Wedding on the ship-Beware!!!

[cruisinmom1]

Anyone considering a wedding on the ship? I have a review and would be glad to share it with you!

We planned way ahead to get married on the Allure

The planning was hard because we had to make plans for all our guests and as the number of cabins increased, the group planning got harder.

You cannot have a "group" unless you have 8 cabins booked through RCCL or the same TA! They tell you that after the fact. Imagine trying to get your dining and activities for 16 people through the planning desk? Doesn't work-

They can only handle 10 at a time and then they screw up the linking of tables, etc.

The wedding....

We were scheduled for 12:30 and had to get everyone to the pier at 10:30-

the check-in was busy with suite guests and we were all over the place because it depends on what deck you are on.

Then ahead of time you have to get the drivers license and names of your non=sailing guests to the Royal Romance Dept a month ahead.

They dropped my first guest from the manifest and it took 1 1/2 hours for her to clear customs- she's from the USA!!

Secondly, the ship cleared late and we were like cattle pushed onto the ship to push thru the early boarders to get to guest services to re unite with our coordinator

She then told us where to go-non-cruisers direct to the chapel and cruisers can go to their cabins (such as me the bride, etc) to get ready. I was supposed to have an hour, well 5 minutes!!

The photographer came to the cabin to take some quick photos and to tell me that we have to rush to the photo opts in order to get our 2 hours complete that we paid extra for and one hour was already up!

The violinist that we paid extra for and needed the music a few weeks ahead, played the same music for the groom, maid of honor and now the bride. I specially gave him 3 pieces of music -one for each!!

Immediately after our wedding, they tore down our ($1,100) wedding canape'

(chuppah) to get the next wedding in. We asked and had this in our contract to take pictures in the chapel after with all our family. No problem per Royal Romance! (HAHA) They told us there would be another wedding, but not in our area, nor would it interfere with ours!

Next, when we entered the Pinnacle Lounge for the reception-The window washers were there in the back drop of the lounge- So, our cake and ice sculpture had window washers in the background~

The CD player for our first dance-it was in the next wedding's chapel! So, we had to run with the photographer to get our pictures around the ship-

We rushed! We had to run around the guests that are now all over the ship!

Then we returned to find out that our non-sailing guests were already escorted off the ship (told they could stay until 2:30. but took them off at 2)

We didn't get any family photos, nor got to enjoy our meals that we paid for!

In addition- the photos were not sharp, but grainy, shadows and bad colors-we looked at them on the monitor and the photographer said that he would color correct them and put them on a CD!

We should of downloaded them on the ship once again, but they still looked bad when we got home. The professional photo lab told us that the camera and angles resulted in poor quality. Even if we looked at them again on the ship, it would of been too late- wedding was over!!

The strawberries,etc we never got, because we didn't have time to eat-We addressed all this ahead of time and we were told that the photos around the ship are taken after our reception! (not!)

Buyer beware!! The package prices grow at the end, the flowers, etc.

Wow- RCCL how you let us down!!

[ChipLondon]

I really feel for you if you day was not as you wanted. The flip side is that our wedding on a ship was amazing, because we did not do a boarding day wedding, but mid cruise. Less panic and more time to ensure things were organised. I appreciate that this meant that non sailing guests could not attend, but luckily for us all 46 people did cruise with us.

 

I would agree with you that a first day wedding option is not the best way to go, but would recommend a mid cruise island or shipboard celebration. :)

 

 

.

[cb at sea]

How awful! Maybe this will serve as a warning to others wanting a ship's wedding! Get married on land...then have the reception/party on the cruise! So much easier!

[Motorman23]

Sadly this experience has been reported by others many times over the past few years. I am sorry your special day was ruined, hopefully your comments and the comments by others (try search feature) will warn others about the poor level of service by many cruise lines for weddings.

 

Again, I am sorry your wedding turned out poorly for you.

 

Mike

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

[LilBlackDress]

We got married on Indy several years ago... Such a nightmare!! long story short... 2 days before the wedding they call me to tell me the custom cake I ordered through the bakery THEY sent me to could no longer provide me with a cake due to customs.... OK fine can we have? Nothing that is why I am calling!! WHAT?!?!? ok moving on....customs didn't clear the ship til noon so we were all sitting in the terminal from 10:15 ugh my DH got dressed in his parents cabin while I got dressed in ours. I was told by the WC she would come and get me in an hour, it was more like 30 mins. So I threw my hair up in a bun and ran out the door (what choice did I have?) I met the photographer 2 mins before I walked down the aisle. After the ceremony he wanted to take pictures but I insisted on going to the reception (in Viking).

