Can You Get Married on a Cruise Ship? Expert Advice on How

If your ideal vacation involves sailing around the seas and experiencing different places around the world, a cruise wedding may be for you. But can you get married on a cruise ship? Short answer: yes. Long answer: You need to do your research and your paperwork, as the legalities of cruise ship weddings vary—depending on the location and cruise line, your cruise ceremony may be a symbolic one. As if there aren't enough steps when figuring out how to plan a wedding in the first place!

That's why we've put together the ultimate guide to getting married on a cruise, from what you should know about the logistics and legalities of the process to how you should plan your dream wedding set against the deep ocean blue (and the fun cruise captions you can post after the fact!).

In this article:

• Can You Get Married on a Cruise Ship?
• How to Get Married on a Cruise Ship

Can You Get Married on a Cruise Ship?

Yes, you can get married on a cruise ship. Many popular and smaller cruise lines offer several wedding packages to accommodate different budgets. But can you legally get married on a cruise ship? That's a different question.

"Cruise ship weddings can be legally tricky; whether the ceremony counts depends on the ship's registry and destination countries," says Natalie Benett, a wedding planner and advisor at FindMyBridesmaid. "Some cruise lines can marry you on the high seas, but others need to dock to make it official. It will always vary, so this is something you'll have to contact the cruise line to get familiar with so you're not taken by surprise."

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For example, you might be wondering if you can get married on a Royal Caribbean cruise. According to the company's guidelines, the captain will perform the ceremony when the ship is in international waters and your marriage will be legally recognized in the Bahamas. But you'll need to check with your local government to ensure they'll recognize your marriage. You can also choose to have a symbolic ceremony at sea by a non-denominational officiant.

Can you get married on a Carnival Cruise, though? Yes, but the options are different for this popular cruise line. Ceremonies at sea are symbolic only, but you do have the option to get legally married at a port-of-call depending on the laws of the country—this may be symbolic only, too.

As you can see, it really does vary by cruise line. Pay attention to the details listed in the cruise line's wedding packages and offerings to determine your options—and keep in mind that legal ceremonies typically cost more than symbolic ceremonies. You'll ultimately need to consider the laws of the country you'll be getting married in and the laws of the country governing your ship. That may also affect whether you can get legally married as a same-sex couple since some countries—like The Bahamas—don't allow same-sex marriages. To avoid planning and paperwork headaches, it might be worth considering getting legally married elsewhere and celebrating at sea or having a symbolic wedding on board.

How to Get Married on a Cruise Ship

Now that you know you can get married on a cruise ship, you might be wondering how you can get married on a cruise ship. Well, you'll need to get your ducks in a row. "I'm all about spontaneity in relationships, but a cruise wedding is one event that benefits from a solid game plan," Benett says. The nature of getting married out at sea or on a port of call makes the wedding planning process a little different. The key is to take it step-by-step, as follows.

1. Figure Out Your Budget

First things first, as with any wedding planning, you'll need to determine how much you can—or are willing—to spend. Cruise ship wedding costs vary, but full packages typically start around $3,000. That doesn't include add-ons like bar service, the cost of a marriage license or the cruise itself.

The Knot Budget Tool can help you determine your wedding budget. From there, you'll be able to determine how many people you'll want to bring on board and more easily say no to additional costs. Benett always advises her clients to set a clear budget because the cruise lines "will upsell you on a lot," she says.

2. Plan Early

"Book your cruise wedding at least a year ahead," Benett says. "Peak seasons fill up fast, and since you'll be navigating ship schedules, venues and guest availability, planning ahead is crucial. Twelve to eighteen months is the sweet spot, especially if you're eyeing popular destinations." This not only gives a ton of lead time but it might present better pricing options for both you and your guests since cruise and flight bookings are often more affordable the further out they are.

3. Decide Where You Want to Marry

Do you want to get married onboard on embarkation day, at sea or in a port of call? This info will help inform future wedding planning steps, like selecting your itinerary and wedding package and navigating legalities.

4. Find a Cruise Line

"Find a cruise line that's on board with weddings (pun intended)," Benett says. Many offer customizable packages with onboard wedding planners to help you out; she adds that this can sometimes be an upsell but can also be a huge asset if the planner is very experienced.

The major cruise lines, like Carnival, Royal Caribbean, Norwegian and Disney, all offer wedding packages as do smaller cruise lines like MSC, Celebrity and Princess. Keep in mind that your ceremony is only one aspect of your trip. So you'll not only want to compare wedding packages, but itineraries, onboard offerings, pricing and the overall experience to determine which one may be the best fit for you.

5. Chat With Your Cruise Coordinator

Chat with the cruise's wedding coordinator, who can help you explore packages and get a clear picture of what they offer. "This will help you figure out how much leeway you have with adding your own ideas and suggestions," Benett says. "A strict, set package is less likely to let you bring your favorite band on board."

You'll spend most of your time talking to coordinators and finding what aligns with your budget and vision. "You'll obviously be more limited with options than a traditional wedding," Benett adds. "But when you pull it off it's definitely a unique experience everyone will remember."

6. Get Acquainted With the Legalities

As mentioned, cruise ceremony legalities differ based on various factors like the ship's registration and ports of call. This should be a high priority when chatting with your coordinator, who can help you determine whether a symbolic or legal ceremony is right for you and what package fits that bill.

7. Set Expectations

Cruise lines typically have maximum guest limits, which range by package. Sometimes, there's an option to add more guests at an additional cost. And some shoreside package options allow for more guests. But cruise weddings are typically smaller because of capacity constraints, so you'll want to set expectations with family and friends that it will be a more intimate affair. Once your wedding package is selected, you can start sending out save-the-dates to your smaller guest list.

8. Get Paperwork in Order

As the time draws near, make sure you have all the legal documents you need. That will likely include a marriage license if you're having a legal wedding, a passport and tickets. You might also want to consider cruise insurance. Again, since legalities can vary and be such a gray area, you'll want to do your research to make sure you're ready to sail off into the next chapter.