I had always dreamed of visiting the beautiful island of Hawaii, so when it came to making plans for my honeymoon, I knew exactly where I wanted to go. Since we were looking for a holiday that would be extra special, we were drawn to the luxury of a transatlantic cruise, which we booked to coincide with our autumn wedding.
For our transatlantic cruise to Hawaii, we looked at several different departure points, but found that the most convenient would be to embark on our voyage from the bustling historical port of Southampton in England, cruises from Southampton are very popular in the UK. This meant that we didn’t have to bother with booking flights and going through the tedium of airport check-in at the start of our holiday. Instead we started our honeymoon in a leisurely way, spending the night before our departure in a gorgeous boutique hotel and enjoying a breakfast in bed before making our way to the port.
The cruise experience itself started as soon as we boarded the spectacular ship and were welcomed by the friendly crew. We’d booked a stateroom with a balcony, and were assigned a stateroom attendant, who explained that if we needed anything to make our stay more comfortable, simply to speak to him. This high level of customer service made us feel like truly valued guests on board the ship and was something we experienced with every member of crew that we came into contact with during our holiday. We felt that the staff were genuinely willing to go the extra mile which added to our overall enjoyment of the cruise.
After we set sail, we started to settle down to life on the waves. When we were researching the holiday, we came across some online tips from veteran cruisers, who suggested booking spa and beauty treatments and so on, as quickly as possible, since there are a limited number of appointments available. Luckily, we followed this advice, and were able to book massage sessions, though we did meet other couples who’d missed out and been disappointed. The range of entertainment available meant that whatever we felt like doing, there was something to appeal to our mood. On days when we were feeling energetic, we got involved in some lively activities such as salsa dance and aqua-aerobics, while on days when we felt like having winding down a little, we read books from the library, or sunbathed on deck. Another highlight of the holiday was dining – there was a selection of casual and formal eateries on board, all of which offered delicious meals cooked to perfection. From burgers and fries served at the snack bar, to elegantly served lobster in the evening, there really was a restaurant to suit every mood. Again, the staff were efficient and knowledgeable, helping us to select wines to match our chosen meals.
For anyone looking to mark a special event in their lives, a transatlantic cruise to Hawaii is an excellent choice which we would fully recommend. The combination of a luxurious setting, with superior quality customer service adds up to a holiday of a lifetime!