| Decision | Supported detail | Planning use |
|---|---|---|
| Legal effect of a Carnival ceremony at sea | At-sea marriages are symbolic, with no legal or binding effect | Treat the shipboard ceremony as a celebration and arrange the legal marriage separately. |
| Carnival Signature Ceremony | From $1,799, includes 10 guests including the couple | Suits an elopement or a very small group. |
| Carnival Celebration package | From $2,899, minimum 20 guests including the couple | Suits a larger party; the guest minimum cannot be scaled down. |
| Carnival non-sailing guests at embarkation ports | Maximum of 50 | Cap the shore-side invitation list before sending invitations. |
| Royal Caribbean wedding dates | Limits apply; subject to venue and officiant availability | Confirm your preferred date before booking flights or cabins. |
Figures come from Carnival’s wedding venues page and Royal Caribbean’s wedding date FAQ.
A cruise ship wedding is available from Carnival and Royal Caribbean, but its legal weight depends on where and how the ceremony happens: Carnival describes at-sea ceremonies as symbolic, while a legally binding certificate comes through a destination port.
Our weddings hub covers the wider question of can you get married on a cruise ship, along with other celebration formats.
What the legal status means for your plans
The first decision is whether you need the ceremony to create a legal marriage. Carnival states that at-sea marriages are symbolic in nature and have no legal or binding effect. The line also says it will help couples obtain a legally-binding marriage certificate in the destination port. A Carnival couple who want both a legal marriage and a scenic ceremony should therefore look at the port route rather than the at-sea route.
- You want to be legally married through the cruise: choose a package or itinerary that includes the destination-port certificate, and ask the line which marriage licence or paperwork that port requires before you pay a deposit.
- You are already married or marrying at home: a symbolic ceremony at sea loses nothing, because the paperwork is handled elsewhere. Carnival also notes that a vow renewal is not legally binding, which is why couples in that position often prefer the lower-pressure format. Our guide Renewing Your Vows: 50 Heartfelt Vow Renewal Vows to Reignite Your Marriage in 2026 – Electracruises helps with the wording.
- You want the captain to officiate: this depends on the line and ship, and Royal Caribbean’s arrangement is explained in the legal rules section below.
Keeping the legal and ceremonial parts apart also protects the schedule: a delay at a port office does not have to disturb the day your guests are expecting.
Costs and what each package includes
Carnival publishes starting prices, and they differ mainly by guest count and setting. The choices below are all taken from Carnival’s wedding venues page.
- Signature Ceremony: $1,799 starting, with 10 guests including the couple. Additional guests are charged at $29 per person plus applicable sales taxes.
- Celebration package: starts at $2,899 with a minimum of 20 guests including the couple. Additional guests cost $42 per person. It only makes sense if you already expect a bigger party.
- Love Ashore: starts at $2,659 for a ceremony on an island in a beautiful setting. Choose it if the scenery matters more than being aboard.
- Diamond Enhancement Package: $399. It cannot be purchased a la carte and is non-refundable, so add it only when your date and guest list are settled.
Carnival’s shipboard packages include pre-recorded ceremony music, a local officiant, a keepsake wedding certificate and a two-tier cake. Couples also get a pre-cruise wedding planner, and embarkation-day weddings receive priority embarkation assistance. Because that assistance applies to embarkation-day weddings only, couples marrying later in the sailing should not count on it.
Royal Caribbean does not publish a comparable price list in the material supplied here, so ask the line for a current written quote before comparing it with Carnival. A 2012 law-firm report says its captain-performed ceremonies include photography services, food and music, and that wedding specialists help couples plan details. Use that as a checklist of questions rather than as a current price or package list.
Venues, guest limits and dates
Venue and date rules shape the guest list more than the decor does. Carnival can accommodate a maximum of 50 non-sailing guests in the embarkation ports, so friends and relatives who are not sailing can join only up to that limit. Island ceremonies are performed by a wedding officiant, either a non-denominational official or minister or a notary public. Carnival also warns that shoreside beach venues may not be private, which matters if you want an exclusive setting for photographs.
Royal Caribbean says there are certain limitations as to when a wedding can take place, and availability is subject to the venue and officiant. If you have a fixed date, such as an anniversary, ask about that date first and choose the sailing second.
Ask each line to name the exact space it would assign for your date, because venue availability is one of the two limits Royal Caribbean cites. A chapel-style room suits couples who want a formal service, while an outdoor or island setting suits those who prioritise scenery and can accept less privacy.
How the legal rules work by line and port
The rules differ because legal authority is tied to where the ceremony takes place and who performs it. Carnival separates the two: the ceremony at sea is symbolic, and a legally binding certificate is obtained in a destination port with the line’s help. The practical effect is that the legal step happens on land, with a local officiant, rather than on deck.
Royal Caribbean’s route is different. According to a law-firm report from November 2012, the Bahamas Marriage Act allows the captain of its ships to legally perform onboard wedding ceremonies outside the 12-mile Bahamas territorial limit. The report also says wedding specialists can help finalise the legal requirements. That report is a secondary source and dates from 2012, so ask Royal Caribbean to confirm in writing that the arrangement applies to your ship, sailing and nationality before you rely on it.
For any line, compare these three points before you book:
- Who performs the ceremony: a local officiant or notary public, or the captain.
- Where it happens: in port, in a stretch of water the line says is covered, or on a symbolic basis only.
- Which paperwork you must bring: the line or its wedding specialists should say whether a marriage licence is needed and when it must be arranged.
Planning support and wedding-day coordination
Both lines provide in-house help. Carnival assigns a pre-cruise wedding planner, and Royal Caribbean advertises wedding specialists who can help plan details. Use them for venue, timing and legal questions, and keep written confirmation of anything that changes the price or date.
Couples who want an independent view across several lines or ports can read our guide Destination Wedding Travel Agent: How To Plan Stress‑Free Destination Weddings In 2026 – Electracruises. An outside agent works for you rather than for one cruise line, which makes the comparison between lines easier.
On the day, the reception is usually the simplest part, since Carnival’s shipboard packages already include a two-tier cake. Put your effort into the parts the line cannot control for you, such as how your guests travel, who is sailing and who is joining at the embarkation port.
Before you commit, make a final check on four points: the legal route, the package’s guest minimum or limit, whether any enhancement is refundable, and the date restrictions. Settling those first means the remaining decisions are about style rather than risk.
Frequently asked questions
Can you get married on a cruise ship?
Yes. Carnival offers shipboard and island ceremonies, and Royal Caribbean offers weddings subject to venue and officiant availability. Whether the marriage is legal depends on the route you choose.
How much does it cost?
Carnival’s published starting prices run from $1,799 for the Signature Ceremony to $2,899 for the Celebration package, per its wedding venues page. Ask Royal Caribbean directly for a current quote.
Is it legally binding?
It depends on the ceremony. Carnival says at-sea marriages are symbolic, but it helps couples obtain a legally binding certificate in a destination port. A 2012 report says Royal Caribbean captains can legally marry couples outside the Bahamas territorial limit.
