Looking for romantic ideas for your next cruise? Whether it’s a honeymoon, an anniversary, or just a chance to get away for a vacation with someone you love, there are plenty of reasons that romance may be in the air on your trip.
The good news is that there are plenty of opportunities to make the most of your cruise when it comes to being sweet with your significant other. While many people think of thousands of people on a cruise ship with little quiet time or room for themselves, that’s not the case. There are plenty of areas and ideas to get away from the crowds and make the most of time with the person you love.
With that in mind, we have a dozen ideas of romantic things you can do on your cruise to get that spark that comes from spending time with someone special on vacation.
Order a Bottle of Champagne for the Room
Is there anything that sets the mood better than two people sharing a bottle of champagne? You can bring your own on a cruise, but if you forget — or you just want something a little more romantic — then you can order a bottle of bubbly from the ship and have it delivered to your room.
From there it’s up to you how to enjoy the bottle. Drinking it out on the balcony is an obvious choice, but there’s no wrong way to enjoy champagne when you’re with someone that you love.
Get Dressed Up for Formal Night
What’s more romantic than getting all dressed up and enjoying a elegant meal? For busy folks, the opportunity to just sit and have a nice meal is a luxury — much less enjoying it while dressed to the nines.
The good news is that on a cruise, you’ll have formal nights. Week-long cruises typically have two, while shorter cruises will have one. These nights give you a chance to forget about the real world for a bit and have an opportunity to get fancy. There’s not much that looks sharper than a man all dressed up, or a woman in an evening gown. And with many others on the ship taking part, it helps to really set the atmosphere.
Take a Romantic Walk Outside in the Evening
The pool deck during the day is a hive of activity. There are people everywhere, music bumping, and events taking place. In the evening, the mood completely changes.
As it gets to dinner time and after, the ship is normally setting sail for the next port while the sun has gone away. That means it’s darker and cooler than during the middle of the day. As well, after dinner the number of people around the top decks of the ship is dramatically lower.
This makes it the perfect romantic place for a stroll. There are fewer people, the weather is much more comfortable, and it’s a chance to spend some quiet one-on-one time with the person you love.
Have a Couple of Glasses of Wine in the Bar
Cruise ships are well-known for having lots of choices when it comes to places to get a drink. And each of those bars has a personality. So a bar by the pool may be tropical with fun music, but another tucked away may be much more quiet, dark, and romantic.
Find a bar that has the sort of atmosphere that allows for two people to talk and spend some time sharing glasses of wine. There’s little that’s as nice as enjoying some quiet conversation in your own little private booth where it feels like you’re the only two people on the ship.
Take in the Sunset on Your Balcony
We’d say that there is nowhere on the ship as romantic as your cabin’s balcony. The space is usually small, with enough room for a couple of chairs and a table. But that just makes it feel cozy. It’s your own private spot to take in million-dollar views.
One romantic thing to do is sit on your balcony and take in the sunset in the evening (a glass of wine during this time is an added bonus). And unlike a hotel, the ship moves. So if your balcony doesn’t offer a sunset view on the way out from port, when the ship turns around to head home, you’ll be able to take advantage.
Two Words: Couple’s Massage
If you want to really feel like you’re on vacation and also have a romantic time with a partner, then check out a couple’s massage. Every cruise ship you sail will have a spa where there are all sorts of services available. This includes anything from basic massages to thermal suites to salons and more.
But if you want to create a spark, you can book a massage for you and your significant other. There, you can spend time together while you also get a rub-down, which should put you both in an amazing mood for the rest of the day — if not the rest of the cruise.
Spend Time in the Adults-Only Sections of the Ship
Many ships these days have adults-only sections of the pool decks, and in our experience, it’s one of the best-kept secrets. These spots aren’t around the main pool, but instead are situated on a top deck either forward or back.
Perhaps it’s the location, but few people seem to take advantage. If you’re looking for a romantic spot, they are ideal. For example, Carnival ships have the Serenity area that’s only open to people 21 years and up. Here there is no pool, but there are hot tubs, loungers, and some amazing clamshell beds that give lots of privacy. In addition, any time we have visited there have only been a handful of people there.
If you’re looking for a spot with more privacy, it’s hard to beat.
Buy a Surprise Gift From the Shops
Who doesn’t like a surprise gift? If you want to get on the good side of your partner and put them in a romantic mood, what about a little gift? The cruise ship will have all sorts of stores selling everything from candy to souvenirs to jewelry and watches.
Give them a line that you’re going to do something boring like stand in line at Guest Services and then sneak away to pick them up something they’ll love. And it doesn’t even have to be something tangible. You could also book an excursion they wanted or a spa treatment to allow them some time to pamper themselves.
Stay In and Order Room Service
Sure you could get all put together and then head down to dinner with everyone else, but sometimes it’s romantic just to have dinner alone with each other… in bed. Room service is available on cruise ships, and there is a wide range of what you can order. Whether you want to just have dessert delivered to the room or an entire meal, you don’t even have to get out of your pajamas to get something to eat.
Another suggestion? Try dinner on the balcony, giving you the chance to dine with a private sea view.
Upgrade to a Suite Cabin
When it comes to romantic cabins, there’s no argument that a balcony room is much more romantic than an interior cabin. But if you want to really step things up, opt for a suite. These rooms are larger and often have other upgrades and perks, making you feel like a VIP. Spend enough money and you can even opt for a room with lots more balcony space and large tubs instead of tiny showers in a cramped bathroom.
You can still have a romantic time without a suite, but it’s the equivalent of springing for a Mercedes instead of driving a family sedan.
Get in a Couple’s Workout
For some people, there’s nothing quite to set the mood like getting in a good workout with your partner. It can make you feel more attractive to work those muscles and build up a nice sweat. If you fall into this category, then you’re in luck.
Cruise ships have well-equipped gyms and often they are uncrowded. You and your significant other may even feel like you’re in your own private gym. You can get a workout and then head back to the room to see about getting a shower if you’re looking for romance.
Enjoy a Quiet Dinner in a Specialty Restaurant
Not much is more romantic than a classic quiet dinner. Now on the ship most spots are pretty lively for meals. The buffet and main dining room are going to have lots of people and don’t really have a romantic atmosphere.
But scope out some specialty restaurants. Ships will have a number of options to choose from. Since these are paid restaurants that cost extra, the crowds are normally smaller. Your trip, however, might have some more cozy “date night” options that would have a better atmosphere if you’re looking to dine somewhere more private.
One tip is to try the specialty restaurants earlier in the trip. It doesn’t always hold, but it seems like the restaurants get busier later in the cruise when more people are wanting to try something new.
