These days, with so many details that need to be attended to when planning a wedding, cruise honeymoons make more sense than ever. With the sheer number of ships and itineraries to choose from, it is easier than ever to find the perfect fit for you. After the initial decision is made, there are blessedly few things to think about. Here are the three most important details to keep in mind when planning your cruise honeymoon:
- Where to go!
When deciding on an itinerary, you need to sit down and consider what you are hoping to achieve from your honeymoon. Ask yourselves if you envision a week (or two) of doing absolutely nothing, or if you like a more active honeymoon experience. Keep in mind most people are exhausted after the wedding festivities and less-inclined to have an over-abundance of planned activities, but each couple is different. After deciding what level of action you are looking for, you can begin deciding where to go. To a certain degree, the time of year will dictate where you will want to travel. If you are traveling during the Atlantic hurricane season (generally June 1st-November 30th), you will want to either choose a cruise itinerary that steers clear of that area (the Pacific, Alaska, south of the “hurricane belt”, Europe), or look for bargins during these months and buy trip insurance. Most cruise companies keep a close watch on the weather and will take you to alternate ports-of-call. With a Caribbean or Mexican cruise, you will get lots of sunshine and beach action, while with Alaska or Europe, your days will be filled with sightseeing and more active pursuits.
- How to get there!
There are so many ship options and cruiselines on the market right now, that your choices are nearly endless. Ships are generally divided into three main types: small, medium and large. Small ships are typically first-class, elegant, and able to travel to more exotic locales, being able to navigate into ports and places that larger ships aren’t able to access. One example of a small ship is the Regent Seven Seas Paul Gauguin, designed exclusively to sail French Polynesia year-round. It was named the most romantic cruise ship at sea by The Total Traveler Guide to Worldwide Cruising. Mid-sized ships such as the Holland America line, offer a more intimate honeymoon than the mega-ships, yet are more affordable than the small, luxury vessels. There is a lot to do, yet it is still easy to find little nooks and quiet places to spend alone time together. Large ships, such as the Carnival Cruise ships, offer a great price on a weeklong voyage, allowing you to splurge on more of the little extras that might be out of your price range otherwise. Many newly married couples find that having a verandah to spend time with just the two of you is invaluable, and if money is a major planning factor, the Carnival ships make have your own private balcony much more realistic.
- What to do!
One of the first things that you should do when booking your cruise is to work with a travel agent who has a relationship with the cruise company you have chosen, so they can let the staff know you are a honeymooner. Depending on the level of the relationship, your travel professional can get you special services and upgrades once you arrive onboard. You will also want to request a table for two as soon as possible, as there aren’t many of these coveted, couples-only tables on most ships. Booking your shipboard activities ahead of time will help you budget (you might even get some of them as wedding gifts if you set up a honeymoon registry through your travel agent)! There are truly so many things to do on a cruise ship, it is difficult to know where to start, so let’s look at some of the more romantic endeavors to add an extra touch to your honeymoon: attend a special honeymooners-only cocktail party with the captain; book a couples massage to enjoy on your verandah during a day at sea; lounge on an outdoor bed on deck, with private butler service; toast your new lives together with a glass of champagne in your stateroom; snuggle with your sweetie under a blanket on the ship’s deck, while watching a movie under the stars.
With so many options for a personally tailored, romantic experience, it is easy to see why cruising is the choice of so many when deciding on the perfect honeymoon!
