Honeymoon & Romance Cruises — What's Actually in the Package

title: "Honeymoon & Romance Cruises — What's Actually in the Package" description: "A honeymoon cruise usually means a themed fare with a few bundled perks — champagne, specialty dining, maybe a spa credit. Here is what to look for." heroImage: "/images/hero/honeymoon.png" updated: "2026-10-21"

A "honeymoon" or "romance" cruise is almost never a separate itinerary — it is a themed fare code the cruise line attaches to any sailing you book within a window of your wedding date (usually a year). The sailing itself is the same ship, same cabin, same ports as any other guest. What you're buying is a bundle of perks.

What's actually in the bundle

Standard inclusions vary by line but typically some combination of:

• A bottle of sparkling wine on arrival
• A specialty-restaurant dinner one night
• A couples' spa treatment or credit
• A photographer session
• A cabin upgrade when available
• A late-honeymoon departure window (you can wed on Saturday, sail two months later)

Some lines (Princess, Celebrity, Royal Caribbean) also offer a true vow renewal ceremony for existing couples with a few years behind them.

Who it suits

Great for: actual honeymooners, anniversaries (10-year, 25-year), proposal trips, destination elopements.

Less great for: anyone who was going to book the cruise anyway and is now paying a bundle premium over the base fare. Compare the fare with the romance code against the plain base fare — sometimes the bundle costs more than the à-la-carte perks are worth.

What to pair with

The itinerary matters as much as the romance bundle. For a honeymoon with a slower pace:

• Southern Caribbean (Aruba, Curaçao) — sunnier, fewer kids per sailing, more port time.
• Mediterranean (Greek Isles, Amalfi, Croatia) — scenic and food-focused.
• Tahiti and the South Pacific — the actual honeymoon destination clichés, usually on luxury lines.

Skip Caribbean family itineraries during school breaks (late June to late August, March break, Christmas) — the ship will be a kids' camp.

Cabin pick

For a honeymoon trip, upgrade from Interior to Balcony if the budget tolerates it. A private balcony on a scenic Mediterranean or Alaska cruise completely changes the trip's character — the room becomes a destination instead of just a bed.

Related

• Luxury — the tier above mainstream for a special-occasion trip.
• Mediterranean — the classic honeymoon region.
• Caribbean — the warm-weather default.

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