• Get married onboard or at one of the ship's ports.cruise image by Einar Bog from Fotolia.com
  
  Carnival Cruise Lines offer a variety of wedding packages for couples to choose from. You can get married onboard before the ship sails, or onshore during most days in port. Each package includes a civil ceremony performed by a notary public, flowers, a cake, a champagne toast, and a photographer--although buying the photos is an additional cost. You also get your own wedding agent to guide you through the process.
  
  

Small and Intimate

• Carnival's most affordable option includes only the wedding ceremony and can include up to 8 guests, so it's a fine choice for couples who want their special day to be just about them, or want to include only the closest friends and family. As of 2010, this package ranges from $1,150 to $1,690, depending on the location.
  
  

Welcome Aboard

• The "Welcome Aboard" package includes the ceremony as well as a 1-hour reception, and can include up to 20 guests, including the bride and groom, although additional guests can attend at the cost of $22 each. This package ranges from $1,635 to $2,125.
  
  

Deluxe Romance

• This larger package lets couples enjoy the ceremony and a 90 minute reception with up to 20 guests. Extra guests cost $30 a person. Prices range from $1,795 to $2,395.
  
  

Ceremony and Wedding Luncheon

• This option serves couples who want a traditional sit-down meal at their reception. After the ceremony, guests enjoy an elegant luncheon in a private dining room. Carnival requires a minimum of 8 guests for this package; each guest beyond that is an additional cost of $34.50. The price for 8 guests ranges from $1,495 to $2,000.
  
  

Destination Wedding

• For couples dreaming of marrying on a sandy beach or beside a beautiful waterfall, Carnival offers "on island" packages in many of their destinations, including the ceremony and transportation to and from the location for the bride and groom. Prices range from $1,500 to $2,150.
  
  

Considerations

• You'll have to obtain a marriage license from the state in which you're getting married. Most of Carnival's ships sail from Florida, which allows out-of-state couples to apply for a license through the mail in advance. However, many of the other states they sail from require couples to arrive 3 days before the cruise and appear in person to get the license. There may also be an additional surcharge during the most popular times to get married, lsuch as the weeks around Christmas and Valentine's Day.