Most wedding ceremonies on a cruise ship are performed by a notary public in the United States and a non-denominational officiant in international ports. However, if you'd like your ceremony to be officiated by a ship's captain, then you'll need to get married while sailing international waters.

Yes, you can legally marry on a cruise ship, but the legality depends on where the ship is located and which flag it flies. If you wish to marry at sea (while the ship is moving), the ceremony is usually conducted by the Captain under the laws of the ship's country of registry (often Malta, the Bahamas, or Bermuda). For example, Celebrity and Princess Cruises often fly the Maltese or Bermudian flags, allowing their captains to perform legally binding marriages at sea. However, many couples choose to get married while the ship is docked in a port of call. In this case, the marriage must comply with the local laws of that country (such as the Bahamas or Mexico), which may require specific paperwork, blood tests, or local witnesses. Most cruise lines offer "wedding coordinators" to handle these complex legal details and ensure the marriage license is recognized in the couple's home country. It is a common myth that a captain can marry anyone at any time; in reality, it requires significant pre-planning, often 60 to 90 days in advance, to secure the necessary legal permits and ensure that your "I do" is recognized as a valid legal contract back on land.