As much as it is known for being home to country music, my hometown of Nashville is also known for being the bachelorette party capital of the world. As a result, I have become accustomed to running into groups of shouting girls in identical clothes when wandering around downtown. When I found out that I would be serving as the maid of honour at the wedding of my best friend and that I would also need to plan a party, I prepared myself to wear a glittery cowboy hat and sing Shania karaoke.
As a result, I was taken aback when a friend of mine revealed that she wanted her bachelorette party to take place on a ship.
At first, I was unsure what to do. I had the impression that it would be quite pricey, and as a general rule, I stay away from vacations that I can't pay for with points and miles. In addition, I've been known to become seasick just riding the subway, so the idea of spending many days on a ship felt like I was playing Russian roulette with my health.
But since the bride always gets what she wants, we decided to book a cruise on the Carnival Liberty, which is operated by Carnival Cruise Line. The cruise is planned to depart from Port Canaveral, Florida, and make a stop in Nassau, Bahamas, during its three-day duration. After a few months had passed, I discovered that I was boarding my very own skyscraper of the sea, with Dramamine stuffed into all of my pockets.
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After experiencing one phenomenal party weekend, I believe that Nashville is in jeopardy of losing its top status as the go-to location for bachelorette parties.
My girlfriends and I had a wonderful time on our cruise for the bachelorette party, and we learned that a cruise is an excellent way to honour any bride. I'll explain why.
The reasons why a ship makes the ideal venue for a bachelorette party.
Because the bride was the only person in our party who had previously been on a cruise, the rest of us were in for a pleasant surprise when we learned how inexpensive, enjoyable, and hassle-free it was to go on a cruise with a large group.
Costs Not Unreasonable
Food, lodging, transportation, and activities for a bachelorette party may add up to a significant expense. Anyone who has attended a bachelorette party and spent a long weekend eating out for every meal and sharing an Airbnb with several other women knows this to be true. According to the recommendations of one website, attendees of bachelorette parties should be prepared to spend $250 every day.
On the other hand, the starting price for each passenger on our three-day cruise was less than $300. We stayed in three different cabins, each with two beds, and upgraded to have a window in our room rather than a private balcony. There were six of us in all. (At the time, I was under the impression that you couldn't book more than two people into a room, but I learned later that certain Carnival cabins can accommodate three or four guests, which would have resulted in cost savings for us.)
Even after paying for transportation to and from the port as well as gratuities, each of us still only spent about $400 total for the entire trip, which is far less than the typical cost of a bachelorette party.
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Aside from these expenditures, everybody had the option to determine for themselves whatever additional activities, if any, they wished to participate in during the trip. We had the option of adding packages to our reservation that included unlimited drinks or Wi-Fi service, but nobody was required to do so. We could also have booked shore excursions. Because we were able to link our credit cards to the cruise card that we used for all of our purchases on board, it was simple for us to divide the bill amongst ourselves because we only had to pay for what we had personally spent.
The only thing that could have made things more complicated is if anyone had decided they wanted to upgrade to a suite or a room that had a balcony. In such a scenario, they would have needed to either persuade someone else to share the room and the cost of the upgrade with them or pay a surcharge to stay in a room designed for two people while they were alone.
Despite this, the customizable nature of the cruise options meant that, in addition to the reasonable price of the trip overall, anyone may spend as much or as little as they liked, according to the constraints of their finances. We did not have to deal with the hassle of planning a bachelorette party vacation that took into account the varying financial positions of the attendees.
Choices are available in terms of activities.
Finding things that everyone in the group is interested in doing is always one of the most difficult problems of travelling in a group. Even beyond the affordable cost, this was the point in the trip where the cruise shone for us.
Because there was such a wide variety of onboard activities to choose from, each of us had the opportunity to relax by the pool and read a book, work out in the gym, participate in a class, or gamble in the casino on our own or with other people. We got along well with each other and switched between hanging out together and breaking off into pairs, but the flexibility would have been especially welcome if there had been more distinct subgroups or if some people in our group hadn't gotten along well with others. Although we all got along well, the flexibility would have been especially welcome if there had been more distinct subgroups or if some people in our group hadn't gotten along well with
We enjoyed getting together for supper at the ship's restaurant every night, which served as a nice counterpoint to the open-mindedness of our group's schedule throughout the day. Because of this, each night was elevated to the status of a momentous occasion, and we were able to spend more time as a unit.
We chose to stick together for the after-dinner entertainment, but we had the option of breaking up into smaller groups later on in the evening if some of us had wanted to see a play while the others wanted to sing karaoke.
Related: which onboard activities require reservations from passengers?
A spirit of celebration
Our voyage lived up to Carnival's reputation as "the party cruise line," which has been a common way to refer to the company. Because of the dancing and the general high energy that permeated the room, it was the ideal setting for a bachelorette celebration.
Because our particular group was chill, we participated in a few of the dance parties and watched others perform karaoke, but we spent the majority of our time lounging by the pool. Even if we had been more of a party-oriented group, we still would have had lots of opportunities to have fun between the clubs, the piano bar, the casino, and the comedy acts.
On our trip, we also met other groups that were celebrating a variety of occasions, such as birthdays, family reunions, and even divorces. As a result, our celebratory group did not feel out of place among the other groups we met.
