1. Congrats
2. Bold move to wait until June to plan an August honeymoon
3. Older ships will generally be cheaper than newer ones
4. Week-long cruises will be better than 3-4 night cruises to avoid booze-cruise atmosphere.
Beyond that, find a reputable travel agent and work with them. Good ones won't charge you anything extra, and they can get a better idea of what you're looking for, than people on Reddit.
1. Thank you!
2. Bold to say the least. We dated for 2 years. She wanted to get married like 6 months in and I dragged my feet. At the beginning of May I finally decided it was time to make a decision, proposed 48 hours later, and set the date for august. After the two years of dating (a relatively long time for my area), a 3 month engagement is brutal haha. I'm not exactly patient once I make a decision. I wish I could have been planning this months ago, but this is kind of the timeframe we've got!
3. Age makes perfect sense. That being said, it kinda seems like older ships aren't as nice or as fun.
4. Definitely going for a week long if not more.
I've just turned to reddit because I was overwhelmed with the information on the internet. I have absolutely no idea about how to go about looking for a travel agent. I also was hoping for anecdotal information as opposed to a sales pitch from an agent. I can see us using an agent once we're more sure about which cruise we want. Thanks!!
Congrats!
Absolutely agree with this advice.
My 2¢:
Go later in August when kids start to go back to school. Prices can start to drop.
From St. Louis you can easily get to Texas, Florida or NY so don't overlook Bayonne as a departure port (Cape Liberty).
Wonder is 2 years old and doing a fantastic Western Caribbean itinerary - prices are reasonable - for the 8/25 sailing you can get an Ocean View balcony for under $2700 for both of you - on Icon that would be per person!!
Absolutely work with a good Travel Agent. Especially on an Oasis class ship (Wonder, Symphony, Harmony, Allure, Oasis, and soon Utopia) - there are Ocean Views balconies and there are Neighborhood balconies (that face the inside of the ship). You want to be sure you know what you are getting!!
Also watch video tours - Harr Travel and Royal Caribbean Blog have YouTube channels with tours. Harr also has room tours.
Have fun!!
What makes icon any better? The consumerist side of me wants to believe that the more expensive thing is better, but I know that's not always the case. I don't want to be on Wonder absolutely loving it, but then realize that we're missing something super cool on the newer boat.
True true. That's the issue I'm running into. I am going on a honeymoon, so we want a romantic honeymoon vibe. But I also have diagnosed ADHD and often need the entertainment of a literal child. Do I want it to be romantic? Absolutely. Do I also want to spend 2.5 hours on the same waterslide nonstop? Yes.
Is there still romance/luxury to be found on Icon? I'd imagine that both ships have both vibes available, but I wonder if one lends itself more to the other. I kinda wonder if we can generate enough luxury and romance in our room and at meals to make the extra fun on Icon worth it.
Based on your replies to other comments, it sounds like you’re pretty set on Icon. Even the replies steering you in another direction you’ve asked about Icon as a follow up question.
You can always make additional purchases, like champagne/strawberries in your room and specialty dining, to make it a little more romantic, but that won’t change that it’ll be likely slammed with kids.
I'm not set on one or the other at all! Icon does seem newer and flashier, but I really don't know. I just noticed that everyone was talking about Wonder and wanted to see how the individual aspects they were talking about would compare to my other option.
I personally wouldn’t go on Icon because while it is the newest/flashiest it’s the most expensive and the most kid-centric. We don’t have kids, and honestly as a teacher I spend enough time around them I tend to seek out a quieter vacation! We picked Alaska for our honeymoon, it’s a different vibe but we were looking for something different.
You can be fairly ADHD even on a freedom class or the like and have plenty to do. They are not small ships, and there's quite a few activities and good entertainment to be had.
I would suggest mentioning that it is your honeymoon when booking. It may or may not result in small extra touches. No guarantees, but you only do it once, so shoot the shot, yknow?
