Marriage Requirements on a Cruise Ship

Table Of Content

• Coolest Perk of a Carnival Cruise Wedding:
• Why Choose Royal Caribbean for a Cruise Wedding?
• Why you should get your cruise cabin serviced in the evening instead of the morning
• Cruise Wedding Services
• These Strategies Are Ideal For Memorable Weddings At Sea
• Coolest Perk of a Cunard Cruise Wedding:
• Marriage Requirements on a Cruise Ship
• When to book a cruise wedding?

One of the first decisions couples need to make is whether to schedule their nuptials for embarkation day, at sea or in a port of call. You should also read your package details carefully to determine who will be performing the ceremony. Because ships carry finite resources, you won't necessarily have your pick of flowers or your own private DJ, but eliminating those extra choices right off the bat can take a ton of stress out of the planning process. If you've booked a shoreside package with your cruise line and that happens, they can accommodate your ceremony in another port. If you're looking to make your own shoreside arrangements, be diligent in checking out the cancellation policies for whichever services you're using, just in case.

Coolest Perk of a Carnival Cruise Wedding:

Just tell us your dream destination, wedding date and ceremony style, and we'll take it from there. We have a world of options — grand ceremonies in The Piazza, outdoor settings with an ocean backdrop — and packages at a value that beats land-based venues. Planning a wedding on P&O Cruises means first selecting the right ship for your needs.

Why Choose Royal Caribbean for a Cruise Wedding?

The line's fleet of ships offers a pleasant mix of fun and luxury, leaving the happy couple and their guests with plenty to do before and after the big day. Celebrity's newest ships are also upping the luxury factor on their Edge Class ships, with The Retreat -- an exclusive suite-only complex with its own deck, pool, and dining option. Add-ons cover additional decorations, a mimosa breakfast, silk flowers for the couple, massages, sparkling wine upgrades, larger cakes, and cake toppers. All Carnival wedding packages can be arranged to take place on embarkation day, onboard the ship in a port of call, off the ship in a port of call and onboard while at sea (symbolic only). These wedding cruise packages vary in offerings from an intimate ceremony on the ship to an idyllic destination event and reception — but they do not include the cost of the cruise itself.

Why you should get your cruise cabin serviced in the evening instead of the morning

This option allows you to not only invite friends and family to your wedding but also enjoy a private honeymoon — without your mother-in-law or best man tagging along. While your wedding can take place on a ship, it is likely that the ship won't be sailing when your wedding actually happens. Cruise ships need to have a special license to perform a wedding in international waters, so most cruise ship weddings occur in port, and marriage license requirements depend on that port. For example, if you marry on a cruise ship in a port in Florida, you'll need to obtain a marriage license according to the state of Florida guidelines. Couples have reported great success with getting married on cruise ships. Cruise ships tend to have a convivial and party-like atmosphere, and nothing makes people more excited than a wedding.

The Celebrity Weddings program offers onboard ceremonies and destination weddings and are some of the most reasonably priced on this list for couples who don't necessarily need a huge list of bells and whistles. Shoreside weddings start at $1,895 and in-port weddings are pricier, including all of the same features plus roundtrip taxi transportation to the ceremony site for the couple. A Vows at Sea package starts at $3,850 includes up to 50 guests and use of a private onboard wedding venue while the ship is at sea. The Embark on Romance option, from $5,600, lets the couple get married onboard the ship while it's in port on embarkation day, allowing non-sailing guests to participate in the ceremony before the ship departs. This package includes the same services above and covers up to 50 people, but adds priority check-in and a pier-to-ship escort for the couple and their guests.

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Norwegian offers four wedding packages that start at around $2,000. Its Wedding at Sea ceremony, priced from $3,099, is performed onboard while at sea and officiated by the ship captain on Breakaway, Getaway, Epic, Escape and Bliss. Norwegian's Wedding at Sea package also includes a group service coordinator, who can make dinner reservations, organize group seating at shows and otherwise assist the couple and their guests, in addition to overseeing the wedding. Marriage certificates will be issued by the Bahamas (additional fee). If you’re getting married on the ship, the cruise will typically provide a wedding coordinator with their package. “Generally, the cruise line includes the flowers, music, photographer, and officiant (this could be the captain) in the packages, though some of these might cost extra,” says Heather.

