The Top 13 Ways To Make A Cruise Romantic
Dec 31, 2019, Updated Apr 14, 2020
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Top 13 Ways to Make A Cruise Romantic – the best ways to celebrate with a love one for a romantic cruise on the new Sky Princess Ship from Princess Cruises!
Our top tips to making a cruise extra romantic and memorable.
This post is sponsored by Princess Cruises. All opinions are my own.
I was invited to sail the Mediterranean and Adriatic seas with Princess Cruises to celebrate the launch of the Sky Princess – Princess Cruises’ newest ship in their fleet.
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Cruising has always been well known as a dream romantic vacation – but I’m sharing my top tips for making a cruise on the Sky Princess, Princess Cruises newest Royal Class ship, as romantic as possible.
If you’re celebrating an anniversary (my husband and I recently cruised the Mediterranean to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary), an engagement, a honeymoon, or just want to get away with someone you love – the Sky Princess is the perfect romantic vacation!
For more on my recent trip with Princess, find my Top 11 Things to do on Sky Princess, The Ultimate Sky Princess Bar Crawl, and my Greek Tzatziki recipe inspired by our port time in Athens!
How to Make a Cruise Romantic
My favorite ways to maximize your Sky Princess cruise for the most romantic trip ever:
Book an Upgraded Room
One of my favorite parts of cruising with Princess is the rooms.
I love the super-relaxing beds on Princess ships (and the Sky’s beds are super comfortable), the ability to pick different pillows, more blankets/pillows on demand, and the balconies from balcony rooms!
The view from a balcony room (or a balcony deluxe, mini suite, or suite) is worth the price difference from an interior room – my husband and I often just spent time sitting out on our balcony at sunrise or sunset, quietly spending time together.
When in your room, be sure to order extra pillows or blankets and hangers for your closet right from the Ocean Now menu in your Ocean Medallion app!
Just a few clicks and you’ll have all the essentials you’ll need for a cozy room without having to waste any time, so you can spend more time together!
You can also use the Ocean Now app to order room service, so you can maximize time together instead of heading out for snacks or dinner.
Eat Breakfast in Bed
There is no better way to start the day than having a delicious, hearty, and filling breakfast – except of course, getting that tasty breakfast right in bed (or on your balcony, just steps from bed.)
Whilee you can get breakfast in the main dining room, from the buffet, or from the International Cafe, you can also order complimentary room service for breakfast, or upgrade your breakfast in bed to the Ultimate Balcony Breakfast!
Simply fill out your room tag at night to pick breakfast for the morning – select pastries (I personally love the egg muffin – it’s hearty and cheesy, and doesn’t weigh you down or make you feel greasy all day), and hang on your door at night for your breakfast to come the next morning.
For my 10 anniversary breakfast with my husband, we booked the Ultimate Balcony Breakfast – we tucked into fresh fruit, pastries, a huge pile of smoked salmon and capers, and a big pot of coffee, and a bottle of champagne, so we could mix our own mimosas!
Watch a Movie Under The Stars
Movies Under The Stars is one of my favorite things Princess Cruises offers on their ships – there is nothing like watching a great movie (Princess shows a mix of new releases, still in theater hits, and classic big hits) while in the middle of the ocean, under the stars.
While you can watch a movie in your room, there is just something special about being outside, cuddled up on padded lounge chairs with a big blanket and bag of popcorn that makes for an incredibly unique and memorable date night!
My favorite spot to grab for Movies Under the Stars are the two circle shaped seating areas in between the two pools… they are cozy, have great views, and are easier to cuddle up next to someone in!
Of course, you can also watch the movies while hitting the hot tub, too – I love that you can sit right in the hot tubs and watch movies under the stars. How much more romantic does it get than that?
Take In A Show
Princess is known for having great entertainment – with numerous large production shows, comedians, guest lecturers, and interactive programs like the Voice – there are so many ways to take in a special show while on ship for date night.
