Real Cruise Weddings: An Insider’s Guide to Saying "I Do" at Sea

Posted on 19th Jan, 2026

Real Experience: Read a first-hand account from one of our own team members who tied the knot on P&O Cruises' Aurora.
Stress-Free Planning: Discover how the "Ceremonies at Sea" team handles everything from legal paperwork to steaming the wedding dress.
Insider Tips: Get practical advice on packing, timing your ceremony, and making the most of the wedding package perks.

For many cruisers, the idea of getting married at sea is the ultimate romantic dream. Imagine swapping the stress of a traditional venue for ocean views, swapping the rainy UK weather for a sun deck, and having the ship's Captain officiate your big moment.

P&O Cruises is a top choice for British couples looking to tie the knot, renowned for their dedicated "Ceremonies at Sea" team who orchestrate everything from the buttonholes to the marriage licence. But what does the planning process actually look like? Is it really as stress-free as they say?

We sat down with one of our own, Claire Stephenson, an Operations Concierge Executive here at Cruise.co.uk. Claire recently celebrated her wedding onboard P&O Cruises' Aurora, a ship that (at the time of her sailing) was exclusively for adults. From the legal paperwork to the Champagne toast, she shares her first-hand experience of planning a wedding on the waves.

Claire’s Wedding Diary

Booking and Legalities

We decided which cruise we wanted to get married on. We had to contact the 'Ceremonies at Sea' team to check availability, and they held the space for seven days while we booked the cruise.

Once we booked, we contacted them back with the reference and secured the wedding with a 25% non-refundable deposit.

Around six months before departure, we were asked to send in the documents regarding the legalities, such as passport copies, proof of address, decree absolute or old wedding certificate from a first marriage, etc.

The cost of the wedding included the legal fees, so we didn’t need to hold another ceremony in the UK to make it legal.

The Planning Process

Around four months before, a form was sent to ask our choices for everything onboard: which music we would like, bouquet style and colour preference, cake choice, etc., plus any extras we may want to add.

We changed our cabin around six weeks before sailing, and they changed the details over with no issues at all. I would recommend booking a ceremony at sea; it was so seamless and stress-free.

Tip: Have an idea of hairstyles, makeup, etc., for the day.

Onboard Preparations

Once onboard, we met with the wedding coordinator (there was a note in the cabin with a time and location). We met with the photographer to discuss our options and then went to the spa to book in for my hair and makeup.

The onboard coordinator also arranged to have my dress and husband's suit collected from the cabin to be steamed/pressed ready for the wedding the next day.

Tip: Carry your wedding attire onboard if you can! We carried ours in a suit carrier rather than handing it over at the quayside to be delivered to the cabin (we didn’t want the luggage to be delayed, with the wedding being the day after embarkation).

The Wedding Day

Benefits of the wedding package included hair and makeup, one free speciality dining choice, flowers for me and a buttonhole for the groom, a choice of fruit or sponge cake, and a Champagne breakfast in bed the morning after the wedding.

We got married at 2 pm. I preferred this time over the morning options (11 am) to give us a chance to have a decent breakfast and time for my hair and makeup (which took around two hours).

The wedding coordinator arranged a time and location for the groom to meet (The Crow's Nest on Aurora, next to the Uganda Room where the wedding was taking place).

They also had one of the witnesses and another member of staff meet me at the cabin around 10 minutes before the ceremony to escort me to the venue, which I thought was a nice touch as I was on my own (our family didn’t come with us).

The Ceremony and Celebrations

At the ceremony, we were given a glass of Champagne for the toast (the Captain had an orange juice as he was driving!). The rest of the bottle was delivered to our cabin. We were also gifted two crystal Champagne flutes at the end of our ceremony, which was a nice surprise.

We had Freedom Dining on the cruise, but they arranged a table for two in the restaurant at a pre-arranged time for the night of the wedding (we could have also eaten at the speciality restaurant if we had wanted).

The wedding cake was also delivered to the cabin, but we had this taken away and frozen until we were due to disembark. They delivered it back to the cabin the night before disembarkation, boxed and sealed for the journey home.

Life on Board Aurora

Aurora has recently been voted the best ship in the fleet (according to the Captain). The ship is the smallest in the fleet, but this just makes it feel cosy and wasn’t too crowded, even at the sail away with Santa and his elves!

Why Choose a P&O Cruises Wedding?

As Claire’s experience highlights, P&O Cruises offers one of the most comprehensive "Weddings at Sea" packages in the industry.

The allure isn't just the romantic setting; it is the simplicity. With a dedicated coordinator taking care of the legal paperwork, the venue, the cake, and the flowers, the happy couple is free to simply enjoy their holiday.