I will be getting married on the Allure in June. Most of the experiences I've read about are on wedding site forums like The Knot. Though I still can't find much for weddings at sea, as most seem to get married in port.
From what I've read, some people have problems with the Royal Romance department, and I can understand why. The reps you talk to when you call are just basic reps and not wedding coordinators (at least that's what I was told when a problem arose). Every time I called they answered my questions right away and were great but apparently just telling me what I wanted to hear. I called numerous times with questions, especially about the date we want (very specific but is an at sea day) I was constantly reassured they would NOT pick my date. The contract came (wrong one but got that fixed) and called again concerning some wording about date, again they assured me they would not pick the date. So we pay up and months go by. Depending on how far in advance you start planning this can happen, we started in November and they really don't do much with you until 80-90 days out from sailing. I called with a question the reps couldn't answer (time of wedding and when would I find that out) and ended up talking to the person who handled the contract for us only to find out they won't confirm a date for me, I wouldn't find that out until embarkation. I was really upset seeing as though I'd called and asked a few times before even signing the contract. After many hours on the phone, going round and round (I fully understand the policy that if something happens the captain or first mate MAY not be able to marry us but was NOT okay with them telling me my wedding could be at any time during the sailing). We finally compromised on a requested wedding date (you can request a specific date but will only tell you, you have a 50/50 shot at getting what you request) and if for some reason the captain or first mate can't marry us it will change from a legal ceremony to a symbolic one. No price adjustment and I have to forfeit the $ for our marriage license but I still get a ceremony on the day I want.
We are in the process of making ceremony decisions now and getting our license paperwork in order.
I am really hoping that once we are on board our experience is better than what we've seen so far. For the money we are paying for the at sea wedding (almost $5000 once the cost of the marriage license is included) and the cruise I expected better service. This will be our first cruise with Royal and the Royal wedding at sea package is the most expensive of all the cruise lines I talked to. So far they seem a bit hands off (I had to request the wedding brochures and other information be sent to me, it was never offered), once a problem arose I was sent an email regarding the time line and what would happen when but never saw that before hand. If we (and some guests) hadn't already booked and paid for the cruise I may have just cancelled and gone with a different cruise line.
I would say as long as you know you have to stay on top of everything, making the effort to contact them and get what you need, and as long as you get EVERYTHING in writing, things should be fine. They certainly won't hold your hand through the process or even give you much guidance.
That's my experience so far and we are at 73 days out. We are sailing June 8th with the wedding Friday the 13th (yes really :) ) Its a Friday the 13th with a full moon and that won't happen again for 35 years, hence why we need that date. I just hope we don't have a superstitious captain. ;)
