Everyone has seen those romantic scenes in the movies where the captain marries a couple out on the high seas (or even Captain Kirk and Captain Picard in Star Trek on a spaceship continuing the tradition of a sea ship). But can captains really do that? Are captains permitted to marry people on board their ship?

The short answer (and non-answer) is - it's complicated. Of the many prerequisites for being a captain, officiating weddings is not one of them.

What The Space Future Thinks of High Seas Weddings

Long into the future from now in the year 2266, Captain James T. Kirk will officiate a wedding between Robert Tomlinson and Angela Martine in the USS Enterprise's chapel. Incidentally, there is an entire Star Trek Original TV Set in Ticonderoga, New York to visit.

242ish years from now Captian Kirk will say as he serves in the role of the officiant:

"Since the days of the first wooden vessels, all ship's masters have had one happy privilege. That of uniting two people in the bonds of matrimony. And so we are gathered here today with you, Angela Martine, and you, Robert Tomlinson, in the sight of your fellows...."

Star Trek: The Original Series (Season 1, Episode 14)

Years later Captian Picard will say much the same as he too officiates a wedding. But that begs the question, are they right the "ship's masters" of the "first wooden vessels" were able to officiate weddings?

Related: Space Tourism Is Becoming A Real Thing, Now Even Captain Kirk Is Going To Space

Is It Permitted for Captains To Marry? - Not Really, Nope...

The first thing to consider is the country of the registry of the ship, most countries do not permit the captain of a ship to perform a marriage at sea.

When it comes to the American Navy the answer is a categorical no! The captain's powers as defined in the 1913 Code of Regulations 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..."

  • USA Navy: Generally Forbidden To Permit Marriages Onboard

There are exceptions depending on the local laws as well as if it is in the presence of a consular or diplomatic American official who has issued the required certificates.

"By the authority vested in me by Kaiser William the Second I pronounce you man and wife. Proceed with the execution."

 - The African Queen (1951)

With civilian seaborne marriages, the court precedents have been a little contradictory. Notably, in the case of 1919 Bolmeer v. Edsall, the court said that the marriage was governed by the laws of the nation where the ownership of the ship is.

  • United Kingdom: The Captain Of A Merchant Ship Is Forbidden to Perform Marriages
  • Japan: Permits The Ship Captains to Perform Marriages - But only For Japanese Citizens

In Spanish and Filipino law there is an exception to permit it on the point of death "in articulo mortis". It may be performed by the captain, or chief of an airplane, or by the commanding officer of a military unit.

Related: 20 Things Cruise Captains Do All The Time (That They Don't Want Passengers To Know)

... But It Is Actually Possible!

While most countries do not permit marriages at sea by the captain, there are some who do. Three who do include Malta, Bermuda, and the Bahamas. Some cruise companies have even moved the registration of their ships to Bermuda so that they could conduct marriages aboard their ships.

  • Countries Who Permit Marriages: Malta, Bermuda, The Bahamas

According to Bernews, in 2011 the company, Cunard, registered their luxury cruises vessels to Bermuda so that they would partake in the lucrative market for weddings at sea (as they were not recognized under British law).

The luxury ships included Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria, and Queen Elizabeth.

The managing director of Cunard notes that they receive a lot of inquiries about getting married at sea on one of their ships - particularly in the mid-Atlantic on board the Queen Mary 2.

Meanwhile, Carnival Cruises with their Princess Cruises have been performing marriages since 1998 when it first launched a ship with a chapel.

Note: Also Most Princess Captains Have Bermuda Licenses to Perform Weddings

  • Carnival Cruises: Has 11 of its Princess Cruises Registered in Bermuda (3 In The United Kingdom)
  • Possible On: The Princess Cruise's Golden Princess, Star Princess, and the Grand Princess

In general, some captains may be able to conduct weddings. But not in their capacity as captains, instead because they have other credentials (like being ministers of religion, justices of the peace, or notaries public, etc.).

One easier way of getting married on a ship is to do it while in port and under the authority of an official from that port. But that seems somehow less romantic.

If would like to get married at sea, then apart from the luxury cruises mentioned above, it will normally take some planning and research.

Next: 10 Stunning Places To Travel For Your Wedding