Tips for Planning Honeymoons and Destination Weddings at Sea 

Tips for Planning Honeymoons and Destination Weddings at Sea 

By Windstar Cruises

Whether it’s a honeymoon in Tahiti or exchanging vows in the Mediterranean, a cruise delivers the perfect combination of romance and adventure. Small ship cruising caters to guests seeking intimate experiences, and from candlelit dinners to lounging on private beaches, there are endless ways to make a cruise a dream trip for two – or an entire wedding party. 

A cruise offers ample opportunities to relax, and there are plenty of activities for more adventurous travelers, like hiking in picturesque nature reserves, snorkeling in pristine coral reefs and scenic helicopter flights. A wide range of shore excursions allow guests to craft a dream trip around their interests, and many cruises offer enticing add-ons. For example, a number of Tahiti itineraries offer multi-night stays in overwater bungalows, which is the epitome of a romantic retreat — and very popular among newlyweds. 

Photo Courtesy of Windstar Cruises
Photo Courtesy of Windstar Cruises

Beyond appealing to couples seeking a romantic retreat, a cruise is an ideal way to celebrate a destination wedding. All-inclusive pricing makes it easy to control food and beverage costs for guests, and many cruises offer packages with hotels and flights, which makes travel logistics a breeze. From floral arrangements to wedding cakes, special romance packages help guests personalize all the details, and some cruise lines even have wedding planners to help with your special day. Simpler romance packages offer welcome gifts with flowers, chocolate, champagne and spa treatments, while more comprehensive packages include ceremonies, both for vow renewals and weddings. (It should be noted that wedding vows aboard cruise ships are generally non-binding, i.e., couples should make plans to legally tie the knot before or after their cruise wedding.)  

While it’s important to include key trip information on your wedding website and invitations (e.g., passport requirements, airport codes, info on ground transportation, etc.), a cruise takes most of the legwork out of the planning process. Consider reaching out to your preferred cruise lines ahead of time to get information on packages and pricing, so you can plan your dream trip — and make the most of your time with family and friends. 

Photo Courtesy of Windstar Cruises
Photo Courtesy of Windstar Cruises

When it comes to dining, guests can indulge themselves with everything from breakfast in bed to champagne toasts, plus five-star dining indoors or under the stars. Menu options offer both gourmet classics and a selection of locally inspired options, like fresh seafood, regional wines and of course, decadent desserts. With an expansive deck, a pool, a hot tub and indoor lounge areas, guests will find plenty of spots on the ship to enjoy, too. Full-service spas are yet another way to pamper yourself, and you can even get your hair and nails done at an onboard salon before exchanging vows.  

About Windstar Cruises

In 2023, USA Today included Windstar Cruises on their 10 Best Honeymoon Cruises list, and the previous year Porthole Magazine honored Windstar as the Most Romantic Cruise Line in their Readers’ Choice Awards. In 2022, Travel + Leisure included Windstar on their list of the 10 Best Intimate Cruise Lines, and Windstar is recognized for offering guests access to small ports and private tours across the world. 

Dreamy African Honeymoons with Allure, Passion, Enchantment, Love and Intrigue

Dreamy African Honeymoons with Allure, Passion, Enchantment, Love, and Intrigue 

By: Lion World Travel

Photo Courtesy of Camp Okavango 

Africa is celebrated for its outstanding natural beauty and stunning destinations. It also delivers energy, passion, and splendor. The options are endless when it comes to your dream honeymoon in Africa. A mix of adventure and charm, beach time or active time, Africa has it all. Sunset drinks, romantic private dinners, spa treatments, wine-tastings, the great migration, Gorilla trekking or a leisurely mokoro ride are all examples of the variety of experiences one can enjoy on a honeymoon in Africa. It all adds up to a life-changing experience and the perfect recipe for love. 

South Africa is one of the most popular African honeymoon destinations and it’s not hard to see why. From the sweeping vineyards of the Cape Winelands to the gourmet food in Franschhoek, the vibrance of Cape Town and the wildlife-rich Kruger National Park, to an overnight in a romantic treehouse on safari and luxurious safari lodges, it checks all the boxes as far as romance is concerned. 

Photo Courtesy of South African Tourism 

Botswana is the place for an exceptional honeymoon, with its deltas brimming with life, striking scenery and wildlife in pristine wilderness areas, along with a list of exciting activities from leisurely mokoro trips to exciting game drives, a romantic sundowner cruise on the Chobe River, hot air balloon flights and quad biking for an adrenaline rush. Then there’s the most luxurious tented accommodations at intimate safari camps in the most idyllic locations that you have ever seen. Botswana offers unmatched experiences. 

Photo Courtesy of Twiga Tours 

Victoria Falls is a popular stop after a honeymoon safari in South Africa and Botswana. Imagine staying in a Treehouse Suite on a private Island, nestled amongst the treetops with your own private deck, plunge pool and personal butler. Sleep out under the stars in an exclusive star-bed treehouse and explore the lush rainforest and wildlife of the spectacular Victoria Falls. The perfect romantic way to end the day is to indulge in a candlelit dinner for two or toast your love on a sunset cruise.  