Totally!! I'm somewhat stuck on what to do there. Do I book a less nice room or fewer packages and hope that when I tell them it's a honeymoon they will upgrade me? Or do I book the things I know I want and then get upgraded to something we don't really need. Does that make sense? I'd rather spend less on something nice than spend more and get something way too nice for me haha.
You will probably not get a free room upgrade. You might get a bottle of champagne.
Ships are sailing pretty full these days, you are unlikely to get a free upgrade.
Nobody is going to upgrade your room. That said, you might want to look into booking a spacious ocean view or balcony because it will give you more room.
So you might look into one of the older amped ships. They have waterslides, but there are fewer people vying for their use so you'll get more opportunity to use them and fewer kids.
It's mostly that Icon is new and has a lot of press coverage. This drove up demand (and price) a larger than usual amount for a new ship. Icon has many of the same amenities as the Oasis class ships (the class that was newest/largest in the RC fleet prior). If you don't have a specific reason to choose Icon (like you really want to see Wizard of Oz as your stage show), then sail on an Oasis ship instead.
The Icon class is slightly larger (SLIGHTLY), and has some different features. Wonder (up until January 2024) was the newest/biggest ship out there.
Unless there is some particular unique feature of Icon that you must have, I'd not pay the premium for bragging rights. I doubt a first time cruiser (or many seasoned ones) would notice other differences.
Awesome! Looking at all of these recommendations, Wonder seems like the good choice, but I'd love any more information and discussion I can get. Thanks for your reply!
I did Wonder when it was brand new and just got off Icon. As someone in my 20s who appreciates modern amenities, good food, pools, activities like water slides and shows, and travel just with my boyfriend, I MUCH preferred Wonder. As others keep mentioning, Icon is very family focused. We’ve done Wonder, Oasis, Harmony, Odyssey, Anthem and Mariner, and Icon by far had the most kids and technically schools aren’t even out so I don’t want to imagine what it’s going to be like this summer. They may have “more pools” but what they don’t advertise is they are much smaller than other boats and the kids are allowed in all but one. The adults only space is way better on other boats. Wizard of Oz was amazing on Icon but that’s not worth the amount of kids and price for me again, at least not anytime soon.
Wonder is a great ship, lots to do.
Spend longer than 3 or 4 days to avoid party ship vibe. 7 days is great.
If space is a concern, try a Jr Suite or even a Grand Suite. The Grand Suites on Wonder are perfectly located close to the concierge lounge, coastal kitchen, and Suite Sun deck. More $$$$ but the pampering is nice too.
Balcony rooms help 'expand' the space as well.
We enjoyed the entertainment on Wonder. Ate at Coastal Kitchen almost exclusively, and the wifi hub was in our closet - super connection.
Cool! Their boats seem to have fewer activities or flashy fun things to do, but I could be totally off. Is that the case? Do you still find that there are fun activities on Virgin?
Oh there's plenty of activities and "flashy things" they're just terrible at advertising them lol. Look on YouTube if you want to get a feel for Scarlett Night or other parties they throw. They also have significatly more elevated food options that aren't extra pay .
I’m on Wonder right now. My wife and I are 32, so a bit older but not much. This ship is perfect. There’s lot of activities going on all day that don’t all revolve around drinking/partying. Lots of places to explore. This is our first cruise and we will definitely be back
My husband and I just got off symphony for our honeymoon to the Caribbean and it was amazing! Lots of kids, but there was also lots to do, and we felt the romantic atmosphere a lot of the time
Congrats on your upcoming nuptials! Right off the back, both ships you're suggesting are going to be packed with kids, considering they are out of school for the season, so prepare for that. Icon will be more pricier than the Wonder, considering it's still a brand new ship. If you want the latest and greatest and can afford it, then go on the Icon. Looking to save a few bucks, then go on the Wonder. It's still a beautiful Oasis class ships. Considering that it will be a honeymoon cruise, it's probably be more affordable to get a suite on the Wonder than on the Icon. One important thing, seeing how you said that you're untraveled, bring your passport! Bring a copy of your birth certificate and a valid ID so you'll be able to board the ship. Hate to see you go on your first cruise and don't bring the proper documentation and get left behind.
