Need more reasons to book your honeymoon cruise? Here are our top five.
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- From start to finish, a cruise holiday alleviates the stresses associated with foreign travel. With pre-planned activities, 24-hour support on board and the added bonus of being able to unpack and return to the same room each night, there's no hassle to a cruise holiday, leaving time for you and your new spouse to sit back and enjoy the journey.
- Cruise companies offer a range of activities on and off the ship, allowing special memories to be made with very little effort. Make pizzas together in Naples, go scuba diving in Aruba or climb the peaks of Machu Pichu at sunrise. Onboard, indulge in a couples massage, relax by the pool and enjoy world-class cuisine on date night, every night.
- Let’s talk more about the food. With ships competing to offer the best gastronomic experiences at sea, many now feature menus from Michelin-starred chefs with an unparalleled diversity of cuisines, allowing you to travel the world with your tastebuds. Food and drinks packages are a great way to save money whilst keeping the ‘buzz’ of eating out every night or, opt for room service to keep dinner times intimate on your own private balcony.
- A cruise is a time to disconnect from the world around you. After the wonderful craziness of wedding preparation, this is a time to truly switch-off from everyone and everything. Don't buy the Wi-Fi package and you are unreachable – perfect for undisturbed alone time with your new spouse.
- Many cruise lines offer honeymoon discounts and offers, making the holiday feel extra special. Find rose petals on your bed, drink champagne and enjoy chocolates on your balcony or book private tours around your favourite destinations. Some cruise lines offer a pre-registry service, allowing your wedding guests to gift you treats throughout your stay.
Best honeymoon cruise lines
The first step to booking any cruise holiday is to choose the cruise line that suits your style and budget. Below, we've compiled our favourites that give your honeymoon an extra sparkle.
Celebrity Cruises
The top deck of a Celebrity ship is the perfect location for your honeymoon days at sea. Take a dip in the adult-only Solarium, swim up to the pool side bar, snuggle in a hot tub or private cabana and spend the evening in the Rooftop Garden. Designed by Tom Wright, these unique spaces are a delight for the senses, with the added bonus of an ever-changing view beyond (available on Celebrity Edge, Beyond and Apex).
The Lawn Club is another great space onboard, with half an acre of real grass, private alcoves, croquet pitches and the Hamptons-inspired Porch bar serving the freshest seafood (available on Celebrity Solstice, Equinox, Eclipse, Silhouette and Reflection).
Inside, ships include a range of dining options, perfect for your first date nights as a married couple. Le Petit Chef (available on most Celebrity ships) is the epitome of dining experiences, with 3D art tables choreographed to match an array of global dishes.
If you wish to get the full honeymoon experience, ensure to book a Retreat Suite, designed to maximise the stunning views and ensure comfort at every turn. Created by the genius of Kelly Hoppen, there are a range of Retreat rooms to meet your needs and booking this package allows access to a private restaurant, sundeck and lounge. Drinks, Wi-Fi and 24-hour butler service are also included to fill your honeymoon with true indulgence (full Retreat experiences can be found on Celebrity Millennium, Edge, Apex and Beyond).
Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises’ Honeymoon Package is full of special touches. From the champagne - poured into personally engraved glasses - and chocolate-covered strawberries waiting in your suite, to the keepsake framed portrait taken aboard, the Dulux package will make you feel welcome from the very start of your trip. It also contains robes, a champagne breakfast, a serving of canapes to begin a special evening and a spa visit with treatment, plus, a private visit to the captain on the bridge of the ship.
There are a wide variety of date night restaurants to suit all couples’ tastes, including chefs specialising in steak, lobster, pasta and sushi. A trip to the Chef’s Table is a must for foodie honeymooners, where courses are paired with wine and champagne and hosted by the Executive Chef.
Activities on board will suit the tastes of each individual couple: enjoy food demonstrations and wine tastings in the theatre, speak to experts about the amazing wildlife and scenery around you as you cruise, and get involved in the variety of dance classes and sporting facilities.
The perfect suite for any honeymoon can be found in the ships’ Reserve Collection, complete with the ‘Best Cruise Ship Bed’, voted for by Cruise Critic. These rooms have amazing ocean views from your private balcony and lounge areas, plus Reserve perks, such as priority boarding and dining.
Royal Caribbean
Royal Caribbean offer both smaller, intimate ships, such as Serenade and Jewel of the Seas, and large ships, such as Utopia of the Seas, which have a wider range of facilities. The former are a great option for a budget-friendly honeymoon, whilst the latter are filled with adventure as you cruise between ports. Utopia of the Seas, for example, has three pools, seven waterslides, thirteen bars and seven restaurants, plus a zip line and the Ultimate Abyss – the longest dry slide at sea. For those couples looking for an adrenaline rush, it's the perfect boat.
Dining options are aplenty on each Royal Caribbean ship. Find the ultimate honeymoon destination at Wonderland – an experience to excite all the senses based on the five elements. Even the menu is an event as you brush it with water to reveal the courses.
Royal Suite Class (available on many Royal Caribbean ships) offers true honeymoon luxury, with spacious rooms lavished with huge windows and stately furnishings. The Royal Loft – Royal Caribbean’s premium suite – has a mezzanine bedroom floor, baby grand piano and vast private balcony overlooking the stern.
