Cruise Weddings Ashore and at Sea: A Guide to Getting Married With Holland America

Planning a wedding often means juggling multiple vendors such as the venue, caterer, florist, and photographer. A Holland America Line wedding cruise folds all of it into one experience: the ceremony, the reception, and the honeymoon all happen aboard the same ship. The Cruise Web's experts work hand in hand with your personal wedding coordinator, guiding you through booking and answering every question along the way, then staying in your corner as the coordinator arranges the festivities through the big day.

And the backdrop is unlike anything a land venue can offer. Imagine a glacier calving in the distance, a Caribbean sunset behind you, or the open horizon of the sea itself as your backdrop. Wedding cruises take the stress out of planning, and both seasoned cruisers and couples new to cruising find plenty to get excited about when celebrating this way.

Our guide breaks down Holland America's wedding packages, destinations, onboard venues, and more, so you can start planning your own big day at sea.

Holland America Wedding Packages at a Glance

*Prices are subject to change. Contact The Cruise Web for current pricing and availability.

Why Choose a Wedding Cruise with Holland America

A Holland America Line wedding is designed to remove the guesswork. Instead of coordinating a venue, caterer, florist, and photographer on your own, everything comes bundled into the cruise itself: your stateroom, dining, entertainment, and onboard activities are already part of the experience, before and after your ceremony.

Every couple is paired with a personal wedding coordinator, who handles the details so you can focus on each other. If you choose an onboard Symbolic at Sea ceremony, the ship's captain or an officer can perform it, giving your wedding a touch no land venue can offer. Choose a destination ceremony instead, and a coordinator will be on hand ashore to make sure everything runs smoothly.

There's also something to be said for bringing your wedding and your guests' vacation together. Family and friends who sail with you get more than a ceremony to attend: they get days of dining, entertainment, and shore excursions built into the same trip, turning your wedding into a shared getaway rather than a single afternoon.

Guests traveling for the celebration may also want to look at Holland America's Have It All package, which bundles drinks, dining, and excursions into one upfront fare.

Closer Look at Holland America's Wedding Packages

Every Holland America wedding package comes with a personal wedding coordinator to handle the details, from your first call through the day itself. What sets the three packages apart is whether your ceremony happens at sea, in port, or ashore, who's able to officiate, and how easily non-sailing guests can be part of the day.

Symbolic at Sea

For couples who want the ship's captain to officiate, with family and friends gathered at sea, this package brings the ceremony to you wherever your ship happens to be.

What's Included

• Captain or officer to perform the ceremony
• Ideal onboard ceremony location
• Onboard & pre-cruise wedding coordinator
• Recorded ceremony music
• Keepsake wedding certificate
• Photography service for the ceremony, plus one 8x10 photo of your choice
• Commemorative wedding album
• Bottle of sparkling wine
• Small 9-inch wedding cake
• Bridal bouquet with one dozen roses & a matching groom's boutonniere

Good to Know

• This is a non-legal, symbolic ceremony. Couples wanting a legally binding marriage will need to arrange this separately, typically in port or before departure.
• An additional coordinator fee of $175 applies for every 25 guests beyond the first 25.

Pricing: $1,800*

Anchors Away

If you'd like non-sailing guests to join your ceremony without boarding for the full cruise, this package is built around that flexibility.

What's Included

• Priority check-in & boarding for the couple & guests
• Ideal wedding location on board
• Non-denominational officiant
• Onboard & pre-cruise wedding coordinator
• Recorded ceremony music
• Keepsake wedding certificate
• Bottle of sparkling wine
• Bridal bouquet with one dozen roses & a matching groom's boutonniere
• Photography service for the ceremony, plus one 8x10 photo of your choice
• Commemorative wedding album
• Small 9-inch wedding cake

Good to Know

• Pricing varies by port of call.
• An additional coordinator fee applies for every 25 guests beyond the first 25.

Pricing: Varies by port*

Ashore

For couples dreaming of a destination wedding, this package brings the ceremony to a beach, garden, castle, or glacier setting in port.

What's Included

• Beach, garden, castle, or glacier location
• Non-denominational officiant
• Ashore and pre-cruise wedding coordinator
• Seasonal bridal bouquet & matching groom's boutonniere
• Transportation for the bridal couple
• Wedding cake for the couple
• Bottle of sparkling wine
• Keepsake wedding certificate

Good to Know

• An ashore wedding coordinator is not available for glacier weddings.
• Pricing varies by port of call.

Pricing: Varies by port*

*Pricing is subject to change. Contact The Cruise Web for current pricing and availability.

Beyond the Ceremony

Not every couple boards a Holland America ship to say "I do" for the first time. Some come to celebrate an anniversary and renew their vows, marking how far they've come with the same captain-led ceremony experience that makes the wedding packages special.

Vow Renewal Packages

Every Holland America vow renewal package includes flowers, photography, a ceremony performed by the ship's captain, a small reception, and dinner for two at Pinnacle Grill. The three tiers below let you choose how much you want to add to the celebration.

