A SEA MADE FOR TWO

There are honeymoons, and then there are honeymoons that begin with the gentle chime of a gangway bell, the scent of polished teak in the air, and the sudden, exhilarating awareness that the next several days will be spent adrift, moving from one of the world’s most beautiful ports to the next.

This is what it was like for Alwin and Thomas stepping aboard the Regent Seven Seas Voyager, a ship so quietly elegant — a place where every corner invites ease, and every journey promises discovery.

BOARDING, EACH CARRIED A DIFFERENT HISTORY OF THE SEA – ONE TASTING ITS PROMISE FOR THE FIRST TIME, THE OTHER TRACING ITS FAMILIAR RHYTHM.

Thomas, who had never cruised before, describes the moment as if he’d crossed a threshold into a more refined dimension: ‘I remember feeling genuinely moved.

The ship had this quiet sense of grandeur — not ostentatious, just incredibly graceful. Our suite felt like a sanctuary on the sea.’ Meanwhile, Alwin had worked on ships before — and found himself rediscovering the wonder he thought he’d left in another lifetime. ‘There’s something different about boarding when it’s your honeymoon. Seven Seas Voyager still managed to give me that sense of wonder.’

THE ROUTE: A MEDITERRANEAN WHISPER

Their itinerary carried the effortless charm of a timeless romance, with the sea appearing as a constant, cinematic backdrop.

• Rome (Civitavecchia)
• Florence (Livorno)
• Cinque Terre (La Spezia)
• Corsica
• Palma de Mallorca
• Barcelona
• Marseille
• Monte Carlo

Each port was allotted just the right amount of time, balancing depth of experience with the steady pace of their travels.

THE PLACES THAT STAYED WITH THEM

Award-winning travel writer Nicholas Crane tells us that travel works its way into the bones. So too did these destinations. Thomas found himself mesmerised by Corsica: ‘The island offered a landscape of compelling contrasts: rugged mountain terrain cascading toward clear, impossibly blue waters, with the town nestled confidently between the two. It was a place whose beauty needed no embellishment.’

Alwin was smitten with Florence, where art, architecture, and pasta conspired to seduce him completely. ‘It reminded me that true luxury often lies in purity — good food, good wine, and a city with history in its bones.’

ROMANCE AT SEA: UNSCRIPTED, UNHURRIED

Forget choreographed sunsets with violins — their most romantic evening was delightfully ordinary. They dressed slowly, sipped champagne in their suite, dined at Chartreuse, wandered, danced at the disco, then drifted into the Connoisseur Lounge like characters in their own film. Nothing staged. Nothing forced. Just joy — the subtle, quiet kind that settles into the heart and stays there.

LIFE ON BOARD: FRIENDSHIPS, STORIES AND MIDNIGHT LAUGHTER

On Seven Seas Voyager, the social energy is gentle, organic, and infused with an old-world charm that only a luxury small ship can pull off. The couple soon formed an evening quartet with Maggie and Sheila — two women with sparkling wit and impeccable timing. Most nights ended in Compass Rose or the cigar lounge, swapping stories, laughing freely, and collecting the sort of memories you don’t realise are treasure until you’re back on land missing them.

EXCEEDING EXPECTATIONS – EFFORTLESSLY

Regent Seven Seas is renowned for its all-inclusive, effortless luxury, yet even so, the couple were struck by how quickly the ship felt like home. Service was warm and attentive without ever being intrusive. Comfort seemed instinctive, as if designed for every need. The food aboard Seven Seas Voyager transcends typical cruise-ship fare, resembling instead a high-end, all-inclusive floating restaurant — sophisticated yet approachable, with a range of styles and flavours to suit every palate and dietary preference.

The main dining room, Compass Rose, serves elegant European-inspired continental cuisine alongside dishes reflecting the regions visited, while 24-hour room service ensures meals are available whenever desired. Whether it’s a classic European dinner in a formal setting, a casual burger by the pool, or fresh regional seafood inspired by the ports, Seven Seas Voyager delivers a consistently exceptional experience.

ADVICE FOR FUTURE HONEYMOONERS AT SEA

The couple offers one piece of wisdom: ‘Choose your ship intentionally. A smaller vessel with true all-inclusive luxury gives you space to be present with each other — not the schedule. Don’t try to do everything. Let the journey move at the rhythm of your new life together.’

A FINAL THOUGHT

Ocean-liner honeymoons have a magic that’s hard to replicate on land. Perhaps it’s the horizon that keeps moving, reminding you that marriage, like travel, is a shared journey into the unknown. Or perhaps it’s simply the joy of waking up each day beside the person you have chosen — with the sea gently encouraging you to choose them again. Whatever the reason, Thomas and Alwin’s honeymoon reminds us of something beautifully simple: Love may be rooted on shore, but it grows astonishingly well at sea.