The goodies are coming, the goodies are coming!

Yes, holiday season is around the corner. But no matter if the season is before you, if you are smack in the middle of it, or trying to recover from the seasonal blitz, there will always be tempting treats calling your name. Leftover Halloween candy will fill bowls and candy dishes until they are immediately replaced with the next traditional favorite. And don’t think you are safe after the first of the year. Cupid will be waiting with his sharp little chocolate arrow! Then there is that silly rabbit. And, what about the 3:00 pick-me-up you need everyday? Will it ever end? What can be done to prevent the extra sugar and fat from sneaking into your day-to-day diet?

Numerous studies performed by food psychologist Brian Wansink, Ph.D, confirm that “out of sight is out of mind”. Temptation is hard to fight, and readily available goodies are just that – a temptation that is often too hard to resist! In one study, secretaries were provided chocolate candy. Once group had chocolate in clear containers on their desk, while another group had chocolate in opaque containers on their desk. The results? The secretaries ate twice as many candies from the clear containers on their desk as from the opaque containers. On top of that, when the candy was hidden or further away, the secretaries were twice as likely to say they forgot about the candy all together.

So, what is the good news in all of this? Keep high-calorie, unhealthy treats out of sight! This will help limit visions of sugar plums from dancing in your head (and eventually on your hips). You may even consider a reverse trick. Try keeping healthy foods “in sight and on your mind”! By keeping grapes or baby carrots readily available and easily accessible, you may be more likely to satisfy your snacking habit with healthy options. Not only will this help you fit more fruits and veggies into your day, it may also assist you in replacing unnecessary “empty calories” nutrient-rich, reduced-calorie snacks.

By: Mandy Conrad

About the Author:

Create a video blog

The highlight of South African living is the breakfast, desserts, snacks and drinks. Easy to please anyone. Breakfast varies between “mieliepap” and “beskuit”. “Mieliepap” is the same consistency as polenta and served with a teaspoon of sugar, butter and milk. A great creamy and healthy breakfast to see you through the morning hours. “Beskuit” is rusks, dough baked in the oven, broken apart and then places back in the oven to dry out. The perfect breakfast, specially for those living on farms, is home made rusks, dunked into your morning coffee. If you are more of a tea lover, try the great local herbal tea called “rooibos”

During the morning you can chew on some “biltong” which is salty dried meat or “droëwors”, which is dried sausage. You can not watch any rugby or cricket match without this salty snack. By now it is time for more coffee served with banana, ginger of mealie bread, smeared with butter. Mealie bread is a sweet bread, baked with sweet corn. You will probably wonder why we have such an obsession with mealies? Well, mealies basically are Africa’s staple food. We use it to make breakfast, bread, crisps (or chips) and many more.

After you finish this, it is time for your main meal of the day. And then the BEST course arrives, the dessert. Most puddings are baked pies served with custard and ice cream or a special sauce. Malva pudding is one of the old time favourites, a great, sweet tasting spongy apricot dessert with a lovely sweet sauce. Cottage pudding is a type of cake pudding served with a special white wine sauce.

If you prefer a colder dessert, this is the place to be. Enjoy a fresh fruit salad with ice cream, made from local seasonal fruit. The most famous fruits are grapes, apples, naartjies (a type of tangerine), peaches, apricots, mangoes, melons and many more. There is nothing more refreshing than a fresh fruit salad. If you like ice cream, there are special treats in store for you as well. Try the watermelon or papaya flavoured ice cream in a cone or on its own.

As a special treat, why not try a Dom Pedro? This is ice cream with a little drop of milk and a shot of your favourite whiskey of liqueur. Try Amarula liqueur, made from the potent marula fruit or van der Hum liqueur, made from fresh naartjies. This is a treat you should not pass on.

Later the afternoon you can enjoy some “koeksisters”, a very sweet delicacy. Afrikaans “koeksisters” are twisted pastries, deep fried and then sweetened with a very sweet sauce. Another favourite of mine is “ystervarkies”, a sponge cake, dunked in a home made chocolate sauce, rolled in coconut! Doesn’t that just sound magnificent?

