AAA Travel Agents Talk Cruises for Couples

By AAA Travel Editor Sherry Mims

Planning a romantic cruise can come with anticipation … and maybe a little stress when it comes to the finer details. Sure, there are tips and inspiration to be found, but how do you know whether you’re getting the best travel information? Whether a first-time cruiser or travel pro, it’s always a good idea to consult with someone trustworthy who’s “been there, done that.” And luckily, we’ve talked with some AAA Travel Agents to get expert advice on their favorite cruise ships and cruises for couples.

Why AAA? As one of North America’s largest leisure travel agencies (and most trusted, according to Morning Consult in 2022), you can feel confident in both its longevity — serving members since 1902 — and network of more than 1,000 offices and 3,000 agents. They have the insider knowledge to help make your romantic getaway come true quickly and conveniently.

If you’re asking, “Should I use a travel agent to book a cruise?” Well, that’s a personal decision, but let’s just say they’ll save you the mental load on trip planning and offer many benefits. Follow along to get a heads-up on some great trips for couples — ranging from ocean voyages (Celebrity Cruises, Royal Caribbean and Princess Cruises) to river cruises with AmaWaterways and Viking.

So let the anticipation of a cruise vacation begin! Create memories on some top-notch cruises for couples recommended by these experts; it's time to embark upon an incredible journey together!

1. Celebrity for Romantic Cruises

Not one but three AAA Travel Agents recommended Celebrity Cruises for adults. One recommends the Celebrity Reflection while two suggest Celebrity Summit.

Celebrity Reflection

• Recommended for: Adults
• Who: Jennifer MacPherson, at AAA Northeast, spent seven nights in the Caribbean in December.
• Experience: Travel industry experience on and off for more than 30 years
• AAA Difference: “I have taken several cruises with many different cruise lines. These first-hand experiences provide knowledge and insider tips to aid my clients to have their own seamless experiences.”

Calling the Celebrity ship “overall outstanding,” Jennifer MacPherson recommends the Reflection for adults, be they singles or couples.

This was MacPherson’s first trip with Celebrity, and everything from cabin size (“spacious”) to food made an impression on the self-described cruise enthusiast. “Service was top notch, and food quality was far better than some other cruise lines,” she says. Another plus for her was the beautiful, adults-only solarium.

Celebrity Summit, Take One

• Recommended: Best for couples wanting a luxury escape
• Who: Ashley LaPier, AAA East Central, traveled in April 2022 with her husband on a three-night, four-day cruise with stops at Nassau, Bahamas, and Key West, Florida.
• Experience: Nine cruises with four different cruises lines and one river cruise
• AAA Difference: “When my clients book Celebrity, it ends up being a win-win scenario for us both because the guest is going to leave the cruise with a huge smile from ear to ear, and I will end up hearing from their friends to book them on the next ship out.”

Originally from Annapolis, Md., the sailing capital of America, Ashley LaPier enjoys being on the water and talking about cruising, and she says it’s apparent to her that Celebrity’s crew tries to provide a VIP-level experience for their guests. “Everything from the welcoming staff, warm and sophisticated cabin design, artisan food and creative cocktails can be described as a comfortable luxury compared to a coastal chic beach retreat.”

She adds, “People should know that although the cruise length is short, it is the perfect duration to celebrate a milestone and/or a quick winter escape. Additionally, Celebrity has several price points to consider when booking your package, some go as far as to make it an all-inclusive experience including beverages, Wi-Fi and prepaid gratuities allowing guests to save up to 45%, where others will just offer the lowest rate without any perks.”

Celebrity Summit, Take Two

• Recommended: Adults
• Who: Donna J. Wellworth, AAA Hudson Valley, cruised in June 2022 for seven nights from Cape Liberty, N.J., to Bermuda.
• Experience: CLIA Master Cruise Counselor who has sailed over 15 cruises on multiple cruise lines
• AAA Difference: “AAA Travel Agents are a great source of knowledge for the details like the easiest way to get to port, what documents you need to board the ship and [where to find] that tavern in the middle of the island you have to try.”

Donna Wellworth says she enjoyed her peaceful sailing before getting to know Bermuda. “The Celebrity Summit docks at the port of Bermuda for two nights, so you can explore the island at your leisure,” she says, adding the island has a lot to offer “from history and landmarks to adventures like swimming with the dolphins and glass-bottom boat cruises in the Bermuda Triangle.”