Photo Courtesy of Angama Mara 

While on safari in Kenya or Tanzania your days will be filled with incredible wildlife sightings and magical experiences like a sunrise hot air balloon ride with champagne and candle-lit dinners under starry skies. One can add an escape to Zanzibar Island, a place of mystery and blissful beauty especially when you have your partner by your side to admire the crystal-clear waters, white sandy beaches, and swaying palm trees of the “Spice Island”. 

Photo Courtesy of Anantara Maia 

Known for its sunny skies, unspoiled palm-fringed beaches, azure waters, excellent diving reefs with multitudes of tropical fish, Mozambique has so much to offer. The long, dune-bordered beaches, well-preserved corals, pounding surf, secluded archipelagos, and graceful dhows with billowing sails all add to its beauty. There is a wealth of experiences to delight the senses, along with the British-style architecture, energetic nightlife, fascinating cultural mix, and vast expanses of stunning scenery. 

Photo Courtesy of Matemo Island Resort 

For a more relaxing honeymoon, unwind on white sandy beaches, watch unforgettable African sunsets, take scenic walks, scuba dive in crystal clear waters and enjoy a romantic picnic on the beach in Mauritius. Or head to the turquoise waters and sun-drenched world-renowned beaches of the Seychelles for an ideal post-safari retreat in a perfect tropical paradise with its palm-fringed beaches and warm waters. Enjoy a couples massage and end your days sipping champagne on the beach while watching a magnificent sunset.  

No matter where you choose to travel on your dream honeymoon in Africa, you will return with many wonderful memories of the warm African hospitality on your epic romantic trip of a lifetime.  

Find your dream vacation to Africa with a USTOA tour operator here https://ustoa.travelstride.com/trip-list/africa .

About Lion World Travel 

Making safari dreams come true for more than 58 years, Lion World Travel is one of North America’s largest operators to the continent of Africa. We love Africa and specialize in affordable luxury safaris for group travel and individual tours to Southern Africa, East Africa and Egypt. As a proud member of The Travel Corporation (TTC), we are part of the largest privately-owned travel company in the world. Our Africa Specialists have first-hand knowledge of Africa, enabling Lion World Travel to provide 5-star service and confidently assist clients in creating their own personalized African adventures. Lion World Travel is committed to offering the best value safari options and an unforgettable travel experience that matches the interests and budgets of each client. 

Paris and the Seine River: An Unmatched Romance Uncovered

By Ben Schuyler, AFAR Ambassador

There’s no doubt about it—something really is so romantic about being in Paris. It’s the “city of love” after all, but I’m not talking so much about affectionate romance. I’m talking about the city’s ability to take you to a different reality, to transport you to a different time. As a travel photographer, I find myself experiencing the “losing of oneself” to a place fairly often, but my experience in Paris and the surrounding villages along the Seine River were in a league all their own.

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My wife and I chose Paris as our honeymoon destination, as so many other newly married couples do. We had originally entertained the thought of venturing to a tropical beach for a week doing nothing but drinking Pina Coladas to excess and eating endless amounts of fish tacos, but ultimately chose to seize the opportunity of travelling the Seine with U by Uniworld—a boutique cruise line geared towards the “young at heart” – after reading more about their trips. Our time to travel was limited and we wanted to cover as much ground as possible since neither of us had ever been to this area of France. I’ll be honest that taking a cruise wouldn’t usually be of interest to me, but the ability to see so many places without being surround by huge amounts of fellow travelers hooked us.

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We embarked on our journey with a small list of recommendations from friends who had been before. Aside from those select places our schedule was at the mercy of our “U-Hosts”, incredible culture guides from the cruise that led our excursions or connected us to an incredible cast of experts on different significant topic. From a list of over a dozen “U-Time” options, we chose a handful of activities that related to our interests in food, art, and the outdoors.

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On the top of my personal list of places I’d long wanted to visit were the cliffs of Etretat—beautiful limestone cliffs towering over the shore of the English Channel. These stone monoliths have been topics of lore from Viking ages to the modern times. Standing on the edge of the shore felt like staring off at the end of the world. Monet had painted these cliffs on numerous occasions, attempting to freeze these scenes in time. My wife and I walked along the sun-bleached stones, picking up a few to bring home as earthen souvenirs.

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While traveling to the coast, we weaved through the Normandy region—an area known for its biological diversity and rich farming conditions. Manoir D’Apreval—an organic apple orchard specializing in producing organic cider, Pommeau, and apple brandy. Each sip was a refreshing taste of the history of this land.

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Rouen shone as one of the gems on the Seine. Each corner revealed layer after layer of history and beauty. Gros-Horloge, one of the oldest astronomical clocks in France, sits in the middle of the old city and has been running since the middle ages. The Rouen Cathedral features a nightly light show at 10pm telling the story of the new creation and Viking invasion of France. Julia Childs once called her dining experience at famous French cuisine restaurant La Couronne “the most exciting meal of my life,” which we affirmed with our meal of gazpacho and veal.

