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As a guest on the Crown Princess two weeks ago, I discovered many fantastic pluses about cruising. First, it’s so easy…it’s like an all-inclusive at sea where once you’re onboard, you really don’t have to worry about anything—it’s all taken care of for you. Of course, there are extra things you’ll need to pay for such as spa treatments, drinks and excursions on shore, so make sure you’re fully aware of what’s covered and what’s not. The crew and staff were incredibly helpful and friendly. They didn’t hesitate to ask if we needed assistance especially during one of the many times we stood there looking dazed and confused trying to find a particular restaurant or lounge area (we got better by the end of the week!). The attention and special treatment was addictive and definitely one of the highlights of the cruise. And, as honeymooners, you’ll love so many of the amenities offered like a private dinner for two on your stateroom balcony (five courses with wine or champagne), Movies Under the Stars, the adults-only pool and The Sanctuary, couples’ massages and so much more. For additional information about Princess Cruises, visit their website at princess.com or call 1-800-PRINCESS.

I also loved the stops at the different islands we visited along the way such as Grand Cayman; Roatan, Honduras; Cozumel, Mexico and Princess Cay in the Bahamas. How else can you experience the beauty and diversity of each island in just one week? Also, take advantage of shore excursions. We signed up for the Sting Ray swim in Grand Cayman and the Dolphin swim in Cozumel…both are well worth it! Others we spoke to also enjoyed their excursions—from touring Maya ruins in Mexico to snorkeling, scuba diving, fishing and a myriad of other activities.

To find these lovely dresses, go to aimee.it, verawang.com, nicolemiller.com.

Posted by Naima at 12:41 p.m.

Well, after a whirlwind week of sailing on the Crown Princess in the Caribbean, I am back at my desk hard at work on our next issue but still dreaming of the wonderful time I had on this fantastic cruise. In fact, at this time last week, I was strolling on the lush island of Roatan in the Honduras…it sure beats strolling in the freezing rain we’re having here in NYC today.

So, if you read my last blog, you know that I was a guest of Princess Cruises to experience their first-ever “Romance Summit” to coincide with their Valentine’s week cruise from February 13th to 20th. This summit was created to not only celebrate the many aspects of cruising but to also offer passengers some insight on how to incorporate romance into their lives each and every day. In fact, did you know that Princess Cruises was the first to have an onboard wedding back in 1998? Today, there are wedding chapels on all Princess Cruises ships with about 1,000 weddings taking place each year. As I mentioned in my previous blog, along with the vow renewal on this cruise, there were five couples on board that tied the knot. Plus, Princess Cruises was the inspiration for the 1970s hit TV show “The Love Boat.” So fitting!

To see more purses go to sondraroberts.com. For information on the dress visit christosbridal.com.

Posted by Naima at 4:58 p.m.

Imagine tying the knot in one of New York City’s most famous and historic churches! We just heard that Riverside Church in Manhattan will be holding a raffle during its annual Wedding Open House, in which one lucky couple will win a FREE wedding ceremony beneath the Church’s soaring arches. Here’s the scoop:

WEDDING OPEN HOUSE
RIVERSIDE CHURCH
490 RIVERSIDE DRIVE, BETWEEN 120TH & 122ND STREETS
SATURDAY, MARCH 6, FROM NOON TO 2 P.M.

At the Open House, you will also have a chance to meet Angela Gregory, onsite wedding coordinator, and tour the Church’s chapels and reception spaces, sample wedding cake and join in a champagne toast.

(FYI, the Budget Guru lives in the neighborhood and has attended many events at Riverside Church—it is a truly special place!)

Posted by Susan at 10:40 a.m.

Although one could say I’m in the romance biz, I’m not all that much of a romantic. I’m not one to blush at the presentation of roses and I don’t get all giggly for candlelit and champagne dinners. And I certainly don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day, but when I heard about this new program by Seven Stars, Turks and Caicos, I found myself getting all mushy and gushy.

In addition to amazing, individualized service and memories to last a lifetime, honeymooners can get a special souvenir—a star named after you. How cool is that?! Here are the deets: Stay in any of the 120 ocean-view suites and let your personal concierge (side note: all the rooms come equipped with them) know you are blissfully enjoying your honeymoon. Then once you return home, you’ll receive a parchment certificate with the telescopic coordinates of your own special star.

Although I’m thinking about going to the Seven Stars just so I can get my own celestial being, gifting names in honor of honeymooners isn’t entirely new. The uber posh Le Meridien, Bora Bora offers sea turtle naming opportunities at their onsite sanctuary. Ditto for their property in Cancun. And at any of the US Federal Forests, you can have a tree named in your honor with a small donation.

It all sounds so romantic to me; I guess a zebra can change its stripes…

Visit cnd.com, essie.com, opi.com and nailtini.com for more information.

Posted by Maureen at 10:19 a.m.

Find out more about these dresses:
oscardelarenta.com
priscillaofboston.com
jennypackham.com

Posted by Naima at 10:58 a.m.

Hello all! As you read this I am sitting in the Internet Cafe on board the Crown Princess, one of Princess Cruises' magnificent ships, just off Roatan, Honduras, a lush, green beautiful and peaceful island. Yes, part of my job is to explore fantastic opportunities for you, including where to marry and honeymoon.

This is day four of Princess Cruises' first ever "Romantic Summit" cruise, perfectly timed to coincide with Valentine's Day this past Sunday. So far it's been a whirlwind of activity. There is so much to see and do on this floating city, which has everything you could possibly want including fabulous restaurants, pubs, lounges, a casino, state-of-the art Lotus Spa, outdoor movies, indoor theater, entertainment galore, fun classes, pools (including an adults-only pool) health club and so much more!

Yesterday we were in Grand Cayman where I ventured out in a catamaran to swim with stingrays! (Thanks, Barry [BG's President and my boss] for recommending this...it was incredible.) Yes, I was definitely a bit nervous at first but these gorgeous creatures were gentle, graceful and friendly. Our guides helped put us at ease as they led the way into the sea and instructed us on what to do and where to pet the stingrays. Tomorrow we will be in Cozumel and I plan to continue my aquatic adventures and swim with dolphins...something I always dreamed of doing. Then we sail for a day and on Friday, we'll anchor in Princess Cays, Bahamas.

Recently, the Budget Guru was in contact with cake tailor Lauri DiTunno, of Cake Alchemy here in New York. (We featured Lauri’s supercreative confections in our 2010 Wedding Trends story.) True to form, the BG asked Lauri for a couple of quickie cost-cutting tips, and she whipped these right up: