cruise ship captain marriage

Can Boat Captains Really Marry People?

By matt soniak | nov 2, 2009.

Reader Meredith wrote in with a question: "Why can boat captains marry people? Can other people in charge of other large vessels perform weddings?"

Meredith, if you plan to have a boat captain officiate your wedding (how Jim and Pam of you), I hope you read this before leaving port. While a good sailor knows that the captain is the ultimate authority on a ship, his or her power extends only so far. At one point, the United States Navy explicitly stated, "The commanding officer shall not perform a marriage ceremony on board his ship or aircraft."

What about non-Navy captains, though? Well that depends on the captain. They can't perform marriages at sea (or on dry land) by virtue of their maritime license alone, and no state has enacted a statute explicitly authorizing ships' captains to officiate marriages. However, if a captain also falls into one of the categories of "persons qualified to solemnize marriages" prescribed in laws of the state they're in, then they're good to go.

In the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, my home sweet home, these qualified persons are:

"¢ Active or retired justices, judges or magisterial district judges of the Commonwealth "¢ Active or senior judges or full-time magistrates of the District Courts of the United States for the Eastern, Middle or Western District of Pennsylvania "¢ Active, retired or senior bankruptcy judges of the United States Bankruptcy Courts for the Eastern, Middle or Western District of Pennsylvania who are residents of the Commonwealth "¢ Active, retired or senior judges of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit who are residents of the Commonwealth "¢ Mayors of any cities or boroughs of the Commonwealth "¢ Ministers, priests or rabbis of any regularly established church or congregation

Despite what the laws say, some people have gone ahead and gotten married by plain old boat captains anyway, and the courts have been pretty inconsistent when ruling on the validity of these marriages. In one well-known case, Fisher vs. Fisher , a court ruled that a particular marriage solemnized by a ship's captain was valid (and more generally that, absent a statute stating otherwise, an exchange of vows between two consenting parties constituted a valid marriage). In another case, Norman vs. Norman , a court came down on the opposite side of the fence.

So, kids, if you're planning on having a wedding at sea, make sure your captain is qualified. Or just do it and let the courts sort it out later. Or, if you're in New Jersey, I'd be happy to be ordained in the Universal Life Church and perform an official mental_floss wedding for you. I'll take requests via Twitter .

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How to Get Married at Sea

Photo by Adriana Rivera Photography

What you see in old romantic movies just doesn't happen very often today. You can still have a wedding ceremony at sea, but it's not easy.

• Even though it is believed to be a regular event, weddings at sea are a rarity. 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.
• Japanese ships allow Captains to perform a marriage ceremony at sea, but only if the couple has valid Japanese passports.
• Through Bermuda law, and because most of the Princess captains have Bermuda licenses to perform weddings, captains aboard Princess Cruise's Golden Princess , Star Princess , and the Grand Princess may perform weddings aboard ship and at sea. Note that couples in Bermuda must be 21 and have picture identification showing proof of age. Contact the cruise line at 866-444-8820 or 800-774-6237 for more information.
• A romantic alternative is to have your wedding aboard ship while it is docked in a port. You need to follow the port's requirements for such a wedding. All cruise lines offer this option.
• Many cruise lines will require that once in port, you will need to leave the ship, swear before a judge that everything is correct with previously prepared paperwork, then go back to the ship for your ceremony.
• If you want to renew your vows at sea, you need to show proof of a valid marriage.
• Before Cruise West ceased operations in 2010, if the captain obtained a temporary permit to perform a wedding, the captain could officiate a wedding within designated Alaska waterways. Although there are alternatives to Cruise West, there do not seem to be onboard wedding options available.
• A wedding at sea takes planning. It's not something you can decide to do at the last minute.
• Having a wedding at sea makes arranging the honeymoon easier. Just make sure you tell friends and relatives to leave you alone after the ceremony!
• Some websites may still mention Liberian law for the Princess Cruise Line weddings, but that was changed.

What You Need

• Photo identification
• Other required documentation
• Time to plan your wedding
• Communication and arrangements with the cruise line

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Cruise weddings: Everything you need to know about getting hitched at sea

Are you considering a cruise wedding? At-sea nuptials have many selling points — including a wedding planner and a built-in honeymoon — especially for couples looking for smaller, more intimate weddings (up to 125 guests). They're also ideal for elopements. Yet before you decide to get married on a cruise ship, you'll want to understand all the pros and cons.

Think of cruise ships as floating hotels that can offer all the essentials a wedding venue needs, including food, drinks and overnight accommodations for guests. You've got space to host wedding-related events over several days — such as a pre-reception cocktail hour, pre-ceremony spa day with the girls and morning-after brunch. Cruise ship employees are trained in hospitality, with photographers, bakers and DJs already on board. Plus, imagine how gorgeous your wedding photos will be with the wide, open sea as a backdrop!

"This is a type of wedding that can fit anybody. People are ready to sail [again], they're ready to cruise, and they've waited a while to get married," due to COVID-19, says Liz Bernal, a travel planner who helps couples arrange their cruise weddings on behalf of Celebrity Cruises . "It's not just couples getting married for the first time, [and] not just second or third marriages."

For more cruise news, reviews and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

If you're leaning toward swapping wedding vows on a cruise, know that cruise weddings aren't all "Love Boat"-inspired glamour. You'll need to make decisions around where to get married (at sea or in port) and understand how those choices affect your guest list, risk of cancellation and the legality of the ceremony. Perhaps the biggest question is whether you want friends and family sailing with you on your honeymoon.

Before you say "I do" to a cruise ship wedding, take some time to school yourself on the fine print and important decisions you'll need to make.

Should I get married on board or in port?

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.

"We find most weddings are celebrated on board during embarkation day. This allows attendees who aren't sailing with the couple to visit the ship for the ceremony," says Matt Lupoli, of Carnival Cruise Line media relations. 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.

Another popular option is to get married while the ship's at sea. This is a fantastic option because you won't have the time pressure of embarkation day, nor will you have to give up any fun activities or beach time in port. Princess Cruises reports that 75% of its weddings are at sea.

One drawback of an at-sea wedding is that you may be forced to host events indoors because of high winds, rain or limited deck space, and the hours to rent a specific venue have to mesh with the ship's other programming needs -- including other weddings. Plus, if you want guests at your ceremony, they will need to book and pay for the entire cruise (or you'll have to pony up for their cabins).

With an at-sea wedding, you can ask the ship's captain to marry you, a perk only available on a few cruise lines (Princess Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, MSC Cruises , Cunard and Royal Caribbean , for example) when sailing in international waters. Your photos will look amazing, but buyer beware: Unless the captain is also a judge, notary public, justice of the peace or minister, your at-sea nuptials will be a symbolic, not a legal, wedding.

Related: 5 best honeymoon cruises for newlywed bliss

The final option is to get married at a cruise line's private island or during a port stop in another country. About 5%-10% of Princess Cruises' weddings are in port. For local flavor, you might be able to weave in reggae music in the background while in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, or gift guests leis in Honolulu. The drawback is that you can't control all of your surroundings; for example, the ceremony might be on a public beach.

One thing's for sure: The Caribbean's sunny ports are as popular as ever for a wedding ceremony.

"We're starting to see more weddings on the islands, whether their whole group is sailing with them or meeting them there," says Bernal.

Is getting married on a cruise ship legal?

The short answer is yes, in most cases. But you do need to get your paperwork in order before the wedding day.

If you're getting married on embarkation day at a domestic port such as Miami, Seattle, New Orleans or Fort Lauderdale, you can bring your own officiant to conduct a legal wedding, the same as you would at any land-based wedding venue. If your ceremony will take place during the cruise, either a local notary public (for ports in the U.S.) or a nondenominational officiant (international ports) will preside over the ceremony, making the wedding legal.

Don't worry — you don't have to find an available officiant in Jamaica or the Bahamas. The cruise line's wedding planners will do it for you. For example, all three of Princess Cruises' wedding packages include either a legal ceremony by the captain or one performed by a local officiant in port.

However, at-sea weddings on lines other than Princess get tricky: When a ship is sailing, it's in international waters, yet the ship is registered to a particular country. For example, Celebrity Cruises requires you to obtain a marriage license from Malta, as that's where its ships are registered. A notary public or religious officiant is always provided with any cruise line's wedding package.

Once you have an officiant, what about marriage licenses? Each country has its own requirements for in-port and at-sea weddings, and the cruise line's weddings department will assist in obtaining the information and, ultimately, the license. For example, if you want to get married while the ship is in the Bahamas, you need to first obtain a marriage license from that country, a process that can take up to 90 days. To get married in a U.S. port, you only need a marriage license from that state.

How big can a cruise wedding be?

Cruise weddings can range in size, though cruise lines do limit numbers. In many cases, the size of the venue restricts the number of guests allowed. The maximum size for a cruise wedding is about 150 guests.

According to Princess Cruises, two-thirds of its weddings have fewer than 10 people in the group and the average size of larger weddings is 25, with about two weddings each year with 40 or more guests. As the cruise line returned to service after the COVID-19 pandemic began, it reported that smaller, more intimate ceremonies were becoming more popular. Being married at sea by the captain is still, by far, the most sought-after package, says Princess Cruises.

Carnival's weddings run larger. "The average number of guests is about 40, but we host weddings of all sizes — from only the couples themselves to very large parties," said Lupoli. Celebrity Cruises has also started to see more larger cruise weddings post-pandemic.

Related: Big vs. small cruise ships: Which will I like better?

Can I invite guests who won't be sailing with us?

