Vow Renewal Question...

This subject has been brought up many times on this forum, and it seems like if you want to go the Disney way, you have to pay the piper! I know Disney frowns on anyone trying to have a ceremony on Disney property without going through them, but I don't know about the cruise islands and those regulations. It's a very difficult question to get an answer for.

Here's what I found for Nassau, it seems to me that since you will not need a license that it could be a possibility. If it were a wedding it would not be.

http://www.nassauparadiseisland.com/what-to-do/weddings/planning/

Here's the kicker though. You are NEVER guaranteed to hit a specific port at a specific time, on ANY cruise. The safety of the passengers and the ship must take priority. Though the chances are slim, but if you don't plan through DCL and conditions don't allow for you to hit that Port you could end up with no vow Renewal at all. Booking through DIsney allows you the security of knowing that even if you can't make Port the vow renewal will still happen.

Personally, I don't believe in vow renewals because the first set of vows is supposed to last till death do us part, and the only reason I would need to renew vows is if, you know, one of us had violated them. But that's just me; I don't want to rain on anyone else's parade.

Since you don't want anything fancy, no party, cake, etc., why not skip the officiant as well? Play some music from your wedding on whatever portable device you have handy. Get copies of the service and vows you took at your wedding and revise them so you're addressing each other with no witnesses (see below). Wear something romantic, maybe even get a few flowers (they have a florist on the ship, yes?), maybe to exchange in lieu of rings. Then when the ship arrives at a promising destination, find a secluded, picturesque spot on the beach and get to it kinda like this (script/vows borrowed from online sites):

You: Honey, we are gathered just the two of us in the sight of God and all of nature to celebrate our union of holy matrimony.

Him: We do not create this marriage, because we cannot. We can and do, however, celebrate the wondrous and joyful occurrence that has already taken place in our lives, and the recommitment we make today.

You: True marriage is more than joining the bonds of marriage of two persons; it is the union of two hearts. It lives on the love we give each other and never grows old, but thrives on the joy of each new day. Marriage is love. May we always be able to talk things over, to confide in each other, to laugh with each other, to enjoy life together, and to share moments of quiet and peace, when the day is done. May we be blessed with a lifetime of happiness and a home of warmth and understanding.

Him: No other human ties are more tender and no other vows more important than those we have taken. Both of us come to this day with the deep realization that the contract of marriage is sacred as are all of its obligations and responsibilities.

(Add poetry, scripture, or other readings as desired.)

You: I take you to be my wedded husband, and I do promise and covenant, before God and nature, to be your loving and faithful wife, in plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, as long as we both shall live.

Him: I take you to be my wedded wife, and I do promise and covenant, before God and nature, to be your loving and faithful husband, in plenty and in want, in joy and in sorrow, in sickness and in health, as long as we both shall live.

(If you're exchanging tokens of your commitment like an anniversary ring, flowers, or something else, exchange here with appropriate words.)

Both together: And now, in the sight of God and nature, we reaffirm our commitment as husband and wife. (Kiss.)

What Ports will you be hitting? I haven't done a DCL Western yet.

Several of my friends have gotten married in the Caribbean and said that it was great. DW and I thought about a destination wedding, but decided to keep things local. After we went to Hawaii for our honeymoon, we thought if we ever thought about renewing vows that we would do it there. Since we were there, Aulani is now open so that is something we may consider for the future. We have not considered anything in the Caribbean. I think DCL now has a Hawaii cruise, so we incorporate that into the trip.

I don't have any suggestions, but I think this is a really sweet idea! Have fun! Let us know what you end up doing!