Wyndham Wisdom

Love Boats

Love Boats Finding love on the high seas

Cruises ought to be inherently romantic--the moonlight, the silvered sea, the crystal flutes filled with bubbly. But we all know that some ships are more floating frat party than intimate soirée. So if your idea of setting the mood doesn't involve hooting at contestants in a belly flop competition, you'll need to do some homework before you book that special voyage à deux.

What to look for: Ships that offer such spark-fanning touches as private tables, his-and-her spa treatments, in-cabin Jacuzzi tubs and 24-hour room service. "And there's nothing like a private balcony, where you can have breakfast while watching the world go by," says Susan Breslow Sardone, the expert on honeymoons and romantic getaways for about.com. Smaller vessels, like SeaDream Yacht Club's two 112-passenger ships, are more intimate and can maneuver into less-visited ports.

What to avoid: School vacation periods on ships marketed heavily to families. Larger vessels that tend to stop at more-crowded ports.

What to splurge on: If it's a once-in-a-lifetime occasion, consider a higher-end cruise line like Silversea or Regent Seven Seas, and go for a roomy suite with a deluxe bed and linens, high-end electronics and a picture window. You'll also get personal attendants who'll ensure the champagne is perfectly chilled. Look for top-notch service and gourmet dining on luxury lines like Crystal, Seabourn, SeaDream Yacht Club, Windstar and Cunard. But you don't have to spend lavishly to find romance. More modestly priced trips can still inspire sweet nothings. Here are our suggestions for eight voyages that are sure to light your fire on the water.

SUITE SURRENDER

THE SHIP: Seabourn's 208-passenger Spirit. You'll feel as if you're aboard your own private yacht on this sleek all-suite vessel. Staterooms have separate living and sleeping areas and marble bathrooms (plus a room steward who will draw your bath). The large, well-regarded spa can customize a couple's retreat.

THE TRIP: A new seven-day voyage travels roundtrip from Venice, with stops along the Dalmatian coast; Split, Croatia; Kotor, Montenegro; Kopor, Slovenia; and Trieste, Italy. seabourn.com; May through September; from $3,405*

ITALIAN FLAVOR, INDIAN LOCALE

THE SHIP: Silversea's 298-passenger Silver Wind. The opulent accommodations on this spacious, recently refurbished ship are hotel-like suites with marble baths and huge seaview picture windows. Most have private verandahs. Dine in the candlelit La Terrazza, where regional specialties reflect Silver Wind's Italian roots.

THE TRIP: Seven days sailing through the Eden-like Seychelle Islands in the Indian Ocean, with stops at La Digue and Praslin for some of the world's most beautiful beaches. silversea.com; Dec. 13--20; from $4,999

FIRST-CLASS CROSSING

THE SHIP: Cunard's stately 2,592-passenger Queen Mary 2. One of the few cruise lines still offering different classes of service that determine where passengers dine. The lavish Queens Grill suites come with a stocked bar, evening canapés, butler service and fresh flowers, and allow access to private lounges. The ship's Canyon Ranch Spa has a large pool laced with massage jets, a fitness center, steam room and sauna, plus a superb staff. Dinners can be beaded-gown and black-tie affairs; dancing is in the largest ballroom at sea.

THE TRIP: Get away from it all on the classic six-day trans-Atlantic crossing from New York to Southampton, England. cunard.com; April through November; from $754

INTIMATE CARRIBBEAN
THE SHIP: Seacloud Cruises' 32-cabin Sea Cloud. Built in 1931 as a private yacht for Marjorie Merriweather Post, this restored four-masted barque is the picture of high-seas romance. Meals are often served on deck under the billowing sails; a crew of 15 work the rigging. Ten suites have decorative marble fireplaces and antique furniture; Post's huge white-and-gold owner's suite has a Louis XIV--style king-size bed and golden swan bathroom fixtures.

THE TRIP: A seven-day Caribbean sail, round-trip from Antigua, stops in the little-visited and lovely islands of Bequia, Mayreau and Iles des Saintes. seacloud.com; Dec. 14--21; from $4,375

AEGEAN SAILING
THE SHIP: Windstar's 148-passenger Wind Spirit. A sleek, four-masted ship with computerized sails. Staterooms have flat-screen TVs, top-end linens and mattresses. Opt for breakfast in bed before heading to the water sports platform for some complimentary skitubing. Later, indulge in a deep-tissue massage before a sunset dinner.

THE TRIP: Book a seven-day cruise from Athens, sailing the blue Aegean and stopping at Mykonos, Santorini and Rhodes, with their whitewashed churches and seaside cafés, before turning north for the exotic Turkish ports of Bodrum, Kusadasi and, finally, Istanbul. windstarcruises.com; May through October; from $3,749

EURO GLAM
THE SHIP: SeaDream Yacht Club's 110-passenger Sea Dream I. A staff of 95 attends to guests; staterooms have multi-jet showers, ocean views, 24-hour room service and fine linens. Dining alcoves allow for secluded meals for two. Relax in the sun on Balinese dream beds; indulge in private, open-air massages on the deck. Mountain bikes, Segway transporters, kayaks and sailboats are available for guests' use.

THE TRIP: Set sail from Nice and hit the high-glam ports of St. Tropez, Cannes, Portofino and Monte Carlo on a seven-day cruise. seadreamyachtclub.com; June 27--July 4; from $5,143

ISLAND PRINCESS
THE SHIP: Princess Cruises' new 3,070-passenger Ruby Princess. Almost 900 staterooms have balconies, all have flat-screen televisions and 24-hour room service. On deck, relax in the Sanctuary, with cushioned lounge chairs, preloaded iPods, couples' massages, fruit kabobs and special drinks. There's an onboard wedding chapel; Princess was the first cruise line whose captains performed the ceremony. Toast the couple at the ruby-red champagne waterfall.

THE TRIP: The 10-day round trip from Fort Lauderdale sails to Cozumel, Mexico; Grand Cayman; Montego Bay, Jamaica; and private Princess Cay in the Bahamas. princesscruises.com; November through April; from $762

THE BUTLER DID IT
THE SHIP: Norwegian Cruise Lines 2,224-passenger Norwegian Dawn. If you splurge on a courtyard villa suite you'll get your own ocean view deck and access to a special swimming pool, hot tub, covered Balinese-style lounge areas with oversized chaises--and a personal butler.

THE TRIP: Sail from New York on a one- or two-night cruise to nowhere: the perfect getaway for couples who are short on time and would rather not be distracted by ports. ncl.com; April, May, January; from $149

THE "I DO" RE-DO
In the last few years, renewing wedding vows at sea has become so popular that many cruise ships offer packages and planning services just for these ceremonies. Since vow renewals have no legal implications, anyone can officiate--a clergyperson, the ship's captain, a friend--and it can be a private or multi-couple affair. On Cunard's liners, group renewals are performed free on every crossing--40 couples once participated at the same time. Princess Cruises offers free vow renewal ceremonies and hosted more than 800 last year.

What's the attraction? "The economy and world conditions have created such a negative atmosphere," says Sharon Naylor, author of Renewing Your Wedding Vows, "and people want to counter that with a life-affirming event." Or maybe they just want to throw a party without The Todd English restaurant on the QM2. all the stress of a wedding.