Beyond total guest numbers, each cruise line has strict rules about how many non-sailing guests can attend your embarkation-day wedding. For example, Royal Caribbean allows a maximum of 75 wedding guests (out of 150 total) to be day visitors who come for the shipboard ceremony and then leave before the ship sets sail.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, it's not as easy for non-sailing guests to come onboard as before. They may need to submit their vaccination card or negative COVID-19 test results. You'll need to make these rules clear to your attendees and know that they can change between when you book the cruise wedding and the big day itself.

Shoreside ceremonies — in a port of call on the ship's itinerary — also welcome non-sailing guests but have capacity limits. The available venues can only fit so many people. This option is trickier, however, because you are only in port for one day, most likely. What if your aunt's flight into the port is delayed? She will miss the wedding altogether.

Even so, Bernal is seeing more of this in the Caribbean. "They'll jump on the flight to the island and meet the couple and then stay on the island for a few days," she says. "You can have non-guests in ports of call come on the ship but usually the couple comes off the ship to get married on the beach."

"The norm [for in-port weddings] is to sail with the whole group," she says, rather than have guests fly in for the ceremony.

Which cruise lines offer weddings, and which should I pick?

Name a popular cruise line and chances are you can get married on one of its ships. Viking is a notable exception that does not offer weddings.

Your best bet is to choose a ship whose personality and amenities match your preferences. But a few lines stand out for their wedding offerings.

Princess Cruises was the first cruise line to offer legal marriages at sea by the captain.

Princess Cruises' three packages (At Sea Wedding Cruise, Harborside Wedding Cruise and Ashore Wedding Cruise) fold in all the details for a flat fee and also offer a registry so that guests can help amp up the luxuries on their honeymoon at sea. Guests and friends can gift shore excursion credits, specialty-dining experiences, spa treatments and a private breakfast or dinner on the balcony. Celebrity Cruises also offers legal weddings at sea by the captain .

Royal Caribbean's and MSC Cruises' family-friendly onboard amenities, such as waterslides and large kids clubs, are a huge hit for couples planning to invite guests of all ages. Royal Caribbean offers four packages for weddings at sea with sailing guests, embarkation-day ceremonies with sailing and non-sailing guests, portside events around the world and elopements with just the couple or up to 10 guests.

Just like its parks, Disney offers Fairy Tale Weddings on its ships . Disney Cruise Line offers six venues, including indoor and outdoor spots on its ships (accommodating up to 40 guests) and on Castaway Cay (the line's private island in the Bahamas, which can host up to 100 guests). You can have costumed Mickey and Minnie join you for photos or offer a Dole Whip unity ceremony, as one couple did .

Windstar Cruises ' yacht-style smaller ships entice many couples planning a cruise elopement , with either just them or only a few guests. Many couples like the upscale yet low-key feeling of getting away on their own yacht, where entertainment focuses on fine dining, relaxing on deck and exploring in port, rather than running around to shows, rock climbing walls and other crazy big-ship attractions.

Related: The 5 best cruise lines for romance

What are examples of cruise wedding packages?

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.

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.

To give you a general idea, most cruise wedding packages are going to include a dedicated, private venue for the ceremony, a photographer, floral arrangements and a private space for the reception, whether it's a simple cake-cutting event or a plated meal. Some will also include Champagne to toast the couple.

Examples of extra-fee add-ons include videography, photography or live entertainment at the ceremony or reception (Carnival Cruises charges $150-plus for some tunes to accompany your celebration).

"We start with a package and design your ceremony to be just for you," says Bernal. "There's so many possibilities."

Bernal says one couple arranged a fireworks show off the coast of Puerto Rico and worked with Celebrity Cruises to stop the ship in the middle of the ocean for the best view. It's becoming more popular for couples to host a series of events on board the ship during the wedding week, says Bernal. Previously, couples have organized a whiskey tasting for the guys; afternoon tea for the girls; bachelorette parties at a ship's bar, club or lounge; or a private dinner in an onboard restaurant for guests the day after the wedding. All of these can be arranged by the ship staff.

How much does a cruise wedding cost?

The average price for a cruise wedding falls between $7,000 and $20,000, according to GroupTravel.org , a sliver of what a land wedding normally costs (an average of $30,000). Your specific cost will depend on which cruise wedding package you choose and which inclusions and add-ons you select.

On the more casual and festive end, Carnival Cruise Line weddings start at $1,499; MSC Cruises' weddings cost roughly the same. On the luxe end, Cunard's Royal Ceremony at Sea package starts at $3,300. Of course, you will still need to pay for your own cruise fare, on top of the wedding package rates, as do your guests.

The good news is that with these all-inclusive packages, you know exactly how much your at-sea wedding will cost from the beginning.

Related: 7 reasons you should splurge for a suite on a cruise

How far out should I book my wedding date?

If your goal is to make guests happy, the further out you book, the better access they have to cabin categories and locations, as well as flights. This also goes for pricing. Sailings and flights booked months out are often cheaper. Use those save-the-date mailings to your guests wisely and provide them with as much information as possible.

Plus, cruise ships have limited spots for weddings each week. For example, as of July, Royal Caribbean is fully sold-out for 2022 weddings and is not accepting bookings for additional nuptials this year.

The caveat, however, is that the further in advance you book, you run a risk of change or cancellation as ships are known to swap itineraries or take ships out of service. In other words, don't play up Aruba or a specific ship — all your guests need to know early on is that it's a Caribbean sailing.

Related: When is the best time to book a cruise?

Bottom line

If you don't like being the center of attention, then a cruise wedding may not be for you. Everyone on board and in port is going to ooh and aah at you as you sashay by in your wedding finery. This type of ceremony is also not ideal for couples who want to invite hundreds of guests or want the flexibility to select the perfect caterer, photographer, cake, florist or musicians.

On the other hand, if you want to plan a simple, stress-free wedding, it doesn't get much easier than this. Cruise weddings are ideal for couples who want a small event and love the one-stop shopping of having all the event details taken care of by the cruise line.

Which brings us to the honeymoon. Many couples use the sailing as their honeymoon — yet another aspect of the wedding you won't need to plan. But if your guests are joining the sailing, your romantic getaway may not be very private. If you want family and friends to attend your at-sea wedding, consider whether you can sneak away when needed without hurting anyone's feelings.

If you can't stand the thought of sharing a romantic vacation with your extended family, consider an embarkation-day wedding and bid your guests goodbye after the reception. The trade-off is your pierside event might not be as scenic as an onboard ceremony with expansive sea views.

Ultimately, if you're a person who wants a hassle-free wedding, with a one-stop shop for planning and a built-in honeymoon, then swapping vows ashore, in port or at sea might just be your dream affair.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• 15 ways cruisers waste money
• 12 best cruises for people who never want to grow up
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise

Dropping Anchor: How to Get Married on a Cruise Ship

By Frommer's Staff

& Heidi Sarna

If you'd like to have your marriage and honeymoon all in one, you can legally get hitched on many cruises, either aboard ship or at one of your ports of call.

Practically all the mainstream lines have wedding packages, with Carnival, Princess, and Royal Caribbean being the romance leaders, followed by NCL, Celebrity, Disney, Holland America, and Costa. In almost all cases, a local justice of the peace, notary, or minister must officiate; so even if you choose to hold your ceremony aboard ship, it will have to take place while the ship is in port, not at sea. Princess's Grand-, Diamond-, and Coral-class ships have wedding chapels on board, as do Royal Caribbean's Freedom-, Voyager-, and Oasis-class ships, Carnival's Spirit-class ships, and NCL's Norwegian Sun, Star, Dawn, Jewel, Pearl, Gem, Jade, and Pride of America. Other ships hold ceremonies in lounges that are decorated for the occasion.

If you want non-sailing family and friends to attend, you can hold the ceremony and reception at your port of embarkation, before the ship leaves. Guests will be on a special list with port security, and they'll have to bring the requisite ID to board. Ceremonies can also be arranged at various ports of call. On Caribbean routes, you can tie the knot in ports such as Aruba, Barbados, Grand Cayman, St. Thomas, Sint Maarten, San Juan (Puerto Rico), Ocho Rios and Montego Bay (Jamaica), Cozumel (Mexico), Nassau (The Bahamas), and Key West (Florida). Other options include Bermuda and the Alaskan ports of Ketchikan and Juneau (at the latter, you can get married atop Mendenhall Glacier, flying in by helicopter). If contemplating marriage in a port of call, remember that your cruise itinerary limits how far afield you can go, because ships generally stay in port only a limited number of hours.

Wedding packages generally start around $850 for intimate shipboard ceremonies for the bride and groom only. That price usually includes the services of an officiant (though you can bring your own if you prefer), a bouquet and boutonniere, champagne and keepsake glasses, a wedding cake, and the services of a photographer, but not the photos themselves -- those will cost extra, should you choose to buy them. Adding a reception for eight guests will bring the price up. The basic wedding/reception package offered by Carnival is $1,125. Prices go up from there based on the complexity and size of your reception (from a simple open bar and hors d'oeuvres to a formal meal in the ship's restaurant) and by port. Additional guests can be accommodated for an additional per-person charge. Ceremonies can also be performed off-ship in port, at higher prices.

The Legal Details

No matter where you choose to wed, you must arrange for a marriage license from the U.S. or foreign port far in advance of your cruise. Policies vary from country to country, so you'll save a lot of headaches by having the cruise line's wedding department or consultant help you with the details. Be sure to check with these folks before booking your cruise to be sure wedding space is available on the date you have in mind.

