How to Renew Wedding Vows on a Cruise Ship (Costs, Rules and Cheaper Ways to Do It)

Maybe it's your 10th anniversary. Maybe it's your 40th, and you got married at the courthouse in a borrowed jacket. Either way, standing on a ship deck with the ocean behind you and saying “I'd do it again” is a pretty great idea.

Here's the catch. It's easy to overspend when you renew wedding vows on a cruise ship, and the rules differ on almost every line. Some ceremonies are free. Some cost more than the cruise fare for two.

I'll cover what's actually offered, the rules that trip people up, and the cheap and free ways to get the same feeling. Every price is dated, because these change.

What a cruise ship vow renewal actually is

It's a short, symbolic ceremony where you and your spouse repeat or rewrite your vows, usually with an officiant, a photographer and whoever you invite. You're already married, so no marriage license is involved. Princess describes its renewal as part of its Perfect Weddings lineup, and its renewal package asks for a valid marriage certificate when you book.

Most packages bundle similar pieces: flowers, a cake, a sparkling wine toast, photos and a keepsake certificate. Some add a private venue, a specialty dinner or breakfast in your stateroom.

Who performs it depends on the line and the package. Some lines use the captain, others the cruise director. Don't assume “the captain” is guaranteed. Ask.

If you want a legal wedding at sea instead, that's a separate product with its own costs. My guides on cruise weddings and honeymoons and what a cruise ship wedding really costs cover that side.

How much does it cost to renew vows on a cruise ship?

The two published prices I could confirm are $1,499 and $1,595, and extras can push the total higher. Free group ceremonies and DIY versions sit at the other end. Treat the table as a snapshot, not a quote (as of November 2026), and confirm the current price before you plan around it.

You may see much lower numbers online, like $250 or $500. Those mostly come from old forum posts and older articles, so I wouldn't plan around them. Packages get renamed and repriced.

Extras stack up fast too. Celebrity's guidelines mention à la carte options like receptions, live music and salon appointments, and each one adds to the total.

The rules that catch people out

This is the part that bites couples who wait too long. Every line has its own rules, and some are strict.

Day restrictions

Celebrity's guidelines say renewals can't be held on embarkation day or night, or on formal day or night, because of ship staff duties. Older Celebrity package details also described renewals as limited in number and only on sea days. That matters if your itinerary has just one sea day, so ask before you pick a sailing.

How long you've been married

Royal Caribbean's Still The One package requires that the couple be legally married for one year or more. Other lines may set their own minimums, so ask.

Guest limits and cancellations

Royal Caribbean's package allows up to ten guests. Princess's Renew the Love is for the couple only, with added guests at a per-person charge. Cancellation windows exist too, and they can be strict, so get the terms in writing.

How to save money on a vow renewal at sea

My whole approach is to travel more without spending more, and a vow renewal is a good place to practice. You're paying for a few special minutes, so be picky about which minutes cost money.

Join a group renewal if the dates fit

On Valentine's Day 2026, Carnival held a fleetwide vow renewal where more than 1,000 married couples on 28 ships gathered on the Lido decks, followed by a champagne toast and cake. Carnival called it an annual tradition. If you're sailing Carnival around February 14, ask the line whether it's happening on your sailing and whether there's a fee, since I can't promise it every year.

It's a group event, so it's more party than private moment. For some couples, that's the appeal.

Do a DIY renewal and spend the money elsewhere

Totally legitimate. You don't need anyone's permission to say vows to each other on your balcony at sunset. Bring a small bouquet, ask a family member or friend to take photos (or use a small travel tripod), and write your own vows. It costs nothing.

Then put the money you didn't spend toward something you'll remember, like a nicer dinner or a shore excursion. For port ideas, browse tours and shore excursions on Viator.

Pick a cheaper time to sail

The ceremony is only part of the bill. The cruise fare is the big number, and it moves with the season. Shoulder-season sailings are often cheaper than peak summer and holidays, though it varies by line and region. My cruise deals page tracks current sales, and I cover seasonal patterns in the best time to cruise to Alaska and the best time to cruise the Mexican Riviera.

Skip the add-ons that don't change the moment

Cake for two, flowers and a certificate are nice. A big reception and extra printed photo packages are where costs balloon. Decide what matters to the two of you.

What's worth paying for (and what isn't)

Here's my take, based on how these packages are built rather than on a specific ship I've sailed.

Worth it: a dedicated event planner, a private spot where you won't be interrupted, and a photographer. Photos are what you'll look at for decades. Just confirm how many you get.

Maybe: a specialty dinner. If it's included, great. If it costs extra, compare it with booking a nice dinner yourself.

Usually skip: upgrades layered onto an already full package, and anything built for a big guest list when it's just the two of you.

Picking the right cruise for your renewal

Think about what you want to feel. Big and festive, or quiet and intimate? That decides the line more than the ship's age does.

• Lively and fun: Carnival's Valentine's Day group renewal, if the date works.
• Private and polished: Royal Caribbean's private-setting package or Princess's captain-led Renew the Love. Check current inclusions.
• Destination-driven: Royal Caribbean says it can help plan a vow renewal onboard, in port or at one of its destinations.

For my West Coast readers, a Mexican Riviera cruise makes a great anniversary trip because you can sail from Southern California and skip flights. My 7-day Mexican Riviera cruise from Los Angeles guide shows what that looks like. If you'd rather watch glaciers than palm trees, see the Alaska cruise hub, and remember a ceremony inside a ship lounge may photograph better in cooler weather.

If you're sailing out of Long Beach, a pre-cruise night makes the morning calmer. You can compare Long Beach hotels here. Same idea for Seattle sailings with Seattle hotels.

As for what to wear, plan around the photos you want. My guide to formal night outfits helps. For the rest of the trip, I make personalized cruise shirts that work for anniversaries and family groups.

A simple planning timeline

Here's how I'd sequence it. Adjust for your line's own deadlines.

Lead times vary by line, so ask your line's wedding team what its deadline is.

Bringing kids or grandkids? Crowded, noisy venues can overwhelm little ones. If a quieter setup suits your family, my guide to the best cruise lines for special needs and sensory needs is worth a look, and a quieter time of day helps too.

Your questions, answered

One last thing before you book

The best vow renewals are the ones where the couple decided what mattered and ignored the rest. Maybe that's a full package with a captain and cake. Maybe it's five quiet minutes on a balcony with the sun going down.

If you want help comparing lines or checking day rules against your itinerary, that's what I do. For a wider look at the legal-wedding side, see my cruise ship wedding packages guide.