Sailing away with your loved one is more than just a holiday. It is a lifetime spent together, a journey in which each sunset, every dinner, and any adventure becomes part of your love story. No matter if you are celebrating an anniversary, honeymoon, or just want to get away together, the best cruise lines for couples offer the perfect blend of romance and exploration.
According to the Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA), more than 30 million people are cruising in 2025; couples are a major part of that. Romantic sea voyages are growing in popularity not only because of where they go, but also thanks to the unique perks each one offers.
Private balconies, couples’ spa treatments, and world-class dining await couples on board these ships, in addition to intimate entertainment made for two. But with numerous options available, which sea travel should couples choose? Some cater to luxury, some to adventure, and others specialize in creating a chic, adults-only atmosphere.
Table of Contents
In this guide by WorldsUltimate to the best luxury cruise lines for couples in 2025, there is something for everyone on once-in-a-lifetime voyages.
1. Viking Ocean Cruises – A Romantic Escape
For couples who want an understated, sophisticated escape, Viking Ocean Cruises offers the ideal setting. Viking focuses exclusively on cultural appreciation and relaxed luxury to create a romantic atmosphere. The Scandinavian-inspired design harmonizes elegance with intimacy. The environment is one of calm, relaxing, and inviting ones.
One of Viking’s attractions is its policy of “no children“. This policy is designed to enable partners to have an uninterrupted experience. The cruise line’s 10 identical 930-passenger ships come with enviable perks such as complimentary Wi-Fi and verandas for all cabins. The line will debut its first 998-guest ship in December 2024, Viking Vela.
The smaller size of Viking ships means that they can access more exclusive ports throughout Europe, Asia, Australia, Alaska, the Caribbean, and the Mediterranean. Standard cruise itineraries range from eight to 93 days; however, on Viking World Cruises, options can last up to 180 days.
Couple’s Highlight: Viking has a focus on destination immersion, which means longer stays at ports, giving couples more time to explore cities together. The Enrichment Lectures and wine-pairing dinners are also top choices for shared cultural experiences.
U.S. News Insider Tip
While Viking’s cruise fares seem high compared to other lines, you need to compare their all-inclusive value to cruises where everything comes at an additional cost. There are very few extra expenses that you will have once you’re on board the ship. They also offer discounted sailings on select voyages. – Gwen Pratesi, Contributor
There’s plenty to do even without leaving the ship-in fact, it might be argued that Viking makes it more fun to stay aboard the ship than to drop anchor at any port. Nonetheless, the combination of spending so much time together up close and being able to go places by day as well as night surely adds a special spice.
2. Regent Seven Seas Sailings
Regent Seven Seas Cruises is for couples who want their every desire met. This ocean travel aims to deliver a luxurious, carefree, and romantic experience with small, intimate ships that are perfect for couples to escape the crowd. They are perfect for couples who avoid the hustle and bustle of larger cruise lines. You can enjoy the highest level of comfort with a luxurious touch in one place.
Regent ships are among the most luxurious at sea, with private balconies for couples to relax on and take in breathtaking views. At both venues, service is attentive and high quality. While formal wear is requested, your comfort is assured with regular care throughout your sea voyage.
Did You Know? Regent Seven Seas was awarded Best Luxury Cruise Line 2024 by Cruise Critic. This, of course, makes it the clear choice for couples with high standards looking for world-class service.
Couple’s Highlight: Regent is all-inclusive, meaning that couples can enjoy unlimited shore excursions, premium spirits, specialty dining, gratuities, Wi-Fi, and perhaps even airfare. It’s purely about the life of ease at sea – you two will have no problems on board!
U.S. News Insider Tip
Regent Seven Seas is an ultra-luxury cruise line that features stunning interior design, a museum-quality art collection (including the only Fabergé egg at sea, on Seven Seas Grandeur), top-notch service and some of the most expensive ships ever built. Still, guests will find a relaxed and casually elegant atmosphere aboard Regent’s six vessels. – Gwen Pratesi, Contributor
3. Seabourn
When luxury is combined with an intimate atmosphere, Seabourn is absolutely the best choice. It is an alternative to the usual big, bustling ships and offers comfort in truly elegant surroundings. Seabourn rounds the earth, visiting popular cruising destinations as Alaska, the Caribbean, and the Mediterranean.
Also in more unfamiliar locales, Asia, Australia, and the Arctic. It has four ships that accommodate 458 or 600 guests (depending on the ship), and they offer luxurious amenities both inside and outside their suites. In addition to multiple dining choices (both fine and casual), there are stimulating onboard activities and a variety of shore excursions available before, during, or after the cruise.
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Passengers can also attend exclusive Seabourn dining experiences, such as Solis, the line’s newest restaurant that opened last spring 2024 and serves Mediterranean food. Expect luxurious suites on Seabourn’s ships. Several have private verandas that provide the perfect setting for a quiet morning or sunset with your partner.
