REAL DEALS

Different weddings, on land and sea

By Richard P. Carpenter,Globe Staff, 4/20/2003


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In spring a young person's fancy turns to thoughts of love (though, come to think of it, that happens any time of year). And when those thoughts evolve into marriage plans, some couples look for ceremonies in romantic settings away from where they live. A few samples of "different" locations:

On the beach. Occidental Allegro Cozumel, in the Mexican Caribbean, offers beach weddings that include a judge and ceremony, wedding cake, bridal bouquet and corsage, bottle of champagne, fruit basket, and wedding decorations. Packages are $750 per couple. Additional services are available for extra cost, including Mariachi bands, rose or tropical flower bouquets, fruit baskets, champagne, and two-tiered wedding cakes. As with all wedding packages mentioned in this column, accommodations are not included.

Visit www.allegroresorts.com or call 011-52-987-87-29770.

At sea. While several cruise ships hold ceremonies when they are in port, the Princess line has weddings at sea. You can be legally married by the ship's captain aboard the Grand Princess, Golden Princess, Corl Princess, and Star Princess. Prices, which include the ceremony, registration, official marriage certificate, photos, champagne, a small cake, and other amenities (but not the cruise itself) begin at $1,800; a range of extras can be added to the base package.

See a travel agent, call 800-PRINCESS, or visit www.princess.com.

Under the sea. An Islands in the Sun honeymoon package to Tahiti features a $1,480 Subaquatical Wedding option, in which the blissful twosome arrives by outrigger canoe at the Sofitel Ia Ora Moorea's flower-decked floating chapel, then dives into the sea for an underwater ceremony conducted by a Polynesian pastor and followed by champagne and music at the chapel.

Call 800-828-6877 or visit www.islandsinthesun.com.

On the Strip. No, you don't have to have an Elvis imitator at a Las Vegas ceremony. But you can get married in a newer version of the hotel where Elvis Presley wed Priscilla Beaulieu in an eight-minute ceremony -- the Aladdin Hotel and Casino. The Aladdin has one of the city's newest and most elaborate wedding areas, patterned after a Mediterranean villa.

There are more than a half-dozen packages, with the lowest-priced, titled "I Do," beginning at $399. Included are a ceremony in the small chapel, the services of a wedding coordinator, music, the bouquet and boutonniere, a dozen 4 {MU 6 photos, and the presence of up to a dozen guests. But if you insist on having an Elvis type present, the $999 "Love Me Tender" package includes two songs by the Presley wannabe, a six-rose clutch bridal bouquet, boutonniere, garter, video of the ceremony, and a dozen 4 x 6 pictures. At extra cost, the Elvis imitator will give you an hourlong tour in his pink Cadillac. (Don't newlyweds have better things to do than ride around with a faux Elvis?)

(The fine print: The minister's fee is an additional $50.)

Call 800-WILL-WED or visit www.aladdinweddingchapel.com.

In an inn. For those who don't want to stray too far from home, there is a new wedding package at the Rosewood Country Inn in Bradford, N.H., for $350 that features a ceremony at the Victorian gazebo on the grounds, or by candlelight near the inn's fireplace. Included are the services of a justice of the peace, a wedding cake for two, a bottle of French champagne and keepsake crystal champagne flutes, and a tray of hors d'oeuvres. The inn can accommodate up to 25 guests for the ceremony, at $15 a person.

Call 800-938-5273 or visit www.rosewoodcountryinn.com.

Adieu

In an age of razzle-dazzle theme parks, Cypress Gardens, with its water shows and profusion of flowers, looked backward to an earlier, more sedate Florida. "The park maintains that touch of gentility and Southern hospitality that has been its trademark," Robert Cutting wrote in the Globe a few years back. Sadly, that formula could not survive the post-Sept. 11 downturn in tourism. Although the park was a good value, especially for families, it closed last Sunday after 67 years and will be missed by many.

Using those miles

Consumer Reports magazine notes in its May issue that the airlines requiring the fewest frequent-flier miles -- 20,000 -- for a domestic ticket are US Airways (off-peak), Alaska, and America West airlines. Airlines requiring the fewest miles for European flights -- 40,000 -- are US Airways (off-peak), Alaska, American, and Midwest. The magazine also notes that through June 6, Southwest Airlines is giving double credit for frequent-flier miles for online booking.

"Mamma Mia!"

At $635 for two, it's not cheap, but surely Mother is worth it. The Ritz-Carlton New York, Battery Park, has a Mother's Day package for May 10-11 that includes a night in a city-view room, two tickets for the Broadway musical "Mamma Mia!", a ride to the theater in a luxury car, and Mother's Day brunch at the hotel's 2 West restaurant.

(The fine print: Harbor-view rooms are available for $40 more, taxes and tips are not included, and you do not get a luxury-car ride back from the theater.)

Call 800-241-3333 or visit wwww.ritzcarlton.com.

Fare sale

Northwest Airlines is having a sale on destinations throughout the world, with round-trip prices starting at $88 for domestic travel, $518 for travel to Asia, and $370 for travel to Europe. For example, Northwest says a Boston-Osaka, Japan, trip would cost $724 plus airport taxes and fees.

(The fine print: Tickets for travel within North America and to Europe must be purchased by April 22. Tickets to Asia must be purchased by April 29. Domestic trips must be taken by Sept. 9; for Asia, June 30; and for Europe, Oct. 3.)

Visit www.nwa.com or call 800-225-2525.