If you prefer something less sweet, try the “melktert” (milk tart). This is a milk-based tart, absolutely gorgeous if you eat it warm, just as it is made. If you want something savoury, try the “souttert” (savoury tart) consisting mostly of vienna sausages, cheese, onions, herbs and egg.

For the evening you can enjoy one the best known foods, “vetkoek”. This is a treat. You can enjoy “vetkoek” in three ways. Dunk it in your tea, butter with syrup and cheese or stuffed with curry mince. No matter which one you choose, you will not be disappointed. If you are looking for something smaller, try the “plaatkoekies” (almost like crumpets) served with marmite or syrup or maybe try some pancakes with cinnamon sugar?

During the day you will never go thirsty. If you like warm drinks, there are the many varieties of strong coffees, regular tea, “rooibos” tea, hot chocolate and my favourite, milo. This is a great drink filled with vitamins and minerals, made with warm or cold milk. If you prefer cold drinks, try the various ice teas and fruit juices. Guava, orange, grinadella, fruit cocktail, grape, peach, pear, apple, apricot and mango are only a few choices you have in fruit juices. Guava and mango must be two of the most loved choices.

If you are looking for a bottle of wine to accompany you meals, there are hundreds of local Cape wines to choose from. You will be spoilt for choice. Make sure you try as much as you can and enjoy the hospitality while you are visiting the rainbow country, South Africa.

These are only a few of the great traditional South African recipes you can try. You will need a long time to try them all. Enjoy!

By: Lizel Salter

About the Author:

Caffeinated Content

Food intolerances or sensitivities are a problem for a lot of people. Unlike allergies, you can grow into and out of food intolerances. Food intolerance symptoms are not caused by the immune system as are allergic reactions. They are usually milder and are the body’s reaction to foods that you cannot break down and digest properly. These effects are sometimes felt as headaches, general irritation, loss of sleep, and an upset stomach. Food intolerance is a very annoying experience for you.

Allergies on the other hand, are caused by the body’s immune system reacting to a normal substance by producing excess antigens. These antigens can cause severe pathologic reactions and symptoms. A food allergy occurs when you come in contact to a particular food that you are sensitive to with an almost immediate and severe allergic reaction as a consequence. Food intolerance symptoms take longer to develop and may not occur for hours or even days after contact with the food in question.

Symptoms of food intolerance and allergies can take a bewildering variety of forms. They often include swelling of the lips, throat, and other areas. Skin rashes can result from a food intolerance as well as breathing difficulties. Digestive distress such as vomiting, pain, and diarrhea are also common to people suffering with food intolerances. Symptoms of a food allergy vary greatly and are often mistaken for a food allergy.

Food intolerance symptoms rarely occur right after eating the food but usually take hours or even days to become apparent. This makes the offending food sometimes very difficult to determine. Unlike allergies, which seem to stay with you for life, food intolerances are quickly cured by removing the particular food that caused the problem from you diet.

Only by removing the food item from your diet can you be sure of reducing and eliminating your food intolerance problem. The common test is a form of an elimination diet carried out under a doctor’s supervision. This will enable your doctor to find and eliminate the problem food. By making small changes to your diet, sometimes wonder results occur. Many people have experienced relief from a whole range of chronic and unexplained health problems by dealing with a food intolerance problem.

By: Lee S Mcpherron

About the Author:

Create a video blog

Love Chocolate? You’ll love Hershey!

Chocolate Town, USA. The story of the American Dream. And a great place for a weekend getaway or a week-long vacation. Come touring with us, as we visit the unique town of Hershey, Pennsylvania. It’s the realization of Milton Hershey’s dreams.

He was born shortly before the Civil War (1857). His family’s frequent moves interfered with his schooling. He got no farther than fourth grade. At 14, he apprenticed with a printer and got fired. He then apprenticed with a candy maker.