Good to Know: For the Diamond package, if one or both members of the couple have already reserved a Thermal Suite day pass, this feature converts to a credit applicable toward any Spa & Salon service for the duration of the cruise.

*Pricing is subject to change. Contact The Cruise Web for current pricing and availability.

Choosing Your Destination

Holland America ceremonies take place either onboard while at sea, or ashore at one of the line's featured ports of call. Some of the most requested destinations include:

Half Moon Cay, Bahamas

Half Moon Cay offers a beach ceremony against pearl-white sand, or a quieter setting inside a non-denominational chapel for couples who'd rather exchange vows indoors.

Juneau, Alaska

Say "I do" surrounded by Alaska's wild scenery. Couples can choose between a garden setting or a glacier backdrop, though a glacier location means no ashore wedding coordinator is present, so ceremony logistics run a little differently than other destinations.

The Hawaiian Islands

Hawaii is one of the most popular choices for a tropical beach wedding, with ceremony locations available in both Honolulu and Kona.

Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

White sand, vibrant reefs, and swaying palms set the scene for a ceremony in Grand Cayman, with beach and terrace locations both available.

Santorini, Greece

Santorini offers a villa setting for couples drawn to the Mediterranean and one of the most iconic destination wedding backdrops in the world.

Note: The Anchors Away package isn't available at this port.

Previous SlideNext Slide

Full Destination Pricing

Pricing and marriage license requirements vary significantly by port. The table below covers every destination currently available.

Good to Know: A few seasonal surcharges are worth planning around. Weddings held between December 24 and January 4, or February 11 through February 18, carry a $150 seasonal price surcharge, and the entire months of May and June add $100. Ceremonies on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, New Year's Day, Valentine's Day, or Easter carry a $200 surcharge, and not every port can accommodate a ceremony on these dates.

*Pricing is subject to change. Contact The Cruise Web for current pricing and availability.

Onboard Venues

Across the fleet, couples have wonderful venue options for their ceremony and reception. Whether you want to feel like royalty at B.B. King's Blues Club, experience the elegance of Tamarind, or enjoy the fun, festive atmosphere of Gallery Bar, there's a setting to match the tone you're going for.

Venue Options

B.B. King's Blues Club

A lively, music-forward space that lends itself to a ceremony with a bit more energy and personality.

Tamarind

An elegant specialty dining venue, ideal for couples wanting a refined, intimate setting for the ceremony or reception.

Gallery Bar

A festive lounge atmosphere, well suited to a reception that leans social and celebratory.

Previous SlideNext Slide

Your exact venue will depend on a few things: your guest count, ceremony type, and what's available for your sailing. This will be confirmed by your wedding coordinator (typically around 30 days before your wedding date).

Making It Yours

Beyond the ceremony itself, Holland America offers a range of ways to personalize the day, from the flowers you carry to the cake you cut.

Flowers

Fresh floral bouquets, boutonnieres, and arrangements add color and elegance to both the ceremony and reception. Flowers are delivered fresh to the ship from the nearest port of call just in time for the wedding voyage, and your wedding coordinator will help you select the best in-season options.

Wedding Cake

The Symbolic at Sea and Anchors Away packages both include a 9-inch wedding cake, made fresh on board, with your choice of sponge, filling, and frosting.

Want more cake for a bigger celebration? Additional tiers can be added to the single-tier cake already included in your package.

Music

Traditional wedding music can be arranged through your wedding coordinator for the ceremony, or you're welcome to bring your own playlist on a USB drive for a more personal touch.

Photography

Basic photography is included in every wedding package, so your ceremony is always captured. If you'd love your reception caught on camera too, four upgrade packages are available once you're on board, so every dance and toast gets remembered along with the vows.

Spa and Salon Services

Prepare for the big day with hair styling, manicures, and grooming services available through the onboard Spa and Salon.

For Her

• Shampoo and blow-dry: $49
• Up-do style with blowout: $69
• ELEMIS Exotic hand ritual with manicure: $59
• ELEMIS Sole Delight foot treatment with pedicure: $69
• Couples Swedish massage: $279

For Him

• Express shave: $59
• ELEMIS Deep-Cleanse grooming treatment with shave: $109
• Men's wet cut and dry: $45
• Beard and neck trim: $25
• ELEMIS Exotic hand ritual with manicure: $59
• ELEMIS Sole Delight foot treatment with pedicure: $69
• Pro-Collagen grooming treatment with shave and men's cut: $129

*Pricing is subject to change. Contact The Cruise Web for current pricing and availability.