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Minimal decisions
The fact that we were able to avoid having to make many important choices was another advantage that a cruise had over other types of group vacations.
The trip was chosen for the bachelorette party by the bride, and as a result, everyone had advance notice of the activities, as well as the associated costs, so they could decide whether or not it was a good fit for them.
Aside from that, we were not required to make any further preparations before the vacation in terms of what we would do or where we would eat when we were aboard the ship. When we boarded the ship, Carnival provided us with a list of our available activities, and from that point on, we were free to do whatever we pleased without having to conduct extensive restaurant research on Yelp or figure out the most efficient way to get from dinner to other activities in an unfamiliar city.
As soon as we boarded the ship, we made a pact to start the day together by eating breakfast together at a predetermined location (the restaurant on the first morning, the buffet on the second and third), and we stuck to our word. We prepared our lunches and ate them whenever and wherever it was convenient given the schedule for the day. After deciding on a time to get together for dinner each night in the ship's restaurant, we also decided on an activity for the entire group to participate in after dinner, such as karaoke.
We were grateful that to participate in the activities we desired, we did not need to do any before research, purchase tickets, or make transportation arrangements. After that, all we needed to do was book the cruise, figure out what we were going to bring, and choose which additional packages we wanted to add to our tickets. The other choices were unimportant, and we didn't have to make any of them until we were really on board.
Integrated dress standards
Because the ship had already planned a formal night for us, we were able to get dressed up without needing to consult with one another about the appropriate level of formality for evenings on board. We were previously aware that we needed to pack a cocktail dress with us, as well as which evening, we would wear it. In addition, we had a photo opportunity that did not call for any haggling among the members of our group.
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Several things to think about
Before you go ahead and book your bachelorette party cruise, you will want to give some consideration to the following items. Cruising is an enjoyable and stress-free way to honour the bride-to-be.
Weather
You should do some research on the best time of year for the weather in your chosen cruise destination, and then use that information to help you choose the dates for your bachelorette trip. If your engagement timeline and work schedules allow it.
Our celebration took place on a holiday weekend in January because the schedule was most convenient for us then; nevertheless, the weather was not as pleasant as we had anticipated it would be. Because of the cool and windy weather that weekend, we didn't get to spend much time basking in the warm sun. Instead, we spent most of our time huddling together under towel blankets to protect ourselves from the wind and attempting not to become seasick.
Since the possibility of severe weather is not exclusive to cruises, it is unreasonable to include it on a list of specific drawbacks associated with cruises. We could have just as easily planned a trip to the beach or a long weekend in Nashville, but the weather turned out to be unfavourable for both of those options. Stormy weather during a cruise adds another layer of complexity in the form of rough seas, which can make passengers feel ill to their stomachs.
Even though we had all brought medications and motion sickness patches with us, which were of some assistance, the storm was a challenge for all of us. Everyone we have spoken to since then has assured us that the majority of cruises are not like the one we had; but, the fact of the matter is that when you go on a cruise, there is always a danger of getting caught in a storm and being confined on a rocking boat. Before you make any reservations, make sure that everyone is aware of this potential. This will allow them to let you know if they are motion sensitive and not willing to risk being seasick.
Related: When to go on a cruise to the Caribbean for the best weather conditions
Extra expenses incurred
The cruise itself was an excellent value, and the money we paid covered all of our expenses for the three days we were on board, including our hotel, food, and activities. However, before you commit to booking a bachelorette party on a cruise, there are certain additional fees that you should consider.
Transportation to and from the port constitutes the most significant component of the increased expense. If you reside in the area, you probably won't have any problems with this. However, if you and the other members of your party reside a significant distance away from one another, you will also need to acquire plane tickets for your vacation. Because of the specific timing requirements of the trip, it may be challenging for you to discover affordable airline options. For instance, if you are travelling during a popular vacation period such as a holiday weekend, like we were, flight fees are likely to be high and can quickly drive up your party expenses. This was the case for us.
If you are a first-time cruiser and decide to follow the advice provided by TPG for first-time cruisers and arrive at your departure port a day early, you will need to include it in the cost of lodging for that additional night.
And of course, the price of your cruise ticket does not include a lot of the ship's facilities, so you'll have to pay extra for those. Be prepared to pay additional fees if you want to partake in activities such as drinking cocktails by the pool, getting spa treatments, or attending a fitness class while you're there.
Related: how to handle the problem of additional fees on cruise ships
Inflexibility in approach
When making reservations for a cruise bachelorette party, you will be restricted to the ports of call, dates, and the total number of days that are made available by the cruise line you select. You won't have any trouble selecting an itinerary that works thanks to the multitude of choices provided by many cruise lines; but the alternatives available to you are still less flexible than those you would have if you were planning your weekend holiday on land.
In addition, a cruise vacation is by definition an "all-or-nothing" kind of vacation. It may be difficult, if not impossible, to join the party late if someone becomes sick or if their trip is delayed for whatever reason. Particularly in the case of a short weekend cruise, if you are late for the ship's departure, you will be unable to attend the rest of the event.
Bottom line
A cruise is an excellent option for any kind of group excursion because it offers activities for a diverse group of people at very reasonable pricing. When the next time comes that you need to arrange a bachelorette party, you should seriously consider going on a cruise with your girlfriends. In our opinion, there is no better way to honour your wife as she embarks on this new chapter of her life than by doing so.
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