Get Married or Renew Your Vows at Sea

My husband and I hosted a destination wedding in Florida a dozen years before the practice came into vogue. Now, more and more couples are finding that cruises offer the perfect backdrop for a wedding, a reception, and a spectacular honeymoon.

CLIA (Cruise Lines International Association) has also noticed this trend and recently surveyed their member travel agents about it. The feedback was interesting: namely that over 60 percent of agents reported their cruise wedding business has increased in the last two years.

Here is a sampling of how CLIA member lines cater to bridal couples and other travelers interested in romance:

AZAMARA CRUISES
Azamara offers legal, captain-led wedding ceremonies, vow renewals and in-port wedding programs. Partnering with The Wedding Experience, a variety of packages feature everything from private receptions in the ship’s specialty restaurant to cake, Champagne, and more. Guests should book in advance to ensure processing of legal documents and licenses.

CELEBRITY CRUISES
Celebrity’s most popular wedding package is the “Nautical Nuptials” program featuring a captain-led wedding ceremony at sea offered on all Celebrity ships except Celebrity Xpedition. Other packages available include a “Bridesmaids’ Tea Party,” a “Cigar and Cognac Party,” a “Test the Waters” package, and a “Welcome Reception.” Vow renewal celebrations are also offered.

CRYSTAL CRUISES
Crystal offers captain-led wedding vow renewal ceremonies and it is rare that one of the company’s ships sails without at least one honeymoon couple. Focusing on helping guests plan and enjoy a completely customized honeymoon rather than a pre-packaged program, Crystal offers such romantic options as a candlelight dinner on a suite’s verandah, onboard florists, a portrait studio, and private shore excursions.

HOLLAND AMERICA LINE
Holland America offers a Wedding Package as part of its Group Advantage Program (GAP). The wedding couple enjoys a free stateroom upgrade and a commemorative wedding cake with at least eight staterooms booked and the entire group enjoys numerous amenities, including a Pinnacle Grill lunch, private wine tastings, and chocolate-covered strawberries and Chase Limogere Brut in their staterooms.


PAUL GAUGUIN CRUISES
French Polynesia in the South Seas is the setting for “A Lifetime of Memories” as the staff of Paul Gauguin create an unforgettably romantic event for honeymooners or those celebrating an anniversary. Among the features are a celebratory bottle of Champagne, a Polynesian blessing ceremony performed by Les Gauguines, an exclusive pillow gift and a photo portrait.

REGENT SEVEN SEAS CRUISES
Guests wishing to make customized wedding plans in conjunction with a Regent Seven Seas cruise may use the services of Royal Ocean Events, which can handle all the details and requests. A honeymooner package features a letter of congratulations from the captain, Veuve Clicquot Champagne, and caviar, in-suite canapés every afternoon, a miniature wedding cake and Leonidas chocolates and more.

SEADREAM YACHT CLUB
SeaDream offers two wedding vow renewal ceremonies – one designed for couples only, the other for as many as 12 guests – and both conducted by the yacht’s captain. Iced Champagne and canapés, a cake and flowers add special touches to the elegance of an elegant luxury yacht experience. SeaDream points out four couples who have completed the legal process at home, the shipboard vow renewal ceremony can serve as a wedding.

UNIWORLD BOUTIQUE RIVER CRUISES
Offering an intimate and elegant atmosphere, Uniworld's boutique hotel-style ships provide the ideal situation for couples to charter the vessel and create the wedding of their dreams. Uniworld can accommodate 82 to 160 guests, depending on the ship, and offers flexibility to customize itineraries and inclusions. Short of this, Uniworld river cruise itineraries are perfectly suited for honeymooners whether they want to explore Europe or even the treasures of the Nile in Egypt.

WINDSTAR CRUISES
Windstar invites couples celebrating honeymoons, renewing wedding vows or honoring a special anniversary to discover romance at sea. Chilled Champagne, chocolate-dipped seasonal fruit, breakfast in bed, “Time for Two” massages and elegant dinners for two at sunset are among the amenities featured on the line that has been named “Most Romantic Cruise Line” by Porthole Magazine.

Please visit CLIA’s Website at www.cruising.org for more information on weddings at sea and to find a CLIA-certified travel agent near you.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com

Mahanvami Dibba, Hampi

In the Royal Enclosure zone of Hampi this is a giant 3 layer structure and is the tallest in this area. From a distance this looks very simple elevated square stage and may not generate any interest to go near it. But as one approaches the structure, more details emerge and one can appreciate the marvel in stone. The platform is known as the Mahanavami-dibba (House of Victory).

Platform (click on the image for bigger view)

This dimension of the base of these structure is 40 meter square and the topmost area is 24 meter square. It is 12 meters in height. The top of the structure can be reached by the the stairs either in the front (east facing) or in the back. There is nothing at the top, but for the view if the surrounding area from the top. The front stairs are highly decorated on either sides with carvings of elephants, horses, camels, lions and a host of other things.

The walls of the tiers are covered with rows of boldly carved horizontal friezes of horses, elephants, warriors, dancers, musicians,royal ceremony, city life, hunting scenes.

processions and hunting scenes

This was constructed by King Krishnadevara in the 16th century. This platform was used by the king to watch the army march-pasts, war games, aquatic sports, shows of the royal animals, musical performances and also the most important Navarathri celebrations.

Earn College Credits for Computer Classes Aboard Crystal Ships

Here's a clever cross-promotion: Crystal's Computer University@Sea will offer instruction on Microsoft's Windows 7 operating system a month before the OS package is available for purchase.

Crystal, in conjunction with Del Mar College, will also offer various computer classes that will earn transferable college credit during the 2010 World Cruise, which embarks Miami on January 11.

The Windows 7 classes will be taught by Crystal’s Computer University@Sea instructors, and cover basic computing and valuable tips for mastering the operating system and maximizing ease and efficiency. The collegiate courses aboard the World Cruise, taught by an instructor from Del Mar College, include:

* Components of the System Unit
* Computer Storage Devices
* Database Management
* Privacy and Ethics

“Our guests expect sophisticated enrichment that includes progressive programming and the latest equipment,” says Thomas Mazloum, Crystal’s senior vice president, hotel operations. “We continue to strive to offer the very highest level of curriculum, as well as options to suit virtually any interest.”

Every Crystal Cruise offers complimentary instruction on the Windows 7 operating system, e-mail, website design, digital video editing, digital camera orientation, Photoshop, and even surfing the web. Other topics include Word, Excel, Access, Powerpoint, greeting and business card design, and various financial research tools and spreadsheet preparation. Private instruction is also available. There is a nominal fee for those wishing to earn collegiate credit.

For more information, talk with your travel agent or contact Crystal Cruises at 1-(888) 799-4625.

—Andrea M. Rotondo for LuxuryCruiseBible.com