How to Plan and Book Your Holland America Wedding

Booking a wedding at sea is more straightforward than most couples expect. Here's how the process works:

1. Contact The Cruise Web as early as possible. We recommend starting the planning process at least a year in advance, giving you plenty of time to lock in your preferred date, package, and ceremony details.
2. Choose your package. The Cruise Web can help you choose the package that fits your vision, whether that's Symbolic at Sea, Anchors Away, or Ashore, based on the ceremony style and guest experience you want.
3. Check for availability. Ceremonies and receptions are booked based on availability. The Cruise Web's Cruise Experts can check on availability for you.
4. Work with your wedding coordinator on the details. From there, your wedding coordinator handles flowers, cake, music, and logistics so you can focus on the celebration itself.
5. Let The Cruise Web handle the reservation. Your Cruise Web expert will facilitate your reservation, including booking larger cabins for guests joining the celebration. Our booking services are free of charge.

The Cruise Web Advantage: Our travel advisors specialize in wedding cruises and can help match the right package to your vision, answer questions the website can't, and advocate for you throughout the planning process.

What to Know Before You Book

A few details worth knowing as you plan, some of which don't make it into the highlights but matter once you're booking.

Marriage Licenses

Obtaining a marriage license is the couple's responsibility, not Holland America's. Requirements vary by port, so your wedding coordinator can walk you through the process for your chosen destination. If you're planning a non-legal, symbolic ceremony at a destination port, you must sign a Symbolic Waiver form at least 45 days before your ceremony. Custom vows are also permitted, with approval, starting 45 days before the ceremony.

Booking Your Ceremony Date and Time

Ceremonies and receptions are booked based on availability, and Holland America will make every effort to accommodate your preferred date, though this ultimately depends on venue and officiant availability. Your exact ceremony time and location are typically confirmed around 30 days before your wedding date, so it's worth holding off on finalizing paper invitations or day-of schedules until that confirmation comes through.

Wedding Guests

Holland America weddings allow up to 10 non-sailing guests to board for the ceremony at no additional charge. Additional non-sailing guests are welcome if you purchase a reception. Once your total guest count exceeds 25, an additional coordinator fee applies for every 25 guests beyond that.

Good to Know: Some ports of call don't permit non-sailing guests to board due to security restrictions.

If the Weather Doesn't Cooperate

Planning an outdoor ceremony ashore? If conditions turn out to be unsuitable on the day, your wedding coordinator will arrange alternate accommodations at their discretion, so an outdoor destination wedding always has a backup plan in place.

Start Planning Your Holland America Wedding Cruise

Whether you're picturing an intimate Symbolic at Sea ceremony with the ocean as your only witness, a harborside celebration surrounded by friends and family who couldn't sail with you, or a destination wedding on an Alaskan glacier or a Caribbean beach, Holland America builds each wedding package around the kind of day you actually want. And for couples marking an anniversary rather than a first "I do," the vow renewal packages carry that same flexibility into any sailing.

With three ceremony formats, three vow renewal tiers, and details that shift by port and package, the right fit comes down to matching a package to your vision, guest list, and destination.

Why plan with The Cruise Web

• We match the right ship and itinerary to your vision.
• We answer questions that go beyond what's on the website.
• We coordinate cabins and logistics for larger guest lists.
• We advocate for you throughout the whole process and beyond.

Ready to start planning your Holland America wedding cruise? Call 1-800-377-9383 or visit cruiseweb.com, and one of our Cruise Experts will help you plan and build your ceremony from there.

Note: The contents of this article are accurate as of the publication date. Holland America Line itineraries, inclusions, and prices are subject to change at any time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can the captain perform our ceremony, and will it be legal?

The ship's captain can perform your Symbolic at Sea ceremony once you're on board, but this ceremony is not legally binding. Couples wanting a legal marriage will need to arrange that separately, typically in port or before departure.

Can we get married any day or night of the sailing?

There are some limitations on timing. Your wedding coordinator will make every effort to accommodate your preferred date, but this is ultimately subject to venue and officiant availability.

How far in advance do we have to book our ceremony?

All ceremonies must be booked and paid for at least 60 days before your cruise, though booking as far in advance as possible is strongly encouraged. Booking within 60 days is possible, but carries an additional late-booking fee.

May we bring guests to the wedding, and is there a limit?

For shipboard ceremonies, guest capacity depends on the venue. Ceremonies held on the first day of sailing at the port of embarkation may include up to 100 non-sailing guests, out of your total 150-guest allotment, who attend the ceremony and then depart before the ship sets sail. For ceremonies ashore, you may add more guests, though capacity may be limited depending on the location, and additional transportation, entrance, or site fees may apply.

Why do we need to arrive at the port early if we're marrying on embarkation day?

Weddings held on the first day of the cruise receive priority boarding, so wedding parties are asked to arrive at the pier at a specified time to avoid congestion. Boarding times can vary by port.

What happens if it rains on our destination wedding day?

If weather makes an outdoor ceremony unsuitable, your wedding coordinator will arrange alternate accommodations at their discretion.

Who is responsible for obtaining a marriage license?

Obtaining a marriage license is the couple's responsibility, not Holland America's. Requirements vary by port, so your wedding coordinator can walk you through the process for your chosen destination.