Having the Captain Officiate

Among all the lines Frommers.com covers, only Princess, Celebrity, and Azamara allow you to get married by the captain. At Princess, the Grand-, Diamond-, and Coral-class ships all offer charming wedding chapels that seat about three dozen and are adorned with stained glass and fresh flower arrangements. Assistant pursers in dress-blue uniforms are available to escort a bride down the short aisle. Three different ceremony packages are offered, starting at $1,800 per couple (plus $450 for licensing fees). Depending on which you choose, they can include photography, video, music, and salon treatments for the bride. Onboard receptions can be custom-tailored with various options -- hors d'oeuvres, champagne, wedding cake, and so on. Friends and relatives who aren't sailing can even monitor the wedding courtesy of the ships' chapel Web cams, which broadcast an updated photo every minute or so. (Look at the very bottom of the Princess website home page for "Bridge Cams." Pick a ship from the "Wedding Cams" drop-down menu.) At Celebrity and Azamara, weddings are performed in one of the ship's public rooms. A variety of packages are available that mix and match everything from cake and champagne to private receptions in the ship's specialty restaurant. Basic captain-performed wedding packages at both lines begin around $2,500.

Talk with fellow Frommer's cruisers on our Cruise Forum.

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Field Notes

A Marriage at Sea? Get Me Rewrite

By Abby Ellin

• Feb. 28, 2014

Who is to blame here? Was it Katharine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart in the 1951 film “The African Queen?” Or was it Keira Knightley and Orlando Bloom in the 2007 movie “Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End”?

Somewhere along the line, with a big boost from Hollywood, people got it into their heads that sea captains, nattily dressed in their crisp uniforms, could legally join couples on the open seas.

“Everyone has anecdotal knowledge of this — can’t a captain marry them?” said John K. Fulweiler, a specialist in admiralty and maritime law in Newport, R.I. “I don’t know where in society it percolates from. It’s one of the most commonly misunderstood facts.”

“I saw it on “The Love Boat,’ ” said Diana Biederman, citing the 1970s show in which Capt. Merrill Stubing, the balding officer played by Gavin MacLeod, orchestrated countless unions among B-list television stars (Bob Denver! Jo Anne Worley! Charo!). After Ms. Biederman, 50, and her betrothed, Vincent DeLongis, 53, cemented their relationship at the Marina Jack restaurant and boat dock in Sarasota, Fla., they thought it would be romantic and perfectly plausible to have a captain legally join them in matrimony. “I said, ‘I’m sure a ship boat captain can marry us,’ ” Ms. Biederman said.

Appealing though it may be, the myth of a ship’s captain presiding over the nuptials of dewy-eyed couples has for most of the last century been pretty much just that. And yet the demand for weddings at sea has grown to the point that some cruise lines, operating under foreign flags and laws, have found ways to perform legal unions in international waters with the ship’s captain as officiant.

Nobody really knows how long ago this notion arose, or why ship captains are thought to have more power than, say, airline pilots or train conductors. Most likely it has to do with the fact that ocean crossings have always been longer than the typical flight or train ride, and that amorous assignations were known to flourish on the high seas. Who better to legalize them than the commander of the ship?

“When voyages were from three to six months overseas, the captain was the end all be all of everything that took place on a ship,” said C. W. Davis, a captain in the United States merchant marine but whose actual authority to solemnize civil marriage certificates stems from his having been ordained as a minister by World Christianship Ministries.

Captain Davis, who runs his company, Nautical Star Weddings, with his wife, Sheryl, from Freehold Township, N.J., explained that in days long past, a group of passengers and crew members on a ship “was like a living city.” The captain, he said, “could find people guilty of crimes and jail them. He would also have the authority to perform marriages. The question was whether the marriages were legitimate when they landed.”

There are a few legal precedents in place, and they are contradictory. In Norman v. Norman (1898), the California courts didn’t recognize a shipboard marriage. In Bolmer v. Edsall (1919), a New Jersey court said a shipboard marriage ceremony, whether on the high seas or within a country’s territorial waters, is governed by the laws of the nation where ownership of the vessel lies. In Fisher v. Fisher (1929), the New York Court of Appeals said congress “recognized that on board a ship at sea, notwithstanding the absence of municipal laws so carried, there is nevertheless a law of marriage.” And in Johnson v. Baker (1933), an Oregon court ordered the payment of death benefits to a widow because she had established that her marriage at sea was lawful.

The Navy sought to define a captain’s powers at sea in its 1913 Code of Regulations, which states: “The commanding officer shall not perform a marriage ceremony on board his ship or aircraft. He shall not permit a marriage ceremony to be performed on board when the ship or aircraft is outside the territory of the United States.” The exceptions are, “In accordance with local laws and the laws of the state, territory, or district in which the parties are domiciled,” and, “In the presence of a diplomatic or consular official of the United States, who has consented to issue the certificates and make the returns required by the consular regulations.”

“The marriage on the high seas issue is not clear cut and is, at the end of the day, likely driven by state law, making the musings of a family law attorney important,” Mr. Fulweiler said. “In my opinion, the master/captain is not cloaked with any special marrying powers, and his or her ability to marry two people will probably depend on whether the applicable state law was followed. When the vessel flies a U.S. flag, the decisions seem to be decided by reference to state law because there is no national law on marriage.” (Which is why heterosexual and same-sex couples should pay particular attention to the laws of the jurisdiction in which they plan to wed.)

Of course movies have never let facts get in the way of a good story line. Films like “Anything Goes” (1956), “The Amorous Adventures of Moll Flanders” (1965), the 1998 remake of “The Parent Trap” and “Pirate Radio” (2009) are examples. Even Capt. James T. Kirk of the Starship Enterprise got it wrong. As he noted in a “Star Trek” episode in 1966, “Since the days of the first wooden vessels, all ship masters have had one happy privilege: that of uniting two people in the bonds of matrimony.”

Purely symbolic ceremonies can be had on almost any boat or cruise line, but those require that couples have their marriage certificates issued and solemnized stateside in advance. “We have them sign waivers to say it’s not a legal ceremony, so there’s no confusion,” said Barbara Whitehill, the owner of the Wedding Experience, a destination-and-cruise-ship wedding-planning company in Miami.

However, the option of a legal shipboard marriage has become tantalizingly real outside the territorial waters of the United States. Princess Cruises, whose Pacific Princess ship was the one piloted by Mr. MacLeod in the show, turned fantasy into reality in 1998, arranging for its captains to perform legal marriages on the high seas, with Bermuda, where its ships are registered, providing the marriage licenses. Celebrity, which is flagged in Malta, joined the party in 2008, offering legal weddings on some sailings. More recently the Bermuda-flagged Cunard followed suit, as did Royal Caribbean, whose ships are registered in the Bahamas, and which began offering legal marriages with captains as officiants on some sailings.

But if you’re holding out for the ship’s captain to marry you, disappointment may lie ahead. Most of the lines also hire officiants with a variety of credentials, religious and otherwise, to come on board.

Vicky Vandehei and Peter Carriveau had a dockside ceremony Jan. 5 in Miami aboard the Carnival Glory. Forty friends and family members witnessed the ceremony, which was led by a Florida notary public, before the ship left for the Cayman Islands, Mexico, Belize and Honduras.

Holly Brolsma and Alex Colon, both 28, were married Feb. 15 aboard the Skyline Princess in a ceremony led by Capt. Arnold Wonsever of Bayside, Queens. (“I always wear my captain’s uniform,” said Captain Wonsever, who has become an ordained minister through a church in Maryland and who notes that he has performed nearly 2,000 marriages since 2003. “The gold stripes impress people.”)

The ship (no relation to Princess cruises) was docked at the World’s Fair Marina in Flushing, Queens. After the ceremony, the couple and their 11 guests took a dinner cruise around the city.

“I thought it was appropriate since Captain Wonsever was in the Coast Guard and we were in the military,” Ms. Brolsma said. “Also, we didn’t want to risk it with all the horror stories going on with cruise ships.”

Ms. Brolsma, a former Marine, and Mr. Colon, who was in the Air Force, said that because of their military service, they were well aware that the captain was not allowed to marry them at sea unless he had other credentials.

Ms. Biederman was not so savvy. After making her wedding arrangements, she was told by a reporter that captains were not necessarily allowed to marry couples at sea. She practically fell overboard.

“My head was spinning; I was screaming from the inside,” she said. “I was so taken aback. I thought, ‘Oh no, we don’t have much time to figure alternate plans.’ A captain seems so much more official than someone who gets his or her marriage license over the Internet and becomes a Universal Life minister. What makes a captain less worthy than a judge or city hall clerk?”

After doing some checking, she was assured that the man officiating, Capt. Charles Cooper, was also a Florida notary public and could conduct the ceremony. The couple were married Feb. 1 aboard a boat docked at Marina Jack. And then they sailed off into the sunset as Mr. and Mrs. DeLongis. Legally.

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Home » Cruise Tips » Cruise Weddings: A Complete Guide to Getting Married on a Cruise Ship

Cruise Weddings: A Complete Guide to Getting Married on a Cruise Ship

Planning or planning to attend a wedding at sea? Here's our guide on everything you need to know about cruise weddings.

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Decided to say, “I do”? Congratulations! The next step in planning your nuptials is typically deciding on a wedding venue. Why limit your options to land when you can exchange vows on a cruise ship? If you’re considering how to have a wedding on a cruise ship, there are a few things to know. The following should help you on your way to planning — or attending — a wedding on a cruise ship.

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How do cruise weddings work?

A legal marriage can’t be recognized in open seas, which are not under the jurisdiction of any country, unless the ship captain or officiant is also a justice of the peace, minister, or notary public. That means that most legal cruise weddings take place either onboard the ship in port or harborside, docked in a destination. Many cruise ships do have chapels, but some offer more scenic options like a ceremony out on deck.

