In light of Valentine's Day quickly approaching, Cupid's arrow has struck us at TravelPulse to discuss all things romantic, and if you're in the same boat (actually ship), so to speak, you may be thinking about popping the question of your significant other for a marriage proposal.
It just so happens that a cruise ship might be the ideal venue to do so.
It may come as a surprise to you that this full-time cruise travel journalist did not propose to his fiancee on board but at Disneyland. My wife and I are also huge Disney fans, and no one can scoff at an engagement made at the park's exclusive Club 33. However, if it were not for having the opportunity to propose at such a special shoreside location, I would have most definitely done so at sea-probably on a Disney cruise.
Of course, any cruise line and cruise ship will do nicely for an engagement setting.
As it's key to pick the right combination of the two to match your personality for the best regular vacation, the same is true for a proposal as well. Some cruise lines will even assist you with special packages, or a concierge, butler or restaurant manager will surely help as they can to make the event a memorable one. In many cases, special cakes and other confections can be ordered for such celebrations as well.
[READMORE]READ MORE: Qantas Captain Drops Most Romantic In-Flight Proposal Of All Time[/READMORE]
Regardless of the support you may have in setting everything all up, the actual location onboard and the time of day are the most crucial considerations. You likely don't want to choose the lido buffet during the midday rush. That's not romantic at all. What is romantic are the likes of specialty restaurants and private balconies.
Classic options, of course, include having a bottle of champagne delivered to your stateroom or suite and taking your loved one out on the balcony at dusk to pour a bit of the bubbly and ask away as the ship sails into the sunset. Or, for those more inclined to a public setting to celebrate with fellow passengers and new friends, the central atrium is always a dramatic space to let the whole ship know when he or she says "yes."
A handful of ships even allow public access of the bow like on several Princess Cruises promenade decks that extend all the way to the tip. You could have a "king of the world"-type proposal there, for example, provided you do so safely behind the railing, careful not to drop the ring overboard in the process.
[READMORE]READ MORE: Cruise Weddings Options for Traveling Couples[/READMORE]
There are a number of even more unique venues on cruise ships these days in which to get the most creative with your proposal. Take, for instance, Royal Caribbean International's North Star attraction. Free rides crane guests in a glass-enclosed pod high above, out and over the side of the ship for unparalleled vistas of the vessel and its surroundings. So, how about considering arranging the big moment when overlooking a romantic port city?
More than anything, just have fun with it. If you're both genuinely in love, the answer to the question is bound to be a positive one, and so the exact setting really doesn't matter in the end. Simply choose the one that is the best for the two of you, and the cruise to follow will surely be one to remember.
Finally, definitely consider returning onboard for the wedding itself as well as the honeymoon to follow. If the ocean worked for the proposal, it surely will for other significant life events later on.
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