With all the stress that goes into planning a wedding, figuring out logistics for a honeymoon too can seem like an overwhelming task. A trip with Princess Cruises was the perfect solution for my husband, Karson, and me to enjoy a relaxing but exciting vacation that was a breeze to plan.
Princess offers trips to destinations all over the world, ranging from a few days to multiple weeks. The staff aboard our ship, the Royal Princess, was fully committed to making our experience as comfortable as possible. Whether we wanted an active, busy day or a relaxing one, we had plenty of options to choose from and came back refreshed after a perfect vacation.
Sunset over the Mediterranean
Our seven-day honeymoon cruise traversed the Mediterranean, beginning in Rome and ending in Athens. Karson and I were welcomed to our cabin with chocolate-covered strawberries and a chilled bottle of champagne, the first of many gifts that made our stay aboard the Royal Princess even better.
Pompeii, with Mount Vesuvius in the distance
With stops including Naples, Kotor, and three Greek cities, there were countless historic sites we wanted to visit, but we didn’t want to miss out on the region’s famous cuisine. The excursions offered by Princess allowed us to do both. Highlights from our tours included visiting the archaeological remains of Pompeii, a Roman town destroyed by a volcanic eruption, and participating in a cooking demo in a Greek village on the island of Crete. During the demo, we learned to make dolmades (grape leaves stuffed with rice and vegetables), stuffed peppers, cheese pies, and lukamadas (fried puffs, like unsweetened donuts, served with a topping of honey).
The main square of a Cretan town
We enjoyed some time lounging by the pool and took advantage of a selection of movies available for rental directly in our cabin, as well as “Movies Under the Stars” shown on a big screen on the top deck every day. But we also attended many activities and shows, from trivia to dancing. Couples could take lessons in ballroom dance styles from salsa to waltz, listen to pianists or string quartets while sipping a cocktail in one of the lounges, or watch an illusionist make his assistants appear seemingly out of thin air.
There were many laughs at the live game shows, including one where contestants had to have a three-minute conversation with the host without saying the words yes or no. It was harder than it sounds – only one contestant was successful! Even funnier was a couples trivia challenge where one partner had to answer questions about their husband or wife and then the second partner answered the same set of questions to see if the responses matched.
Dining aboard the ship was consistently excellent. One of the best meals we had was at Sabatini’s, the Italian restaurant aboard the ship. For daily dinners, guests can choose anytime dining or request a specific time and table assignment. Other options, including a steakhouse called Crown Grill, can be reserved for a nominal fee.
Our appetizer at Sabatini’s, fresh roasted vegetables
The main course: zucchini-crusted bass
Napoleon cake for dessert
Our dinner at Sabatini’s began with an appetizer course and a pasta course accompanied by a California chardonnay personally selected by Generoso, the maitre d’. The main courses were fresh, flavorful and beautifully presented – my zucchini-crusted bass was served with polenta cakes, a plate full of color and texture. My Napoleon cake dessert was a perfect conclusion to the meal, the nutty, crunchy cookie layers contrasting nicely with delicately flavored cream layers.
Daily dinners were only slightly less elaborate, featuring a selection of appetizers – some of my favorites were the refreshingly cool yogurt-based soups – and a rotation of entrees and desserts, along with a list of options that were available daily. Vegetarian options, including pasta and excellent tofu dishes, were always available and clearly labeled.
Events throughout the week made the atmosphere onboard the Royal Princess even more festive. On the first of two formal nights, guests could take a turn at the champagne tower in the main atrium, layer upon layer of glasses carefully set up so that champagne poured into one at the top cascaded into the others. Photographers were available for private photo shoots to commemorate the experience.
A view of Kotor, Montenegro
Windmills at Mikonos
By the end of the trip, we had enjoyed our cruise so much that we were already looking at options for other trips with Princess. We had a wonderful, memorable honeymoon and can’t wait to be back onboard.
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Lead photo courtesy of Princess Cruises.
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