Each port has their own requirements to obtain a marriage license, which couples are responsible for handling. Documentation should be completed and submitted approximately two to three months prior to any legal ceremony at sea.

Same-sex marriages are a possibility in countries where they are recognized. Of course, any couple can also opt for a symbolic ceremony, meaning that there is still all the pomp and circumstance of a celebration, without it being legally binding.

Cruise wedding couples can choose to hold their ceremony in a homeport like Seattle or Miami before departure. This gives them the ability to choose their own clergy and invite day guests onboard for the afternoon before setting sail. Or they can choose a wedding in a port of call, like Mexico, either onboard the ship or at a venue like the beach of a resort.

Attending as a guest? 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 .

When to book a cruise wedding?

It’s important to decide if most of the wedding guests will only be along for the vows, or if friends and family are also cruising with you. If you extend the invitation for the latter, be sure to book your cruise wedding well in advance. You will need to secure a block of cabins with a group rate and ensure that guests have ample time to plan the vacation and request off work.

On the other hand, if guests are traveling just for the ceremony, be sure to advise them to fly in well before the day so they don’t miss the big event.

Cruise lines only allot a certain number of weddings to take place on any given week or sailing. So, if you have a very specific date in mind, it’s best to book as far in advance as possible . The downside to this is that during that long stretch of time, something could impact the sailing affecting dates, ports of call, and more. As with any cruise, all guests need to be flexible — even those exchanging nuptials.

One way to handle any potential tweaks to your cruise wedding is to provide as much logistical (time and place) information as possible on save the dates but refer to the voyage as “ Caribbean ” or an “ Alaskan adventure ,” rather than listing specific ships or ports. As the date draws nearer and it’s time to send out the official invitations, you can include more information at your discretion.

As with every aspect of a cruise wedding, it’s important to discuss how any changes (or heaven forbid, cancellations ) will be handled with your coordinator so expectations can be managed.

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What is included in wedding cruise packages?

Each cruise line has a dedicated wedding coordinator to help plan the absolute best cruise weddings. Typically, there are a variety of packages on offer, much like at any banquet hall or more traditional wedding venue.

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. In addition to standard marriage packages, many cruise lines also offer vow renewals and even romantic proposal packages.

Inclusions of wedding packages vary by cruise line and by tier. Packages typically employ the cruise line’s preferred vendors, so keep in mind that it might be difficult or impossible to handpick florists or photographers.

Expect cruise wedding inclusions along the lines of:

• Services of a wedding coordinator pre-cruise and onboard
• Ceremony officiated by ship captain
• Decorations
• Recorded music
• Wedding cake and sparkling wine toast
• Dedicated photographer
• Keepsake certificate and small gifts for the wedded couple
• Dinner for two and/or a luncheon for guests
• Breakfast in bed

As with any milestone event, you can keep it as simple as an intimate elopement or as lavish as a large ceremony with a banquet dinner with every upgrade on offer. Choosing a cruise line that provides options will help tailor your wedding day to fit within your means as well as your dreams.

Should I get married onboard or in port?

The decision to officiate a cruise wedding onboard or in port is a personal decision, but there are a few logistical differences between the two options.

Only couples with a relatively small guest list are able to conduct their wedding onboard a cruise ship. Most lines restrict onboard wedding parties to 50 non-sailing guests maximum.

Sailing with more than 50 guests might be its own organizational challenge, but couples looking for a larger wedding at sea can opt to hold their ceremony at a land-based venue in one of their itinerary’s approved destinations.

Some neat options of cruise wedding venues include the shores of San Juan; a winery in Santorini; cruise line private islands like MSC’s Ocean Cay Marine Reserve; or atop a glacier in Juneau, Alaska. The nice part about a destination cruise wedding package is that many cruise lines include roundtrip transportation from the ship to the venue for the couple in the cost of the package.

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.

What is the best cruise ship to get married on?

Because you’ll be embarking on your built-in honeymoon along with your wedding, be sure to choose a ship and itinerary that distinctly suits your style. A notable exception is popular cruise line Viking Cruises, which does not offer cruise weddings.

The ship that will serve as the setting for your wedding day should reflect you as a couple . In addition to the itinerary and the length, consider how you’ll want to spend your time aboard together. Are you looking for a ship that will cater to the whims of your entire wedding party or are you looking for an intimate escape that revolves around time by the pool or in the spa?

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 . It’s also helpful to note that not every ship in a cruise line’s fleet accommodates legal marriage ceremonies.

How much do cruise weddings cost?

In terms of the packages, cruise weddings are a considerable value when it comes to how much is spent on the ceremony and reception in comparison to the average land-based wedding. However, an inherent part of a cruise wedding is the cruise, which can fluctuate in price depending if the betrothed are looking to splash out on a suite or opt for a more modest cabin.

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.

Other popular cruise lines that offer a range of cruise wedding packages include Disney Cruise Line , Royal Caribbean , Norwegian Cruise Line, Holland America, Windstar Cruises, and more.

A simple Polynesian-style vow renewal ceremony on Paul Gauguin Cruises is just $290. But its weeklong Tahitian cruises typically start from about $10,000 per couple.

Weddings held during busy holiday seasons as well as popular times of the year (read: summer) might incur an additional fee. 

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What to wear for a cruise wedding?

While a cruise wedding is unlike your typical occasion, it still borrows from common wedding etiquette. The marrying couple sets the tone for their special day. It is up to them whether it is a fully formal event or if the theme is more beachy chic.

If you’re a guest, take your cue on what to wear from the invitation and when in doubt, ask. Just because it’s a destination wedding in Hawaii doesn’t automatically mean flip-flops and shorts are acceptable. 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.

Did you find this guide to cruise weddings helpful? Were you or someone you know married at sea? Drop us an anchor below to share your experiences with cruise weddings.

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Can Cruise Ship Captains Marry People At Sea? What are the Rules?

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Rene, who happens to be in the photo above, is not a cruise ship captain and can definitely not marry people at sea. But getting married aboard a cruise ship can be a wonderful idea, compared to many other alternatives, due to the many advantages and perks you would be able to enjoy, and how practical things can be.

Most cruise lines offer different wedding packages, with a wide array of inclusions, like the rental of a particular venue (both on board and shore side), beverages, cake, photos, and even treats arranged in-room, like a bottle of champagne, breakfast or the cruise lines’ most precious gesture: Chocolate-covered strawberries.

Many of us have heard of Captains officiating weddings and vow renewals on board, however there are a few things you may not know about these types of events.

One of the main things to consider is the fact that Captains, or any officer on board for that matter, can’t REALLY marry a couple no matter what you have seen on TV or in the movies. They can, however, officiate the wedding event, but the actual marriage certificate will have to be signed by someone else who has the legal ability to do so.

Any time you have seen or heard of a Captain marrying a couple, it only means they were part of the ceremony, giving out a speech and creating a wonderfully memorable wedding by reading out a preset text. No legal involvement at all in that sense. In order to cover the legal side of a wedding, someone licensed to do so must be on board, or it can be done elsewhere, before boarding the ship.

Next, the invited guests. Already before Covid, it was difficult, if not impossible, to bring guests on board for such an event, if they were not actually sailing. I don’t need to tell you that post-Covid this has entered the impossible realm. Meaning, when making plans, you must take into account that everyone attending that beautiful event will have to actually sail on the cruise (and for the entire voyage, no partial sailings either). The only workaround would be to organize a land-based wedding ceremony, and have people fly in to attend it (a very popular site for such an event is Nassau, Bahamas).

One of the main reasons an on-board wedding may sound like such a great idea is because you get to have a honeymoon right along the wedding! It will involve international travel, mostly unlimited drinks, and the endless fun that a cruise trip already entails.

If this is something you’d be interested in making a reality, make sure you allow plenty of time to plan things ahead, browse around what packages different cruise lines offer, and don’t neglect to get familiar with all the legal side of the wedding. Ultimately, doing your homework will pay off. After all, who wouldn’t be jealous of a couple who pulled off the perfect wedding aboard a cruise ship?! – ThatGuy

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• Norwegian Cruise Line

Wedding at Sea - by Captain, legal or not?

By CruiseNut7 , July 12, 2009 in Norwegian Cruise Line

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Hope NCL experts or future brides can help ........ I have spent hours researching, but still not certain. I've called NCL and they refer you to a wedding planning company. There is not much info on the wedding thread, but I will ask over there.

Can you legally get married at sea officiated by the Captain?

I found one article that noted if the ship was registered in Bermuda, then the Captain could marry you at sea. We don't want a harborside or dock side wedding. If we can't get married by the Captain while sailing, then we'll plan something else. We'd be sailing out of Miami.

Thanks for your help!

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Hope NCL experts or future brides can help ........ I have spent hours researching, but still not certain. I've called NCL and they refer you to a wedding planning company. There is not much info on the wedding thread, but I will ask over there.   Can you legally get married at sea officiated by the Captain?   I found one article that noted if the ship was registered in Bermuda, then the Captain could marry you at sea. We don't want a harborside or dock side wedding. If we can't get married by the Captain while sailing, then we'll plan something else. We'd be sailing out of Miami.   Thanks for your help!   Diane   :):)

Sorry, you can't get married at sea by the Captain.

I've read there are two exceptions, neither of which applies to you:

(1) Captains of Japanese ships are permitted to marry couples holding Japanese passports.

(2) Captains of ships registered in Bermuda can legally perform marriages. No NCL ship is registered in Bermuda.

I just found this on the BEST CRUISES FOR WEDDINGS section of CC. Looks like I may have a chance on Princess or Celebrity.