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The romance of the Seine is undeniable and endless and best experienced with open hands. Find the few things you HAVE to see, and with the rest just let their ancient stories draw you in.

 

Interested in learning more about Ben’s journey? Read more about it on AFAR.com and check out U by Uniworld’s The Seine Experience.

A Pacific Northwest native, Ben has spent his life drinking coffee, hiking the Cascade Mountains, and breathing the salty air of the Puget Sound. Ben’s inspiration includes dirt roads, flora, and fauna, and his photographs capture a sense of adventure in warm colors that produce an ambient nostalgia. He recently traveled America to document mobile living: When the Road Is Home.

Discover the World’s Most Romantic Destinations

By Terry Dale, President and CEO, USTOA

It’s February, and so of course our thoughts are on Valentine’s Day. Beyond the more commercial aspects of chocolates and roses, the day is a reminder to spend time with the people you love. And, what better place is there to do that than in one of the most romantic destinations in the world?

Venice (credit: Avanti Destinations)

Venice, Italy (credit: Avanti Destinations)

As the presidents of our tour operator members are seasoned travelers – and romantics at heart – we tapped a few of them to ask for their advice on the most romantic destinations across the globe. So, in their words, here are a few places you’ll definitely want to keep in your back pocket for when you’re planning your next romantic getaway…

Dan Austin, President, Austin Adventures: “After 30-plus years of traveling the planet with my lovely wife Carol, it is impossible to call just one destination “the most romantic.” To me it usually comes down to two things…one, the company you keep (got that covered), and two, the accommodations and how they enhance the destination.  We have had some amazing adventures complemented by some incredible accommodations. A few of our favorites include a beach side cabana on a private island off the coast of Belize, a Casita in the Sacred Valley of Peru (on the way to Machu Picchu), a riverside cabin in Montana and frankly too many others to list.  Perhaps my absolute favorite was a small, first-class river boat in the Peruvian Amazon, waking each day to a beautiful sunrise and settling in with a good glass of wine on deck for a different sunset every night. Pretty hard to not find that (or any of these) romantic!”

Harry Dalgaard, Founder and President, Avanti Destinations: “There are so many possibilities for romantic travel, each as different as the two people who share the experience. You have the classic romantic travel experiences: a gondola ride in Venice, a stroll along the Seine in Paris, snuggling up by a cozy fire in a chalet after a day of skiing in the Alps, learning to tango in Buenos Aires, or staying in a thatched-roof cottage by a beach somewhere in the tropics. Today, many couples – young and old – who book with Avanti’s travel agent partners are looking for a romantic experience that is more unusual, adventurous, exotic:  hiking the Inca Trail in Peru, whitewater rafting or ziplining in Costa Rica, exploring the ruins at Angkor Wat, being mesmerized by the amazing landscape of Guilin in China. One thing is certain: FIT is the only truly romantic way to travel.  It has to be just the two of you.”

Jack E. Richards, President and CEO, Pleasant Holidays: “My entire career has been spent in the travel industry and during that tenure my bride of 35 years and I have been fortunate to travel the world together. We’ve enjoyed alpine ski vacations in snowy chalets; dined on beaches at sunset in Hawaii, Mexico and the Caribbean; and celebrated our most-recent wedding anniversary on a river cruise in France. But for the ultimate romance vacation experience, there’s nothing that can match an overwater bungalow in Bora Bora. This tiny heart-shaped island in French Polynesia is tropical, it’s tranquil, and its beauty is beyond description. It’s simply romantic perfection.”

Jerre Fuqua, CTC, President, TRAVCOA and YMT Vacations: “Travel allows us to connect not only with our new surroundings…the tribesmen of Papua New Guinea, the beautiful landscape of Patagonia, the elephant families in South Africa…but also with our loved ones accompanying us on our global exploration. Travcoa has been fortunate enough to arrange some amazing experiences of celebration including a private cruise on the Grand Canal of Malta with a scuba diver surprising a couple with a bottle of champagne as the sun begins to kiss the ocean; a re-commitment ceremony from a Quechuan Shaman at Machu Picchu in Peru; and a romantic evening dinner on the plains of the Serengeti showcasing just how many stars there are in the universe. Of course, one cannot ignore the beauty and exclusivity of the many romantic islands around the world like Necker Island in the Caribbean or North Island in the Seychelles, both of which we can arrange with personalized and unique experiences.”

Paris, France (credit: Avanti Destinations)

Paris, France (credit: Avanti Destinations)

As for me… when I think about the quintessential romantic destination, my mind always lands on Paris. Coined the “City of Love” for valid reasons, it is simply the most beautiful city to experience on foot.  There is a picturesque scene around every corner…from quaint cafes to linger over coffee or a glass of wine, to stunning architecture, both ancient and modern, broad boulevards and majestic public parks for strolling, and of course, the emblematic Eiffel Tower.  Paris will always hold a special place in my heart.