When I was on a cruise a few years ago, I saw a couple getting married on board.
It’s not a rare thing; it’s actually quite common for many couples to decide to do it, especially if they love cruises.
Over the years, I have seen a lot of misinformation on this topic. Some people say that this kind of marriage is legally valid, others say it is not valid at all, and others don’t even know how it works.
In reality, this matter is much more complex and requires a more thorough explanation.
So, let’s take a closer look at how things really work if you want to get married on a cruise ship.
Can You Plan a Wedding on a Cruise Ship?
You definitely can! In fact, some cruise lines even offer specific packages.
Usually, you can decide if you want to do just the ceremony or if you want to add “extra services.”
For example, you can ask for a wedding planner, a personal photographer, a wedding cake, bottles of champagne, and a special buffet for your guests.
Obviously, the more services you add, the higher the final price will be, so pay attention to your budget.
Can a Captain Legally Officiate a Wedding?
In this case, the answer is usually no. The captains do not possess the inherent authority to officiate weddings in most of the countries in the world.
In particular, cruise ship captains have the power to officiate weddings only in Malta, Bermuda, and The Bahamas.
This means that if the ship was registered in one of these countries, the captain could celebrate your marriage.
However, it is not guaranteed that the marriage is then valid in your country of residence.
Some countries have a legal recognition process, but that needs a lot of paperwork and you’ll probably need a lawyer.
My advice, if you really want to get married on a cruise ship, is to opt for a symbolic ceremony and then hand over the marriage papers directly in your home country.
The Cruise Lines That Offer This Kind of Service
Although it would be legally possible in some states, not all cruise lines offer this type of service.
The most famous ones to allow marriage by the captain are Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Celebrity Cruises, and Princess Cruises.
Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean is amongst the major cruise lines that allow couples to get married by the ship’s captain.
An important thing to consider is that the ceremony must take place in international waters for it to be legally recognized.
The marriage is usually registered in the Bahamas, and you have to check with your local government to see if they will also recognize it.
RC also has several wedding packages, and remember that everything must be booked at least 90 days in advance.
The basic one includes a pre-cruise wedding planner, an onboard wedding coordinator, and various amenities like a two-tier wedding cake, music, a private wedding venue, and a bottle of Moët & Chandon champagne.
The cost of a wedding on a cruise ship can vary greatly according to your requests. Usually with up to 10 guests, the price starts at $2,000, while larger packages accommodating up to 50 guests can cost up to $5,500.
Carnival
Carnival also offers captain’s officiated weddings, as some of its ships are registered in Malta and the Bahamas, but they will only be symbolic ceremonies.
It means that their wedding at sea is not legally binding, and the couples that wanna do it are also required to provide proof of legal marriage prior to sailing.
Celebrity Cruises
As you probably know, Celebrity Cruises is part of the Royal Caribbean group, so the rules for weddings on board are quite similar.
In addition, their ships are registered in Malta, so there is no problem from a legal point of view.
A very interesting thing that I’ve noticed is that Celebrity offers a pre-wedding consultation and tour. This means that you’ll be able to inspect the locations with a wedding coordinator and plan your wedding directly on the ship.
Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises ships are usually registered in Bermuda, that’s why this is another cruise line that offers weddings officiated directly by the captain.
They have packages for weddings, vow renewal, and proposals. The only big difference, that I want you to notice, is that Princess allows ceremonies for up to 18 guests.
Can Non-Sailing Guests Attend the Ceremony?
If you plan to invite many people, some may not want to take the entire cruise and only wish to attend the ceremony. Is that possible?
In general, yes, but you have to arrange that with your wedding coordinator.
Unfortunately, some ports of call do not allow non-sailing guests for security reasons, so it is also important to understand where the ship will be at the time of the ceremony.
Do They Offer Same-Sex Weddings?
Yes, the cruise lines also allow same-sex weddings, even though certain ports do not recognize their legality.
In those cases, the ceremony can be symbolic, or you can look for alternatives with your wedding coordinator.
For example, Royal Caribbean allows to celebrate these ceremonies ashore in locations where they are legally recognized, such as in U.S. ports or any other international destinations.