I just found this on the BEST CRUISES FOR WEDDINGS section of CC. Looks like I may have a chance on Princess or Celebrity.   If you want to get married at sea by the captain, you're limited to only a handful of cruise lines, due to legal limitations that are based on ships' countries of registry. New to the "can officiate" list are Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises , whose ships are now registered in Malta. Princess Cruises ' captains are also able to marry couples at sea; its ships are registered to Bermuda.   :)

I don't know where some of the "information" on this CC section comes from, but the Celebrity and Azamara Web sites clearly state their Captains are not authorized to perform weddings, nor may weddings be performed at sea on board their ships.

Princess is your only option among US cruise lines.

time2cruise1

I don't know where some of the "information" on this CC section comes from, but the Celebrity and Azamara Web sites clearly state their Captains are not authorized to perform weddings, nor may weddings be performed at sea on board their ships.   Princess is your only option among US cruise lines.

Or the website has not been updated yet since " New to the "can officiate" list are Celebrity Cruises and Azamara Cruises "

I was also aware that Princess Captains can marry couples. My DD was married on RCCL while docked in Miami. Several guests continued with all of us on the cruise but ours sons flew in to attend the ceremony and then left the ship before it sailed away from Miami, as did a few other guests. My DD could choose anyone she wanted to officiate but she opted to use the official that RCCL had under contract.

She enjoyed having a RCCL wedding coordinator. We also were amazed at how inexpensive this wedding was for all its elegance.

When the couple got home, we had a casual island themed reception at a hall for all those people who could not fly to Miami to attend the service.

With all the money my DD and SIL saved with the cruiseship wedding vs traditional wedding, they were able to buy their first house. Good thing because a few years later we welcomed twin granddaughters.

1. Even though it is believed to be a regular event, a ship's captain generally doesn't have the legal right to perform a wedding at sea. In order for a Captain of a ship to perform a marriage at sea, he must be a judge, a justice of the peace, a minister or an officially recognize officiant such as a Notary Public.

2. Japanese ships allow Captains to perform a marriage ceremony at sea, but only if the couple has valid Japanese passports.

3. Through Bermuda law, and because the captains have Bermuda licenses to perform weddings, captains aboard Princess Cruise's "Golden Princess" and the "Grand Princess" can perform weddings aboard ship and at sea. 800-774-6237

4. A romantic alternative is to have your wedding aboard ship while it is docked in a port. You need to follow the port's requirements for such a wedding. All cruise lines offer this option.

5. Many cruise lines will require that once in port, you will need to leave the ship, swear before a judge that everything is correct with previous prepared paperwork, then go back to the ship for your ceremony.

6. If you want to renew your vows at sea, you need to show proof of a valid marriage.

7. If the captain obtains a temporary permit to perform your wedding, a Cruise West captain can officiate your wedding within Alaska waterways.

1. A wedding at sea takes planning. It's not something you can decide at the last minute.

2. Some states and locales allow you to use their marriage license elsewhere (like in a foreign port). Ask your county clerk if this is so.

3. Having a wedding at sea makes arranging the honeymoon easier. Just make sure you tell friends and relatives to leave you alone after the ceremony!

4. Couples in Bermuda must be 21 and have picture ID showing proof of age.

5. Some websites still mention Liberian law for the Princess Cruise Line weddings, but that was changed.

What You Need:

* Other required documentation

* Time to plan your wedding

http://marriage.about.com/cs/marriagelicenses/ht/marriedatsea.htm

According to Cruise Lines International Association, cruise weddings have grown at a phenomenal rate the last few years. Five years ago, there were practically none, but this year there will be thousands. Carnival Cruise Lines alone estimates it will plan over 2000 weddings this year, and those weddings will also have a built-in honeymoon. This growth rate should not be surprising. You can have a wedding and then sail off on your honeymoon! No travel time wasted between the "I dos" and the fun. Most cruise weddings are on the major cruise lines. Wedding packages are available from American Hawaii, Cape Canaveral, Carnival, Celebrity, Costa, Holland America, Norwegian, Premier, Princess, Regal, and Royal Caribbean International. However, with the exception of the Grand Princess, you will need to "bring your own" clergyman or other official to perform the service.

Cruise weddings can take place onboard in a public room on the ship, or on a romantic shore such as a beach or a glacier. The Grand Princess has its own wedding chapel, and the captain is authorized to marry you at sea. RCCI's Voyager of the Seas has a wedding chapel, but you will need to tie the knot while in port. Many couples get married while in a Caribbean port or before the cruise begins. That way the guests can come aboard, enjoy the service, and disembark before sailing. Alternatively, you could invite all your guests on the honeymoon!

Because of the increase in the popularity of "different" weddings, some independent wedding planners have begun to offer cruise weddings. A Wedding for You, Inc. and Flowers and Cruises, Inc. are just two companies that can help you plan a memorable day.

The price range of a shipboard wedding is just like one ashore--from a few hundred dollars to thousands. You will need to consult with a cruise travel agent, an independent wedding planner, or the cruise line's wedding department to select the best package for you. Although the options may seem to be endless, many packages are similar. Just be sure that your dreams and your budget are in sync. Good luck!

http://cruises.about.com/cs/cruiseweddings/a/cruiseweddings.htm

My fiance and I are getting married on embarkation day Sept 2010 on the NCL Pearl.

We just booked the ship and paid for the wedding ceremony and will figure out the details early next year

My fiance and I are getting married on embarkation day Sept 2010 on the NCL Pearl.   We just booked the ship and paid for the wedding ceremony and will figure out the details early next year

Congratulations. Yes, most cruise lines do have provisions for weddings on embarkation day.

However, the OP wants to be married at sea, by the Captain, which is a horse of a different color.

Maybe, but given that cruise lines charge a substantial sum of money for these events, wouldn't you think that is something they would be quick to add? Why turn away possible business by making it appear the answer is "no"? You wouldn't even need all the details...just a splash headline about it.

My DD was married on RCCL while docked in Miami. Several guests continued with all of us on the cruise but ours sons flew in to attend the ceremony and then left the ship before it sailed away from Miami, as did a few other guests. My DD could choose anyone she wanted to officiate but she opted to use the official that RCCL had under contract.

I'm wondering if this took place before 9/11. How did your sons board the ship not as passengers? I know in the old days (really old!) people would come aboard to say their goodbyes and then there was the "all ashore who's going ashore" cry. ha

Who, if not the captain, did the ceremony, a minister (the person on contract) on board?

OP, that is always an option for a wedding at sea, using the minister/priest/rabbi rather than the captain.

(deleted...unintentional duplicate)

OK...I did a little more digging into this and here's what I found.

Celebrity and Azamara put out a press release on 2/13/08 saying later that year their captains would start performing weddings at sea. It is now July, 2009, 17 months later, and there has not been another word from them about this. If you click on the link they provide, it just takes you back to that old press release, and of course their FAQs continue to say you can not get married at sea on their ships.

I guess they got cold feet, like a groom on his wedding day. :D

I'm wondering if this took place before 9/11. How did your sons board the ship not as passengers? I know in the old days (really old!) people would come aboard to say their goodbyes and then there was the "all ashore who's going ashore" cry. ha   Who, if not the captain, did the ceremony, a minister (the person on contract) on board?   OP, that is always an option for a wedding at sea, using the minister/priest/rabbi rather than the captain.

The cruise lines make an exception to their "no visitors" rule for weddings. If they didn't, they wouldn't be getting many wedding bookings.;)

The cruise lines contract with a wedding planning agency, which actually makes all the arrangements with the bride and groom. There is one agency that handles the weddings for most of the mass market cruise lines. Normally the officiant, who is supplied by the agency as part of the package, is nondenominational.

Cruise lines do not routinely have clergymen on board, although they may during certain special holiday seasons.

OK...I did a little more digging into this and here's what I found. Celebrity and Azamara put out a press release on 2/13/08 saying later that year their captains would start performing weddings at sea. It is now July, 2009, 17 months later, and there has not been another word from them about this. If you click on the link they provide, it just takes you back to that old press release, and of course their FAQs continue to say you can not get married at sea on their ships.   I guess they got cold feet, like a groom on his wedding day. :D

Thank you for all the info you have provided - I appreciate everyone's input - even the "cold feet" comment (hey, you never know, although we've been together over 20 years). ;)

Most of the mass market cruise lines use The Wedding Experience (dot.com) to plan all facets of your shipboard wedding whether harborside prior to sailing or at sea. So, after spending some time on their website, I found that Princess offers a ceremony at sea with the Captain officiating. Here's what you get for $2,250: (we're Platinum with Princess - do you think they'd throw in some cheese and crackers)! :)

If you’ve always dreamed of being

married at sea and by the ship’s

Captain, this is the package for you.

Exclusive wedding chapel

Candlelit ceremony

Captain to perform ceremony

Special vows at sea

Wedding coordinator

Two fresh floral arrangements

to adorn the ceremony location

Rose bouquet (one dozen)

Boutonniere

Photographer

One (1) 16x20 canvas print

(2) 8x10 photographs

(5) 5x7 photographs

Wedding cake for two

Bottle of champagne

Two Princess keepsake champagne flutes

Keepsake wedding certificate

Again - thanks everyone!

We got married at sea on the Princess Crown last January. The planning of the wedding was very easy and we had a fantastic time. The captain was phenominal. There were 12 of us in total and I think the most difficult part was just coordinating everyone's travel (and that wasn't very hard.)

My marriage certificate is from Bermuda and had no problem changing my name here in the US.

We are heading to Bermuda on the NCL spirit at the end of the month. I have never been and figure that I should at least see the county that has supplied our certificate. The marriage certificate is actually very cool - it shows the latitude and longitude of the ship when we were married.

I would definitely recommend it. :D

We got married at sea on the Princess Crown last January. The planning of the wedding was very easy and we had a fantastic time. The captain was phenominal. There were 12 of us in total and I think the most difficult part was just coordinating everyone's travel (and that wasn't very hard.)   My marriage certificate is from Bermuda and had no problem changing my name here in the US.   We are heading to Bermuda on the NCL spirit at the end of the month. I have never been and figure that I should at least see the county that has supplied our certificate. The marriage certificate is actually very cool - it shows the latitude and longitude of the ship when we were married.   I would definitely recommend it. :D

Thank you for sharing your experience. I was hoping to hear from someone who had actually gotten married by the Captain at sea.

Congratulations on your "at sea" nuptials! :)

My daughter got married by the captain last year on CB. It was a lovely ceremony. True, you don't get alot for the $2000 +. We had about 12 travel with us Booked Starwalkers for cocktail hour with the cake (extra$) and also a reception dinner at Sabatinis (extra$) But for ease of planning it was worth it. The photographer was great! Even gave them the proofs so she could develop them even though all they got was the included pictures. (they did give her extra though after)

You do need to book early as there are limited slots and the earlier you book the better chance you grt to have it when you want it as they are done at sea days only

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Can Sea Captains Really Officiate Legally Binding Marriages?

As in most things in life, particularly when the law is involved, it’s complicated. However, as a general rule, with a few exceptions like Japan, Bermuda, and Romania, sea captains do not have any inherent authority to officiate weddings where the couple will then be considered legally married.

(Japanese sea captains are given such authority, as long as they’re marrying two people who are also Japanese, and a similar thing is true in Romania, where interestingly Romanian law also gives aircraft captains the same power. Bermuda allows ship captains this same privilege, so long as the ship they’re captaining is registered in Bermuda. This was a not too subtle way to get more cruise ships to register their boats in Bermuda- and it totally worked, by the way.)

Despite this sort of authority not really being a thing in most regions, it is entirely possible, and not even terribly uncommon, for sea captains to marry couples. For example, one Captain Arnold Wonsever, working for Skyline Cruises in New York, noted he performs on average close to 200 weddings per year.

So how do all those sea captains who currently do it get around the legality problem, and where did the ubiquitous idea that such individuals had that authority come from in the first place?

To begin with, because there is such a common notion worldwide that sea captains are able to officiate legally binding marriages, some sea captains choose to go get the extra certification they’d need to do so. It’s simply a great way to make a little side money while otherwise performing their day job of captaining the ship. It’s also in some cases a way to get more people to come aboard your ship in the form of wedding parties.

Getting such certification isn’t difficult in many regions, such as in the United States where becoming ordained is absurdly easy, with various organizations offering this service online, in a few cases even for free.

Moving beyond the certified, some sea captains will simply officiate a wedding ceremony, but with it understood that said individual does not have the ability to sign off on things to make the marriage legally binding. However, there is even a caveat here in that, depending on where you’re from, it may be the case that declaring in front of witnesses that you’re marrying someone that you also then go and live with can qualify you for a common law marriage. And, contrary to popular belief, it’s often not required that you live with the person for several years before said common law marriage kicks in. In some places, it’s instant.

In this case, it wouldn’t matter if you had the guy who swabs the decks, or even a literal bilge rat, perform the ceremony. It could still be legally binding if you wanted it to be. And, pro-tip- the bilge rat’s probably way cheaper than getting the captain to do it.

For all other cases where the captain has no legal authority here, the individuals getting married will typically just go get married officially in front of a judge or minister somewhere else either before or after their wedding at sea. In fact, aboard some cruise ships where the sea captain isn’t certified to officially marry a couple, but said company offers some sort of wedding service package, the company will simply have an individual on board who does have the required certification. This way the couple gets the sea captain wedding ceremony they wanted, and the legally binding side of things as well all in one place.

This all brings us around to the question of how this widely accepted trope came about.

Well, nobody knows for sure… But the general thought is that, as traveling across the big blue was once a rather time consuming process and potentially done with many people packed aboard off to start new lives, there was sometimes desire for marriage while on the trip.

Now with the occasional need established, it’s also noteworthy that sea captains once had near absolute authority over the vessels they commanded. For example, captains from many regions historically had the authority to do things like arrest and jail those aboard their ships, create birth and death certificates, more or less function as a notary for official documents like wills, and even in some cases were required to note in their logs when weddings occurred aboard their ship.

Thus, it’s hypothesized that these types of extra powers, particularly officially logging marriages that happen on the ship and then later reporting them to authorities, all perhaps gave the general public the idea that captains could legally marry couples. And, for whatever reason, sea captains seem to have been happy to oblige such requests.

In an apparent attempt to get their captains to stop doing this, at least in the US Navy, in the early 20th century they included a section tucked away in the Code of Regulations dealing with this very phenomenon –

The commanding officer shall not perform a marriage ceremony on board his ship or aircraft. He shall not permit a marriage ceremony to be performed on board when the ship or aircraft is outside the territory of the United States.

According to the regulations, the only time such marriages are allowed is if a registered official who can perform a legally binding marriage is aboard the ship or plane and all relevant permits and permissions in accordance with local laws of the couple being married have been obtained.

Outside of that, however, the first sentence forbids captains from performing the ceremony, and the second sentence forbids them from allowing others to do it when at sea, presumably owing to the legal complication that arises from marrying people when out in international waters.

But to sum all this up- no, as a general rule, outside of the caveats previously mentioned, sea captains do not have the authority to legally marry a couple. This, however, has not stopped them from performing such ceremonies, nor Hollywood from promoting the idea that they do have this power. This has all resulted in an almost world-wide notion today that sea captains are able to do this, in turn resulting in some captains getting additional certification to be able to marry couples looking for a sea based wedding performed by someone in a snazzy uniform.

The culmination of all of this has even resulted in places like Japan and Romania granting their sea captains this ability. And in recent years there’s even been a push by shipping unions in the UK to likewise give sea captains this ability without having to jump through an extra hoop of getting outside certification.

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The best part of it all is that we’ll take care of all the details. Whether you’re having a large beachside celebration in the Caribbean or an intimate cruise ship wedding surrounded by your loved ones, you won’t have to lift a finger while we make sure all of your cruise wedding dreams come true.

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Get married at sea wedding package.

Tie the knot on board in a marriage ceremony officiated by the captain of the ship. Walk down the aisle while surrounded by stunning views of the open sea and say “I do” under the Maltese flag. The nautical nuptials package also includes an onboard event coordinator, a romantic indoor wedding location, flowers, live music, a traditional cake, and an on-site photographer to capture your special day.

Shoreside Wedding Package

If you’re looking for the perfect location for a destination wedding, look no further. We travel to over 280 ports around the world, giving you plenty of dreamy options for your wedding ceremony location. Our cruise wedding event managers will help coordinate all of the details, from transportation to and from the venue to finding a romantic wedding location in port, usually at a beach or garden setting. 

Shipboard Weddings Package

Exchange vows at an exotic port of call or on embarkation day before your ship sets sail. Shipboard wedding packages make it easy to plan a lovely ceremony on board and include an indoor wedding location, a non-denominational wedding officiant, a wedding day coordinator, recorded music, flowers, a cake, and a keepsake wedding certificate.

Spa & Salon Services For Weddings & Vow Renewals

As you begin your voyage toward a lifetime of happiness, our spa will share its beauty and grooming secrets and keep you at ease while celebrating your special day. We promise to be your spa confidant, treat you to uninhibited relaxation, and provide you with our expertise – from now until your wedding day. Our spa and salon packages will bring brilliance and bliss to your wedding day.

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Host a magical wedding celebration on board with a shipboard celebration package, which includes an indoor event venue, photography service, and an event manager to ensure each detail is taken care of, such as custom food and beverage packages.

How To Book Your Cruise Wedding Package

Sit back and relax while we take care of all the wedding planning for you—from start to finish. Our event managers will be there every step of the way. We’ll help you choose the perfect cruise wedding package, settle on your dream location, select the best food and drink package for your reception, and suggest any special touches you might want to add along the way.

Step 1: Choose Your Itinerary

Choose the perfect itinerary for your wedding from our endless array of sailings around the world. From short and sweet trips close to home to lengthier journeys to exotic locations, you’re sure to find the dream destination for your dream wedding with Celebrity.

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Once you’ve settled on the itinerary, it’s time to choose your wedding package. Our wedding planners will help you decide which package is best for you and your sweetheart.

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After you’ve narrowed down your preferred itinerary and wedding package choices, call 1-866-535-2352 or email us and one of our event specialists will be in touch as soon as possible.

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Can Sea Captains Officiate Marriages?

Portrayed as possessing mystical powers in various films and TV series, sea captains often capture our imagination as figures capable of conducting weddings on the high seas. But is there any legal weight to this portrayal?

The legal landscape regarding sea captains officiating marriages is far from uniform globally. While countries like Japan, Bermuda, and Romania allow this privilege, it’s an exception rather than the rule. Romanian law, intriguingly, extends this authority to aviation captains as well.

In Japan and Romania, sea captains gain this privilege when marrying two local individuals. Bermuda extends this privilege to captains helming ships registered under its flag, incentivizing cruise ships to register in Bermuda.

Despite the rarity of legal authorization, it’s not uncommon for sea captains to conduct weddings. For example, Captain Arnold Wonsever from Skyline Cruises in New York City officiates around 200 weddings annually.

Some sea captains take the initiative to obtain additional qualifications to legally officiate marriages. This not only supplements their income but also adds allure to the ship as a wedding destination, attracting more guests.

In regions like the United States, where becoming an ordained minister is relatively simple, several online platforms offer certifications, sometimes even for free, facilitating this side endeavor for captains.