Milton’s first business attempt failed, as did several others. In between, he worked for other candy makers, gleaning their secrets. In 1885, he and a partner opened a caramel company in Lancaster. The fresh milk he used in his confections was part of his secret recipe. Finally, the public responded with enthusiasm. Hershey caramels were shipped as far away as Europe, and the business expanded.

Milton traveled to the Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1892 to learn about European candy. While there, he purchased a German chocolate roller. He sold the caramel company to fund his new chocolate factory. After years of experimenting to find the right recipe, the Hershey Bar went on sale in 1900. And the rest, as they say, is history.

Hershey is a company town, designed for the employees of the chocolate company. Milton Hershey’s philosophy included taking care of the workers in his employ. When the depression hit, he kept his construction workers busy building the hotel and a school. The hotel’s design incorporated many of the places he and his wife had visited in Europe: Spanish tile, quarried stone, a massive circular dining room “with no bad views”, and lush formal gardens with fountains and reflecting pools. Unfortunately, Mrs. Hershey died before construction began.

Whether you stay at the Hotel Hershey or not, it is worth a visit to this grand dame of American Grand Hotels. Stroll the grounds. Sip a cocktail at the Iberian Lounge. If you are not a guest, advance reservations are required for gourmet dining in the Circular Dining Room.

Nearby, Hershey Gardens spreads across the hill overlooking the town. The Hotel grounds, the Milton Hershey School and the promontory border the gardens. Mr. Hershey started with just 3½ acres to “create a nice garden” of roses for his wife. Within five years, it included 23 acres. More than a dozen themed areas include specimen trees, unusual shrubs and seasonal floral displays. Tour the Children’s Garden and Butterfly House.

In June, the scent of the roses is so sweet, it overpowers the scent of chocolate that the town is famous for. The chocolate smell comes from the hulls of the cacao beans that are used for mulch – everywhere! Rain enhances the sweet, chocolaty scent. Admission to the gardens is only $10; it’s a wonderful way to wile away an afternoon. Special events are held throughout the year. Enjoy the Rhododendron Show in mid-May and a Wine & Roses celebration in early June.

Your tour to Hershey won’t be complete without a stop at Chocolate World. It’s a simulated tour of a chocolate factory. Nibble on a free sample at the end of the ride. Purchase chocolates at the Factory Store. Have your picture taken beside the giant Hershey’s Kiss. Even the streetlights in town are made to look like Hershey’s kisses.

Add a day at Hershey Park to your recipe for a great vacation. The combo ticket includes admission to the park, plus adjacent ZooAmerica and the Hershey Museum. Sixty rides delight every age. There is also a small water park, entertainment, and a variety of dining options. If you’re visiting at Christmas, be sure to see the display of lights throughout the park. It’s a winter wonderland.

There are dozens of other fun places to visit in the area: historic railroad excursions, local caverns, nearby Pennsylvania Dutch country, and the battlefields of Gettysburg. Whether you go for a mini-vacation, or stay for a week, Hershey, Pennsylvania is a sweet place to visit.

By: Ruth Seebeck

About the Author:

Create a video blog

Abstaining from chocolate is surely not an easy feat. The joy of chocolate is just too hard to resist even when it is loaded with sugar that obviously takes a toll on our health. Luckily, recent studies have shown that chocolate has tons of health benefits, particularly dark chocolate because it contains higher levels of cocoa and thus contain more antioxidants that’s even higher than black tea and red wine. Still, sugar levels in milk chocolate and white chocolate is enough to give the diabetic a heart attack. Even chocolates that are marketed as sugarless or sugar-free still contain maltitol, which is almost as bad as sugar. Is it possible to consume chocolate in its pure yummy goodness without consuming the carbohydrates and alarmingly high sugar? With a little ingenuity, it’s possible!