Couple’s Highlight: Seabourn is known for its Seabourn Moments – Surprise champagne on deck, rose petals in suites, or complimentary caviar in the surf. These spontaneous touches add elegance to a Seaborn date when any of these things are thrown in at no extra cost.
4. Princess Cruises
Princess Cruises offers numerous settings for couples looking for a carefree place of peace. On Princess Cruises, you can have the “Love Boat” experience. With nearly six decades of being among the highest standard luxury cruise lines for older couples. You can have an intimate dinner with your partner, along with sunset views that are out of this world. It’s no wonder Princess Cruises is considered one of the most romantic places.
One of the best options for adults, which nearly outclasses other ships on the market today, is its variety of amenities for passengers. This ship offers the most comprehensive facilities of any ocean travel, truly making it a great travel choice for adults.
Princess Cruises brings you enrichment seminars and wine tasting tours, giving an even deeper experience. Their MedallionClass technology takes your entire experience one step further – it personalizes every element so that you can truly make the journey. You have plenty of options while travelling with Princess Cruise globally, with over 20 port cities in the world.
Couple’s Highlight: Princess has Private Balcony Dining – a multi-course meal served on your veranda under the stars. It’s one of the most romantic cruise lines for couples.
5. Azamara
Couples who are fond of undiscovered places will find that Azamara is ideal. Azamara’s ships are small, luxurious, and intimate; it simply doesn’t feel crowded. Couples can relax and enjoy their time together without having to be in a hurry. With Azamara limiting its ship capacity to about 700 guests, it’s easy to avoid crowds and find crew members (each ship has 1.7 staff members for every two guests).
While docked at various ports, shore excursions from Azamara voyages vary in levels of activity – museum visits, wine tasting, and walking tours. No matter what the duration of sea voyage you choose – from a shortest five-night voyage to a 155-night world journey – all ships are equipped with fitness centers, lounges, and performances of music as well as dance.
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Also on all four ships, you’ll find six quite different places to eat: from casual buffets to specialty restaurants like Aqualina and Prime C steakhouse. In addition to beverages and meals in the main dining room, Azamara cruise fares cover gratuities, room service, beer, wine and spirits, self-service laundry, and exclusive events.
Couple’s Highlight: Azamara is known for “AzAmazing Evenings” – cultural events arranged at night on shore (like an opera in Italy or a private samba show in Brazil). Good for couples who want to make a deeper connection with destinations.
6. Virgin Voyages
Virgin Voyages is an adults-only sea travel that is designed specifically for couples, turning their journey into an intimate and memorable getaway. According to the recent cruisers who have been on board, Virgin Voyages is like no other experience they have ever had before in their whole life.
It stands out with the ships’ superyacht-inspired atmosphere, upscale dining places, complimentary Wi-Fi, design-forward staterooms, and wellness activities. Also, note that Virgin ships come without the dreaded ship buffets.
Couples’ Highlight: Virgin provides the “Shake for Champagne” service. This fun feature involves being able to order Champagne by shaking your phone on their app. Whether you’re in a public area or your stateroom, the Champagne is delivered to you. A quirky, fun touch for couples who like modern romance.
U.S. News Insider Tip
Vegans and vegetarians will be impressed with the dining options on the ship, which include Impossible burgers in the Galley, vegan hot dogs in the Social Club and a range of nutrition-focused entrees offered throughout most Virgin dining venues. – Holly Johnson, Contributor
7. Silversea
Silversea is well known for its suite-level ships. This can give the two of you an ultra-luxe holiday experience! Its eight small luxury ocean liners plus four expedition ships allow between 100 and 728 guests to board each one at once.
These small-scale vessels can sail to remote ports in more than 900 destinations across all seven continents. Voyages at sea on Silversea cruises generally range from 5 to 149. You can enjoy breathtaking ocean views as you sea voyage from your suite when you take the Silversea Voyage.
There are plenty of other amenities to help keep you occupied with all onboard games and activities – such as fitness centers and swimming pools, spa facilities that include massage or hair styling bars, and casinos for gaming action late into the night!
Couple’s Highlight: Each suite has a personal butler; this person can provide private dining, order a romantic bath, or even arrange your land tours. Certainly, it is great for couples who want to be pampered even more.
U.S. News Insider Tip
While passengers are primarily American, a smattering of international passengers ups the global glam factor. Guests may be affluent but they’re friendly and eager to meet fellow travelers, often in lounges or at the poolside bar. – Janice Wald Henderson, Contributor
8. Holland America Line
Holland America offers a perfect balance of both adventure and romance, with small ships that carry onboard. Couples can enjoy the tranquil atmosphere while still experiencing ultimate luxury throughout their holiday.
Couples can relax and spend some quality time together, enjoying fine dining, live music, or intimate lounges. Thanks to its eleven ships, Holland America’s highly trained staff can provide a level of service that is the best around. It is an unparalleled luxury travel experience, boasting an ideal staff-to-guest ratio and the latest in amenities.
Hundreds of dishes are available at the specialty restaurants, while visitors also gets plenty of onboard entertainment. Plus, if you forget to bring your makeup items or are looking to buy souvenirs, you can stop by The Shops of Holland America and shop your heart away.