However, despite conducting ceremonies, sea captains lack the authority to sign documents for legally binding marriages. Certain countries recognize common law marriages, where simply stating the intent to marry in front of witnesses and living together could constitute a marriage.

Interestingly, couples can separate the ceremonial aspect—regardless of who officiates—from the legalities, ensuring they meet legal requirements elsewhere, if necessary.

In instances where the sea captain lacks legal authority, couples often arrange for a court or minister to formalize their marriage before or after the sea wedding. Cruise lines offering wedding packages but lacking captains with the necessary credentials often resolve this by providing staff who can officiate legally.

Laws Around The World

In Norway, for instance, maritime law allows captains on Norwegian ships to officiate weddings under specific conditions. The ship must be registered in Norway, and the ceremony must take place within Norwegian territorial waters. This privilege is an exception within the broader legal framework and highlights the maritime influence on matrimonial laws.

Similarly, in Canada, the legal landscape varies by province. While some provinces grant sea captains the authority to officiate weddings, others do not recognize their ability to solemnize marriages. These nuances demonstrate the intricacies within a single country’s legal system.

Moving to Australia, the laws also differ across states and territories. In some regions, sea captains can conduct weddings, provided certain criteria are met, such as the vessel being registered in Australia and the ceremony occurring within specific maritime boundaries.

The United Kingdom, with its extensive maritime history, presents an interesting case. While British law historically allowed sea captains to perform marriages, changes in legislation have restricted this authority. Today, most sea captains in the UK lack the legal power to officiate weddings, emphasizing the evolving nature of legal regulations.

Countries like Greece, Denmark, and Italy have their own maritime laws and regulations concerning sea captains and marriage officiation, though the specifics can vary widely.

The Powers Held by Ship Captains

The role of a ship’s captain encompasses commanding the vessel, its passengers, cargo, and crew. Their responsibility extends to ensuring adherence to procedures and safety measures. From overseeing loading and unloading to maintaining overall ship operations, a captain’s duties revolve around the ship’s safety and efficient management.

Legalities in Maritime Law

The legal framework surrounding sea captains’ authority varies across jurisdictions. In some instances, specific countries grant captains the privilege to officiate marriages under defined circumstances, while others strictly confine this authority to recognized officiants, diverging from the popular perception.

Clarifying Misconceptions

Instances portrayed in media, such as a ship’s captain conducting a wedding ceremony, often deviate from reality. While the allure of a maritime matrimonial moment might captivate audiences, the actual legalities behind it remain distinct.

The Maid of the Mist Case

The notion of getting married by a boat’s captain, as dramatized in media or entertainment, may not hold true in practical terms. For instance, the idea of being married by the captain of the Maid of the Mist, a picturesque image, remains a made-for-TV experience. In reality, the legal prerequisites for marriage typically necessitate a recognized officiant, diverging from the fanciful portrayals.

Real-Life Instances of Sea Captains Officiating Marriages

Japan’s Special Privilege: In Japan, a few sea captains are granted the exceptional authority to officiate weddings. This privilege extends when they marry two Japanese individuals aboard their ships. This unique legal provision showcases a rare instance where sea captains hold the legal power to solemnize marriages.

Romanian Aviation and Maritime Exception: Romanian law extends a similar authority not only to maritime captains but also to aviation captains. This distinct legal provision widens the scope of who can officiate weddings, offering an intriguing blend of aviation and maritime influences.

Bermuda’s Strategic Incentive: Bermuda presents an interesting case where sea captains are eligible to officiate marriages if their ships are registered under the Bermudian flag. This strategic move by Bermuda aimed to entice more cruise ships to register under its jurisdiction, granting captains the authority to conduct weddings on these vessels.

New York City’s Prolific Captain: Captain Arnold Wonsever, operating with Skyline Cruises in New York City, performs a substantial number of weddings annually. Despite legal complexities elsewhere, this captain showcases a practical example where sea captains play a pivotal role in conducting weddings, adding a touch of maritime charm to these ceremonies.

Additional Qualifications for Officiation: Some sea captains worldwide opt to obtain additional qualifications beyond their maritime roles to legally officiate marriages. This proactive step allows them to offer this unique service while conducting their primary duties as ship captains.

Navigating Legal Waters: Despite lacking direct legal authority in many jurisdictions, sea captains conduct wedding ceremonies, often circumventing legal hurdles by ensuring couples fulfill legal requirements elsewhere, such as obtaining a marriage license or seeking legal solemnization from recognized officiants.

Cruise Line Strategies: Cruise lines offering wedding packages often navigate legal complexities by ensuring that if the ship’s captain lacks the necessary credentials for officiation, they provide alternative staff or resources to oversee the legal aspects of the wedding. This strategy enables couples to enjoy their dream sea captain-led ceremonies while ensuring legal compliance.

The Romanticized Depiction: While cinematic portrayals often embellish the authority of sea captains to officiate marriages, practical examples showcase a more nuanced reality. The allure of sea captains conducting weddings often collides with legal prerequisites, necessitating additional steps to validate the union’s legality.

Legal Frameworks and Exceptions: Various countries possess unique legal frameworks that either grant or restrict sea captains’ authority to officiate marriages. These exceptions highlight the intricate tapestry of legal regulations worldwide, adding layers to the discussion of sea captains’ roles in conducting weddings.

The romanticized portrayal of sea captains wielding wedding authority finds its roots in a blend of tradition, legal nuances, and cinematic imagination. However, the legal reality often involves additional steps to ensure the union’s legality, despite the allure of sea captains marrying couples on the open waters.

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Princess ® Perfect Weddings (And More To Love)

Creating celebrations with heart on your cruise, dream big for your big day.

That perfect wedding you've always wanted? You deserve it. And with Princess® Perfect Weddings it's within reach.

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.

Wedding Packages To Fit Your Lifestyle

Browse our three At-Sea wedding packages, all offered as either legal or symbolic ceremonies.

By clicking the below link, you are now leaving the Princess Cruises website and navigating to a 3rd party website that is not owned, operated, or controlled by Princess Cruises or any of its affiliates.

Perfect Pair Wedding

The perfect package for couples getting hitched before only a few of your favorite people (includes the couple and up to 2 guests).

Package highlights:

Indoor or outdoor ceremony by the ship’s captain

Fresh florals, wedding cake and sparkling wine toast

• Dedicated photographer and memorable prints

Romantic breakfast for the couple

• Stateroom gifts and goodies
• Pre-cruise and onboard wedding coordinator
• Keepsake certificate

Timeless Ceremony at Sea (Ceremony Only)

Celebrate in style with a romantic ceremony at sea (includes the couple and up to 8 guests).

Solo live musician during the ceremony

Dedicated photographer service

Memorable prints and digital high-res photos

Timeless Wedding at Sea (Ceremony + Reception)

This package includes everything from the ceremony to the reception to celebrate with your whole crew (includes the couple and up to 18 guests).

Fresh florals for the couple

Fresh florals for the wedding party

Two treatments from select salon services

1-Hour dedicated venue to celebrate after ceremony

Solo live musician during the reception

Good Spirits welcome cocktails, curated by the couple

2-Tier wedding cake and sparkling wine toast

Memorable prints and all digital high-res photos

One specialty dining reservation for the couple

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Renew the love

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There's no better place to renew your vows than The Love Boat®. Our crew's got you covered!

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• Short, sweet indoor or outdoor ceremony by the ship's captain
• Fresh florals, celebration cake and sparkling wine toast for the couple

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Norwegian Cruise captain refused to let eight passengers who were late reboard ship

Passengers, who have since rejoined vessel, missed scheduled departure time from São Tomé and scrambled to reunite with ship

Eight cruise passengers had to scramble to reunite with their cruise ship after being left behind in São Tomé and Príncipe.

The passengers, including a pregnant woman and a paraplegic traveller, missed their scheduled departure time from the island of São Tomé in the Gulf of Guinea, about 250km off the coast of Gabon, after disembarking the Norwegian Dawn to take a local tour.

Another passenger in her 80s was reportedly late to the ship because she was receiving emergency medical treatment on the island.

The vessel, operated by Norwegian Cruise Lines, arrived in São Tome on Wednesday morning having departed Cape Town for the three-week cruise to Barcelona on 20 March.

The group’s private day excursions on the island ran overtime and, despite the efforts of the local coast guard, which motored the group to the ship before it set sail that afternoon, the captain would not allow the late guests to board.

Jill and Jay Campbell, from Garden City in South Carolina, described attempting to board the vessel after arriving late.

“We have never had an experience like this before,” Jill Campbell told ABC4 News .

“The harbour master tried to call the ship, the captain refused the call. We sent emails to NCL, the NCL customer service emergency number. They said, ‘Well, the only way for us to get in touch with the ship is to send them emails, they’re not responding to our emails,’” Jay Campbell added.

“The captain could have made an easy decision to turn one of the tender boats back, pick us up, safely load us, and then go on the way.”

The travellers’ passports were returned to them via port authorities. The group, which reportedly includes two Australians, had to leave their medication, bank cards and other belongings on board. The Campbells said they were the only members of the group with a Visa card and had paid more than $5,000 in their attempts to reach the ship.

They aimed to reboard the Norwegian Dawn in the Gambia the following Sunday but low tides prevented the ship from making the scheduled stop. The group reportedly travelled through six countries and eventually met the ship in Dakar, Senegal, the final west African port call of its journey, according to the cruise line.

“What we looked at was some type of van transportation for eight people, the quadriplegic woman included,” Jay Campbell told ABC15 . He described having to take a ferry to get into Senegal, and then a four-hour drive.

