Sep

8

Great Honeymoon Cruises

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Nothing is more romantic than setting out on the seas in a cruise ship. The ocean breezes, the setting sun and the endless vistas naturally bring love to mind. Luckily for those looking for honeymoon cruises, there are an endless array of choices.

For a shorter cruise, honeymoon couples could do no better than one of Disney’s many offerings. Starting from Walt Disney World in Florida, cruisers are transported to Port Canaveral less than an hour away. From there they board the Disney Wonder for a two day-three night cruise to Disney’s own island retreat in Nassau, Bahamas.

Once there, Castaway Cay offers everything honeymooners could want. Beautiful beaches, tropical breezes and endless opportunities to build memories for a lifetime.

For those looking to get far away, the Greek Islands have been welcoming honeymoon lovers for generations. Board one of Windstar Cruise Lines ships and be transported to Mykonos. Sail around the Mediterranean and forget about the world you left. You two are in a world of your own.

Stops can include Monte Carlo where you can enjoy the nightlife and do a little gambling. Or you can get off at the Riviera and laze out on the beach. Head over to Nice and enjoy one of Europe’s most popular honeymoon destinations. On the smaller ships there are fewer than 200 passengers, so you can enjoy cruising in a different way from the mega-ships.

If mega-ships are your style, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines has a voyage just right for you. Carrying over 3,000 passengers from San Juan, stops include St. Thomas, Auruba, Antigua and other favorite destinations of honeymooners around the world.

Their Adventure of the Seas cruise takes off every Sunday year round. On the trip you can work up an appetite by trying the onboard rock climbing wall or in the ice skating rink. Then relax with one of their 4-star meals in any of a dozen restaurants on the ship.

Nothing beats a Hawaiian honeymoon that includes a tour of this island chain. Norwegian Cruise Lines has regular cruises to meet every taste and budget. Ships take off from Hawaii, Oahu, Maui and the rest. See Kona on the big island, then shoot over to tiny Kauai for lunch.

You’ll have plenty of time to explore, then hop on board for a short trip to one of the tiny volcanic islands to enjoy lava crusted beaches. No need to book a hotel, since you can stay onboard and have all meals included if you want.

If Polynesia is your idea of a romantic honeymoon destination, and who could disagree, hop aboard the Radisson Seven Seas Paul Gauguin to Tahiti. See Bora Bora by day or night. Enjoy the spectacular sunrise in Papeete then explore the coral atolls of Taha later in the day.

Go scuba diving in some of the world’s most exotic waters, teeming with tropical underwater species. You won’t be crowded since the ship hosts only about 300 guests. That will make it all the easier to enjoy one of the meals from their world-class chefs.

Choose your starting point and final destination and you’ll find honeymoon cruises that are well tailored to you.

Sep

6

Top Honeymoon Destinations

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What’s the best honeymoon destination in the world?   The one YOU want to visit, of course. Naturally, that will vary from one couple to the next. Still, there are a number of outstanding honeymoon destinations that rank high year after year.

Tahiti

Tahiti is often near the top of the list. That won’t surprise anyone. Ever since Marlon Brando made love to his bride on this tropical island, other couples have been curious to see why. Ok, it probably happened long before. But nothing spells romance like a good movie.

Go snorkeling in crystal clear green waters. Dry off on the sun-kissed beaches while you kiss each other. You can continue back in your private bungalow. Then take off for a bicycle tour around lush green jungles. Relax later at one of the world-class spas where you can both be treated like movie stars.

Fiji

Another tropical paradise that makes the ‘Top 10′ lists is Fiji. No wonder. Look up ‘breathtaking sunsets’ in the dictionary and you’ll find a picture of Fiji. Ride horseback through the surf next to pure blue water. Look down and see the bottom. Then go scuba diving and touch it.

Honeymoon packages include the finest of French champagnes as you celebrate your new marriage. Stay at Turtle Island and you’ll enjoy a quiet romantic dinner on the pier. It’s no wonder the producers of the Blue Lagoon film chose to shoot here. No sets required. This is the real thing.

Australia

Maybe you like the idea of seeing the Pacific, but a tropical isle isn’t what you had in mind. Simple. Go to Australia and New Zealand. Often mentioned together, each has a unique atmosphere.

Sydney offers all that a big city can to any honeymoon couple looking for that. Museums, boat rides or even a trip to the desert or mountains is an option here. New Zealand is lush and laid back. You’ll find some of the world’s most beautiful gorges on this green mountain paradise. Later you can sip one of the world’s best wines at a winery right on the island.

South Africa

This isn’t one that comes to mind for many couples looking for honeymoon destinations. Yet it frequently ranks in the top 20. The reasons aren’t hard to see. South Africa provides everything from exciting nightclubs to dense jungles. You can prowl around the dance floor setting. Or, you can enjoy tours where the leopards hunt you.

For a safer look at the animals, visit the Johannesburg Zoo then make your way back to your 4-star hotel. Take a short flight to Kruger National Park and stay in the Sabi Sands area. You’ll easily find first-class accommodations at a private lodge.

No matter what country or atmosphere you want for your unique honeymoon, there’s a unique spot that offers it. If you can’t decide, put on a blindfold and spin the globe. Your finger will very likely come down on one of the top honeymoon destinations in the world.

Sep

2

Honeymoon Planning Suggestions

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Planning the wedding was a huge undertaking. You spent months working out the place, the guest list, the clothes…. It was endless. Do you really want to go through that again to plan your honeymoon? Not necessary! A few simple tasks, an email here and there, and you can be set for the trip of a lifetime.

Topic number one in honeymoon planning, of course, is where to go. Sure, you could argue about it until your 50th wedding anniversary. But this can actually be one of the most fun parts of the whole experience. You had enough in common to get married. You can agree on a honeymoon destination.

Rather than try to pick the exact location at first, start by considering the type of honeymoon atmosphere you want. Do tropical beaches appeal to you? Maybe laying on the beach is about as exciting to you as filling out your tax form. Everyone is unique. The green hills of Ireland will sound romantic to one couple. Another may prefer sunny Rome. Still others may find Aruba the perfect honeymoon atmosphere. Choosing isolated versus metropolitan versus tropical will help guide your specific destination choice.

Once you know the type and place, it’s straightforward to develop a budget. You might have received an all inclusive honeymoon vacation as a wedding gift. Signing up at a Honeymoon Registry will improve your odds, too! But even on your own, there’s a place to suit every budget.

Inexpensive packages are available for honeymoon couples in Las Vegas. Or, suppose you live in London. You can set off on a trip around Paris, then stay in a ch‚teau in the wine country for a very modest cost. The train trip in and out is easy and gives you something extra to do. For those with more to spend, of course, the options become wider. But even the Hotel Ritz in Madrid offers terrific deals for newlyweds.

Part of the process, which will affect choice of location and budgeting, is deciding on a time of year. Your wedding can take place in June, but you may want to have the honeymoon in February. You get to relax from all the craziness leading up to the wedding and can take advantage of off-season rates. Cruises and hotels often lower their prices during these periods.

Take into account that when it’s summer in the Northern Hemisphere it’s winter in the Southern, and vice versa. If you get married January 1 in Chicago, it’s still January 1 in Sydney. But while you’re fighting ice, the Australians are baking.

The key to any successful honeymoon vacation is to explore all your options early. Sure, your mind is filled with all the things you need to do to have the wedding come off perfectly. So treat yourself and look into the honeymoon of your choice. Location, budget and more will all be easier if you take it one step at a time well in advance.