Over Thanksgiving, Johnny's grandmother offered to give us a cruise for our honeymoon as a wedding gift. Through some kind of timeshare/Marriott rewards program, she can redeem points for such a thing. I don't know all the details, though I do know that only certain ports/cruises/destinations are eligible. We're very grateful for her offer.
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| Is this what cruises are like? |
However, we don't really have an alternative plan for a honeymoon. We'd loosely talked about taking a road trip down the East Coast, sightseeing and eating (mostly eating). I'd also suggested taking a trip around Europe to see how horses are managed there; Johnny was less into this idea than I was.
I'd love to hear from you on your cruise experiences. Terrible? Marvelous? Hilarious? I'd also love to hear about what you did for your honeymoon (or what you'd like to do)!
19 comments:
I enjoyed both the cruises I've been on. Yes, there are loud areas, but there is also usually an adults only deck that is quiet. And there are lots of shows and entertainment. We never set foot in the clubs.
Love, love, LOVE cruise as honeymoon. We went on one a few years ago to Bermuda and it was one of my favorite vacations of all time. I am not a drinker, not a club person, and not a people person. We hung out in our balcony room and read and relaxed, went to the shows at night, had lots of delicious food, and did other fun things around the ship that were not loud or overcrowded.
We went on a Norwegian cruise, which I would recommend for a few reasons - they do interesting destinations, I thought they handled everything very well, and most importantly, it was very flexible. We didn't have assigned dinner companions, we didn't even have assigned times or places. You went where you wanted to go and ate when you wanted to eat, with whoever you wanted to. There were a few restaurants that were fancier for a very affordable premium, $10 or $20 a person.
We're actually thinking about the Norwegian Baltic capitals cruise for our honeymoon. We'd like something very relaxing, and while we love road trips (we did 2.5 weeks up and down the east coast a few years ago on a history tour, and it was amazing) that's not the direction we want this time.
It's funny because my cruise experience was very different. My husband and I did a cruise to Alaska via NCL for our honeymoon. No clubs, no mandatory meal times, no assigned seats. The top floor had glass walls and we would lay around up there and watch the world go by. Drinks are expensive of course. Honestly the most relaxing vacation I've ever had. I think you just have to pick the right cruise line.
Thanks for the feedback- it's good to hear that not every cruise is an alcohol-fueled orgy of people and club music!
I like the idea of flexible dining- while I'm a people person and don't mind hanging out with strangers, there's a limit to what I can tolerate!
That sounds super relaxing! I need to see what cruise lines we can choose from and then do some research!
I've been on many, many cruises, including for our honeymoon. The beauty of cruises is that they really cater to whatever mood you're in. You wan't to relax poolside and sip a mai tai? Check. Want to read a book in a quiet nook? Lots of quiet lounges, libraries, etc to choose from. Want to get wasted and play limbo with a hot cruise director? Available. Want to try out blackjack or roulette? There's always welcoming casinos perfect for newbs. Some cruises include drinks, most do not. Depends on what line you end up going with. Best of all - unpacking once, and getting to visit multiple places. And hot tip: upgrading to a balcony is always worth it.
I've never been on a cruise either, but after reading Lauren's post I'm not really gung-ho about trying it, haha! I like to relax on vacation and not be surrounded by people, heh. Anyways, Sam and I went to Aruba for our honeymoon and it was fantastic! We stayed on the quiet side of the island and it was gorgeous, relaxing and not crowded whatsoever.
Yup, like others said don't discount it. I would try to NOT go on Carnival, but even on our short "party" cruise we found lots of relaxing, quiet areas to ourselves. Don't fret!