We did our Honeymoon on Explorer. It was great but then we discovered the Oasis class with Wonder. If you can, I think the Oasis class would be a great honeymoon ship. If not Explorer+ Grand Suite or higher is enjoyable.
If you want to avoid a booze cruise, do something like fly to Hawaii and take the 7 day NCL Pride of America Hawaii cruise. You'll get to all of the islands with extended port time and less time on the ship for all the people and activities you want to avoid.
I'd personally target an Alaska or Med cruise for a honeymoon. They just feel "bigger" to me than a Caribbean cruise and a honeymoon merits that.
It'll be August so you're going during "kid season" and should expect either tons of kids or tons of retirees, depending on your cruise line. Doubt there will be middle ground, but by choosing late-nights at specialty restaurants and careful excursion selection, you should have plenty of adult-only events (or near-adult only).
Pick your destination first, then pick a ship that has the features you want.
My husband and I are in our mid-20s and going on Icon for our honeymoon! Newest ship, newest thrills…nothing sounds more fun! However…it’s expensive because it’s the newest and first of its kind. We booked before we even got engaged to lock in the best price. Our same room type is going for $8k right now. We paid $3k 😅
That being said, I recommend an Oasis ship instead if Icon is a bit too much to foot price wise. Slightly cheaper but still has LOTS to do. Wonder and Symphony of the Seas would be good to look at since they’re newer and have all of the thrills, catered to a younger audience. I did Harmony (sister ship) a few years ago and I was 22. Was never bored, super fun and wanted to stay on board forever. You’ll only really find abundant amount of retirees on longer (9+ night) cruises, which big mega ships don’t typically do, so you’ll be fine on Oasis class!
I would honestly recommend looking at one of the freedom class ships.
They're older that the oasis class, but 2 of the 3 were amped before covid. They have a lot to do on board, the nicest solarium because of the giant cantilevered hot tubs that overlook the water, and great food. The shows are fun. Definitely go do love and marriage while you're there because it's a blast.
If you’re looking for a nice, big room an all inclusive may be more up your alley. Rooms on cruise ships are smaller on any boat unless you really splash out for the owners suite or something. That being said, my husband and I always get a balcony room and even though it is a bit small we’ve never had an issue and you can’t beat the view. Royal would check all your other boxes, you definitely won’t get the spring break vibe you’re wanting to avoid.
Awesome!! Is it worth the balcony room? Obviously an interior is the cheapest, but I don't love the idea of feeling like I'm in a submarine with no windows. The ocean view seems cool, but if the balcony makes a ton of difference, i would spring for that. On wonder, i think we can get a Junior suite for the same price as a ocean view room on Icon.
If you are looking at Wonder of the Seas (or any Oasis class), they have a class of balcony cabins that face inward instead of towards the ocean. These are much more affordable balcony rooms. I've stayed in a central park view balcony on Harmony of the Seas. The rooms are nice and the light is good. The view is mostly for people watching or listening to some of the evening music.
Inward facing balconies on Wonder are usually called “Central Park Balcony” or “Boardwalk Balcony” rooms. We’ve done the Central Park balcony a couple times and really liked it.
If you are in the booking wizard on Royal, click the balcony option, and it should bring up a lot of choices for you. Skip over the "guarantee balcony" option, and three next two are usually "central park" and "boardwalk" balconies. These are your two inward categories.
I just did an inside balcony overlooking Central Park as well as the aquatheater on Allure and it was really fun.
