentary balcony cabin. Similarly, at least 30 cabins get you a complimentary suite and 50-plus a complimentary Yacht Club cabin.

Caveat: MSC Divina is the cruise line’s only ship to offer wedding packages.