Years ago, it was said that cruises were the domain of ‘newlyweds and nearly deads’. Nowadays, this is far from reality as modern cruises appeal to people at every stage of life.
One of these particular stages which have become hugely popular is honeymoons. Read on to see why a cruise is the perfect honeymoon holiday and which cruise lines offer the best ones.
What to look for in a honeymoon cruise
With so much wedding planning to do, it can be tempting to ‘just book it’ when it comes to your honeymoon. However, spending a little time doing some research, will certainly pay off.
The destination, cabin type and dining options are all key points to consider when choosing which is the best cruise for your honeymoon.
Destinations
When choosing a cruise destination, think about the kind of honeymoon that you both want. If you’re going to be exhausted after the wedding, you might not want to tour European capital cities every day, and might instead prefer to spend your time lounging on beaches, sipping cocktails.
Is there somewhere you’ve always wanted to visit? Now’s the time! This is especially important if you’re planning to start a family soon after the wedding. You probably won’t want to visit New York with a baby in tow…
Staterooms
Think about the kind of stateroom you’d both prefer. If you’re likely to spend all your time out on the deck, an Inside cabin makes a wise choice and can save you hundreds compared to a stateroom with a balcony.
But, if you can see yourself hiding away, watching movies together and ordering room service, consider splurging on a suite. After all, you only honeymoon once!
Dining
Cruises are generally full-board, meaning that all your meals are included. However, ships also have speciality restaurants where you enjoy extra-special meals for a modest cover fee.
If you’ve been sticking to a wedding diet before your big day, you’re sure to be looking forward to feasting on gourmet food, so be sure to consider which dining options are included in your cruise fare and which cost extra.
Top honeymoon cruise destinations
The best honeymoon destination is one which you’ll both love and this will be different for every couple.
There’s no point heading to Hawaii just because you’ve heard it’s the top honeymoon destination, if you don’t like the sun and can’t stand flying.
A few suggestions from our Cruise Concierge team include:
- Japan – With few English speakers, many places in Japan can be tricky for tourists to explore. A cruise is a perfect way to visit this awe-inspiring country, with guided excursions available to immerse you in the culture.
- Europe – A great choice if you’re on a budget, a European cruise can take you to romantic cities such as Amsterdam, Paris, Venice and Florence.
- Caribbean – Ideal for lazy days soaking up the sunshine, the Caribbean has the world’s best beaches as well as fun activities like snorkelling.
Top honeymoon cruise lines
There are plenty of choices when it comes to cruise lines for your honeymoon, it all depends on what on-board facilities you want.
Celebrity Cruises
Celebrity Cruises is a great choice for honeymooners. This 5* cruise line offers a sophisticated atmosphere and personal service without the hefty price tag which comes with the luxury cruise lines.
To make your cruise extra special, book a celebration package which includes champagne, chocolate-covered strawberries and fresh flowers in your stateroom, a reservation at a speciality restaurant on-board or a personalised cake.
Norwegian Cruise Line
Another cruise line worth considering is Norwegian Cruise Line. Their freestyle dining means that rather than set mealtimes, you can eat when you want. You’ll have no worries about having to share your table with other diners, as there are plenty of tables for two.
After dinner, you can party all night in the many bars and nightspots which you’ll find on-board. To make your experience really special, the Ultimate Romance package includes sparkling wine, chocolate-dipped strawberries, twelve red roses, a couple’s massage, breakfast in bed, an in-cabin tea service, nightly canapes, two formal portraits and dinner for two with wine in the French restaurant Le Bistro as well as Cagney’s Steakhouse!
Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises is an elegant cruise line with lots for honeymooners to enjoy. In the evenings you can snuggle up under blankets on the top deck and enjoy movies on the big screen accompanied by popcorn and wine.
There’s a honeymoon package available, which includes a bottle of champagne, two engraved keepsake glasses, chocolate-covered strawberries, a visit to the spa and a deluxe breakfast served on your balcony. If you enjoy the intimacy of balcony dining, you can also enjoy this in the evenings as waiters bring your meal course-by-course to be enjoyed in the privacy of your balcony whilst you admire the sea view.
Romantic cruise activities
You’ll find so much to enjoy on-board your cruise ship for your honeymoon. If you sail on one of the mega-ships you might even struggle to fit everything in! One thing’s for sure, you certainly won’t be bored.
Spa days
Ship spas are amazing places with a whole host of relaxing features such as heated tile loungers, saunas, steam rooms, rain showers, and hydrotherapy pools.
You’ll find a seemingly endless list of treatments available too, all designed to make you feel relaxed, refreshed and rejuvenated. One treatment which comes highly recommended for honeymooners is the couple’s massage. Availability will be limited, so if a spa day is your thing, be sure to book your place before you board.
Formal nights
One theme which you’ll find on almost every cruise is the formal evening. A chance to get dressed up to the nines in a dinner suit or evening gown, a formal night is a lovely way to enjoy a truly romantic evening together. The number of formal nights will vary depending on the sailing, so check before you go to make sure you pack the right attire.
Get sweaty
Some cruise ships, such as Royal Caribbean’s fleet of mega-ships, feature a host of adrenaline-pumping activities such as rock-climbing, indoor-skydiving, virtual-reality trampolining, ice-skating and surfing simulators. Getting your heart racing can be an exhilarating way to spend time with your new spouse. Most ships have on-board gyms too, or why not try a fitness class together? Afterwards, you can unwind in the spa or relax in a hot tub on the deck.
Booking your honeymoon cruise
With so much to plan, it’s worth speaking to a cruise expert who can answer all your questions and make sure that you consider everything that you need to when booking your dream cruise holiday. Here at Cruise118, our team of expert Cruise Concierge are on-hand to do just that. If you’d like to extend your stay with a hotel stay before or after your cruise, or perhaps a land tour, we can do that too.
When you book, don’t forget to tell us it’s your honeymoon and we’ll pass this on to the cruise line. That way, if any perks are available, such as free upgrades, we can make sure that you receive them!
Call our Cruise Concierge on 0808 1234 118 to start planning your dream honeymoon now.
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