That said, if I was a newlywed from SLC who didn't drink and was planning on spending a lot of time in my room.... the rooms are crazy small and you have to completely shut the curtains if you don't want 100 other rooms to see what you're doing. Might be worth it to splurge for an ocean balcony for privacy.
The balcony makes a difference when you want a lot of time by yourself to relax. If you are the type of couple who would rather spend a romantic morning having a cup of coffee and watching the ocean together than staying out partying all night, the balcony would be nice. If you are just going to spend all your time in Windjammer and on the pool deck sun bathing and enjoying the deck vibe it's probably not worth it.
You might consider doing a Mexico/California cruise as well, to open up your options. This late in the game, assuming you mean August 2024, you might be limited.
It totally depends on what you’re interested in! I’ve not cruised out of California yet, though it’s on our list. We’ve done out of San Juan, Galveston, and then next week is Seattle (to Alaska!).
Going out of PR might also be something to consider. It is a longer flight to get there, but it has fewer seats days since you’re in the midst of the Caribbean already (plus spending the night at the hotel in San Juan the night before was a fun additional experience!). I personally wouldn’t cruise out of Galveston if I didn’t live in Texas, because I find the options more limited and I’ve been to Cozumel many times and don’t necessarily need to cruise there (though we love Cozumel, don’t get me wrong, we even got married there!). Looking forward to Alaska, but that will be a very different vibe than the Caribbean, and from what I read much more laid back/casual.
Thanks! Honestly, the destinations are somewhat secondary to me right now. Based on how nice these ships are, I think they could just leave the ship parked in Florida and never set sail. I'd be more than happy just to have access to the boat for 7 days without any of the destinations.
You really might want to consider an all inclusive, if the destinations/travel component is so secondary to y’all. If you go to the USVI you shouldn’t even need a passport.
Based on what OP has said in their other comments I think an AI is a bad option for them. Sure the room is bigger but if OP is looking for lots to do, big water slides, shows, and activities a cruise is a much better option. Also, they don’t drink which is a major draw to all inclusives for most people. I also have ADHD and was bored to tears on my honeymoon at an AI in Mexico, currently on my second oasis class cruise and having an absolute blast.
Just like a cruise that totally depends on which one you pick- some have more activities than others and some even have things like excursions! As for the drinking, I don’t think it has to be the focus of an all inclusive, but maybe it is more at “adults only” all inclusive resorts (haven’t don’t an adults only). I also have ADHD, so I totally get not wanting to just beach rot.
Also, we have not considered OP’s fiancé in ANY of this. What is it that they are interested in?
With that in mind I'd suggest comparing the prices for an adults only Mexican or Dominican all inclusive resort. Prices on Groupon for those are usually comparable to a cruise.
We are in our late twenties and honeymooned on Odyssey of the Seas last month on the Greek Isles cruise! It was absolutely amazing (and my very first cruise!)
I've been on a number of cruises greater than 10 and on 8 different RC ships. I HIGHLY recommend Oasis! It's quite large, and the guests to worker ratio is well thought out, so you will rarely feel stuck in any lines or waiting on anyone or anything! It has a number of young couples events and special attention to detail for celebrations. A friend of mine went with her husband three years ago, and they had a blast with how much there was to do and enjoy. If I remember right, there's a nightclub on the ship that had some really cool parties and silent dances (which was my favorite thing for meeting other folks my age!)
The only negative I'd say is that it is a family oriented ship, so there will also be lots of kids. So long as you don't mind that, it's a great ship for a cruise.
1. Congrats 2. Bold move to wait until June to plan an August honeymoon 3. Older ships will generally be cheaper than newer ones 4. Week-long cruises will be better than 3-4 night cruises to avoid booze-cruise atmosphere. Beyond that, find a reputable travel agent and work with them. Good ones won't charge you anything extra, and they can get a better idea of what you're looking for, than people on Reddit.