The Nutritious Content of Chocolate
Unsweetened chocolate contains about 8 grams of carbohydrate and around 145 calories, more than half of it is fiber, which is very good for the stomach and for aiding digestion. Chocolate, particularly unsweetened chocolate, also contains lots of minerals. One ounce of unsweetened chocolate contains about a quarter of the magnesium and iron, and about half of the manganese and copper that our body needs in a day. The fat contained in chocolate, when it is made of pure cocoa butter (and not animal fat or vegetable fat), is healthy fat-either stearic acid or monounsaturated fat, both considered to be “good saturated fat.” Three table spoons, or about 36 calories of unsweetened cocoa powder, has the same amount of fiber and carbohydrates as unsweetened chocolate but has lower levels of vitamins and minerals,. However, it also has much less fat content.

Appreciating Unsweetened Chocolate
The Maya and Aztecs, the earliest civilizations known to have consumed chocolate, used to drink unsweetened chocolate spiked up with some chili and spices. It was considered a drink for the royal family and was adopted by the Spanish courts. Unsweetened chocolate also makes a wonderful ingredient for unusual but interesting dishes such as Cincinnati Chili and Mexican mole sauces. It adds a fuller and richer flavor to dishes that blends well with sauces without being too distinct, plus it adds a wonderful aroma. When it comes to desserts and sweets, it’s harder to go totally unsweetened. Unsweetened cocoa has a really bitter taste that may be too string for most people’s palate. Artificial sweeteners are available, such as maltitol and other sugar alcohols. However, maltitol is about the same as regular sugar when it comes to its blood sugar impact, so using it as a sugar substitute may be defeating the point. While we want to find a healthy alternative to sweetening chocolate, we don’t want to sacrifice depth of flavor and mouth feel. Sugar alcohols can provide the same characteristics as regular sugar to chocolates. It counteracts the bitterness of chocolate wonderfully better than artificial sweeteners. Sugar alcohols are not all alike though. When buying sugar-free milk chocolates, use sugar alcohols that have the least impact on blood sugar such as erythritol. A healthy, but still yummy alternative is diabetic chocolate.

By: Chris Alleny

About the Author:

Caffeinated Content

During holiday seasons people like to see holiday themes on custom vinyl banners. If you would like to do this below are some ideas for some interesting custom vinyl banners that will be sure to create a lot of interest.

Seasonal custom vinyl banners should be designed to bring about a happy fun mood. This will be sure to attract more customers. Here is an example of how a company could use a seasonal custom vinyl banner for just this purpose.

Our example company sells ice cream and frozen treats. The time of the year that our company sells their most is during the summer months when the weather is hot. So they will try and create some interesting banners for these months. They can use 4th of July theme or even the family picnic theme. This will work well for the summer. But our company is smart. They know that with some really creative custom banners around. Thanksgiving and Christmas time they can create enough interest to increase sales at this usually slow time.

For the summer 4th of July custom vinyl banner, they will need to pick a background color for their sign. This color should be vibrant and tie in with the season. For this particular sign, they select sky blue. The color reflects the sunny skies of summer and will mesh well with many different color choices. For their text color, the company has selected red for their main text elements and white for accent text.

Now, the company needs to move on to the graphic selection stage. It is important to consider the emotional reasons that cause your customers to buy your product. For the summer 4th of July theme a flag or fireworks will work along with a few kids eating ice cream. This will create the idea that the kids are having fun with the fire works and some added enjoyment eating your ice cream. For the summer family reunion they might use graphics to help the reunion planner to include some ice cream .A couple kids helping them self to some ice cream from the ice cooler will work. These graphics make a customer feel tied in with the graphics and trigger the desire for something cool.

Have some of the graphics an actual picture of your company’s ice cream from the company. This Custom Vinyl Graphic will be large, crisp and showcase the actual product. The supporting vinyl graphics, mentioned above, will be strategically positioned throughout the sign.

The text announcing a special price on this particular ice cream treat will be displayed at the top of the main graphic. It is important not to hide the picture of the treat, since that is the main design element of the sign.