While on the Sky Princess’ Inaugural Voyage, we got to see the premiere performance of Rock Opera – Princess’ newest production.
It was such a great show – we were dancing and swaying along through the night filled with top hits and songs from The Greatest Showman.
There are numerous shows that rotate throughout a voyage, so be sure to watch the schedule in your Princess patter or with the Ocean Medallion apps! You can schedule events on ship you’d like to attend, and send them to friends so a whole group can go – right from your phone!
Eat Outside
The Sky Princess has one of my favorite features at sea – two of the concept restaurants on ship have outdoor dining areas.
These outdoor sections are gorgeous in port, lovely while at sea, and perfect for a romantic date, day or night.
While Bistro Sur La Mer, from chef Emmanuel Renaut (whose restaurant in the French Alps can claim three Michelin stars) has a supplemental fee of $29 – Alfredo’s pizza is complementary.
Alfredo’s is also open for lunch, and is one of my favorite restaurants to eat at on days in port when I stay closer to ship.
Order one of Alfredo’s amazing pizzas… but don’t skip over the salads, as the antipasti plates are out of this world!
At Bistro Sur La Mer, the lobster bisque, escargot, and seabass are absolutely phenominal!
Make sure to pair your dishes with a glass from the bistro’s all French wine list for a romantic trip to a French bistro – right on ship – for the best date night!
Soak In The Infinity Pool At Departure
There is nothing more romantic than watching the ships wake while leaving port… there is nothing as pretty as the shimmering lights of a city and the stars above the water… unless you’re enjoying it all from the infinity style wake view pool!
The Wake View Bar has an infinity style pool – a new pool that is only on the Sky Princess cruise ship – that is perfect for taking in epic sunsets, especially during departure.
Grab an aperol spritz (the new Wake View bar menu is my favorite on ship – their aperol spritzes are great – see more of my drink picks in my Ultimate Sky Princess Bar Crawl post here), sit in a lounger with your toes in the pool, and watch all your cares float away!
Take A Stroll Under The Stars
One of my favorite things to do on ship is walk around the sports deck at night – it is almost always empty and quiet – and there is an amazing view always above!
The ship is so lovely at night – while there’s plenty of action buzzing around inside, the top of the ship is often quiet and peaceful from dinnertime on – the perfect time to stargaze!
Some ships even offer stargazing programs so you can find constellations and hear about some of the myths behind them in a fun and interactive way.
The Sky Suite on the Sky Princess is the best way to take in amazing views of the sky – they even included a large telescope you can use!
There is nothing more romantic than a stroll under the stars!
Get a Couples Massage
There is nothing more romantic on a cruise than a couples massage – spending time to relax and reconnect just can’t be beat.
While celebrating our 10th anniversary in the Mediterranean this fall on the Sky Princess, we booked two massages – both swedish, but one in the couples suite on the Sky Princess.
The first couples massage, a standard massage, was fabulous and so relaxing. We opted for swedish massages, and each got to choose an aromatherapy oil to be used in treatment.
For the second massage, my husband and I booked the couples suite. The experience starts just like our previous massage did – with a side-by-side couples massage.
After the massage, however, you’re led to a comfortable side room – right in the massage suite – with a shower to get all the oil off, a large comfortable couch, and a giant tub- where a warm aromatherapy bath is prepared for you after your massage.
There is a tray of light snacks, as well as juice, water, and tea – perfect for a relaxing day date!
Relax in the Enclave
While a couples massage is a huge must for me for a romantic cruise, the Enclave is even more relaxing, because you can buy a pass to use it every day on ship!
The Enclave is the Sky Princess’ thermal suite – a large space full of aromatherapy rainfall showers, heated tile beds, a Turkish hammam, steam rooms, and a giant hot tub full of special jets that melt away tension and help you relax!
Dress Up For Formal Night
Most Princess Cruises involve a formal night (or two – it depends on how long your cruise is), and they are some of my favorite nights on ship!
