The most ridiculously romantic experiences on board a cruise ship
Valentine’s Day is here, and nothing beats sailing off into the sunset with a loved one.
A growing number of cruise lines are ramping up the romance by offering a range of activities designed especially for couples. We may not be able to sail right now but by Valentine’s Day in 2022 holidays at sea are set to be back with a bang.
Which is why, with lovebirds in mind, I’m playing Cupid and have sought out the most romantic experiences available on a cruise.
Date night with a difference
The downsides of cinema date nights? Overpriced snacks and the Russian roulette-like challenge of bagging the best seats. Not so if you’re getting your film fix at one of Princess Cruises’ Movies Under the Stars events. You’ll snuggle under fleece blankets in the open-air amphitheatre, and can stuff yourself silly with complimentary popcorn. You can even watch the film from the pool – although if you’re of a nervous disposition, we recommend sticking to the sun loungers when Jaws is showing.
Princess Cruises’ 10-night Southern Caribbean Voyager cruise departs January 19, 2022, from Fort Lauderdale. From £999pp, excluding flights (0344 338 8663; princess.com).
Glamp it up
If you’re looking to wow your other half and your cabin won’t cut it, consider booking one of Azamara’s Nights in Private Places experiences. You’ll spend the evening on the ship’s Sanctum Terrace, a private spa deck where you can slip into a hot tub for a pre-dinner soak. After a candlelit meal (served by your very own butler) you’ll don Frette robes before falling asleep under the stars in a converted daybed. From £288 per couple.
Azamara’s 10-night Greece Intensive Voyage departs June 17, 2022, from Piraeus, Greece. From £3,301pp, excluding flights (0344 4934016; azamara.co.uk).
Renew your vows in paradise
Renew your vows on Windstar and the service will be led by the captain, who’ll prepare handwritten invitations to give to other guests, whether it’s friends from home or the couple next door. Crew members will photograph the event, and the pastry team will prepare a custom-made cake, which will be presented with a bottle of sparkling wine. You can book this experience on any Tahiti cruise, which makes perfect sense – as much as we love the thrill of slipping through the Panama Canal or bouncing through the Drake Passage, they don’t quite cut it as backdrops for vow renewals.
Windstar’s vow renewal package costs £130. Windstar’s seven-night Dreams of Tahiti cruise departs January 27, 2022, from Papeete. From £2,195pp, including flights (0207 399 7620; windstarcruises.com).
Cabana camp out
Sail around the Galapagos with Celebrity Cruises and you’ll have the chance to glamp at sea. Sign up for the glamping experiences available Celebrity Flora and you’ll have two cabanas at your disposal – one with a bed, and another to dine in. After feasting on campfire-inspired cuisine, you’ll drift off to the sound of the ocean (or failing that, the grunts of Galapagos seals).
From £218 per tent. Celebrity Cruises’ seven-night Galápagos Outer Loop cruise departs October 10, 2021, from Baltra Island in the Galápagos Islands. From £4,919pp, excluding flights (0344 493 2043; celebritycruises.com).
Sleep under Antarctica stars
From November 2021, guests on Aurora Expeditions’ new ship, Sylvia Earle, will be able to slip into a sleeping bag and spend the night snuggled up on a slab of Antarctic ice. I’m assured there aren’t any predators, although it’s highly like you’ll awake to find a friendly penguin peering at his new neighbour. Make sure you book ahead, because the experience can only be arranged at certain times, in order to avoid so-called “guano season” – for obvious reasons.
From £110pp. Aurora Expeditions’ 12-day Spirit of Antarctica Voyage departs January 9, 2022, from Ushuaia, Argentina. From £9,850pp, excluding flights (0808 189 2005; auroraexpeditions.co.uk).
Say “I do” on at sea
Plenty of cruise lines will arrange weddings, but tie the knot on Cunard and you can make a truly unforgettable entrance – Cunard’s bellboys will act as wedding escorts, and you can arrange for a helicopter to whisk you off for a post-nuptials sightseeing flight.
Wedding ceremony packages start from £2,800. Cunard’s 10-night Alaska cruise departs 4 June, 2022, from Vancouver. From £1,199pp, excluding flights (0344 338 8641; cunard.com).
Get cosy in a capsule
I’m aware that once we can set sail again anything remotely resembling a bubble is probably best avoided, but we’re making an exception for Royal Caribbean’s North Star observation capsules, which swing up and over the side of Quantum Class ships. My advice? Up the romance factor by timing your visit to coincide with sunset.
Royal Caribbean’s eight-night South Pacific cruise departs December 2, 2021, from Brisbane. From £649pp, excluding flights (0344 493 4005; royalcaribbean.com).
Silver service on the balcony
What could be more romantic than a candlelit meal, served on your balcony by your very own waiter? Book Princess Cruises’ Ultimate Balcony Dining and your evening will start with a glass of champagne, before you tuck into a four-course meal. Staff will transform the balcony with fresh flowers and candles.
From £73pp. Princess Cruises’ seven-night Mediterranean and Adriatic cruise departs May 14, 2022, from Athens. From £999pp excluding flights (0344 338 8663; princess.com).
