Since Valentine’s Day is only a heart beat away, it’s time to explore the most romantic mode of travel, cruising.  In the movies, ships have been the setting of romantic escapades and, in reality, getting married aboard ship, followed by a honeymoon at sea, is a very popular reasons to cruise.  Each year thousands of people celebrate anniversaries on a sea-going vacations and you’ll find renewal of vows a fairly standard ceremony on most cruises.

And while the original Love Boats are long gone, Princess Cruises celebrates Valentine’s Day as “Love Boat National Holiday” with special activities designed to help couples recapture romance.  Princess is the only cruise line where the ship’s Captain can perform a legal wedding, the first to build ships with chapels in them.

Of course one can feel romantic at any time aboard any ship.  And, we each have our notions of what’s romantic and what isn’t.  Here are my personal picks for the most romantic ships afloat.

1.  Windstar Cruises.  Small yacht-like motorized sail vessels combining a low-key, cozy ambiance with high levels of food and service.  Cruising in Central America, the Mediterranean and Greek Isles, the ships offer some of the best itineraries in the world.

2.  Seabourn Cruises.  Should a well-heeled man propose marriage one day, I’ll hand him a brochure of these exclusive vessels with the highest levels of food and service and the best itineraries in the cruise industry.  Champagne and caviar are an every day occurrence aboard these small luxury ships. 

3.  Sea Dream Yacht Club.  Carrying only 80 passengers, the former Sea Goddesses lack balconies but more than make up for it with sublime cuisine, polished service and luxurious tanning beds on deck.

4.  Princess Cruises.  This cruise line pays tribute to its Love Boat heritage with a half dozen ways to be romantic.  In addition to weddings and vow renewals at sea,  the “Engagement Under the Stars” package is truly creative.  Guys pop the question to their unsuspecting betrothed with a personal video proposal shown on the ship’s giant outdoor “Movies Under the Stars” movie screen.   ”Romance by Room Service” includes champagne and chocolate delivered to the stateroom, scattered fresh rose petals and a scented candle. Of course, The Romance Channel on stateroom TV’s runs classic romantic movies.

5.  Queen Mary 2.  A transatlantic crossing between Southampton and New York is still one of the most romantic voyages in the world:  Six nights of sybaritic pampering, ballroom dancing with passengers decked out in evening finery and lots of deck space for lazy strolling. 

And, if you’ve put off buying a Valentine’s Day gift, one that will certainly make an impression is a gift certificate for the cruise of your beloved’s choice from a local travel agency.

Which ships do you deem “most romantic”?  Any tips on arranging romantic gestures on a cruise?

Bookmark to: