Couples planning their honeymoon have a vast array of options at their fingertips when it comes to deciding where you want to honeymoon and whether you want a land-only getaway or land-and-cruise vacation. (See the Travel Romance links at the bottom to help with your decision-making.)
For most honeymooners traveling outside the United States, the Caribbean and Mexico are top choices that provide convenience as well as that lifelong dreaminess factor. (We'll cover Mexico resorts next week.)
Here are 9 honeymoon resorts in the Caribbean that couples are sure to love, along with several packages that should appeal to newlyweds.
Sandals Barbados
St. Lawrence Gap, Barbados
Don’t let the fab new Sandals Ochi (in Ocho Rios, Jamaica) make you forget about the company’s second newest resort, Sandals Barbados. As is typical of the Stewart clan, when they took over the former Couples property they rejected the “refurbishment” option, instead putting $65 million into a radical transformation of the property.
The result is a 280-room resort in Barbados in which every room and suite has mahogany four-poster beds, handmade rugs, flat-screen TVs, brand-new bathrooms, and coffee-makers with Blue Mountain coffee (of course). Of the three accommodations groupings, the Caribbean Village has the most affordable units, the Crystal Lagoon includes rooms whose patios have soaking tubs (some rooms also offer concierge service and private access to the Crystal Lagoon pool), and the premium Ocean Village suites have plenty of space and other amenities, not to mention location, location, location.
The 11 restaurants include Sandals’ first-ever Bombay Club, Butch’s Steakhouse, The Merry Monkey Pub, Kimono’s and other establishments under the oversight of Emmy Award-winning chef Walter Staib. There’s a Red Lane Spa and fitness center, daily fitness classes, water sports, live entertainment and optional Island Routes excursions. The European pool even has cabanas with elegant chandeliers, baroque-style sofa and outlets.
Prices start at $422 per couple per night and may vary depending on desired dates.
Note: Sandals is opening a second resort in Barbados, in case your honeymoon falls during the holidays or next year.
Cruise ships that call on Barbados: Silver Cloud, Seven Seas Navigator, Seabourn Spirit, Celebrity Summit, Crystal Serenity, Royal Princess, Queen Mary 2, Wind Star, SeaDream I, Star Clipper, Royal Clipper, Brilliance of the Seas, Norwegian Spirit, MSC Musica, MSC Orchestra and five ships from Carnival
For more info: See our Barbados travel guide. See photos of the venue.
Zemi Beach House Hotel & Spa
Shoal Bay Village, Anguilla
Anguilla is made for honeymooners who want to get away from it all, and Zemi Beach House Hotel & Spa — nestled on six oceanfront acres on the island's tranquil Shoal Bay East — blends modern luxury with experiences anchored in the rich island tradition. A recent addition to Anguilla’s luxury hotel scene, Zemi Beach has the usual assortment of water sports pastimes, rum tastings, private dinners on the beach, a tennis court, free Wi-Fi — plus a wellness center inspired by the healing traditions of the ancient Taino people who originally inhabited these islands.
While plenty of Caribbean spas offer touches of the Far East, Zemi Beach tops that by having a 300-year-old wooden Thai house as the centerpiece of its spa. You'll find private spa suites, a yoga deck, treatment rooms, relaxation areas with beautiful views, a fresh juice bar and a wellness boutique. Zemi Thai House Spa’s garden, an Eden of serenity, can also accommodate wedding ceremonies and celebratory dinners for up to 50 people. And the Thai House Spa deck, which offers views of the water, is ideal for a cocktail reception, if you still have your wedding party in tow.
Much smaller than the other resorts listed here, the 54-room Zemi has beautifully accented, fair-size accommodations, including two- and three-bedroom suites at 535 to 600 square feet, with rates starting at about $430 per night, including tax. A 700-square-foot Luxury Ocean View King starts at $740.
Cruise ships that call on Anguilla: Seabourn Spirit, SeaDream II, Star Clipper and several others
For more info: See our Anguilla travel guide. See photos of the venue.
