By Evelyn Uslar-Pietri | Republished on April 30, 2024
An extensive lineup of remarkable restaurants, spectacular entertainment and love-worthy lounges means it’s easy to plan the sort of evening that will long live in your memory (and heart!). Although the Main Dining Room is sure to impress and is included in your fare, for a meal that spells S-P-E-C-I-A-L, consider such standouts as Chef’s Table and Chop’s Grille℠. The most exclusive and intimate dining destination on the fleet, Chef’s Table offers a delectable five-course epicurean journey sure to leave your partner oohing and aahing. And at Chop’s Grille℠, the American Steakhouse experience includes juicy hand-cut steaks and melt-in-your-mouth Maine lobster.
Want to jazz dinner up with the best culinary show at sea? Settle on Teppanyaki – where the food is as delicious as the chefs are dazzling – and splurge on buttery Wagyu beef. Or, if the Tuscan hills are calling to you and you fancy feeding fork-twirled fettucini to your beloved, head directly to Jamie’s Italian by Jamie Oliver. Soul-stirring Italian fare liberally sprinkled with amore is the recipe for a deeply satisfying and romantic dinner! Of course, eateries vary by ship so, after you book a cruise, become acquainted with the food scene and make your reservations.
Also, browse the onboard entertainment because an evening to remember should include a phenomenal show! And there’s no shortage of them on Royal Caribbean ships - Broadway hits like Mama Mia as well as jaw-dropping original productions. After the show, cap the evening with a drink and dancing at a lounge such as Boleros, where a live band delivers Latin favourites – from salsa to tango – transporting you to distant lands where the fiesta is always on!
Bold romance requires a little risk-taking. Like daring your sweetheart to a white-knuckle race on the Perfect Storm℠ with its twin super-soaked, high-speed slides, Cyclone℠ and Typhoon℠. Or going zip-lining a breath-zapping 10 decks up – so high your only living companions are of the feathered kind! How about free-falling through space on the first skydiving simulator at sea, RipCord® by iFly®, then ascending 12 metres on the near-vertical, vertigo-inducing Rock Climbing Wall? Escape rooms, glow-in-the-dark laser tag, bungee jumping and fierce thrills will surely drive you to seek comfort in your partner’s arms!
When the mood strikes for less extreme play, take on game time in Love & Marriage, Battle of the Sexes and the can’t-miss Quest - a saucy adults-only scavenger hunt. And of course you’ll find plenty of classes you can cosy up to, including dance classes that bring you close and cupcake-making for happily-ever-after delights. On some ships there’s even Trapeze School, in the event a high-flying circus career is on your mutual radar!
Round-the-clock play requires recharging one’s batteries. Begin your day ordering room service and settling into a sweet, island pace, slowly sipping juice on your balcony. Afterwards stroll over to Vitality℠ at Sea Spa where a seductive lineup of bathing rituals, full body massages for two and beauty treatments await. The pampering and luxury you will experience on your cruise spa are reminiscent of those found in the world’s most exclusive resorts.
After Vitality℠ at Sea Spa, continue centering your body and mind in a conducive space, such as the glass-canopied, zen Solarium pool with its relaxing whirlpools, tasty cafe, and panoramic views.
Wrap up an inspired day catching an art event at the Park West Gallery, the largest art dealer in the world, followed by tax and duty free shopping in our designer stores. Fine jewellery, Swiss timepieces, beauty and high fashion as well as liquor are all here at optimum prices.
You’ll find luxury no matter which accommodations you choose when you book a Royal Caribbean cruise – many interior staterooms even have virtual balconies – but on a special couples’ holiday, why not level up the experience? Choosing to stay in a Star Suite entails over-the-top amenities and services. Like priority boarding, suite party invitations, access to the Royal Genie – your personal concierge – and VIP seating.
A guest favourite is the Royal Loft Suite, where two-story-high floor-to-ceiling windows and an expansive balcony make for stunningly immersive views. Another favourite, the Owner’s Suite offers separate sleeping and living quarters, while the Ultimate Panoramic Suite blurs the lines between indoors and out. Regardless of the space you opt for, you’ll find that staying in a Royal suite is the ticket to supercharging romance!
Because little details make the best cruise ships stand out, you’ll find that most things you may desire have been anticipated. Wish to have professional pictures taken of you and your partner? Check. Do you want chocolates or flowers delivered to your sweetheart? Done. Would you like special room decorations? They can be arranged. Royal’s extensive array of packages for couples also includes renewing your vows or tying the knot.
Wherever your cruise takes you – from Northern Europe and the Mediterranean to the Caribbean, Singapore, the South Pacific and beyond – shore excursions enhance romance! Think tapa-making for two in Malaga; hand-in-hand gliding in translucent Greek grottos; sharing a trishaw ride in George Town, Malaysia; getting close and personal with turtles in the Great Barrier Reef, and much more. Just about everything you love to do as a couple, be it sunbathing on a secluded beach or scaling ancient ruins, is available to you.
All aboard for an unforgettable couple’s cruise in 2023? We warmly invite you to experience romance the Royal way!
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If you love to laugh, don’t miss the side-splitting stand-up acts you’ll find onboard. The best time to go with your partner is in the evening when the shows are spicier and adults-only.
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For foodies staying in a suite, Coastal Kitchen is a stylish and sedate destination. Share a quiet tête-à-tête conversation (and delicious Med-fusion cuisine!) with your sweetheart without the hustle and bustle sometimes found in other restaurants.
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After dinner, slip into your swimsuits and head out to the hot tubs on deck, which stay open until 10 p.m. Star-studded velvet skies, warm, bubbly water and the salty sea air combine to create a magically romantic atmosphere.