Cruise or resort?

[vix1383]

Not sure if this is the right thread to post, but I am still new at this!! My fiance are debating between a cruise wedding and an all-inclusive resort wedding. We actually want to do our honeymoon at a different time (we are planning that in Montana). Just looking for some opinions/comments/reviews. Thanks!!

[Banana11]

That's a pretty broad question! I think there are pros and cons to each choice and just depends on what you are looking for in your wedding trip. Here are a few pros and cons on a cruise wedding after our experience:

 

Pros: Everyone is together on the ship. It was nice to casually run into people and visit. Dinner together in the main dining room every night was a nice time to check in with guests and mingle. Plenty of activities planned by the cruiseline to keep guests busy, no need to entertain. Schedule is very easy to follow for guests as far as ports of call, activities, etc. With a cruise you don't have to deal with different guests booking different resorts but still coming to your wedding.

 

Cons: Everyone is together on the ship . I'm not sure if a resort would offer more space and privacy? Probably depends on the size of the ship you sail or resort you book. Cruising isn't for everyone and we missed out on having a few people join us that didn't want to go on a cruise. They would have been way more likely to attend if it was on land. If you pick a 7 day intinerary your guests have to stay 7 days. With a resort, they can make it as short or long of a vacation as they want to.

 

My cruise review is in my siggy. Good luck!

[vix1383]

Thanks for that input! I know it's pretty broad - I guess our planning stage is still broad! haha. I like the simplicity of the cruise, but I don't like the fact that you have to get married during the early afternoon and have your reception while the boat is docked (also in the afternoon). We would love to do a sunset beach wedding and then a nighttime reception. I also like the all-inclusiveness of the resort, as opposed to having each guest rack up an unknown liquor bill!

[Peachy~Girl]

If you want a beach wedding you can still have that on a cruise while in port and maybe all have dinner together that night or do a small reception while in port. Right now our plan is to marry on a Florida beach then sail off the next day. This is so that our guest who dont wanna cruise can still see our ceremony. Were only inviting parents, siblings and our kids(15 total people). Just depends on what your looking for and who you want at ur ceremony. Were also planning to have dinner the night of our ceremony and get ready for our cruise the next day!

[Banana11]

Quote:

Originally Posted by vix1383 Thanks for that input! I know it's pretty broad - I guess our planning stage is still broad! haha. I like the simplicity of the cruise, but I don't like the fact that you have to get married during the early afternoon and have your reception while the boat is docked (also in the afternoon). We would love to do a sunset beach wedding and then a nighttime reception. I also like the all-inclusiveness of the resort, as opposed to having each guest rack up an unknown liquor bill!

There was a former cruise bride on here who I belive was married in the evening. She found a cruise that had a two day stop in Bermuda (I think?). That gave them more flexibility on times.

[finleys7]

I am a resort girl...that liquor/beer bill can get pretty pricey. My crew are drinkers that's why the All-Inclusive works for us.

 

But if you are cruise people..stick with it, do some investigating...We did and it was an excuse to go to Mexico. =)

 

Good luck!

[bermduagirl]

My fiance and I were in the same predicament. After much debate, we have decided to take a 7 day cruise to Bermuda. We're having the ceremony and reception at Coco Reef Resort in Bermuda. If you're interested in a cruise wedding, go to Cruise Reviews, Cruise Deals and Cruises - Cruise Critic and go the honeymoon and wedding section.

[LadyTrunck]

I've been to a wedding on a cruise before, and they got married on the beach in St. Thomas. It was amazing! We also liked that our whole group was together some of the time, but the ship is obviously big enough where you don't have to see everyone all day.

 

We chose an AI resort because of the alcohol bill and the fact that I get motion sickness!!

[merocket59]

There is also a subforum on this forum for cruise brides so you can find some more info about cruise weddings in there if that's the route you want to take.

[mrsgtobe]

I had all the same questions...I decided to take the best of both worlds and take a cruise and get married at one of the ports....so we have destination and yet we still have the whole cruise-thing going too! I thought the cruise ship weddings were just too impersonal for me even though it seemed convenient and beautiful...but what we really wanted was a beach wedding so we decided to go with a WC on the island and get our personal touch as well....It's all in what will really make you happy!