Romantic Cruise Getaways

Cruise Ships: A Romantic Getaway for Couples

 From the time you wakeup in the morning to the time you go to bed, you’re on the go.  You’ve got a heavy workload, a hectic schedule and it seems that you go for long periods of time without spend any quality time together.  And now you not only need but you deserve a break.  So how about taking a romantic getaway together?  And for the ultimate in romantic adventures, consider a cruise.

Some people don’t consider a cruise as an option for a romantic couple’s vacation however there are some who swear by cruising.  And if you’ve never been on a cruise, perhaps it’s now time to reconsider. 

Prior to booking your cruise, consider several things.  There are numerous cruise ships, cruise lines and destinations.  Make sure that you book one that suits your needs.  For instance, you might want to avoid a family cruise line, especially if it is overrun with children.

For an intimate, relaxing cruise, seek one that has an age limit for its passengers.  These ships restrict children and target their cruises for romantic couples.

While it’s possible to find a cruise ship with an age limit, it may be a little difficult.  So if you can’t locate one, inquire where families will be placed and book your room in a different part of the ship.  Many cruise lines do work to keep families and individual couples separated – and it’s easy to determine by checking the policies of each individual cruise line online or calling their toll-free number.

How large is the cruise ship?  Believe it or not, the size of the ship may determine how romantic your vacation is.  A larger ship has more passengers and may deter onboard privacy. In fact, smaller cruise ships often target couples seeking romantic vacations.

Another factor is the style and décor of the ship.  There are some cruise lines that target romantic couples and therefore they create romantic environments such as romantic cabins, room service, etc.

When you’re traveling aboard a cruise ship, it’s a excellent way for couples to spend time together.  But where should you go? Most extended cruise ships dock in one or more ports which are often located in other countries.  Consider a cruise where the ports are considered romantic.  Places like the Bahamas, Hawaii and the Caribbean all have a number of ports.  Passengers enjoy balmy tropical weather which adds romance to a couple’s vacation.

If you don’t have the time or the cost is not affordable, consider a local romantic evening cruise near your home.  These cruises can be dinner and dancing and are often available in lakes and large rivers. 

So whatever the amount of time or money you have available, if you and your partner are interested in a romantic getaway, start checking the internet or with your local travel agent and consider a cruise vacation.

Preparing For Your Cruise

Cruise Ships:  Preparing For Your Voyage

You’ve decided to take a cruise for your vacation and now you’re starting to plan what to take.  While packing your clothes is important, you need to also be aware that there are other, equally important preparations you must make and if you fail to do these, you might now even be able to take your cruise – these are preparations that you should make as soon as you book your cruise.

What kind of cruise are you taking?  A large percentage of cruises travel internationally.  Not only are they in international waters but they also dock in international ports.  This means that before boarding, you will have to show your proper ID. This would include your driver’s license or similar government issued card as well as your passport.

One of the most important things is that when you are planning on traveling internationally, don’t wait until the last moment to get your passport.  Passports take quite a long time to process and if you need to rush, there is a huge extra cost involved.  You’re not granted a passport automatically – you must apply for one and it’s important that you allow time in case extra documentation is required.  Remember that unless you have the proper documentation, you will not be allowed to board the cruise ship.

So you’ve got your passport and driver’s license, but what other documentation will you need?  You should bring your health insurance card in case you get sick or have an accident.  In this case your insurance card will allow you to easily obtain needed medical attention.

Are you taking any special medications?  Don’t forget them. You should consider bringing along extra medications and even for important ones, ask your doctor to write an extra prescription just in case.  If your medications become lost or misplaced, you can easily have them replaced.

Most likely you will be participating in onboard activities as well as sightseeing or shopping in the various ports you stop at.  This means that you should bring along extra money, a credit or debit card or traveler’s checks.  Generally you’re not encouraged to bring large sums of money with you so make sure that you divide it up and put it in safe locations.  Don’t worry about taking a lot of cash.  Most cruise ships and ports accept alternate forms of money, including credit cars, traveler’s checks, etc. These forms of payments are excellent alternatives to carrying cash.

Prior to leaving for your cruise vacation, give a copy of the ship’s itinerary to friends and family.  This way you can be contacted in an emergency.  You also will be required to give the contact information in the case that something happens to you.  Do not give the contact information of someone traveling with you, instead make sure it’s someone whom you trust and supply them with the information to contacting everyone during an emergency.

So now that you’ve followed these simple preparation steps, you can now start packing and enjoying your well deserved cruise.