With Valentine’s Day approaching, thoughts turn to romance, and no one knows romance like Royal Caribbean International. From rose petals in your room to lavender fields in Provence, sunrise in the Caribbean to moonrise over the sea, breakfast in bed to breakfast with Bedouins, here are just some of the many ways you can practise the art of seduction at sea, while on a cruise holiday.
Destinations
Take a cruise to the City of Lights. Picture: Getty Images
Royal Caribbean visits more than 260 destinations in 72 countries. You and your beloved can indulge in the dance of love in the tango parlours of Buenos Aires on a South American cruise; or visit the most romantic city in the world on a Paris and Bruges cruise. Closer to home, enjoy a natural spa at Champagne Bay in Vanuatu on a South Pacific cruise.
Staterooms
The Royal Loft Suite. Picture: RCI
Sip Champagne on your private balcony, or enjoy complimentary breakfast in bed in one of Royal Caribbean’s staterooms. But to really up the ante, try the Royal Loft Suite on Oasis of the Seas.
The suite features a baby grand piano, indoor and outdoor dining rooms, a private wet bar, library, extended balcony, entertainment area and Jacuzzi. From May this year, RCI’s new Royal Suite Class experience takes service to another level, with a Royal Genie personal assistant to attend to your every wish; an exclusive concierge to help with priority reservations; and exclusive access to the Coastal Kitchen restaurant, among many more privileges.
Dining
Wonderland is a mystical experience. Picture: RCI
Formal night in the dining room is a step back in time to old-world cruise glamour and romance. Or you might prefer delicious moments in private with complimentary room service.
Let your imagination run wild at the Wonderland restaurant on Ovation of the Seas, which features post-modern cuisine in themes of sun, ice, fire, water, earth and dreams, each with a selection of small or shareable concoctions. Dishes include tempura caviar, liquid lobster, crispy crab cones and vanishing noodles. The perfect place to add some mystique to your relationship.
Onboard Experiences
Let your heart fly. Picture: RCI
Did anyone say couples massage? Relax with your lover in a suite reserved for couples at the Vitality Spa, where you will be treated like a king and queen.
For adventure seekers, make hearts fly with the skydiving simulator on board Quantum of the Seas, or take a spin around the ice skating rink – as if you need an excuse to hold hands. Take a star-gazing class to impress your partner with your knowledge of the heavens on a moonlit night. For a lazier affair, snag a cantilevered whirlpool that extends four metres beyond the side of the ship, or hang out at the adults-only Solarium pool.
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Shore Excursions
A romantic luau in Hawaii. Picture: Getty Images
The romantic options are endless – go horseriding on the beach in the Bahamas, paddle a kayak built for two in Puerto Rico, or go two-person parasailing in Haiti. Take a romantic stroll on the cobblestone laneways of Europe, or join in a sunset luau in Hawaii. Be awestruck on a helicopter flight over the glaciers of Alaska, or eat a Bedouin breakfast at dawn in the deserts of Dubai.
Romance packages
Champagne and roses is never wrong. Picture: Getty Images
Royal Caribbean’s range of romance packages will step up your suitor’s game. For example, try the Classic Romance Package, incorporating vanilla cupcakes, a bottle of bubbly in your room upon arrival, canapes in your stateroom before dinner on formal night, petit fours after the meal, breakfast in bed and a keepsake portrait.
The Anniversary Ultimate Package includes deluxe room decor (banners, ‘love you’ pillowcases and more), Moet & Chandon Champagne, chocolate-covered strawberries, truffles, a dozen long-stemmed roses, luxury robes and slippers for both.
Shopping
That little blue box makes hearts beat faster. Picture: Getty Images
Want to surprise your loved one with a timeless keepsake, or pop the question with the perfect engagement ring? Good news: the first Tiffany & Co at sea opened on Oasis of the Seas late last year.
Or head ashore for that one-of-a-kind gift. How about designer jewellery made with tanzanite, one of the world’s rarest gemstones, from the Cayman Islands? Or jewellery made with local gold nuggets in Alaska? Download the Royal Caribbean Port Shopping Guide app for more ideas.
Celebrations
Tie the knot at sea. Picture: Getty Images
Royal Caribbean has Royal Romance Specialists to help you plan the perfect way to pop the question. And if your beloved says yes, they can help you plan a wedding or renewal of vows – on board or at a private beach – and sort your honeymoon with a gift registry.
They’ll handle everything from flowers to photography, cakes to entertainment, and the reception. You can be legally married by the ship’s captain for a day you’ll never forget.