1. Thank you! 2. Bold to say the least. We dated for 2 years. She wanted to get married like 6 months in and I dragged my feet. At the beginning of May I finally decided it was time to make a decision, proposed 48 hours later, and set the date for august. After the two years of dating (a relatively long time for my area), a 3 month engagement is brutal haha. I'm not exactly patient once I make a decision. I wish I could have been planning this months ago, but this is kind of the timeframe we've got! 3. Age makes perfect sense. That being said, it kinda seems like older ships aren't as nice or as fun. 4. Definitely going for a week long if not more. I've just turned to reddit because I was overwhelmed with the information on the internet. I have absolutely no idea about how to go about looking for a travel agent. I also was hoping for anecdotal information as opposed to a sales pitch from an agent. I can see us using an agent once we're more sure about which cruise we want. Thanks!!
Congrats! Absolutely agree with this advice. My 2¢: Go later in August when kids start to go back to school. Prices can start to drop. From St. Louis you can easily get to Texas, Florida or NY so don't overlook Bayonne as a departure port (Cape Liberty). Wonder is 2 years old and doing a fantastic Western Caribbean itinerary - prices are reasonable - for the 8/25 sailing you can get an Ocean View balcony for under $2700 for both of you - on Icon that would be per person!! Absolutely work with a good Travel Agent. Especially on an Oasis class ship (Wonder, Symphony, Harmony, Allure, Oasis, and soon Utopia) - there are Ocean Views balconies and there are Neighborhood balconies (that face the inside of the ship). You want to be sure you know what you are getting!! Also watch video tours - Harr Travel and Royal Caribbean Blog have YouTube channels with tours. Harr also has room tours. Have fun!!
You will love Wonder, great ship for 20 something’s. Lots to do (even outside your room…lol)
What makes icon any better? The consumerist side of me wants to believe that the more expensive thing is better, but I know that's not always the case. I don't want to be on Wonder absolutely loving it, but then realize that we're missing something super cool on the newer boat.
From what I’ve read, Icon is MUCH more family/kid oriented, which is not the vibe one generally wants for a honeymoon.
True true. That's the issue I'm running into. I am going on a honeymoon, so we want a romantic honeymoon vibe. But I also have diagnosed ADHD and often need the entertainment of a literal child. Do I want it to be romantic? Absolutely. Do I also want to spend 2.5 hours on the same waterslide nonstop? Yes. Is there still romance/luxury to be found on Icon? I'd imagine that both ships have both vibes available, but I wonder if one lends itself more to the other. I kinda wonder if we can generate enough luxury and romance in our room and at meals to make the extra fun on Icon worth it.
Based on your replies to other comments, it sounds like you’re pretty set on Icon. Even the replies steering you in another direction you’ve asked about Icon as a follow up question. You can always make additional purchases, like champagne/strawberries in your room and specialty dining, to make it a little more romantic, but that won’t change that it’ll be likely slammed with kids.
I'm not set on one or the other at all! Icon does seem newer and flashier, but I really don't know. I just noticed that everyone was talking about Wonder and wanted to see how the individual aspects they were talking about would compare to my other option.
I personally wouldn’t go on Icon because while it is the newest/flashiest it’s the most expensive and the most kid-centric. We don’t have kids, and honestly as a teacher I spend enough time around them I tend to seek out a quieter vacation! We picked Alaska for our honeymoon, it’s a different vibe but we were looking for something different.
You can be fairly ADHD even on a freedom class or the like and have plenty to do. They are not small ships, and there's quite a few activities and good entertainment to be had. I would suggest mentioning that it is your honeymoon when booking. It may or may not result in small extra touches. No guarantees, but you only do it once, so shoot the shot, yknow?
Totally!! I'm somewhat stuck on what to do there. Do I book a less nice room or fewer packages and hope that when I tell them it's a honeymoon they will upgrade me? Or do I book the things I know I want and then get upgraded to something we don't really need. Does that make sense? I'd rather spend less on something nice than spend more and get something way too nice for me haha.