As an example, Carnival’s entry-level Signature Ceremony for up to eight guests is $1,799. Princess Cruises, known for being the “Love Boat,” offers a selection of wedding packages including a Timeless Wedding at Sea, also for up to eight guests, for $4,495. Most wedding packages are modifiable to add additional guests for a per-person fee. Using a travel advisor who specializes in cruise weddings could be helpful in selecting the right vessel for your preferences and perhaps most importantly, your budget.

Marriage Requirements on a Cruise Ship

Alaska cruises have a particular set of dates when they allow cruises.” Frank notes that holidays and the family vacation season (summer) can be quite expensive and crowded and might not be the best for a cruise wedding. It might sound surprising, but turning the fantasy of getting married on a cruise into reality is easier than you might think. For starters, your ship comes equipped with all of the amenities and facilities you need for your wedding festivities — from the ceremony to the reception and even the honeymoon. There's even a spa onboard should you choose to treat yourselves to some wedding-day relaxation, and nightlife available should you opt to have the bachelor and bachelorette parties on the same sailing before tying the knot. A hefty marriage license fee is required for couples marrying onboard Azure, Ventura, Arcadia and Aurora. Additionally, the per-person costs of a wedding aboard P&O cruises is a bit steep compared to other entries on this list.

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When to book a cruise wedding?

You can usually include a couple dozen of your closest friends and family members in the plans for your special day onboard, but beyond that, you'll have to get creative. That might mean inviting more people with you on the cruise itself but cutting down the number who can actually be present for your nuptials. If photos are your thing, a cruise ship wedding offers some of the world’s best and most creative backdrops, both on the ship and at port.

It’s probably best to leave the giant gift box of fine China at home and opt for either a cash gift or utilize the couple’s registry to mail them their present ahead of time. Some cruise lines even offer their own registry and wedding websites. This allows the cruising couple to register for shipside gifts like spa treatments, excursions, and onboard spending money. Exact wedding package inclusions depend on the cruise line you're sailing, whether you're getting married at sea or in port, and the level of package you choose.

In addition to standard marriage packages, many cruise lines also offer vow renewals and even romantic proposal packages. Wedding coordinators and event managers for cruise lines — included with all packages — make the decision-making easy. They'll help you nail down specifics in advance so you can have a relaxing time on board. There are also third-party travel planners specializing in cruise weddings, such as The Wedding Experience, the exclusive wedding service provider for Celebrity Cruises, Windstar Cruises and Azamara Club Cruises. Carnival‘s wedding packages start at $249 per person, for a simple and lovely ceremony.

Of course, the sky is the limit, with add-ons and luxury packages that can include everything from a trio of live musicians to custom wedding cakes, glamorous floral arrangements, and full video services. Several cruises lines have private islands for wedding or vow renewals, but they can't always be legal marriages. For example, Disney Cruise Line captains can lead wedding ceremonies onboard or at Castaway Cay. However, because senior officers can't perform legal ceremonies, the actual "legal" marriage (and paperwork signing) must occur in the cruise terminal before the ship leaves Port Canaveral -- not terribly romantic.

On the other hand, many couples enjoy the freedom to fuss less about gowns and tuxedos as they — and many of their nearest and dearest — get ready to voyage through Alaska or set sail on a tropical vacation. While a cruise wedding is unlike your typical occasion, it still borrows from common wedding etiquette. It is up to them whether it is a fully formal event or if the theme is more beachy chic. Either a marriage in port or onboard can be legally binding, as long as the couple works with the cruise line to file the correct paperwork in advance. Same-sex marriages are a possibility in countries where they are recognized.