Romancing at Sea

Imagine unpacking only once into a room with a balcony that provides changing views every day and new places to dine each night. Imagine a holiday that allows you to spend time connecting with each other after a day spent exploring a different city, a remote village or just lazing on a beach.

Cruising is one of the most romantic breaks a couple can have without the hassle of navigating to new locations each day – that’s what the captain is for.

Some ships also cater to specific tastes and interests. If you are foodies there are itineraries designed to delight your tastebuds both onboard and off. If you are fascinated by history then destinations in Europe or Asia will provide memories (and photos) for a lifetime. If you love beaches and sunshine, a cruise around the Pacific, Caribbean or Hawaiian islands sipping on a cocktail with an umbrella in it will probably tick all the boxes.

There are so many different experiences and so many ships to choose from, so here are a few things to consider for your couples’ getaway before you book:

If it’s relaxation you want, then a small ship could be ideal. You’ll have a pool and a gym, one or two bars and a library/ reading room. There’ll be smaller decks with sun loungers for catching up on some reading, or if you have a cabin with a balcony you can just while away your day at sea there. You might also like an itinerary that has more sea days rather than a new port daily to make the most of those big sea and blue sky days.

But if more entertainment is what you’re looking for, then the larger ships will appeal more. You’ll find top quality shows performed nightly or if the big theatre is not your style, there will be a cosy bar playing jazz or blues to tap along to. Entertainment for many cruise lines has become their signature difference, spending millions in set design and collaboration with renowned producers and choreographers.

There will certainly be several delicious places to dine onboard which rival those on land. Some ships have up to 18 different venues and have restaurants by celebrity chefs: Jamie Oliver’s restaurant Jamie’s aboard select Royal Caribbean ships, Curtis Stone’s SHARE aboard selected Princess ships and award winning French master chef himself, Jacques Pépin oversees the menus across the Oceania Cruises fleet of ships.

You’ll find a couple of pools and depending on which ship you choose, an ‘adults only’ retreat area with romantic day beds and cabanas where children are not permitted. Larger ships offer lots of opportunities to keep busy on things like putting practice or learning to surf or SCUBA dive, others offer cooking classes, wine tastings, cocktail making, and lectures for learning at various times throughout the day. You’ll also have a casino for a flutter and even duty-free shopping!

If you love getting out and about and exploring new places, then an itinerary that has several port days will suit you and will completely erase any thoughts of boredom. Imagine starting in Barcelona and when you wake in the morning you are in Cannes or Florence or Rome. At each destination you can also choose to be as busy or as quiet as you like. If you want to see as much as possible then booking a VIP tour onboard is an excellent way to see it all without standing in lines at the Vatican or the Colosseum, for example.

But sometimes the best moments are just walking hand in hand along a cobbled street browsing into tiny artist studios and boutiques then sharing a pizza in a taverna with a glass of chianti and watching the locals go about their day.

What did you love about your cruising holiday? Let us know in the comments.