Photo: Courtesy of Ritz-Carlton Fort Lauderdale
January kicks off "wave season," when the cruise industry starts offering awesome deals to fill up those cabins on Caribbean itineraries. (Hey, it's 29 degrees outside in NYC today—you don't have to convince me.) So honeymooners looking to book a last-minute trip this winter have a shot of scoring a great price through March.
Many honeymoon-friendly cruise lines, such as Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Princess, and Silversea kick off their Eastern or Western Caribbean cruises in Fort Lauderdale. It's smart to stay a night or two pre-cruise there since a) you'll get a jump start on your tan, and b) in case of any flight delays or lost baggage, you'll have wiggle room. (Flying and boarding the ship on the same day is a big no-no.)
Photo: Courtesy of Ritz-Carlton Fort Lauderdale
Where to stay? The 24-story Ritz-Carlton, Fort Lauderdale, is by far the most luxurious spot, offering 196 sumptuous Deco-inspired rooms, all with marble bathrooms, lime wood floors, and sweeping views of either the Atlantic or the mansion-lined intracoastal waterways. Don't miss the 5,000 bottle Wine Room, tucked off of the lobby—the list of top-notch Napa Valley cabs (Caymus, Chateau Montelena, Rubicon Estate) is incredible. And if you're in town over a full moon, hit up the 7th floor pool deck, where you'll find a DJ, tarot card readers, and fancy $10 cocktails, like the watermelon no'jito—Myer's white rum, sparkling water, watermelon, and fresh lime. To make life easy on yourselves, book the "Bon Voyage" package, which includes overnight accommodations, American breakfast for two, transportation to/from the airport, and transportation to/from the nearby Port Everglades cruise terminal. From $425.
—Jacqueline Gifford
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