Extra text will go at the bottom of the sign, using the accent color of white. This text will be used to announce other items that are for sale and the length of time that the special treat will be priced at a special rate. This information is important to include on a sign, particularly if a sale is time limited.

Now that the sign has been designed, it is time to figure out where to display the custom vinyl banner. This means that the company will be able to display it outside. They select the sidewalk in front of their business, using a special display stand for their sign.

This stand has a steady base and a frame in which the banner will be inserted. If you wanted to display a larger custom vinyl banner for this type of sale, you could also hang it across the front of your business, or in a display window lead people to this entrance.

By: Jamie Quint

About the Author:

Create a video blog

All you have to do is follow these simple steps and you can serve delicious crab cake burgers as an entrée at your next dinner party! Crab cakes are a very popular dish, and burgers are an American favorite, therefore, as soon as I heard of a recipe for crab cake burgers I knew I had discovered a wonderful solution to break the same-old same-old, of the everyday dinner party. With delicious seafood recipes like this one, an average get-together becomes a festive and savory meal to share with friends, family members, office associates or anyone else who comes to dinner.

The entrée takes about 20 minutes to prepare. The measurements used in this recipe will serve about six people. Depending on the size of your dinner party, you may want to double the recipe. To make the crab cake burgers you will need the following ingredients: one pound of crab meat, one egg, a half-cup of bread crumbs, a quarter cup of mayonnaise, light mayonnaise, or ranch dressing (it is up to you). You will also need two tablespoons of minced chives, a tablespoon of Dijon mustard (also optional), a tablespoon of lemon juice, a teaspoon of celery seed, a teaspoon of onion powder, a half-clove of fresh garlic (also optional), a pinch of fresh ground pepper, hot sauce (approximately four dashes or to taste), one tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil, and two teaspoons of unsalted butter. Once your ingredients are ready, begin this simple two-step process for the best crab cake burgers you have ever tasted!

First, mix together crab meat, egg, breadcrumbs, mayo (or ranch dressing), chives, mustard, lemon juice, celery seed, onion powder, pepper, and hot sauce in a large mixing bowl. Form the mixture into six medium-sized patties.

Heat the oil and butter, as well as the garlic (finely sliced) in a large, non-stick skillet over medium-to-low heat until the butter stops foaming. Cook each of the patties until they appear golden brown. They will need to remain over heat for approximately four minutes on each side before they are fully cooked.

Serve on artisanal rolls or even regular old hamburger buns, toasted or not.

Many foods will go well with your crab burgers such as a seafood salad, seaweed salad, or mouth-watering soups such as crab, lobster, or plain tomato bisque. You could also serve gourmet French fries, homemade potato crisps, or fancy breads, crackers and cheeses to accentuate your meal.

There are several ways to add a dramatic flare your delicious seafood dinners with sides and appetizers. For a side of fruit you can serve up a fruit salad with tropical flare. For example: instead of oranges, use mangoes, instead of apples use pineapple or star fruits, add bananas for their sweet, unique flavor, or perhaps add a twist of lime-juice for extra flavor. Delicious seafood recipes and simple additions of tropical or otherwise unique flavors to the dinnertime norm can turn your everyday BBQ party into a high-scale and super savory hit that people will be certain to remember.

By: Anne Clarke

About the Author:

Website content

Let’s sing the praises of chocolate! Dark, creamy, sweet and bitter – a little chocolate makes everything better. As far as “treats” go, you could do far worse.

Chocolate in the many forms we know and love is derived from the pods of the cacao tree. Ripe pods boast 20 to 50 beans each, which are then fermented to reduce bitterness. After cleaning and roasting, the shells are cracked to reveal the “nibs” found within. These are usually ground into an oily paste and blended according to manufacturer’s needs.