Australians Doug and Violeta Sanders were among the stranded passengers.

“It’s been the worst experience of our lives to be abandoned like that in a strange country, can’t speak the language,” Violeta Sanders told Seven’s Sunrise program.

“We have no money, our credit cards aren’t accepted.”

The 21-day cruise is due to end in Barcelona on 10 April.

A spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise Lines said it was a “very unfortunate situation” and that it was the passenger’s responsibility to be back on board the ship no later than one hour before the ship’s scheduled departure time.

A Sydney travel lawyer, Anthony Cordato, said passengers needed to heed ships’ tight schedules.

“Terms and conditions would make returning to the ship on time essential,” he said.

“From a consumer’s perspective, it’s harsh but from a ship’s perspective, are you going to hold up the cruise for an hour or two because they were slow to get on board? Are you going to inconvenience 1,000 passengers for the sake of four?”

The cruise company said all eight guests had rejoined the ship.

In a statement, a spokesperson said: “On the afternoon of March 27, 2024, while the ship was in São Tomé and Príncipe, an African island nation, eight guests who were on the island on a private tour not organized through us missed the last tender back to the vessel, therefore not meeting the all aboard time of 3pm local time. While this is a very unfortunate situation, guests are responsible for ensuring they return to the ship at the published time, which is communicated broadly over the ship’s intercom, in the daily print communication and posted just before exiting the vessel.

“When the guests did not return to the vessel at the all aboard time, their passports were delivered to the local port agents to retrieve when they returned to the port, as per the regular protocol. Our team has been working closely with the local authorities to understand the requirements and necessary visas needed for the guests to rejoin the ship at the next available port of call. Given that these guests were on a private tour and did not return to the ship at the communicated all aboard time, they are responsible for any necessary travel arrangements to rejoin the ship at the next available port of call, per our protocol.

“While the eight guests made arrangements to rejoin the ship in Banjul, Gambia on April 1, 2024, unfortunately the ship was unable to safely dock in the destination due to adverse weather conditions, as well as tidal restrictions that require specific timing for safe passage. While we share in our guests’ disappointment, this modification was made with great consideration for their safety and that of our crew, which is our top priority. We contacted these eight guests regarding this itinerary adjustment and provided them with authorization to rejoin the ship at Dakar, Senegal on April 2, 2024.

“Despite the series of unfortunate events outside of our control, we will be reimbursing these eight guests for their travel costs from Banjur, Gambia to Dakar, Senegal. As of this morning, all eight guests have rejoined the ship.”

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Eight people have accused Norwegian Cruise Line (NCL) of abandoning them on a tiny island in Africa after a private tour ran late and the group missed the embarkation cut-off time.

Four of the group are elderly and another is pregnant , and though the ship was still at anchor, they were denied boarding.

The ship, the Norwegian Dawn, set sail without them – and it was right to do so.

Once, I was late to check in for a flight. I jumped out of the taxi, sprinted to the counter (which is no mean feat when you’re hauling luggage) and arrived at the desk sweating bullets, prepared to get on my knees and grovel if it meant I’d be allowed through. I began to tell my sob story to the lady at the desk, heart hammering and lungs gasping for air, when she politely interrupted and shook her head.

In the nicest way possible, she said this: “Stiff bickies.” (OK yes, I’ve paraphrased.)

Sure, the plane was still at the airport, no more than a few hundred metres from where I was standing. However, the luggage had already been loaded, the manifest had already been finalised, and the other passengers were already boarding. There was no way they were going to let me board, nor should they have.

You see, I had been on a whale-watching tour about two-and-a-half hours south of the airport – hey, it was my last day, I wanted to make it count. I planned it to perfection, except for one detail: we spotted a playful pod right at the very end, so the captain offered to give us some bonus time to enjoy the view.

With one eye on the magnificent mammals, and another on my watch, I held on to a flicker of hope that I might make it. I jumped on the bus back to town, flagged down a cab, and asked the driver to hurry. I launched out of the car like a 100m sprinter launches out of starting blocks and ran into the terminal.

Alas, my proverbial ship had sailed.

Was it a bummer? Absolutely. But imagine delaying the other 158-or-so passengers scheduled to depart on the Boeing 737, asking the crew to extend their shifts, or holding the plane and disrupting airport traffic … all so little old me could drop off my bags, scurry through security, and find my gate.

Imagine the awkwardness if I stepped onto that plane. What do you say? “Sorry guys, my bad, lol.”

That doesn’t even scratch the surface of a cruise ship’s operations. Norwegian Dawn can accommodate 3372 people – 2340 passengers and 1032 crew – and this group of eight expected it to wait?

A ship’s departure time isn’t exactly a mystery.

I sailed on Norwegian Dawn in February and the departure time was published in NCL’s Freestyle Daily newsletter the night before and announced over the loudspeaker multiple times in the morning. It was also posted on signs at the doors where guests disembark.

The golden rule is clear: Make sure you’re back on time, or the ship may sail without you.

So what do you do if you’re left behind? Generally there are two options: either catch up with the ship at a later port or head home. If you’re lucky, you’ll have brought your essentials with you – your passport, phone, credit card, and medication – because all of your belongings will stay on board until the end.

Please don’t get me wrong, of course I’m sympathetic to the distress of those who were left in a foreign country without the safety of the ship. It would be scary and stressful to figure out next steps, especially for the members of the group with higher needs, and disappointing to miss out on their holidays.

However, the unfortunate reality is that ships can’t always wait.

Private tours are a whole separate issue, because while the ship will wait for official tours – those which have been organised by the cruise ship operator – to return, all bets are off for passengers taking their shore excursions into their own hands. Unofficial tours can be slightly cheaper than those on the ship’s itinerary, with slightly more availability, so they can be attractive. However, while operators will do their best to stick to scheduled times, all bets are off once you board that bus and leave the port.

Think of it like booking multiple legs of a trip with different airlines. They’re not in the same network, they don’t owe each other anything, and they can’t guarantee that you’ll make your connection. Say the bus breaks down. Maybe someone wanders off and takes ages to find. Perhaps the group lingers over a delicious lunch. Someone might need to stop at an ATM or a loo. You could get stuck in traffic. Or maybe your tour will be like mine and you’ll see something incredible that simply makes you want to pause.

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And so, eight passengers were left in São Tomé and Príncipe, Africa’s second-smallest country.

“While this is a very unfortunate situation, guests are responsible for ensuring they return to the ship at the published time,” NCL said in a statement, adding that it is communicating with the guests about their next steps. It’s harsh but fair, especially since the other 3364 (or so) people on board got it right.

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A n American couple who flew thousands of miles to rejoin a cruise ship after it abandoned them on a remote African island are now having second thoughts about getting back on board.

Jay Campbell and his wife Jill were among nine passengers abandoned on São Tomé and Príncipe by the Norwegian Dawn cruise ship when they were late to return from a shore excursion on March 27.

But after jet-setting through seven countries in 48 hours to catch up with the ship in Dakar, the couple are beginning to feel disillusioned with the luxury liner.

‘After what we witnessed, we truly believe that although there’s a set of rules or policies that the ship may have followed, they followed those rules too rigidly,’ Jill Campbell told  USA TODAY .

‘I believe that they really forgot that they are people working in the hospitality industry and that really the safety and the well-being of the customers should be their first priority, and that should be placed first.’

‘We believe there was a basic duty of care that they’ve forgotten about so it does concern us,’ she added.

The couple, from South Carolina, had been eight days into a 21-day cruise from Cape Town to Barcelona when they embarked on a third-party tour of the island, located around 190 miles west of mainland Africa.

But when they arrived back at the port, where the Norwegian Dawn was still docked, the captain refused to let them board as they had missed the 3pm deadline for re-entry.

The São Tomé and Príncipe Coast Guard then ferried the stranded passengers to the cruise ship, but they were once again denied entry by the captain.

Upon their return to the island, the Campbells encountered a number of additional passengers who had been denied entry and abandoned by the cruise operator, including four elderly passengers, a pregnant woman and a person in a wheelchair.

The group later encountered an 80-year-old woman who had been on a separate tour organised by the cruise line, who had been left behind after becoming hospitalised while suffering a concussion while on the tour.

The Campbells were the only members of the group who had access to credit cards, and say they spent $5000 on accommodation for the group while they planned their next move.

The couple say they were grateful for the hospitality received by the people of São Tomé and Príncipe and had been receiving consular assistance from the US embassy in Angola. They were due to fly to Gambia on Sunday to try to rejoin the cruise.

‘I truly believe sometimes we’re put in certain places for a reason and I believe we were put in this place for the 80-year-old woman that was left alone,’ Campbell told ABC. ‘God forbid, what would have happened to that lady if we were not here.’

A spokesperson for Norwegian Cruise Line told the Mail that the eight remaining guests have been provided authorisation to rejoin the ship in Dakar today.

‘Despite the series of unfortunate events outside of our control, we will be reimbursing these eight guests for their travel costs from Banjul, Gambia to Dakar, Senegal,’ the spokesperson said.

Norwegian Cruise Line said it was the passengers’ responsibility to ensure they returned to the cruise ship on time and that they had returned the group’s passports to the relevant port authorities before departing.

A previous statement from the operator read: ‘While this is a very unfortunate situation, guests are responsible for ensuring they return to the ship at the published time, which is communicated broadly over the ship’s intercom in the daily communication and posted just before exiting the vessel.

‘Our team has been working closely with the local authorities to understand the requirements and necessary visas needed if the guests were to rejoin the ship at the next available port of call.’

Were you one of the passengers stranded on São Tomé and Príncipe? Contact us at [email protected] and tell us your story.

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