La Toubana Hotel & Spa
Grande-Terre, Guadeloupe
A member of Des Hotels & Des Iles, which includes chic hideaways like Le Tom Beach in St. Barts, La Toubana serves as a reminder that nobody does romance like the French. Located on the protected south coast of Grande-Terre, the eastern half of the Guadeloupe butterfly, La Toubana lies atop a bluff near Sainte-Anne, with its friendly public beach and Afro-French eateries and boutiques. Farther east lie the restaurants and bars of yachtie haven Sainte-Francois, and to the west, the clubs of Le Gosier (the Beguine began here) and the romantic restaurant of Hotel Auberge de La Vieille Tour.
The other islands beckon, too: Basse-Terre, with its lofty vistas, waterfalls, marine preserve, Cacao Museum (because what could be sexier than chocolate?), and prize-winning rum distilleries; Marie-Galante, which offers yet more first-rate rum tastings; and Terre-de-Haut, whose French cafes and village look like some Brittany in the tropics. And that’s just for starters.
Still, it’s hard to leave the hotel grounds, where 32 bungalow spacious rooms and suites offer a sense of privacy, elegantly simple decor (some with vaulted ceilings), Wi-Fi and air conditioning, as well as kitchenettes or kitchens. The spa is as sophisticated as a spa in Paris. A path leads down to a private beach, replete with beach bar/restaurant. And that large infinity pool! By day the illusion of blending with the sea below is perfect; by night sexy purple lighting gives that pool, reached by a walkway over purple-lit fish tanks, the vibe of a worldly dinner club. The poolside bartenders serve with a smile all day and well into the evening, and meals — especially dinners — are all about savoring and lingering. Children are welcome, although you don’t see many of them here.
The price is right: from $227 a night, breakfast included. Receive 10 percent off for winter stays.
Cruise ships that call on Guadeloupe: Silver Explorer, Seabourn Odyssey, Oceania's Insignia and Riviera, Tere Moana, Crystal Serenity,Prinsendam, MSC Musica, MSC Orchestra, Star Clipper and three Costa ships
For more info: See our Guadeloupe travel guide. See photos of the venue.
Sanctuary Cap Cana by AlSol
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
AlSol Hotels & Resorts recently upgraded Sanctuary Cap Cana in Punta Cana, the Dominican Republic, and turned the resort into an adults-only sanctuary. During our recent stay there, it seemed that half the couples I talked with were honeymooners, which makes sense, given the Zorro-era romance of the place, from its Spanish Colonial section to the Castle, which, unlike most latter-day fortresses, looks like the real thing. The 184 rooms are romantic, too, with 14 distinct categories, including junior suites, duplexes, swim-out suites, villas and more.
Upscale touches abound, with all of the 176 suites and villas offering silk robes, Wi-Fi, double sinks, espresso machines, a minibar that’s refreshed daily and 24-hour room service. Put it all together, and you feel like a lord or lady, albeit a modern one.
Sanctuary has five swimming pools (one is saltwater), five restaurants (four are a la carte) with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, four bars/lounges, a fitness center and spa, daily activities and nighttime entertainment (including a piano bar and a disco), boat rentals and a kids’ camp that will keep children away from honeymooners. If you're a duffer, you can play golf at two of the best courses in the Western Hemisphere: two Jack Nicklaus layouts, including the legendary Punta Espada.
Where should honeymooners stay? Each Honeymoon Suite (from about $702 per night) comes with a good-size private pool, two-story Castle One Bedroom Suites with sky-high ceilings and a roomy 1,850 square feet.
Other options: The Island Suites are tempting (from $567, all-inclusive); just one caveat: The little islands have no beaches. The Romantic Paradise package offers rates at Beachfront Junior Suites starting at $450 (750 square feet) and the largerOcean Villas start at $567. The Junior Swim-out Suite in the Castle, my favorite building, starts at about $625 a night. The package has a four-night minimum and a 40 percent discount on rooms. It also includes round-trip transfers, a private dinner, couples massage and breakfast in bed with mimosas.