I like cruising and we did a cruise from Rome to Greece and Turkey for our honeymoon. I've also done Alaska and the Caribbean (multiple times). I've done Carnival once and would never go back. I really like Holland America because there are very few kids and fewer partiers. I'm not a people person or a clubber. We get a balcony room, hang out, watch movies, read, have tons of food (HL has daily tea service), watch shows, and stop off at cool ports. The freestyle dinner thing I found really annoying - long lines and pressure to sit in large groups or wait even longer. Just ask for a private 2 person table at a fixed time. Then there's no awkward socializing. If you're going to the Caribbean, another pro is almost every port will offer some sort of ride a horse in the ocean experience. It's a really fun thing to do.
i've never been on a cruise - but one of my coworkers actually did their whole wedding on a cruise. the guests/family peeled off a little early and they just continued on for the honeymoon. i think different cruise lines cater to different types of atmospheres - they aren't all party all the time. good luck!
My hubs is a not a crowd person, or a big club crazy guy. He told me he felt like we were constantly surrounded by people and I felt the same way. Overall our cruise wasn't a great experience, and we were more happy getting off the boat than anything. If you go, make sure to book lots of excursions for your ports. We won't be doing it again!
A cruise is on my bucket list to try at least once and hopefully more if i like it and find someone to come with me. I like my own company it not 24/7 for extended periods of time ;-)
Europe could be cool too. If my flat is ready & you decide to come through Lux I'll happily put you both up & do free tour guide and recommend good places to eat. ;-)
Just throwing that out there...standard offer though, no expiry date so whenever you're passing through ;-p
A gift of a cruise could be pretty epic ☺
My hubs and I went on a cruise to the Caribbean for our honeymoon. Neither of us had ever been on a cruise before. It was a 7 day Carnival cruise over New Year's. The cool part about New Year's was that we crossed a time zone at midnight...so we celebrated the New Year twice! Charles and I went to the very top floor of the boat that night, basically on the roof of the boat, and looked down on the party from up there and were in our own little world at midnight, no one else around except the stars above us. It was awesome and so so romantic.
When booking, we were offered an upgrade for next to nothing for a room with a balcony. We were SO happy we went ahead with it! We spent a lot of time on that balcony looking out at sea and just hanging out talking and reading. They had the more formal dining area where they offered more formal dinners, but it wasn't mandatory to go eat there: food was offered in other areas of the boat if you didn't feel like eating at the "proper" dining room. I'm not a people person nor a party person, but we really had a great time and pretty much did our own thing the entire time. We went to the boat club one night to dance but the DJ was kind of obsessed with Beyonce and as it would turn out, he played exactly the same thing every night. We didn't do any of the boat-sponsored activities when stopping at the different islands: we just rented a scooter at each one and went out doing our own exploring. We saved a lot of money that way and were able to see so much more! Charles had been to most of the islands at one point or another so he had an idea of where things were. In Saint Thomas we drove around the island asking the locals which beaches were the best ones and went kayaking; at Nassau we met up with a friend of Charles who invited us to his timeshare for lunch and drinks; in PR we met up with my family for dinner. We had a really, really wonderful time. Totally recommend!
My husband and I went to Sandals Antigua for our honeymoon for a week. I literally cannot recommend it enough! There is something for everyone there, places for the people who like to drink and party, and a lot of things for those who don't enjoy that (we were in the second camp) The food was GREAT and there were 7 restaurants included. Let's just say we ate our money's worth, some days we went for a second breakfast or second late night dinner.
There are a lot of daytime activities, all water sports and snorkeling are included. There are also tennis courts and a big gym if that's important to you. We did some excursions that were totally worth it: horseback riding on the beach, ziplining through the jungle, a segway tour through an old military fort.
Our room was also gorgeous. All in all, it was a great and memorable honeymoon :-)
Thanks for sharing.I'd love to hear from you on your cruise experiences.cruise wedding and honeymoon packages are cheap
The Grand Classica has 10 passenger decks that house 658 staterooms in total. Each deck has been named after the islands of the Bahamas. The Grand Classica deck plan has been designed to maximise your experience. With various entertainment and dining options spread across various decks, you can be sure you’re never too far away from the food, or the excitement.