Couple’s Highlight: Holland America is known for its live music venues (from jazz clubs to piano bars), making it perfect for couples who love a more traditional, classy evening out at sea.
U.S. News Insider Tip
Booking non-repeating, back-to-back Collectors’ Voyages is a great way to see more than one area of a region and visit several countries on one cruise. – Jill Schildhouse, Contributor
9. Oceania Cruises
With intimate, mid-sized ships, Oceania is perfect for couples who just want to get away from it all. Oceania, in contrast to mainstream cruise lines with their big ships, is among the best cruises for couples or adults who want less of the crowd. This cruise line features luxury suites – all with their own private balconies.
Couples can enjoy a quiet breakfast on their balcony or watch the sunset from there in comfort. But apart from its size, Oceania goes one step further with exceptional cooking and therefore visitors loves it. If you and your partner are a keen foodie who needs a sea travel, this may be your next romantic interlude.
As a point of difference, the upmarket cruise line partners with Jacques Pépin to generate menus for its many complimentary dining venues and includes Jacques, a French restaurant. However, their focus on gourmet dining features world-class chefs and a selection of specialty restaurants.
Couple’s Highlight: Oceania offers longer port stays than many other cruise lines, allowing couples to spend more meaningful time in destinations like Santorini or Kyoto.
Cruise Line Comparison for Couples
| Cruise Line | Ship Size | Style | Best For | Destinations | Unique Perk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Viking Ocean | 930–998 | Luxury, cultural | Couples seeking culture | Europe, Asia, Alaska | No-kids policy + verandas |
| Regent Seven Seas | 490–750 | Ultra-luxury | Stress-free indulgence | Worldwide | All-inclusive, airfare included |
| Seabourn | 458–600 | Luxury & intimacy | Classic romance | Global | Surprise Champagne & caviar |
| Celebrity Cruises | 48–3,260 | Modern luxury | Foodie couples | Worldwide | Infinite Veranda rooms |
| Princess Cruises | 2,000–3,660 | Mainstream luxury | Anniversary & honeymoons | Global | Private balcony dining |
| Azamara | ~700 | Boutique luxury | Explorers & culture lovers | Europe, Asia, the Americas | AzAmazing Evenings |
| Virgin Voyages | ~2,770 | Trendy, adults-only | Young & modern couples | Caribbean, Med | Shake for Champagne |
| Silversea | 100–728 | Ultra-luxury | Expedition romance | Global, incl. Antarctica | Personal butler |
| Holland America | 1,432–2,666 | Classic luxury | Music & tradition lovers | Global | World-class live music |
| Oceania Cruises | 670–1,250 | Culinary luxury | Food & wine couples | Europe, Asia, the Americas | Menus by Jacques Pépin |
FAQs
The cruises like Regent Seven Seas, Seabourn, and Silversea are right now the most couple-friendly ones with their small fleets, personal butler service, and a luxurious all-inclusive feel.
Virgin Voyages and Viking Ocean Cruises are adults-only in this category. These sea voyages are ideal for couples who want a quiet, kid-free environment as they both focus on romance, modern luxury, and personalized service.
Yes. One of the top honeymoon choices is to sea voyage, as newlyweds can combine all-inclusive luxury with fascinating destinations in such voyages. The ocean travel like Princess (famous for its ‘’Love Boat’’ history) and Celebrity Cruises offer packages specifically created for newlyweds.
A romantic sea voyage typically costs you between $3,000 and $8,000 per couple for one week, depending on the sea travel, suite type, and destination. Luxury lines such as Regent or Silversea may charge extra but include airfare, dining, excursions, and premium drinks.
Oceania Cruises is famous for its gourmet dining, which comes courtesy of menus created by world-renowned chef Jacques Pépin. Celebrity Cruises also has partnerships with Michelin-starred chefs and even hosts culinary workshops for food-loving couples.
Popular destinations include the Mediterranean (Santorini, Venice, Barcelona), the Caribbean (St. Lucia and Barbados), and Alaska. If you are an adventure game, couples can also consider Arctic expeditions with Seabourn or Silversea.
Conclusion
Determining the best sea travel for couples in 2025 will very much depend on your shared personality and travel style.
- Do you both love luxury and pampering? Then Regent, Seabourn, and Silversea are the names to know.
- Prefer modern, lively vibes? Virgin Voyages and Celebrity offer a very contemporary romance.
- Want culture and venues at your fingertips? Deliver authenticity with every step, Viking, Azamara, Oceania.
- Looking for a classic romance rich in heritage that is unrivaled? Princess and Holland America both offer timeless experiences.
No matter which you pick, these cruise lines exist to create special moments. Whether it is dinner by candlelight on your balcony or a leisurely wander hand in hand down hidden European streets, the sea is an unmatched stage for romantic interludes.
In 2025, with cruises that are more innovative and couple-oriented than ever, there has never been a better time to embark on a journey of love, discovery, and memories that will last a lifetime.
