Romance on a cruise ship can be easy to find. Sailing away to beautiful destinations on a luxury cruise ship where your every need can be attended to, it’s the perfect setting for you and your loved one to enjoy quality time together.
Whether you’re looking to celebrate a birthday, anniversary, Valentine’s Day, or simply being together, we’ve got some fantastic ideas for romantic things to do on a cruise ship.
Read on below to plan your romantic cruise. As well as suggested activities, we’ll help you with finding the best cruise line for couples and the ultimate romantic cruise ship.
Wake up to enjoy breakfast in bed
Start the day in a romantic way, away from the crowds at the buffet line, just you and your partner enjoying breakfast in bed.
Whether you’re looking for a simple continental breakfast, an upgrade to a fluffy omelette, or a full English – your way, having breakfast in your cabin is an ideal start to a romantic cruise. For an extra special occasion, you can even celebrate with a mimosa or two.
Nearly all cruise lines offer breakfast in bed on their cruise ships. Most leading cruise lines, including Carnival Cruises, Celebrity Cruises, Disney Cruise Line, P&O Cruises, Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean, offer it free of charge too! However, you may need to pay a fee for some of the upgraded items on the menu.
Book a romantic excursion
One of the best things about a cruise is discovering new, beautiful destinations. With cruise itineraries taking you to some of the most idyllic places around the world, there is the perfect opportunity to enhance your cruise ship romance.
Wander on the immaculate white sands of Bora Bora or book a snorkelling trip to The Coral Gardens, where reefs and marine life are simply stunning. Exploring the white-washed villages in Santorini while sampling the local vinos on a wine tour is another favoured romantic activity for couples on a cruise.
Or how about an enchanting gondola ride through the picture-perfect canals of Venice? The choice is yours!
Relax together in the spa
One of the best romantic activities for couples on a cruise has to be indulging in the spa together.
Sit back and relax in the luxury thermal suites, with features such as steam rooms, saunas, whirlpools and day beds, alongside herbal and aromatherapy scents to help you unwind. Or, for even more cruise romance, book a couple’s massage, where you and your partner can enjoy the restorative benefits and feel refreshed for the remainder of your cruise.
As one of the best romantic cruise lines, Celebrity Cruises offers eight nature-inspired therapeutic experiences for couples to enjoy in their SEA Thermal Suite, and a variety of relaxing aquatherapy environments in The Persian Garden.
The Mandara Spa® on Norwegian Cruise Line has over 50 speciality treatments, including an Aroma Stone or Herbal Poultice massage. Meanwhile, MSC Cruises offers traditional Balinese, hot stone or Himalayan salt massage, as well as a soothing Finnish sauna and snow grotto.
Enjoy a romantic candlelit dinner
Sharing an intimate candlelit dinner is a must-do on a romantic cruise, and you’ll find several options on board your cruise ship. You and your partner may even like to treat yourself to dinner at one of the speciality restaurants.
For example, there’s the Steakhouse at The Verandah on Cunard Line, the Far-Eastern cuisine of Izumi Hibachi onboard Royal Caribbean’s ships or Indian fine dining at Sindhu on P&O; all just perfect for cruise romance.
However, for the ultimate in cruise ship romance, you can book a cosy candlelit meal on your own cabin balcony. Cruise lines, such as Princess Cruises and Regent Seven Seas, offer this luxury option, where your choice of dishes are served to you and your partner by the waiting staff.
Watch the sunset (or sunrise)
There’s little more spectacular than watching the sunset while at sea, and it is also one of the most romantic things to do on a cruise ship.
Choose to stroll up on deck, watching the glorious colours of the sky give way to the starlit sky. Alternatively, you could watch the sunset from your balcony, perhaps ordering a bottle of champagne to enjoy together as you soak up this memorable moment on your cruise.
The best cruise ship for romance
Cruise holidays are made for romance, and most cruise lines will have romantic options for you and your partner to enjoy. However, some do it particularly well…
Celebrity Cruises has to top the list as one of the best cruise lines for romance, voted the ‘Best Cruise Line for Couples’ in 2019. You and your loved one can enjoy romantic activities such as an alfresco picnic on the top-deck Lawn Club, a visit to the adults-only Solarium or dining in one of their speciality restaurants with menus designed by Michelin-starred chefs.
Princess Cruises is also renowned for its cruise ship romance as the cruise line of the ‘Love Boat’ TV show. With features such as ‘Movies Under the Stars’, its adults-only retreat, The Sanctuary and the sumptuous sweet treats from its Chocolate Journeys program, its ships have plenty of wonderfully romantic activities for couples on a cruise.
Regent Seven Seas has some of the best cruise ships for couples, too. Its suite-only, all-balcony ships offer first-rate luxury, with a 1 to 1.5 staff-to-guest ratio that sees the best in personalised service, unrivalled space onboard and exceptional dining options; all the ingredients needed for the perfect cruise romance.
If you’d like to book a romantic cruise or have any questions about romantic things to do on a cruise, please get in touch with our cruise specialists.