The top deck of the Grand Classica houses a new sports bar – The Crow’s Nest, where you can cheer for your favourite team while sucking back a few cold ones, or sipping on our signature cocktails, and chowing down on some classic pub fare! Pubbing not your thing? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. The Grand Classica deck plans also include a jogging track on the top deck, as well as the adults-only pool and Jacuzzi area.
While the Grand Classica has the same restaurants on offer as our other vessel, our deck plans also include a few new dining options. Located on deck 10, The Rock Grill is an immersive, interactive dining experience where the cooking happens by your table. Another one of our new restaurants is our wood fired pizzeria, “A Slice Above”, located on deck 9.
Also located on deck 9 is our casino, Pair-a-dice. See if lady luck is on your side. On offer are Blackjack, Texas Hold ‘em Poker, Roulette, and many more!
On deck 8 of the Grand Classica, we have a conference centre, just in case you’d like to catch up on some work, or if in case anything requires your urgent attention. The conference centre will allow you to work away without distractions, so you can quickly get things done, and get back to having a gala time on your cruise!
The Grand Classica also features our theatre, the Legends Grand Theatre & Bar, located on decks 8 and 9. All in all, the deck plan of the Grand Classica is laid out in such a way that will ensure you have all the privacy you require, and at the same time are close enough to all the action so that you don’t miss out on anything.
With our usual convenient departure and arrival timings, your cruise aboard the Grand Classica ensures you get the most out of your trip. Do also look into our resort stay vacation packages if you’d like to extend your vacation a little longer!
With the Memorial Day weekend coming up soon, what better idea than to take a Bahamas weekend cruise? Extend your vacation with our cruise and stay option at any of our partner resorts! Now with daily departures, booking your 2018 cruise holiday is easier than ever! For the coming Memorial Day weekend, why not plan a group excursion with your friends? We’ll help you put the whole thing together and ensure everyone has a gala time! After all, we are one of the best holiday cruise lines out there!
As a holiday cruise line, we take pride in making sure everyone, regardless of their age has a good time. We have some activities that are just for the adults, and some that are just for the kids. Of course, your holiday cruise wouldn’t be complete if we didn’t have something for the whole family too!
To make the most of your 2018 cruise holiday, we have many entertainment options to keep everyone on board happy. We also have completely supervised kid’s entertainment options for kids aged 3-17. What’s more, is that kids of similar age groups get to hang out with one each other. For the adults, we have a selection of dining and beverage options to choose from. Our newest Bahamas cruise ship, the Grand Classica even has an adults-only pool area!
If you’re planning a holiday aboard a cruise line, you’ve come to the right place; not just to have fun, but also to eat. Some of our signature dining options include choice cuts of meat, as well as top quality seafood! What’s a holiday cruise without a little bit of indulgence? On day two we fire up our grill to finish cooking the meats that have been smoking low and slow since you boarded.
When aboard our holiday cruise line, you can be sure you’re in for a treat at the Ocean View Buffet. All meals are covered, and we even serve pizzas and snacks till late night! On day 2, the buffet spread opens as early as 6 AM for breakfast.
When on your 2018 cruise holiday with us, be sure to visit Stellar Prime, our main dining room. From fine dining options that include our signature slow roasted prime rib, to honey glazed salmon, we’ve got something for everyone. Our tantalizing desserts our so delectable that you will be left wanting more!
After all that you’re doing on your cruise holiday, we’re sure you need that quick pick me up to recover your energy. Our cruise line coffee shop, Lattetude is just right for this. Our expert baristas will be glad to whip up a custom brew for you to enjoy!
Want a destination wedding, but cannot decide the destination? As the old saying goes, life’s a journey, not a destination, so why not make the journey the destination and opt for our Bahamas cruise wedding package? Imagine being surrounded by the blue waters of the Caribbean while you exchange vows with the love of your life!
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