Cruise ships that call on Punta Cana: Silver Muse, Silver Spirit, Silver Wind, Silver Whisper, Seabourn Odyssey, Seabourn Sojourn, Oceania's Insignia and Sirena, Celebrity Summit, Celebrity Equinox, Celebrity Silhouette, Holland America's Koningsdam and Veendam, Azamara Journey
For more info: See Cruiseable's Punta Cana travel guide. See photos of the venue.
Occidental Punta Cana
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Located near Playa Bávaro, one of the most spectacular beaches in the Dominican Republic, Occidental Punta Cana is what honeymooners imagine when they think of a tropical paradise. Recently renovated, the all-inclusive 744-room resort has three outdoor swimming pools, 11 restaurants (seven à la carte), 10 bars and nightly entertainment.
World-class golf courses are nearby: White Sands (1.5 miles away) and Iberostar (3.6 miles). Water sports are big here: windsurfing, water polo, scuba diving and snorkeling. And when you unwind at night, you can enjoy satellite TV, premium bedding and spa robes and slippers in your smartly decorated room. You'll also find tennis courts, a steam room, fitness center and more.
Rates start at $195 per night. The resort's My Love Package includes an upgrade to the next room category, priority check-in and late check-out, petit fours and sparkling wine in the room and a continental breakfast with mimosas in bed. My Love is complimentary for couples who can document having just wed. The Sweet Love Package ($399) includes most of the above plus a bouquet of flowers, a fruit platter, nightly turn-down service, a private and candlelit dinner with sparking wine and a 25-minute couples massage.
Cruise ships that call on Punta Cana: Silver Muse, Silver Spirit, Silver Wind, Silver Whisper, Seabourn Odyssey, Seabourn Sojourn, Oceania's Insignia and Sirena, Celebrity Summit, Celebrity Equinox, Celebrity Silhouette, Holland America's Koningsdam and Veendam, Azamara Journey
For more info: See Cruiseable's Punta Cana travel guide. See photos of the venue.
Barceló Bávaro Beach
Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
Notice that Punta Cana has become a Caribbean hotspot lately? Barcelo Bavaro Grand Resort in this pretty stretch of the Dominican Republic consists of one of the largest all-inclusive complexes in the Caribbean and consists of two hotels: the family-friendly Barcelo Bavaro Palace and the more secluded, adults-only Barcelo Bavaro Beach — a better choice for honeymooners.
The property is located along more than a mile of pristine beachfront and is protected by a coral reef that ensures calm water for swimming. On the grounds you'll find four swimming pools, smaller thermal pools, hydrotherapy, a sauna and steam room. Other facilities at the resort include an 18-hole golf course, fitness center, professional soccer field, four tennis courts and a miniature golf course.
Room rates at Barcelo Bavaro Beach start at about $215, and an upgrade from a Superior Sundeck Ocean View (from about $260) lands a Superior Ocean Front Premium Level. Honeymooners can take advantage of the complimentary Love Package that includes priority check-in and late check-out, an in-room continental breakfast, in-room bubbly and petit fours and an upgrade to the next room category. Stepping up to Forever in Love package (just $169) you'll get all of the above plus dinner for two on the beach and a 25-minute couples massage.
Cruise ships that call on Punta Cana: Silver Muse, Silver Spirit, Silver Wind, Silver Whisper, Seabourn Odyssey, Seabourn Sojourn, Oceania's Insignia and Sirena, Celebrity Summit, Celebrity Equinox, Celebrity Silhouette, Holland America's Koningsdam and Veendam, Azamara Journey
For more info: See Cruiseable's Punta Cana travel guide. See photos of the venue.
Melia Braco Village
Rio Bueno, Trelawny, Jamaica
Melia Braco Village is nestled on the north coast of Jamaica between the cruise ports of Falmouth and Ocho Rios. Once you’ve discovered the private beaches of the all-inclusive resort, you’ll never want to say goodbye to the Caribbean. If the newlyweds have an active streak, they'll like heading to the Adventure Park, which features ziplining, rock climbing, trampolines and an obstacle course (a warm-up to marriage?).
Room rates start at $245 per night, or $1,700 per week. It's worth the upgrade to a 625-square-foot Romance Suite in The Level section, with its many perks; the nightly rate is $335, or $2,330 a week.
