Behold the Frugal Cruiser

Have you seen The Frugal Cruiser?

You can find him toting a bottle of wine onboard to sip in his stateroom.

Enjoying free drinks at happy hour because he’s Loyal to Royal.

Using the casino only as a pass through.

Trekking around port instead of taking an excursion.

Using the medicine he brought from home, instead of from the ship’s shop.

Ordering the drink of the day, even though it’s not his first choice.

Saving on each specialty meal by buying a dining package.

Getting perfume at a shop in port, after pricing it out at home.

Booking his next cruise while he’s still onboard, saving money and getting onboard credit too!

And smiling all the way down the gangplank, with no big bar bill looming, no casino losses—and another cruise with onboard credit—right around the corner.

Shipboard Romance

As the holiday of hearts continues its annual onslaught, I’m reminded how cruising and love were meant for each other. And we’re reminded of this at every turn—from Royal Princess’ newsletter recruiting vow renewals to celebration packages for toasting your twosome.

And so, in the spirit of the holiday, I offer a few ways you can foster your shipboard romance:

Find a suite deal. Usually do an inside room or balcony? Make it a suite to make it special. 

Pronounce it to the crowd. At the Captain’s Welcome on a recent Princess trip, a fellow cruiser stole the show when he proposed to his girl in front of a few thousand guests and a round of applause.

Capture the mood. Ship photographers are eager to please, and will capture you and your lover at your best.

Stroll the deck in the dark. Everyone's inside at night, which leaves the outside decks just for you. It’s quiet, colorful and romantic. And no wonder so much of the "Love Boat" took place under the moonlight.

Consider an in-the-dark dip in the hot tub on Allure of the Seas

Make it sparkle. Buy a bauble to express your love—it doubles as a souvenir. Just a few of your choices: Bvlgari and Cartier on Harmony of the Seas; Tiffany's on Oasis of the Seas; and Effy on Royal Princess.

Wed or re-wed. Royal Caribbean, Princess and Carnival all have packages for doing weddings onboard. Princess also has some for engagements, honeymoons, vow renewals and anniversaries. Carnival will even help you get married on the beach.

 

Tie the knot that binds in the chapel on Freedom of the Seas

Make dining special. Get a table for two in the plush specialty restaurant 150 Central Park on the Oasis class ships or the stately Crown Grill of the Royal or Regal Princess for leisurely dining and attentive service.

Tables for two that are meant for you in Allure of the Seas' 150 Central Park 

Side-by-side massage. Take out your tensions together with a couples massage in Royal Caribbean’s Vitality Spa or Princess’ Sanctuary.

Room for wine and roses. From Royal Caribbean’s room décor packages to Carnival’s goodie baskets to Princess’ Norman Love’s chocolate gifts to Norwegian’s flower deliveries, you’ve got a slew of selections for filling your stateroom with love.

Norman Love sweets for your sweetie on Regal Princess

The one time to say “no.” Getting prodded to be on the marriage game show? Just say "no." Better to laugh at other couples sweating under the spotlight and scrutiny, and still  be in love on the morning after.

Musing's Top Tip: Visit us on Facebook and Instagram for more tips and quips, and musings about cruising!

Photos by Roger James Photography

Cruise Foodie Favorites

Let’s face it—one of the top pleasures of cruising is eating. While the food may not be the best, the ships certainly make up for it in quantity.
 
And as an unabashed foodie, I love the growing emphasis of cuisine on cruises. Here, for your culinary consideration, are some food experiences you can have onboard beyond the usual MDR/buffet/specialty restaurant dining:

Food as entertainment—While most of the mass market ships have these now, Holland America really takes the cake when it comes to cooking demos. Through their partnership with Food and Wine magazine, HAL’s got a great Culinary Arts program, which boasts an-easy-to-view kitchen setup for demos. And for an extra charge, you can sign up for a small-group cooking class, complete with a chance to get your hands and apron dirty.

 
There are also celebrity chefs and “Iron Chef” knockoffs. We went to one years ago, where senior crew members competed and their food was judged by a panel of cruisers. It was terrific fun and memorable.


Indonesian pastries on HAL's Noordam

Tea ceremony—HAL also hosts a “tea ceremony” on its ships. In reality, it’s not so much of a ceremony as a chance to savor high quality tea and coffee, and sample Indonesian pastries--all at no extra charge. 

Galley tours—When we started cruising, these were only available through word of mouth. Now, everyone’s doing them. I never tire of the opportunity to sneak a peek behind the curtain. (So, those French fries are frozen after all…) Some of the tours are slick, complete with pitches to buy their cookbook, food carving demos, chef meets-and-greets, and often offer some sampling along the way. 

Salmon spread in Alaska's Inside Passage

The big spread—Then there are the special events that feature the special foods. Alas, the days of midnight buffets are long gone (anyone remember Celebrity’s spectacular presentation?), but there are a few events still around. Some Celebrity ships put on a not-very-publicized but elaborate brunch, Princess does a very nice seafood buffet in Alaska where salmon is king, and Royal Caribbean’s Freedom of the Seas features sidewalk sampling on its Promenade.
 
While the food is the thing at these events, they also usually have photo-worthy ice sculptures, food carvings and such.
 
Room service—While we rarely use this service, it’s great that it exists. Knowing what room service costs at hotels, there’s just something neat about having food delivered to your doorstep—without the exorbitant fee that usually comes with it. One word of caution, however: some cruise lines are adding a fee for late-night room service. For example, Allure of the Seas charges $3.95 for orders between midnight and 5 a.m.

Dine with a chef—We haven’t done it, but the newest thing is the “Chef’s Table” experience. Royal Caribbean has it on a number of ships and so too does Princess and Carnival. For an additional fee, you can enjoy a freshly made dinner, usually with a lot of courses, which showcases the chef’s skills, in an intimate, small group setting. Sample cost: $85/person on Allure of the Seas for a meal paired with wine.

Know of any other foodie fests on the seas? Let us know!