Cruise Wedding vs. Sandals?

[macgirl]

Hi everyone,

 

I'm 90% sure I'd like to do my wedding with RCCL, but I am wondering about Sandals. Has anyone else looked into this, and if so, what made you decide to go with a cruise wedding over Sandals or some other resort wedding? I've heard that the Sandals weddings are very nice, even the basic wedding package that's included. I guess I'm just trying to figure out what will swing my vote over definetively to the cruise.

 

A travel agent yesterday told me, "You must get married at Sandals, you can do a cruise anytime, but Sandals is so special for a wedding".

 

THANKS AGAIN. . . .

[carrievision]

The thought of a "free wedding" was really enticing when I read the Sandals site! I haven't been to Sandals, so maybe I am missing a reason that your agent recommended it.

 

We decided to get married while at port (on the beach... looks like the date is going to be March 8 2006) because cruises are cheaper and more of our friends and family can afford to come that way. (I think Sandals was charging about $150 per person to enter the resort for the wedding..!) Another cruise deal sealer was that our moms aren't fans of flying - this way they can drive to the debarkation port and avoid that stressful situation.

 

I think maybe if it was just us, we would have chosen Sandals. So I guess it depends on your budget and who is coming to the wedding! Hope that helps.

[Wanttocruisenow]

Hi

 

First let me say whatever you decide will be wonderful for you I am sure. I will tell you I am a travel agent and I will tell you my opinion but it is only that. If you want something unique and different it is not Sandals. Although they do really nice weddings they do about 8 weddings a day and have become very commercialised. I think your travel agent is a little one sided. She will make a whole lot more money if you book a Sandals wedding then she will if you cruise. She will get paid for anything extra you add at Sandals and will get paid very well even if you don't add anything. If you book a cruise we don't make nearly as much and we don't make anything on your wedding. But I am getting married on VOS in October because I wanted something that was different and felt more like my own.

Good Luck in whatever you decide!!!!

[wendym]

Thanks for the T.A. advice. That explains why all the agents that I spoke with tried to steer us away from Cruise Weddings.

Can you explain the huge difference in group discounts and perqs out there. We got nothing from our agency (with a sailing party of around 40). You'd think they could give us some coupons...an upgrade...something?

By the way, if anyone is booking from Toronto I can give some hints as to who not to book with. We have had a nightmare with this agency.

[cruiseescape]

There are several different Perks offered to groups. They never offer upgrades though. But you should have some perks for your group unless your TA gave back the perks into your group to get your rates cheaper. But the kind of perks offered to cruise groups are usually bottle of wine for each cabin or a photo of the group or a cocktail party something on the lines of that.

You should be able to talk to her/him and see what is being done for the group...rarely does an agent keep the discounted rate for themselves but I guess it is possible.