The potential health benefits of chocolate are many. Most importantly, cacao is a great source of magnesium. That’s one of the reasons some women crave chocolate during menstruation, when they’re low in that mineral. Magnesium balances brain chemistry, builds strong bones, and is associated with feelings of happiness. Cacao is also high in sulfur, which helps form strong nail and hair and clear skin. It also detoxifies the liver and supports healthy pancreatic function. Perhaps best of all, cacao also contains the chemicals phenylethylamine (PEA) and anandamide. PEA is an adrenal-related chemical that we create naturally when we’re in love. It also plays a role in feeling focused and alert. Anandamide is also known as the “bliss” chemical, because we release it when we feel great. Chocolate really does make us happy!

Now for the bad news. All these great benefits are from the raw form of chocolate. So eating a Hershey’s bar isn’t going to cut it. When the cacao is roasted to create most of the chocolate-y products we crave, it increases the amount of theobromine and oxalic acid. Theobromine is a caffeine-like chemical which carries all the negative health effects of caffeine itself. Oxalic acid has been shown to inhibit calcium absorption. Additionally, most chocolate goodies are usually mixed with refined sugars and mucus-forming dairy products.

While eating organic cacao nibs or creating your own raw confections is the most supportive chocolate choice, there are some “over the counter” chocolate products I recommend. Vital Choice offers organic bars with 80% cacao content. Dagoba also has some high cacao content organic bars. Their milk chocolate, however, does not offer the same health benefits as the dark. There are other great manufacturers out there besides these two. Your best guideline is to buy organic, fair trade when possible. Try to go for the highest cacao content that still tastes good to you. If 80 percent is too bitter, try 74.

Have a chocolate taste-test party! Try out different brands and styles. I wouldn’t recommend turning into a Willy Wonka type, but enjoy yourself and have fun experimenting with delicious chocolate goodness!

By: Trish Balbert

About the Author:

Kansieo.com

Note: menu offerings and prices may vary.

Chef and Co-Owner Marcel Desaulniers opened The Trellis Restaurant in 1980 while both observing and inspiring the rebirth of American Cuisine. Described in his book Burger Meisters as a culinary paradox because of his healthy eating patterns even after authoring Death By Chocolate, Marcel Desaulniers believes that while eating can be healthy and delicious, an occasional indulgence is good for the soul.

Eating at the Trellis is that indulgence when visiting Williamsburg. Burgers are plentiful on the menu, and taste just as good as they look when they arrive at your table. Other menu items are no less delicious and frequently no less sinful, but hey, you can’t eat at the Trellis everyday, so enjoy!

For dinner, The Trellis offers seasonal menus, so what you enjoyed in the spring will likely not be available come fall. Whether it’s a leafy green salad or a dish complimented by gourd vegetables and prime cuts of beef or lamb, every day at the The Trellis guarantees a pleasant culinary surprise. The restaurant offers two different menus for varying appetites – a full dinner menu for the main dining area and a cafe menu for light diners. This roster features the famous burger with Tillamook cheddar cheese, a savory cheesecake of the day (like a quiche, but better), and a delicious nutty tuna sandwich.

Dessert is a must. Even if you can’t make it for lunch or dinner, at least visit for dessert. Chocolate Phantasmagoria, White and Dark Chocolate Dacquoise, and the inimitable Death by Chocolate are just a few of the alternating treats that await the bidding of your sweet tooth. These extraordinary desserts are part of the joy of dining at the Trellis, and are an experience not to be missed when visiting Williamsburg. I can personally vouch for the first and last desserts named here. If you love chocolate, you need to come here.

The Trellis is located on Duke of Gloucester Street in the heart of Colonial Williamsburg. For more information or to find out what’s for dessert, call (804) 229-8610.

By: M. Lively

About the Author:

Caffeinated Content – Members-Only Content for WordPress

A wedding, whether it is your first or fifth, can be the best, and the most stressful, experience of your life. Except, of course, if you choose to tie the knot at sea. When getting married on a cruise ship, you’ll have a host of professionals trained to accommodate your every need during your cruise wedding. From cakes to tuxedos, accommodations to the reception hall, you won’t have to go off-board for anything. Unless of course you choose to have your reception on shore. In which case, the amenities come to you.