 

We arrive at the reception after a few pictures. We only paid for the Hors d'oeuvres buffet WITH BAR SERVICE since most people were sailing with us and gave our non sailing guest a gift card to get dinner at the hotel they were staying at. Viking Lounge was not closed off to sailing guests so most the apps were gone by the time anyone from the wedding arrived. They offered us all a glass of champagne we did a toast and then I asked for a drink. The wait staff told us we didn't pay for bar service but they would be happy to get me a drink and charge it to my seapass. Thats about the time I lost it. My DH had a copy of our contracts and receipts with him but they said we have to go by what's on our paperwork!

 

When the non sailing guests left, the photographer asked if we wanted to rush through the pictures before the muster drill. I asked if we could pay extra for a 2nd sitting and do the then... He was great and agreed and didn't charge us. The pictures are the only thing that was in our favor, they turned out really nice and for the 2nd photos I was able to do my hair...

 

Sorry guess it wasn't that short!! But I can soooo relate to everything you went through! I didn't get any satisfaction, I hope you do, if you are pursuing it.

 

PS. they did not have weddings at sea back then

 

For what it is worth, thru all the disappointments, I was able to marry my best friend that day, and that is all that matters. But I wouldn't recommend Royal Romance especially if they are still sub contracted though The Wedding Experience.

[marci22]

I'm glad I am already married.

[ryano]

I cant recall ever reading a POSITIVE wedding on the ship experience. :o

 

Sorry all this happened on your special day.

Edited March 27, 2015 by ryano

[Charger2008]

I cant recall ever reading a POSITIVE wedding on the ship experience. :o

 

Sorry all this happened on your special day.

 

Ours was a vow renewal, but it was AWESOME and wonderful and perfect. I am so very sorry those brides had to experience that on what should be a magical day :( Would I recommend the vow renewal package now? at the current prices? absolutely not. We were very lucky that we only paid $500 in 2007 and got SO much more than is being offered now for the same package at a much higher price (I believe about $1,500).

[CVU]

Sometimes due to weather or sea conditions, the ship could miss that port. We have missed ports before..........so If planning an Island Wedding you might need a back up plan.

[knittinggirl]

they said we have to go by what's on our paperwork!

 

I don't understand this. Did they ignore your paperwork and use theirs?

[poncho1973]

I cant recall ever reading a POSITIVE wedding on the ship experience. :o

 

Sorry all this happened on your special day.

 

I echo this. So sorry to hear your special day got messed with.

 

I've heard dozens of ship wedding stories and we recently talked a couple we know OUT OF IT be showing them some stories from CC and telling them about others we heard. FYI, they decided to have a beach wedding and then board the ship on their own after the wedding. MUCH BETTER.

 

I've been around these parts for many years and it's a song stuck on repeat. Just warn your friends... never get married on the day you sail. Either do it like ChipLondon did or skip it.

[ChipLondon]

Err Mine, as post 2 :D

 

I cant recall ever reading a POSITIVE wedding on the ship experience. :o

 

Sorry all this happened on your special day.

 

I really feel for you if you day was not as you wanted. The flip side is that our wedding on a ship was amazing, because we did not do a boarding day wedding, but mid cruise. Less panic and more time to ensure things were organised. I appreciate that this meant that non sailing guests could not attend, but luckily for us all 46 people did cruise with us.

 

I would agree with you that a first day wedding option is not the best way to go, but would recommend a mid cruise island or shipboard celebration. :)

 

 

.

[knittinggirl]

For birthdays, anniversaries, etc, we never book any cruise that has that special occasion on either embarkation day, disembarkation day or packing day. The crew have all they can handle with embarkation.

Edited March 27, 2015 by knittinggirl

[Bellalago Breeze]

Our daughter was married on the Sovereign a number of years ago on the day of sailing. Everything went as planned and it was a wonderful experience. Royal Romance was great to work with and there was hardly a glitch before, during and after the ceremony.

 

I'm so sorry to hear the problems others have experienced on what should be the most memorable day of your life.

[squadron]

How awful! Maybe this will serve as a warning to others wanting a ship's wedding! Get married on land...then have the reception/party on the cruise! So much easier!

 

I'd say the opposite - get married on the ship (not boarding day!) and have a great party after you get home for everyone - wedding party, immediate family and guests who were not sailing. Boarding day is very busy with all those who are sailing boarding. Throwing non paying people into the mix adds to the confusion for all. I've known some who have had a ship's wedding but only with those (immediate family) who are also sailing. It turned out beautifully.

[mystrymaster]

I am truly sorry for all the bad stories in this thread.

 

We got married on the voyager in 2001 and couldn't have had a better experience. I wonder if the increased security post 9-11 has caused this to longer be the standard.

[jcl410]

We were married in 2009 on board the Grandeur of the Seas on embarkation day in Baltimore.

 

My two main reason for picking the first day were 1) worries over missing a port midcruise, and 2) allowing non-sailing guests. (In our case,that was all of them.)

 

Unlike the OP, we were able to board on time at 11:00. My wife went sraight to the suite to change, while I hung out with the guests.

