Can any ship captain marry you?

A ship's captain generally does NOT have the legal right to officiate a wedding at sea. In order for a Captain of a ship to perform a marriage at sea, he must also be a judge, a justice of the peace, a minister, or an officially recognized officiant such as a Notary Public.



Contrary to popular "Love Boat" myths, the captain of a ship does not have the inherent legal authority to marry people just because they are at sea. A captain’s primary legal powers are related to safety, navigation, and the maintenance of order on the vessel. For a marriage at sea to be legally binding, the captain must be a recognized notary public or a marriage celebrant under the laws of the country where the ship is registered (the "flag state"). For example, captains on ships registered in Bermuda (like Princess Cruises) or Malta (like Celebrity) are often granted the legal authority to perform ceremonies because those nations' laws specifically allow it. On most other ships, such as those registered in the Bahamas or the US, the captain can only perform a "symbolic" ceremony, and the couple must have a separate legal ceremony on land to be officially wed. Always check the ship's flag state before planning a maritime wedding.

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