A Guide To Special Occasion Cruise Planning

Be sure to plan ahead for a few memorable dinners for two. Utopia of the Seas℠ features a variety of fabulous restaurants that are perfect for celebrating unforgettable moments together. If you're up for the formal dress code, Chef's Table serves five-course tasting menus with wine pairings for each course. Dishes are made with decadent ingredients like filet mignon, truffles and lobster. Another night, consider Giovanni's Italian Kitchen, where you start your meal with garlic knots followed by a shareable charcuterie tray or spicy stromboli. Then, you have a tough choice between Italian classics — osso buco (veal shank braised in white wine), chicken Parmesan, steak in marsala sauce or linguine with clam sauce. 

Whatever you choose, be sure to save room for the tiramisu! For classic favorites that are included in your cruise fare, try the main dining room — picture crab cakes, French onion soup, prime rib and herb-crusted salmon. For one of the best birthday cruise ideas ever, in my opinion, you can order ahead to have a special chocolate or vanilla birthday or anniversary cake delivered to your table — complete with candles, singing waiters and your name written in icing.

End your day with a nightcap at one of 23 bars on Utopia of the Seas℠. From a wine bar to a cover band bar and everything in between, you're sure to find an option the two of you will love. If you like to dance, spend some time at Boleros Lounge, a Latin hot spot with a live band and plenty of opportunities to salsa, merengue or samba with breaks to clink glasses full of tart lime daiquiri.

One more tip: consider treating your loved one with a romance package. It's one of my favorite birthday and anniversary cruise ideas, and it's easy to order the package in My Royal Cruise once you've booked your cruise. Surprise them with flowers, champagne and chocolate-dipped strawberries at turn down. Book a stateroom with a veranda and you can savor some wine together on your balcony as you toast to another year.

A bachelorette party may want to start the day with manicures and pedicures in the spa before booking a couple of private poolside cabanas. In the evening, head back to the spa for blowouts and then dine at a teppanyaki table in Izumi Hibachi & Sushi — one of the most interactive and memorable bachelorette cruise ideas for dinner — followed by an evening of belting out Taylor Swift's top hits at Spotlight Karaoke.

Whether you're celebrating a "Disco Cowgirl" bachelorette or a "Last Rodeo" bachelor weekend, your festivities should include dinner at Royal Railway - Utopia Station, the new American West train-themed "dinner theater" on board Utopia of the Seas. It's a fully immersive experience — you'll even be asked to wear Western attire like cowboy hats and boots. At Royal Railway - Utopia Station, the evening starts with cocktails before you choose from a menu full of crowd-pleasing dishes like corn chowder, short ribs and roasted chicken — something for every member of your squad. Just be aware that their largest tables seat four guests, so depending on the size of your group, you may have to split up.