Royal Caribbean offer a honeymoon registry, allowing guests to buy experiences for your trip as a wedding gift. You choose the items you would like to receive – maybe a massage for two or a speciality dining dinner - and family and friends can purchase these to help make your trip truly memorable.
Disney
Disney is not just for the kids and this is especially the case on a Disney cruise ship. Each ship features an adult-only top deck where pools, bars and lounges offer true relaxation. Below, there are luxurious spas and state-of-the-art fitness facilities, plus a range of nightclubs and lounges where you can let your hair down at night.
Palo and Remy restaurants are also exclusively for adults. Palo offers Italian-style fayre in a formal setting with a menu that comprises far more than just pizza and pasta. Remy, available on Disney Dream and Fantasy ships, features a menu from 3-Michelean-starred chef, Armaud Lallement. Subtle references to the film are seamlessly interwoven amongst Reidel glassware and Christofle silverware, while the menu features high quality ingredients such as langoustine and Kobe beef. Dress up for these dining events to make magical Disney memories.
Alongside these refined experiences, it would be a shame not to indulge your inner child with the fantastic shows and fireworks on offer each night, plus that all important selfie with Mickey.
For the ultimate luxury, opt for a Disney Concierge suite. Inspired by the elegance of Tangled, these offer two bathrooms for privacy, a wide veranda and luxury bedding, plus concierge and priority services. The epitome of Disney rooms comes in the form of the Disney Wish Tower suite, located at the top of the trademark red funnel; this two-storey room features some of the ship’s best views, five bathrooms, a grand spiral staircase and library - far more space than you need on your honeymoon, but an amazing, unique treat.
Virgin Voyages
Virgin cruise ships are adults only and so are a fantastic choice for those not wishing to compromise on their romantic break. The Virgin offer is special as cruisers get so much included with their ticket; Wi Fi, workouts, soft and hot drinks, as well as dining in all restaurants is available throughout the journey for no extra charge, allowing you and your partner to truly indulge.
Virgin ships are perfect for health and fitness focused couples. The classes on offer, such as Barre, SUP and boxing are available for all levels. Walk, run or jog the circular runway together around the ship before treating yourselves to a massage or dip in the pool with a non-pressed cold juice. Later, wives can prepare for the night ahead at Dry Dock with a blow dry, manicure or even Botox, whilst men can get a fresh cut and enjoy a drink with a sea view in Stubble and Groom.
Ready for the evening? Ask a mixologist to tailor your very own couple cocktail before heading to one of the intimate dining rooms (no large buffets found here) such as Pink Agave for a Mexican feast or Korean BBQ at Gunbae - beginning with their traditional soju drinking game. Continue the theme of romance by watching a circus-style Romeo and Juliet extravaganza or dance the night away in Studio 72. Then, head back to your Rockstar Suite a with peek-a-boo shower, hammock and bottomless free bar- the perfect romantic hideaway.
Best honeymoon destinations
Once you’ve chosen your perfect cruise line, the next step is to find the destination for those honeymoon memories. Here are our favourite options:
New Zealand: for couples seeking adventure
Visit the Land of the Long White Cloud to find fjords, mountains, glaciers and beaches, where you and your new spouse can bungee, white-water raft and ski together.
Costa Rica: for couples seeking the beauty of nature
With both a Caribbean and Pacific coastline, volcanoes and rainforests, this country is the epitome of biodiversity. Explore the national parks together, stumbling across toucans, howler monkeys and exotic plants.
Paris: for couples seeking a short city break
Is there a more charming honeymoon destination than Paris? The city is filled with potential romantic moments, from dinner overlooking the Eiffel Tower and an evening cruise down the Seine to a stroll around the cobbled streets of Montmartre before a crêpe for two outside the Sacre-Coeur.
Mexico: for couples looking to get away from it all
Pure relaxation abounds in this affordable paradise. Hop off the ship to lounge on some of the world’s most beautiful beaches along the Caribbean Sea coastline.
Italy: for couples seeking true romance
The Amalfi Coast offers clear blue waters, cliffside towns and mouth-watering local delicacies so you can swim, explore and indulge together in this beautiful part of the Mediterranean.
Scotland – for couples seeking wilderness
Sail beyond Glasgow and Ben Nevis to find the truly wild side of the Scottish highlands, where the scenery is so expansive, it will feel like you and your new spouse are the only people for a thousand miles nestled amongst the mountains and glens.
Japan – for couples seeking something new
Find Buddhist shrines, devour fresh sushi and the wander amongst the bright lights of Tokyo in this Far Eastern paradise. Visit between March and May to see the cherry blossom spectacle.
Norway – for couples seeking a Winter wonderland
Snuggle up together on your suite balcony whilst sailing around the Norwegian Fjords and disembark to see reindeer and sample the delights of Oslo. Lucky honeymooners will also catch a once-in-a-lifetime glimpse of the Northern Lights.
Pacific Islands – for couples seeking an exotic paradise
Snorkel off the coast of Fiji, relax on the beaches of Bora Bora and explore the rainforests of Vanuatu in this relatively undiscovered part of the world.
GET.cruises will help you find the best cruise deals. Search for your perfect cruise holiday and compare prices from all the major travel agents.