Imagine saying your vows on the beautiful beaches of the Caribbean, on a hillside vineyard in Italy, or on the snowy-white glaciers of Alaska. The possibilities are endless.

There are a few stipulations when getting married on a cruise ship. First, the captain generally does not marry the couple (except with Princess Cruises). A wedding officiant will be provided by the cruise line for that purpose. Second, cruise weddings take place while in port, not while at sea. You can choose to get married on board when in port or at a selected location on shore. Finally, the bride and groom must be sailing on the cruise in order to get married on it. Your guests can, however, board the ship for the wedding without sailing on the cruise.

Many cruise lines provide cruise wedding packages and coordinators to make sure that your day is special and runs smoothly. Carnival Cruise Lines, Norwegian Cruise Line, Holland America Line, Princess Cruises, and Royal Caribbean International, all provide wedding packages for couples sailing on their ships. Crystal Cruises and Cunard Line do not allow weddings on their ships. The cost of tying the knot at sea ranges from $900 to $2,400 and generally includes transportation to and from the port, wedding facilities, wedding officiant, wedding coordinator, ceremony music, flowers for the bride and groom, cake, champagne, photographer, wedding album, and dinner. Many will also arrange spa and hair appointments, as well as tuxedo rentals. Of course, each line has their own packages. Read below for information on the most popular cruise lines and their wedding options.

PLEASE NOTE: Prices provided on this page are general indicators of wedding package costs. They are provided to give a general indication of costs for couples in the early stages of planning their weddings. Stated prices are not guaranteed and do not include taxes.

Carnival Cruises
For those looking to celebrate a special occasion, Carnival offers a variety of packages designed to suit every need. Wedding ceremonies are performed by a wedding officiant before the ship sets sail and Carnival provides a photographer who takes pictures both during the ceremony and the reception. These photos are available for purchase during the cruise.

The basic cruise wedding package is for eight guests (including bride and groom) and includes the ceremony, bridal bouquet, groom’s boutonniere, bottle of sparkling wine, wedding cake, wedding music, and photography service. This package is priced starting at $750, prices vary depending on the port. The other wedding packages offered by Carnival add to the basic package with a combination of wedding luncheon, open bar, champagne, and the accommodation of up to 20 guests. These packages range in price from $1,050 to $1,450. Guests may wish to add a videographer, tuxedo rental, additional food and beverage service, or live entertainment.

Holland America Line
Holland America Line offers a variety of packages for those celebrating weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, and other special occasions.

Weddings
Holland America’s wedding package is called Anchors Away. It includes the ceremony setup, personal wedding coordinator, personalized wedding ceremony, bridal bouquet, groom’s boutonniere, wedding cake, champagne, and a cruise album. This package starts at $1,295 USD.

Renewal of Vows
Holland America Line’s renewal of vows package is priced at $99USD and includes flowers in your stateroom, renewal ceremony with hors d’oeuvres and beverages, as well as a photograph and photo album.

Special Occasion
The basic celebration package includes flowers in your stateroom, champagne, a special dessert in the dining room, framed photograph, and special recognition. This package is $79USD. You can add to this package with amenities like a dozen roses, a pair of terrycloth bathrobes, a special chocolate pillow gift, couple’s massage, and a guaranteed table for two in the dining room. The price for the more elaborate package is $410 USD.

If your special occasion is of a romantic nature, Holland America has a romantic package that provides you with flowers, champagne, chocolate-covered strawberries, a framed photograph, $25 in casino chips, and an aromatherapy massage. This package is priced at $169 USD.

Norwegian Cruise Line
Norwegian Cruise Lines gives passengers a variety of options when planning a wedding on one of their ships. Wedding packages range in price from $1200 USD to $2,399 USD and can accommodate anywhere from eight to twenty five guests.