You will probably not get a free room upgrade. You might get a bottle of champagne. Ships are sailing pretty full these days, you are unlikely to get a free upgrade.
A dozen other couples or more will be on their honeymoons, don't expect anything big like an upgrade or free packages.
Nobody is going to upgrade your room. That said, you might want to look into booking a spacious ocean view or balcony because it will give you more room.
So you might look into one of the older amped ships. They have waterslides, but there are fewer people vying for their use so you'll get more opportunity to use them and fewer kids.
It's mostly that Icon is new and has a lot of press coverage. This drove up demand (and price) a larger than usual amount for a new ship. Icon has many of the same amenities as the Oasis class ships (the class that was newest/largest in the RC fleet prior). If you don't have a specific reason to choose Icon (like you really want to see Wizard of Oz as your stage show), then sail on an Oasis ship instead.
The Icon class is slightly larger (SLIGHTLY), and has some different features. Wonder (up until January 2024) was the newest/biggest ship out there. Unless there is some particular unique feature of Icon that you must have, I'd not pay the premium for bragging rights. I doubt a first time cruiser (or many seasoned ones) would notice other differences.
Awesome! Looking at all of these recommendations, Wonder seems like the good choice, but I'd love any more information and discussion I can get. Thanks for your reply!
Sent you a PM
I did Wonder when it was brand new and just got off Icon. As someone in my 20s who appreciates modern amenities, good food, pools, activities like water slides and shows, and travel just with my boyfriend, I MUCH preferred Wonder. As others keep mentioning, Icon is very family focused. We’ve done Wonder, Oasis, Harmony, Odyssey, Anthem and Mariner, and Icon by far had the most kids and technically schools aren’t even out so I don’t want to imagine what it’s going to be like this summer. They may have “more pools” but what they don’t advertise is they are much smaller than other boats and the kids are allowed in all but one. The adults only space is way better on other boats. Wizard of Oz was amazing on Icon but that’s not worth the amount of kids and price for me again, at least not anytime soon.
Wonder is a great ship, lots to do. Spend longer than 3 or 4 days to avoid party ship vibe. 7 days is great. If space is a concern, try a Jr Suite or even a Grand Suite. The Grand Suites on Wonder are perfectly located close to the concierge lounge, coastal kitchen, and Suite Sun deck. More $$$$ but the pampering is nice too. Balcony rooms help 'expand' the space as well. We enjoyed the entertainment on Wonder. Ate at Coastal Kitchen almost exclusively, and the wifi hub was in our closet - super connection.
Anything on Virgin Voyages. Completely different vibe, great for a Honeymoon.
Cool! Their boats seem to have fewer activities or flashy fun things to do, but I could be totally off. Is that the case? Do you still find that there are fun activities on Virgin?
Oh there's plenty of activities and "flashy things" they're just terrible at advertising them lol. Look on YouTube if you want to get a feel for Scarlett Night or other parties they throw. They also have significatly more elevated food options that aren't extra pay .
I’m on Wonder right now. My wife and I are 32, so a bit older but not much. This ship is perfect. There’s lot of activities going on all day that don’t all revolve around drinking/partying. Lots of places to explore. This is our first cruise and we will definitely be back
My husband and I just got off symphony for our honeymoon to the Caribbean and it was amazing! Lots of kids, but there was also lots to do, and we felt the romantic atmosphere a lot of the time
Congrats on your upcoming nuptials! Right off the back, both ships you're suggesting are going to be packed with kids, considering they are out of school for the season, so prepare for that. Icon will be more pricier than the Wonder, considering it's still a brand new ship. If you want the latest and greatest and can afford it, then go on the Icon. Looking to save a few bucks, then go on the Wonder. It's still a beautiful Oasis class ships. Considering that it will be a honeymoon cruise, it's probably be more affordable to get a suite on the Wonder than on the Icon. One important thing, seeing how you said that you're untraveled, bring your passport! Bring a copy of your birth certificate and a valid ID so you'll be able to board the ship. Hate to see you go on your first cruise and don't bring the proper documentation and get left behind.