The new Bliss Honeymoon package ($70) includes a celebratory bottle of chilled sparkling wine, a tropical fruit display, turn down-service and a 10 percent discount on spa services. The Moon & Stars Honeymoon package ($350) includes all that plus a 45-minute couples massage, Jacuzzi or bathtub decor with flower petals and candles and a private and romantic dinner.
Dozens of cruise ships call on Falmouth and Ocho Rios.
For more info: See Cruiseable's Falmouth travel guide and Ocho Rios travel guide. See photos of the venue.
Jewel Paradise Cove
Runaway Bay, Jamaica
Choosing between the Jewel Dunn’s River Beach and Jewel Paradise Cove resorts in Jamaica, both of which are adults-only, is tricky. Jewel Dunn’s River Beach is a bargain for honeymooners on a tight budget, and room rates even include golf at Runaway Golf. Jewel Paradise Cove costs a few bucks more, but it offers terrific value: The level of luxury at this 225-room resort is a bit higher, and its Enhanced Activities program, which is included, features activities for which hotels normally charge considerably extra: golf, a sunset cruise, snorkeling trip, scuba diving, water skiing and a visit to Margaritaville.
Like the other two Jewel resorts, Paradise Cove offers seven restaurants ranging from a beach grill and a buffet to Italian, sushi, pan-Asian, white-glove continental, and pizza restaurants. Other features include six bars and lounges (including a romantic piano bar), entertainers and a nightclub, dive-in movies, water sports, tennis, a fitness center, daily fitness classes, a sauna, three pools, three whirlpools and (costing extra) a full-service spa.
Jewel Resorts gives honeymooners a complimentary photo shoot, and the $199 and $399 packages offer additional goodies (i.e. a couple’s massage). Room rates begin at $426 per night. The advantage of the Butler Service Junior Suites (from $684), in addition to the extra space and the personal concierge, is that room service is included, which can be a pretty handy thing for newlyweds.
Cruise ships that call on Jamaica: Celebrity Reflection, Regal Princess, Eurodam, Maasdam, Noordam, Star Flyer, Independence of the Seas, Liberty of the Seas, Freedom of the Seas, Costa Deliziosa, Costa Luminosa and eight ships from Carnival
For more info: See Cruiseable's Jamaica travel guide. See photos of the venue.
W Retreat & Spa
Vieques Island, Puerto Rico
Sophisticated honeymooners who want pristine nature but also crave urbane comforts and haute design love the W Retreat & Spa. A 20-minute flight from San Juan brings them to an island with undeveloped beaches lined by palm trees, the world’s brightest bioluminescent bay and even wild horses. The hotel fetches incoming guests from the airport to the check-in lounge, and there the fun begins. Or does it? Actually, it begins even before that with the Honeymoon Registry, one of the best in the universe of getting hitched.
Each of the W Retreat’s 156 rooms and suites has a private patio or balcony, W signature bed, multiple electronic necessities, Bliss bath amenities, and large, open bathrooms. Patricia Urquiola’s decor is itself a happy menage a trois, blending clean, contemporary lines with earth tones and Caribbean pastels.
The food and beverage service here includes beachfront Sorce, which offers refined Caribbean dishes prepared with organic ingredients and accompanied by a serious wine menu. The cafe serves first-rate coffee and pastries, the poolside bar offers small plates and lunches, and the Living Room is an outdoor lounge with billiards and board games, a firepit, Wi-Fi and irresistible cocktails. Complimentary recreational options include snorkeling, kayaking, tennis, yoga classes, the infinity pool, beach and fitness center. The Away Spa offers more than 30 treatments, and guests venture beyond the hotel to enjoy hiking, mountain biking, diving, horseback riding, and ecotours. Rates start at $339 per night.
Cruise ships that call directly on Vieques: SeaDream II. Dozens of others call on San Juan.
For more info: See our Puerto Rico travel guide. See photos of the venue.
Looking for a Caribbean resort?
Contact a Cruiseable travel advocate at 1-877-322-3773 to obtain extra amenities during your stay and for travel arrangements.
This information originally appeared at Recommend magazine, with additional reporting by Cruiseable.
