Cruise ships have long been the setting for many a romance story. There was the 1957 tearjerker movie “An Affair to Remember,” its 1939 predecessor and 1994 remake, both titled”Love Affair.”  And, of course, “Titanic.”  Since travel agents help couples celebrate their real-life love stories aboard cruise ships, we asked a handful for their favorite ships and/or itineraries for romance.

Agent Name and Agency: Patricia LoBracco, owner of LoBracco Travel LLC in Margate, Fla., an independent agency in the Avoya Network.

Your favorite cruise ship/itinerary for romance: My favorite ship for romance clients would be the Paul Gauguin (pictured above).

Ship/itinerary specifics: To wake up in the morning and overlook Moorea, Bora Bora or one of the other beautiful islands is just amazing and very romantic. Clients also appreciate the casual dress code on board. The interior of the ship is also beautiful.

Romantic amenities: They do an anniversary and honeymoon Tahitian ceremony that is wonderful.

Why you book it: The Paul Gauguin is small and intimate, and since it is all-inclusive, clients don’t have to worry about gratuities or beverages on board. Plus, the destinations it sails to are the essence of romance.

Why your clients love it: The Paul Gauguin offers couples a different, romantic and memorable vacation to exotic islands with luxurious, comfortable style and service.

Agent programs: Paul Gauguin Cruises’ travel agent center, at www.pgcruises.com, includes marketing resources, webinars, promotions, sales support and information on the company’s agent training - PEARLS, which stands for Partners Earn Added Rewards and Learn to Sell.

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Agent Name and Agency: David Betlejewski, CruiseOne franchise owner and vacation specialist in Norton Shores, Mich.

Your favorite cruise ship/itinerary for romance: Nothing could possibly be more romantic than a river cruise down the Seine in France, since nothing says romance more than Paris, one of the key components of this particular trip.

Ship/itinerary specifics: I have had excellent experiences with AmaWaterways and would recommend the 10-day ”Paris & Normandy” trip, which includes a stay in Paris followed by a seven-night cruise on the Seine River.

Romantic amenities: River cruises are perfect for romance because of their coziness, with usually only about 60-80 couples aboard the ship. Cuisine is entirely local in flavor and served in elegant fashion. There are also opportunities to explore some significant historical sites with some of the best tour guides in the world.

Why you book it: I book this trip because of the confidence I have in the river cruise operators to provide an exceptional experience. The location sells itself, especially for couples, because France has been the romance capital of the world for generations.

Why your clients love it: It’s a first-class experience with an emphasis on really discovering this wonderful country and its history. I always provide transfers and/or other onboard credits whenever they book a river cruise with me as my way of saying thanks!

Agent programs: AmaWaterways offers a variety of customizable marketing materials, promotional flyers, co-branded websites and an online booking engine at www.AmaWaterways.com/agent.

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Agent Name and Agency: Diane Bean, vacation specialist and franchise owner with Dream Vacations-A CruiseOne Company in Clayton, N.C.

Your favorite cruise ship/itinerary for romance: One of our best sellers is Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas. It has some features that are offered on the Oasis-class ships but is smaller in size. It has been our No. 1 seller three years in a row.

Ship/itinerary specifics: The best itinerary to consider when celebrating a honeymoon or anniversary is the Eastern Caribbean, in my opinion. It normally is slower paced, which gives couples who are not in a hurry to see the sights more time to spend together.

Romantic amenities: A couples’ massage at the spa is No. 1, but coming in second is a specialty dinner, which we offer to our honeymoon clients as a gift to say “congrats.”  We like to book this amenity direct so the couple does not know about it. It makes for a really nice surprise.

Why you book it: Freedom of the Seas has so much to offer everyone. It even offers marriage packages where couples can get married on board the ship with their family traveling along.

Why your clients love it: All of my clients return home happy from their vacations aboard Freedom of the Seas.

Agent programs: Royal Caribbean’s www.CruisingPower.com is one of the best travel agent sites in the industry.

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Agent Name and Agency: Nexion travel agent Melody Moser of Journeys Near and Far LLC, Mays Landing, N.J.

Your favorite cruise ship/itinerary for romance:Viking River Cruises’ Lyon and Provence itinerary.

Ship/itinerary specifics: On the northbound journey, guests begin their cruise in Avignon, where medieval walls enclose a maze of narrow streets lined with churches, museums, shops and palaces. In Arles, guests visit Romanesque monuments and Roman ruins, then stroll in the footsteps of Vincent Van Gogh. Farther north, the riverside town of Tournon’s dramatic 10th-century feudal castle stands guard over the river. Guests cross the bridge into its twin city, Tain, for delectable chocolate at Valrhona. The itinerary also visits ancient Vienne and France’s culinary center, Lyon.

Romantic amenities: It’s the ambiance of an intimate cruise ship, the enchanting port destinations and the scenic riverbanks that make this a romantic itinerary.

Why you book it: Viking River Cruises is easy to work with, and my clients love the variety of itineraries, the service and the cuisine.

Why your clients love it: My clients love that the ship is small enough that the staff remembers their names, their likes and their dislikes. They like the line’s Scandinavian decor, the local entertainment, and the occasional evening in port, where they can go into town for a romantic dinner.

Agent programs: Viking has a wealth of marketing resources on their agent website, including downloadable marketing materials and images, as well as their Viking Travel Agent Academy. Visit www.VikingCruises.com.