Cruising the South Pacific

Getting legally married or renewing your wedding vows while cruising the South Pacific is very romantic and surprisingly easy to arrange. A quick myth however – the Captain on a cruise ship cannot legally marry you (but can do a ‘devotion’ ceremony).

Until recently the only port of call in the South Pacific where we could arrange weddings is Port Vila in Vanuatu. The Fijian authorities have relaxed the rules and couples no longer have to visit the registry office in person – we can now lodge the necessary paperwork prior to you arriving and can arrange weddings if the ship docks at Denarau.

To arrange your wedding ceremony – you just have to let us know the date the ship will be in port and the preferred time for the ceremony and scan/email us copies of your passports, birth certificates, divorce papers if applicable and a completed Intention to Marry form, which is available from us. If you have guests we can also send you a ‘Witness Form’ (if no chosen witnesses, they will be provided as part of the wedding package) and we can arrange transfers for you and guests from/back to the ship.

There are a number of cruise ship wedding packages (current price from $1495 at various locations – here is an overview of a couple of options:

WARWICK LE LAGON RESORT & SPA VANUATU

Couples can marry here and have the resort facilities for the day (sample package below) – just five minutes from the wharf.

ERAKOR ISLAND RESORT

Five minutes from the wharf by road and five minutes on the ferry across Erakor Lagoon there is a choice of lagoon beaches or the historic open-air chapel for the ceremony – and a very nice restaurant for the celebration lunch.

Here is a sample wedding package with inclusions for THE WARWICK LE LAGON RESORT & SPA:

• Lodging of documents
• Return transfers for the couple from the ship
• A Lagoon View Bungalow for the bridal couple (subject to availability) on day of wedding for one day
• A variety of venues for the ceremony: (Restaurant Deck, Beach front, Marquee, Garden)
• Arrival of Bride in a traditionally decorated wedding canoe
• A fanfare of warriors blowing conch shells on arrival
• Authentic Melanesian string band to serenade the bridal party throughout the ceremony
• Decorated floral arch for the ceremony
• Traditional shell leis for guests attending the wedding ceremony
• Religious or non religious Celebrant
• Witnesses (if required) to officiate the ceremony
• Fruit cocktail after the ceremony for the bridal party and congregation
• Marriage Certificate