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All About Cruise Honeymoons |
1. American Hawaii Cruises' Independence.
This ship is classic (which means old), but is the only ship doing a regular
route around the Hawaiian Islands.
The ambience is pleasingly casual, and the ship offers island décor and
cuisine. But there's no casino or disco.
The best cabins are the six large suites, which have outside (but not inside)
access, and the owner's suites, which have TVs, VCRs, and bathtubs. There are
no cabins with verandahs.
Best itinerary: 7-day Hawaiian Islands.
2. Carnival Cruise Lines' Destiny, Triumph, Victory, Paradise and Elation.
Both Brides and Modern Bride magazines have named Carnival the top line for
honeymoons. And it's clear the line really knows what it is doing in this
regard.
Offerings on these glitzy ships include all the resort-style amenities you'd
expect with big gyms and spas, lavish casinos, lots of bars and lounges and
non-stop entertainment.
People come on these affordable, mass market ships to have fun, and fun is
what the line delivers.
The best cabins are the suites, which have TVs and VCRs, whirlpool tubs and
verandahs.
The Paradise is the world's first smoke-free cruise ship (smoking is totally
banned, and you get fined if you disobey the rules).
Best itinerary: 7-day eastern, western or southern Caribbean; 7-day Mexican
Riviera.
3. Celebrity Cruises' Century, Galaxy, Mercury and Millennium.
These ships are at the top of the premium class (a few steps above Carnival
and slightly above Princess). They feature gorgeous décor with lots of cushy
rooms and great art collections; fine cuisine, with a French twist; and a
service staff that pays close attention to your needs. And the ships have
among the best spas in the industry.
All the cabins are decent, but the best are the suites, which come with
butler service, TVs and VCRs, verandahs, bathtubs, free use of the ship's
thalassotherapy pool, and assorted other extras. If you can afford it, the
penthouse suites, among the biggest at sea, also come with hot tubs on the
verandahs.
Best itinerary: 7-day eastern Caribbean, 7-day western Caribbean, 7-day
Bermuda, or 7-day Alaska.
4. Commodore Cruise Line's Enchanted Isle.
Commodore is a budget line, but if you're on a really tight budget, the
Enchanted Isle is the ship for you. You can, when the line is offering
specials (which it does frequently), book this ship for under $80 bucks per
person per night. The ship is an old one and shows some signs of wear and
tear, but there are plenty of fun activities and entertainment offerings to
keep you well occupied (when you're not in your cabin).
The cabins are good-sized, and there are two deluxe cabins with balconies,
and four suites that offer bathtubs.
Best itinerary: 7-day western Caribbean.
5. Disney Cruise Line's Disney Magic and Disney Wonder.
These are great ships in the premium class that offer the Disney version of
what cruising is all about The ships do not have casinos and the crowd at the
ships' adults-only entertainment area is not as party hearty as on, say, the
Carnival ships, but what you do get is great Disney show productions, a
unique rotation dining system, a great reservations-only Italian restaurant,
an adults-only pool, and nice gym and spa facilities. And you get to visit
Castaway Cay, Disney's private Bahamas island (where you can get massages at
the beach at the adults-only beach area).
The ships' cabins are all good-sized and most have a separate compartment for
the toilet and bath/shower. Deluxe cabins and suites have verandhas, and the
suites, which are huge, also come with concierge service, VCRs, and whirlpool
tubs.
Best itinerary: 3- or 4-day Bahamas combined with a 3- or 4-day land vacation
in Walt Disney World (to make a one-week vacation).
Rates including a hotel stay at Walt Disney World and unlimited admission
to the Disney parks.
6. Princess Cruises' Dawn Princess, Grand Princess, Ocean Princess (new in
2000), Sea Princess, and Sun Princess.
These are the real life Love Boats (made famous in the TV show) and they are
great ships that offer passengers lots of choice in terms of cabins, dining
and entertainment offerings. They are all big stylish ships with resort
facilities including big gyms and spas and also nice quiet places to cuddle.
The Grand Princess, which debuted in 1998, was the largest ship in the world
until Royal Caribbean's Voyager.
Cabins are decently sized, and Princes offers you chocolates on the pillow at
night. A good number of cabins have verandahs, and suites and minisuites also
come with whirlpool bathtubs and butler service.
Best itinerary: 7-day Southern Caribbean, Eastern Caribbean or Western
Caribbean; 7-day Mexico; or 7-day Alaska.
7. Royal Caribbean International's Enchantment of the Seas, Explorer of the
Seas (new in 2000), Grandeur of the Seas, Rhapsody of the Seas, Vision of the
Seas, and Voyager of the Seas.
These big modern ships are among the most innovative in the industry. The
Voyager of the Seas is the largest ship in the world, and has such unusual
features as a full-sized skating rink and a rock-climbing wall. The cruise
experience the line offers is mass market, and reasonably priced, with lots
of activities and entertainment offerings. The ships have impressive public
rooms including gyms and spas and indoor/outdoor pools. The line has its own
island Bahamas island, as well as a private beach in Haiti, that offer
passengers fun-in-the-sun.
Cabins are small but functional, and some have verandahs. Suites have
verandahs, bathtubs, and VCRs.
Best itinerary: 7-day Eastern Caribbean, Southern or Western Caribbean; 7-day
Bermuda; 7-day Alaska; or 7-day Mexico.
8. Windstar Cruises' Wind Song, Wind Spirit, Wind Star, Wind Surf.
These upscale, casual sailing ships (which mostly operate with motors) offer
an experience that's like being on a private yacht. Activities and
entertainment are minimal, but you get great cuisine served open seating (you
can eat when and with whom you want) and lots of time to yourselves (which
is, afterall, what honeymooning is all about). And you don't have to deal
with the crowds you find on the bigger ships.
Cabins are large and outside (with views), and all are equipped with VCRs
(and on these ships, there are video libraries that stock offerings including
dirty movies!). The The Wind Surf also offers larger suites.
Best itineraries: 7-day Caribbean (from Barbados and St. Thomas); 7-day Costa
Rica; 7-day Greek Isles or 7-day Mexico and Central America.
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