Wedding Package
Norwegian’s basic package will accommodate a maximum of eight guests (including the bride and groom) and includes the wedding officiant, wedding music, keepsake marriage certificate, ceremony location, wedding cake, champagne, and a photograph package. The photograph package provides the bride and groom with twelve portraits, a mini-album, and two 8″ by 10″ selected portraits. You can add to this package with such amenities as additional guests, a one-hour, open bar reception with hors d’oeuvres, additional champagne, additional photographs, a two-hour sit-down lunch with wine, and live music.

Anniversary and Honeymoon Package
Whether you’re looking for a deluxe package with all the fixings or a small combination of some simple luxuries, Norwegian Cruise Line can accommodate your needs. With prices ranging from $79 to $329, the basic package includes champagne and strawberries, canapes in your stateroom, photograph, and romantic dinner for two in the bistro with a complimentary bottle of wine. The most deluxe offer gives couples champagne and strawberries, spa wrap, massage, breakfast-in-bed, a formal portrait, and a romantic dinner for two in the bistro with a bottle of wine.

Princess Cruises

Weddings
Princess Cruises offers customizable cruise wedding packages that include everything from bouquets and wedding cake to portraits and tuxedo rental. You and your Cruise Consultant can work together to create the package that suits all of your wedding needs. One special bonus with Princess is that your wedding ceremony will be conducted by the captain of your ship.

Renewal of Vows
The basic package costs $205 and includes the ceremony, bouquet, boutonniere of orchids, commemorative certificate, a bottle of champagne with engraved champagne glasses in your stateroom, and a framed portrait of the ceremony. For an additional cost, the package can be upgraded to include champagne and breakfast-in-bed, two Princess terrycloth robes, a thirty-minute massage or facial per person, and a visit to the bridge while the ship is in port.

Special Occasion
Celebrating a birthday, promotion, or graduation? Do it in style on a Princess ship. Princess Cruises offers a variety of packages for people celebrating something special. The most basic package includes a bottle of champagne, framed formal portrait, hors d’oeuvres delivered to your stateroom, and breakfast-in-bed with champagne. All for $135 per couple. Passengers can add to that package with amenities like Princess terrycloth robes, spa visit, a visit to the bridge, and chocolate-dipped strawberries. Prices range from $135 to $430 per couple, depending on the package.

Royal Caribbean International – Weddings
Royal Caribbean offers seven wedding packages ranging in price from $1,095 to $1,595.

Duet, the simplest onboard package, includes the wedding coordinator, wedding ceremony, wedding officiant, ceremony music, bride’s bouquet of roses, groom’s boutonniere of roses, wedding cake for four, photographer, one wedding photo, wedding certificate keepsake, and champagne. Additions that are made for other packages include more wedding photos, larger bridal bouquet, champagne and breakfast-in-bed for two, round-trip transportation to the port in a chauffeured limousine, and chocolate-covered strawberries in the couple’s stateroom.

These packages can be enhanced to include live music, videography, beauty appointments, tuxedo rentals, wedding invitations/announcements, wedding reception, and marriage license processing. Ask your Cruise Consultant about the cost of these additions.

Shore Weddings
For weddings on shore, Royal Caribbean includes many of the same amenities found in the Duet package, but adds indigenous wedding flowers, escorted transportation to and from the territorial court and ceremony site, local wedding cake, and secured, marriage license documents.

Renewal of Vows
If you would like to renew your vows on a cruise ship, you can do so for $400. Your vows can be renewed in the wedding chapel (if there is one) or in a designated spot on board. This cost includes the ceremony, ceremony music, bouquet for the bride, boutonniere for the groom, keepsake certificate, wedding cake for four, photograph, and champagne.

PLEASE NOTE: Prices provided on this page are general indicators of wedding package costs. They are provided to give a general indication of costs for couples in the early stages of planning their weddings. Stated prices are not guaranteed and do not include taxes.

By: John S. Hanson

About the Author:

Caffeinated Content