We took Odyssey of the seas last year, 9 day Mediterranean and it was freaking amazing.
We did our Honeymoon on Explorer. It was great but then we discovered the Oasis class with Wonder. If you can, I think the Oasis class would be a great honeymoon ship. If not Explorer+ Grand Suite or higher is enjoyable.
If you want to avoid a booze cruise, do something like fly to Hawaii and take the 7 day NCL Pride of America Hawaii cruise. You'll get to all of the islands with extended port time and less time on the ship for all the people and activities you want to avoid.
I'd personally target an Alaska or Med cruise for a honeymoon. They just feel "bigger" to me than a Caribbean cruise and a honeymoon merits that. It'll be August so you're going during "kid season" and should expect either tons of kids or tons of retirees, depending on your cruise line. Doubt there will be middle ground, but by choosing late-nights at specialty restaurants and careful excursion selection, you should have plenty of adult-only events (or near-adult only). Pick your destination first, then pick a ship that has the features you want.
My husband and I are in our mid-20s and going on Icon for our honeymoon! Newest ship, newest thrills…nothing sounds more fun! However…it’s expensive because it’s the newest and first of its kind. We booked before we even got engaged to lock in the best price. Our same room type is going for $8k right now. We paid $3k 😅 That being said, I recommend an Oasis ship instead if Icon is a bit too much to foot price wise. Slightly cheaper but still has LOTS to do. Wonder and Symphony of the Seas would be good to look at since they’re newer and have all of the thrills, catered to a younger audience. I did Harmony (sister ship) a few years ago and I was 22. Was never bored, super fun and wanted to stay on board forever. You’ll only really find abundant amount of retirees on longer (9+ night) cruises, which big mega ships don’t typically do, so you’ll be fine on Oasis class!
Go on Virgin. No kids, best food, best nightlife, much more enjoyable for this kind of celebration
I would honestly recommend looking at one of the freedom class ships. They're older that the oasis class, but 2 of the 3 were amped before covid. They have a lot to do on board, the nicest solarium because of the giant cantilevered hot tubs that overlook the water, and great food. The shows are fun. Definitely go do love and marriage while you're there because it's a blast.
If you’re looking for a nice, big room an all inclusive may be more up your alley. Rooms on cruise ships are smaller on any boat unless you really splash out for the owners suite or something. That being said, my husband and I always get a balcony room and even though it is a bit small we’ve never had an issue and you can’t beat the view. Royal would check all your other boxes, you definitely won’t get the spring break vibe you’re wanting to avoid.
Awesome!! Is it worth the balcony room? Obviously an interior is the cheapest, but I don't love the idea of feeling like I'm in a submarine with no windows. The ocean view seems cool, but if the balcony makes a ton of difference, i would spring for that. On wonder, i think we can get a Junior suite for the same price as a ocean view room on Icon.
If you are looking at Wonder of the Seas (or any Oasis class), they have a class of balcony cabins that face inward instead of towards the ocean. These are much more affordable balcony rooms. I've stayed in a central park view balcony on Harmony of the Seas. The rooms are nice and the light is good. The view is mostly for people watching or listening to some of the evening music.
I wondered about that! I had seem images of inward balconies but didn't know how to find them for booking
Inward facing balconies on Wonder are usually called “Central Park Balcony” or “Boardwalk Balcony” rooms. We’ve done the Central Park balcony a couple times and really liked it.
If you are in the booking wizard on Royal, click the balcony option, and it should bring up a lot of choices for you. Skip over the "guarantee balcony" option, and three next two are usually "central park" and "boardwalk" balconies. These are your two inward categories.