 

We also didn't plan too many extras- no violin, etc - fewer things to go wrong.

 

So, there are some weddings that do go according to plan.

 

Aloha,

 

John

[Big_G]

My son got married on Caribbean Princess but it too was a mid cruise wedding. Everything went great including the leaping catch that some complete stranger made of my DIL's veil as it was about to blow off the back of the ship. I think she did a touchdown celebration too. No she didn't spike the veil. :D

[legaljen1969]

I am so sorry that some of you brides have had a terrible experience. It really stinks when someone tells you that everything will be taken care of, and you don't have to worry. Having the photographs of your once in a lifetime event messed up by an incompetent photographer is the pits. All that extra money you have to pay and the pictures come out terribly. Or someone tells you that they will do your pictures for you for little to no cost. Let me say BAD IDEA. Unless that person is a professional photographer and that is their wedding gift to you- JUST SAY NO!!!

 

My husband retired from the Marine Corps in 2004. I had planned to hire a photographer to take pictures at his ceremony. One of the wives told me that one of my husband's co-workers was a great photographer and he had done some photography work for them. I was told it would not matter if I had a great camera or a point and shoot, he could do wonders and knew all the tricks. I figured "well, he's already on base and it will save me some money." I also asked if he had a nice camera and offered to pay him for good shots with a good camera. Well, he told me that he could manage fine with my simple camera. It was a nice camera- but just point and shoot.

 

I only tried to show him one little setting to reduce any shakiness, as they were still have practice at the rifle range outside. He said he had it under control.

 

I got home and every picture I had was completely blurry. You can see figures of people in the pictures but that's about it. I was heartbroken. It is a moment in time you can never reclaim or re-do.

 

I feel your distress. The disappointment is almost palpable.

[LilBlackDress]

I don't understand this. Did they ignore your paperwork and use theirs?

 

The WC, the wait staff and the CD's wife (I don't recall her role, she was just there) all looked at my contract and my receipts and said sorry, thats not what is on our paperwork, I could fight it when I return home! I fought it for 2 months after getting home, the end result they offered to give us a renewal ceremony on any cruise we want. Now as I understand it, Royal Romance is no longer using TWE (the wedding experience) so the renewal, if we wanted to go through them is null and void!!

[garycarla]

though some have good luck, there seems to be WAY MORE that have issues.

 

Way too complicated, expensive and ripe for problems. Especially on boarding day.

 

Folks should read reviews before doing this.

[CrusieToy]

How awful! Maybe this will serve as a warning to others wanting a ship's wedding! Get married on land...then have the reception/party on the cruise! So much easier!

 

that is what I was thinking. Sounded really stressful ...

[publicpersona]

Do what my wife and I did. Book a cruise that goes to St. Thomas. Grab the license and take the ferry to St. John. Meet an officiant and get married on the beach at Hawksnest Bay wearing t-shirt, shorts, and bare feet. Oh yeah, we put a video camera in a tree to record the whole thing. And of course .. no guests or family; they complicate things. Total cost $200.

[beachdiamonds]

To the OP I am so sorry your day was ruined. It's a terrible thing when you have great expectations and the outcome falls flat. I too started to use RCL to have a vow renewal while cruising. I contacted the Wedding service and the customer service along with costs and offerings gave me pause. After reading more on Cruise critic we decided to forget it.... Just too many bad experiences. We ended up reaching out to a wedding coordinator and photographer on ST. Maarten and renewing on a beautiful beach while in port. We had the canopy and sheers on the beach, wedding flowers, champagne, etc. Also received both video and over 350 professional pictures that we viewed ( and received on a flash drive) before leaving the port. The photographer also provided a signed release so that we wouldn't have any problems getting prints produced when we got home. The quality was too notch!! All of this was way less than the ship costs with so much more. We still keep in touch with our st Maarten wedding coordinator and consider her a life long friend.

[cruisinmom1]

To the OP I am so sorry your day was ruined. It's a terrible thing when you have great expectations and the outcome falls flat. I too started to use RCL to have a vow renewal while cruising. I contacted the Wedding service and the customer service along with costs and offerings gave me pause. After reading more on Cruise critic we decided to forget it.... Just too many bad experiences. We ended up reaching out to a wedding coordinator and photographer on ST. Maarten and renewing on a beautiful beach while in port. We had the canopy and sheers on the beach, wedding flowers, champagne, etc. Also received both video and over 350 professional pictures that we viewed ( and received on a flash drive) before leaving the port. The photographer also provided a signed release so that we wouldn't have any problems getting prints produced when we got home. The quality was too notch!! All of this was way less than the ship costs with so much more. We still keep in touch with our st Maarten wedding coordinator and consider her a life long friend.

I want to thank you all so much for your support!! I wish that Michael Bayley felt as awful as you all did! I'm very disappointed in RCCL and it shows that loyalty means nothing!! I just wanted to spread the word to all future brides!!