Eight of the best romantic cruise experiences

Love is in the air this month thanks to Valentine’s Day, so Janine Kelso has rounded up eight lovey-dovey cruise ship experiences that ooze romance all year round

Hot air ballooning over the Nile with Viking Cruises

Starry-eyed couples on a Pharaohs & Pyramids cruise with Viking can take their romance to new heights with a sky-high shore excursion: hot air ballooning at sunrise above the Nile’s west bank in Luxor. Guests will take in the dramatic scenery as they glide over tombs, the historic Nile River and its fertile valley. Viking also offers married couples the opportunity to declare their love and commitment to each other with a vow renewal ceremony on board their river and ocean ships. The ceremony is performed by the captain of the river ship, or the cruise director on ocean ships, and is the perfect way for couples to celebrate the reaffirmation of their union.

Sample package: Viking Cruises’ Pharaohs & Pyramids sailing costs from £5,165 per person

Hot air ballooning over the Nile valley. Image courtesy of Viking Cruises

A transatlantic crossing with Star Clippers

Star Clippers’ magnificent tall ships provide the perfect setting for romance with all three vessels offering the amenities and activities of a private yacht: teak decks, swimming pools, informal dining and a piano bar. Transatlantic crossings are a great way to get fully immersed in tall ship life without the distractions of ports of call. Loved-up passengers can get hands-on by learning to tie the knots, climbing the rigging and sleeping under the stars. Every time the ship departs and the sails are unfurled, passengers can sip a chilled glass of bubbles on the top deck as they’re dramatically serenaded by Vangelis.

Sample package: Royal Clipper departs Barbados on April 1, 2023 for a 16-night voyage. The ship visits the Azores before guests disembark in Lisbon. Cruise-only prices start from £1,477

Image courtesy of Star Clippers

Scenic Helicopter Flight Over Bora Bora with Oceania Cruises

Available on all Oceania cruises visiting the tiny South Pacific island of Bora Bora, this scenic helicopter tour invites couples on the ultimate romantic adventure. With love in the air, take flight to enjoy a bird’s-eye view of the volcanically formed landscape. Passengers can gaze down on turquoise lagoons, secluded beaches, dense forests and dramatically soaring peaks such as Mount Otemanu, one of two extinct volcanoes which rises almost 700m above sea level.

Sample package: Oceania Cruises’ Legends to Lagoons voyage through the islands of French Polynesia in the South Pacific costs from £4,939 per person, excluding flights and departing March 7. The helicopter tour is £379 per person

Bora Bora. Image courtesy of Oceania Cruises

Evening gondola ride for two in Venice with Silversea

Soak up the romance of Venice on an intimate gondola ride through the city’s charming canals during this must-do Silversea shore excursion. Passengers will be serenaded by musicians onboard one of the gondolas. Following this memorable experience, guests can enjoy a drink in the fairytale setting of Saint Mark’s.

Sample package: Silversea Cruises’ 11-day Civitavecchia (Rome) to Venice all-inclusive cruise on board Silver Moon from October 29 to November 9, 2023, starts from £5,600 per person. The price includes transfers between home and port (up to 80km), return business class flights, overseas transfers, shore excursions, butler service, fine dining, drinks, wi-fi and onboard gratuities

Image courtesy of Silversea

Sunset sail around Port Hamilton with Regent Seven Seas Cruises

During a 14-night cruise around the Caribbean on luxury liner Seven Seas Navigator, a clutch of romantic experiences await couples with excursions including a scenic sunset sail around Port Hamilton, Bermuda, on a 23m catamaran. On board, couples can indulge in a side-by-side Serenity for Two massage at the spa. Guests can also surprise their partners with gifts such as Dom Perignon champagne or strawberries dipped in chocolate to be waiting in their suite on the day of embarkation.

Sample package: Departing October 23, 2022 for 14 nights, the all-inclusive Afar Atlantic Isles voyage from New York to Miami onboard the Seven Seas Navigator costs from £6,949 per person with Regent Seven Seas Cruises

Snorkelling. Image courtesy of RSSC

Tour French châteaux with Scenic

Scenic’s dreamy eight-day tour of the Seine features grand châteaux, quaint seaside towns and the city of love: Paris. Romantic highlights include a guided tour of the remarkable Chantilly Castle set amid beautiful parklands, and a stroll around the winding medieval laneways of Rouen, filled with pretty half-timbered houses. Couples wishing to get lost in the beautiful 19th-century botanical gardens can enjoy a guided cycling tour along the Seine River. In Vernon, guests can enjoy a live classical concert set within the stunning grounds of the Château de La Roche-Guyon.

Sample package: Scenic offers the eight-day Highlights of Normandy & the Seine river cruise sailing round-trip from Paris from £2,295 per person departing April 18, 2022 on board Scenic Gem

Scenic Gem in Caudebec-en-Caux

Perfect Day at CocoCay with Royal Caribbean 

Couples with a thirst for adventure will fall in love with Royal Caribbean’s private island Perfect Day at CocoCay in The Bahamas. Thrills include racing down the tallest waterslide in North America, riding the tide of the Caribbean’s largest wave pool or taking in the highest vantage point in The Bahamas from a 137m high helium balloon. Those seeking more laid-back vibes can swing by the upscale Coco Beach Club where they can hire a private floating cabana with its own overwater hammock, freshwater shower, and private waterslide that drops you into the ocean below. Watch the video below to find out more.

Sample package: Royal Caribbean offers a five-night Western Caribbean & Perfect Day package from £692 per person on its newest ship Wonder of the Seas. Departing Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on April 15, 2022

Game watch on the Zambezi Queen

The Chobe River is one of Africa’s last untouched wilderness areas, and is a paradise for couples seeking nature and wildlife. The Zambezi Queen houseboat offers guests a range of vantage points to soak up the scenery. The boat’s 14 luxury suites offer uninterrupted game viewing and dramatic sunsets thanks to their private balconies and floor to ceiling windows. Experiences include a morning birding cruise down the river on board a safari boat with a knowledgeable guide.

Sample package: The Zambezi Queen by Mantis costs from £494 per person per night all-inclusive for a standard suite. for a two-night, three-night or four-night itinerary

Elephants at dusk. Image courtesy of Zambezi Queen