Top 10 Romantic Cruise Ports of Call
No matter if you want to get away with your partners to celebrate an anniversary or valentines day or even if you are heading away for your honeymoon- there are lots of great destinations that can easily be visited on a cruise that offer romance at every corner.
Perhaps even better, many of the romantic cities in the world can be reached directly on a cruise from the United Kingdom.
Our Top 10 Romantic Cruise Ports of Call
Rome, Italy
If food is the key to someone’s heart, then Italian food has to be the best key to unlock anybody’s affection and where better to enjoy an authentic Italian meal than in the Italian capital city.
The romantic nature of the ‘Eternal City’ is not just based on its cuisine as the nostalgic, charming squares, monuments and boulevards found throughout the city all add to the romantic nature of Rome.
The biggest downside to the city in terms of cruising is the fact that the cities nearest port is Civitavecchia, around 1.5 hours away, but with every cruise line offering a range of excursions to Rome, it is straight forward to visit and well worth the visit for any romantic getaways.
Venice, Italy
There is something about the history and culture of Italy that makes for a romantic getaway, so it is no surprise to see another Italian destination feature so highly on this list.
Venice has a similar charm as Rome thanks to the beautiful architecture and historical landmarks found around the city but Venice is of course an almost unique city due to waterways taking over from roads.
No matter if it is something you have done before or not, a ride onboard a gondola around the city with a loved one never fails to be romantic, as is visiting a small café next to a canal and simply spending time together watching the world go by.
Vancouver, Canada
The Canadian city of Vancouver may often get overlooked on lists similar to this one but it really shouldn’t be.
Located on the Pacific coast, the city is surrounded by either sea or mountains that gives a small town feel to a thriving and bustling city.
Vancouver offers many cruises of the Inside Passage and up to Alaska that are in themselves romantic places where you can snuggle up on your balcony and watch some of the most stunning scenery in the world but before or after your cruise, you can enjoy the city itself.
From heading into the mountains and enjoy time alone in a cabin to enjoying the fine ding and spas luxury hotels in the city centre- Vancouver is a great place to get away from the stresses of life and enjoy time together.
Honolulu, Hawaii
There is something magical about the city of Honolulu in Hawaii that never fails to take your breath away and is always a highlight of a Pacific Ocean cruise.
The city offers pristine white sandy beaches, stunning mountains, and incredible gardens that all add to the relaxed vibe you will experience.
From soaking up the sun on the beach to taking in the incredible scenery and from enjoying time together on a boat trip to exploring the intimate bars, cafes and restaurants on offer- Honolulu is all about spending time together, relaxing and what can be more romantic than been with a loved one in paradise?
Bruges, Belgium
The historic cobbled streets and canals of Bruges has a romantic feel about it all year around but it is a truly special destination on Valentines Day when the whole city embraces the loving feeling.
Known for its chocolate shops, small bars, and cafes all which often feature intimate nooks and roaring fires make for a romantic setting on a winter getaway to Bruges.
The cities fleet of horse and carts makes for the perfect way to snuggle up with a loved one and explore all that Bruges has to offer on a European cruise featuring the nearby port of Zeebrugge on its itinerary.
Quebec City, Canada
Offering a distinct European charm despite its location in Canada, the Old Town of Quebec City is simply stunning.
The UNESCO Heritage listed district features incredible architecture, beautiful parks, small boutiques, independent cafes and if you are fortunate to visit in Autumn (Fall), the vast array of colours on the city fauna makes for a stunning backdrop to snuggle up with a loved one and take in the stunning views.
There are a number of cruises offered from north-east US cities such as Boston and New York that sail along the St Lawrence seaway into the heart of Quebec City, with some cruise lines offering itineraries starting and/or ending there.
Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon is a great destination all year around but it makes for a great getaway around Valentine Days for those wanting some warmer weather whilst still not heading too far from home.
The city is also full of history and culture that makes for a great time ashore no matter what you like to do but what makes it perfect for this list is the beautiful gardens, stunning river front and intimate streets that make for a romantic getaway.
Head into town, jump onboard an historic tram to Belem for an authentic Pasteis de Nata that you will never forget.
Male, Maldives
If your idea of romance is lying along with your loved one on stunning white beaches next to the idyllic blue waters of the Indian Ocean in what can only be described as paradise, then the port city of Male is the place for you.
As the capital of the Maldives, Male may not live up to expectations of the remoteness of the Maldives at first, but it is easy to head to one of the 100’s of smaller and intimate islands nearby for your own private bit of luxury and paradise.
Reykjavik, Iceland
On the face of it, the Icelandic capital city of Reykjavik may not look the most romantic of cities and it is unlikely to feature in many of these types of lists but that is doing a huge disservice to the city.
As one of the most remote capitals in Europe, Reykjavik is surround by either mountains or the North Atlantic ocean and when you couple that with the small population of the country, you really start to feel a sense of togetherness.
The small streets of the city are filled with small independent cafes and shops which are perfect for snuggling up with a loved one.
Paris, France
On many of these types of lists, Paris will feature highly and with the nickname of the ‘City of Love’, it is perhaps not too surprising.
Unfortunately much of that is down to a clever marketing department at the city and a rose tinted view of the city from people reminiscing on time past.
Nowadays, many parts of the city have seen better days and even trying to get close to the cities major landmarks and tourist attractions is a struggle but if you can look past that or head into the nicer parts of the city, the tree line boulevards, intimate restaurants and beautiful architecture still makes for a romantic getaway.
From a cruise holiday point of view, Paris also ranks lower due to been around an hour or so from the nearest port of Le Havre, despite been listed on many itineraries.