While it might seem a little fussy or overly old-fashioned, formal nights are such a fun way to add a little more occasion to your cruise – there aren’t a ton of reasons to get dressed up these days, and we love how fun it is to add a bit more of fun while on ship.
It is so much fun to see everyone around the ship dressed to the nines, celebrating an event or just heading out for a nice night on ship.
A lot of people wonder and worry about what to wear for formal night – but I say just have fun with it!
Technically, the ships dining rooms have a black tie dress code on formal nights – but I have seen a lot of room for interpretation as to what that entails. I’ve seen sportcoats and slacks with sundresses to tuxedos and ballgowns – and everything in between.
My husband brought a suit that he wore one night, and just wore nice slacks and a sport coat the second night, while I wore floor length dresses – we were dressed up, but we didn’t go 100% black tie – you can do what works for you.
Dine Out at a Specialty Restaurant
Princess Cruises has phenomenal food – I’ve never had a hard time finding something incredibly delicious while on ship – but they really excel in fine dining.
The Sky Princess has three (and a sort of half) specialty restaurants on ship, Sabatini’s, The Crown Grill, and Bistro Sur La Mer – as well as the Ocean Terrace Seafood bar, where sushi is a supplemental charge.
While the food is exceptional at the supplemental restaurants, I also love each for their ambiance, especially for a romantic dinner!
Sabatinis and The Crown Grill offer out-of-the-way restaurants with a bit of a darker, richer look than much of the rest of the ship – just as you’d expect from an upscale Italian eatery and a steakhouse.
Both offer romantic tables for two, four, or big groups – but both tend to be easier for conversations, a romantic night, or a luxurious dinner.
Bistro Sur La Mer and Ocean Terrace both open to the grand piazza – giving them a more lively, upbeat feel – they are absolutely buzzing, and so much fun for an amazingly delicious dinner.
I reccomend booking reservations for Crown Grill, Bistro Sur La Mer, and Sabatinis – Ocean Terrace gets crowded at night, but is a first-come, first-served bar area, so heading there early in the evening is always the best bet for a table or seat at the sushi bar.
Celebrate With Special Touches
When booking your cruise, be sure to add your birthday, anniversary, or other special event in your cruise personalizer so the Princess team can spoil you on your big day!
On our anniversary, our door display showed our celebration (so our steward and friends on ship could see that we were celebrating our anniversary that day – it also displays birthdays), and the Princess staff decorated our room with some bunting and streamers to celebrate.
We sampled some of Princess’ special occasion cakes – did you know you can order a whole cake on board?
The team has a few delicious and super adorable options – for birthdays, anniversaries, and other events that you can order ahead using your cruise personalizer before your voyage.
Stress Less In Port
There is nothing romantic about worrying about getting back on ship, rummaging through your bag for a cruise card, or waiting in long lines – but thankfully, the Ocean Medallion technology Princess built into the Sky Princess ship makes those worries a thing of the past.
The Ocean Medallion you get before boarding (and can be customized to go in a lanyard, in rubber bracelets, necklaces, or a handy clip) makes getting on and off ship in port a breeze.
Simply scan your medallion and head to security – no more passport checks, lost cruise cards, and other hassles! I can’t say how much Ocean Medallion has really sped things up – so you can relax and enjoy time together!
Book Your Own Romantic Sky Princess Cruise
Ready to book your own romantic trip on the Sky Princess? My husband and I had the time of our lives for our 10th anniversary on the Mediterranean – it’s the best way to celebrate and see the world!
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Don’t miss out on the Best. Sale. Ever. For the first time ever, Princess Cruises is offering guests a fare that includes drinks, Wi-Fi, and gratuities when they book a cruise or cruisetour. Book today!Other Can’t Miss Experiences on the Sky Princess
From a Sky Princess bar crawl to my top 11 activities on the Sky Princess, to a delicious tzatziki recipe inspired by my trip to Greece with Princess Cruises, please check out the posts below – and some of my other favorite trips with Princess Cruises!