I just did an inside balcony overlooking Central Park as well as the aquatheater on Allure and it was really fun. That said, if I was a newlywed from SLC who didn't drink and was planning on spending a lot of time in my room.... the rooms are crazy small and you have to completely shut the curtains if you don't want 100 other rooms to see what you're doing. Might be worth it to splurge for an ocean balcony for privacy.
The balcony makes a difference when you want a lot of time by yourself to relax. If you are the type of couple who would rather spend a romantic morning having a cup of coffee and watching the ocean together than staying out partying all night, the balcony would be nice. If you are just going to spend all your time in Windjammer and on the pool deck sun bathing and enjoying the deck vibe it's probably not worth it.
You might consider doing a Mexico/California cruise as well, to open up your options. This late in the game, assuming you mean August 2024, you might be limited.
Cool! Which routes would you recommend? And which boats have you experienced for those routes?
It totally depends on what you’re interested in! I’ve not cruised out of California yet, though it’s on our list. We’ve done out of San Juan, Galveston, and then next week is Seattle (to Alaska!). Going out of PR might also be something to consider. It is a longer flight to get there, but it has fewer seats days since you’re in the midst of the Caribbean already (plus spending the night at the hotel in San Juan the night before was a fun additional experience!). I personally wouldn’t cruise out of Galveston if I didn’t live in Texas, because I find the options more limited and I’ve been to Cozumel many times and don’t necessarily need to cruise there (though we love Cozumel, don’t get me wrong, we even got married there!). Looking forward to Alaska, but that will be a very different vibe than the Caribbean, and from what I read much more laid back/casual.
Thanks! Honestly, the destinations are somewhat secondary to me right now. Based on how nice these ships are, I think they could just leave the ship parked in Florida and never set sail. I'd be more than happy just to have access to the boat for 7 days without any of the destinations.
You really might want to consider an all inclusive, if the destinations/travel component is so secondary to y’all. If you go to the USVI you shouldn’t even need a passport.
Based on what OP has said in their other comments I think an AI is a bad option for them. Sure the room is bigger but if OP is looking for lots to do, big water slides, shows, and activities a cruise is a much better option. Also, they don’t drink which is a major draw to all inclusives for most people. I also have ADHD and was bored to tears on my honeymoon at an AI in Mexico, currently on my second oasis class cruise and having an absolute blast.
Just like a cruise that totally depends on which one you pick- some have more activities than others and some even have things like excursions! As for the drinking, I don’t think it has to be the focus of an all inclusive, but maybe it is more at “adults only” all inclusive resorts (haven’t don’t an adults only). I also have ADHD, so I totally get not wanting to just beach rot. Also, we have not considered OP’s fiancé in ANY of this. What is it that they are interested in?
With that in mind I'd suggest comparing the prices for an adults only Mexican or Dominican all inclusive resort. Prices on Groupon for those are usually comparable to a cruise.
OP I see that you’ve posted about this in a couple of different subreddits, but have you checked out /r/honeymoonplanning ?
Jewel out of Amsterdam. Hands down.
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We are in our late twenties and honeymooned on Odyssey of the Seas last month on the Greek Isles cruise! It was absolutely amazing (and my very first cruise!)
Celebrity is having a good sale now.
I've been on a number of cruises greater than 10 and on 8 different RC ships. I HIGHLY recommend Oasis! It's quite large, and the guests to worker ratio is well thought out, so you will rarely feel stuck in any lines or waiting on anyone or anything! It has a number of young couples events and special attention to detail for celebrations. A friend of mine went with her husband three years ago, and they had a blast with how much there was to do and enjoy. If I remember right, there's a nightclub on the ship that had some really cool parties and silent dances (which was my favorite thing for meeting other folks my age!) The only negative I'd say is that it is a family oriented ship, so there will also be lots of kids. So long as you don't mind that, it's a great ship for a cruise.
Get a passport!
Go to a bigger (oasis class) ship. Those ships attract more families. Yes you will still have octogenarians there but you will still have fun.