2. AmaWaterways and Viking River Cruises for Couples Cruises

AmaCerto by AmaWaterways

• Recommended: Couples and adults who are looking to immerse themselves into the culture
• Who: Aubrey Santillo, AAA East Central, sailed eight days in early August on the Danube with the Blue Danube Discovery itinerary from Budapest, Hungary, to Nuremberg, Germany.
• Experience: Travel advisor for seven years who has experienced many different cruises from Mediterranean to Caribbean, river cruises and more
• AAA Difference: “Experience with destinations and different products helps travelers with ease of mind. As an advisor, I am constantly trying to expand my horizons when it comes to travel so that I can better explain and assist my clients.”

As someone who enjoys taking in new sights and cultures, Aubrey Santillo says the trip on the Danube’s a personal favorite, and AmaWaterways will make you feel like royalty. Offering many tours daily – paced easy to strenuous – the cruise caters to “all ages and activity levels.”

In her experience, they became familiar with preferences each and every day. She says, “Even in situations where the water levels were low, they communicated the action plan quickly to everyone and made the accommodations and switch of ships so simple.”

AmaStella by AmaWaterways

• Recommended: Singles, couples with older children and multigenerational families
• Who: Lynne Schmidt, AAA Hudson Valley, took the “Captivating Rhine” cruise from Amsterdam to Basel.
• Experience: Travel agent for more than 35 years
• AAA Difference: “AmaWaterways is a AAA-preferred river cruise, which means by booking with AAA you receive the member benefits that you would not otherwise get. You also get the expertise of booking with an agent who has first-hand knowledge and experience.”

Though Lynne Schmidt previously sailed on the Danube with AmaWaterways, she cites her August 2019 cruise from Amsterdam to Basel as a recent favorite, as some of the most spectacular castles can be viewed along the Rhine River. She suggests the ship for anyone preferring an upscale river cruise. “Adventures by Disney uses them for their family river cruises; they are one of the few lines that offer adjoining cabins and family-friendly onboard activities and on-shore excursions.

“The ship has many amenities that you don’t normally have on riverboats, such as a spa, fitness center, pool with swim-up bar and the use of bicycles," she adds. "They also have many onboard activities, such as lectures, musical performances (some by local acts), cooking demos and their wellness program, [which includes] exercise classes and healthy [dining options].”

What she finds unique about AmaWaterways, however, is the Chef’s Table. Though you can dine in the main dining room, she suggests watching chefs create delicious courses with wine pairings.

Viking Tor

• Recommended: Couples. Note: Only ages 18 and older are permitted on Viking River Cruises.
• Who: Robert Negrete III, Auto Club of Southern California, traveled the Danube, Budapest, Hungary, to Regensburg, Germany, in May 2022.
• Experience: Auto Club of Southern California for 17 years and a travel advisor for the last seven years, who’s had the unique opportunity to visit multiple countries by land tour and cruises, ranging from Mexico with Carnival Cruise line and with Marriott to Fiji, to the Caribbean with Celebrity Cruise line (Bahamas) and with Sandals to Jamaica. He’s been to Ireland with Brendan Vacations and to Italy with Trafalgar, on the Rhine River with AmaWaterways (Switzerland, Germany, France and Netherlands) and most recently the Danube with Viking Cruise Line.
• AAA Difference: “As a travel advisor who has survived the Pandemic, I have handled tricky situations with hotels and airline packages, and it has given me insight and experience navigating the best ways to assist people with travel. … Having a travel advisor is like a personal concierge service. When I see above-and-beyond service from a cruise line in the way my family and I were treated like royalty that reminds me why I do what I do. And [it’s] inspired me in ways to improve with my own work ethic. When you have someone advocating for you and your family and providing options or solving issues that may arise, there is no doubt in the value of coming to a travel advisor again year after year to plan your next adventure.”

Robert Negrete III speaks warmly about the care and attention to detail taken by Viking on his trip, including the buffet breakfast and overall meal service as well as lectures and excursion details over high tea and sandwiches at no extra charge. Entertainment ranged from live performances from a pianist to events hosted by the cruise director and a cooking demonstration featuring the head chef. According to Negrete, they were surprised to have the ship’s captain join during an excursion to a local winery. “It felt like an intimate experience as there were only 90 people at the time we traveled.” He says there are no more than 190 guests at maximum capacity.

He traveled two nights before boarding the cruise and stayed at The Ritz-Carlton Budapest, which he highly recommends. Despite issues on the day of embarkation that included getting from the hotel to the pier, he says, “Viking was on the phone with us guiding our taxi driver in the local language about how to find the ship. When the local taxi dropped us off near by the pier Viking Tor, Viking porters were there helping us with our luggage and immediately made us feel welcomed, safe and at home. We were given a welcome drink and lunch upon embarkation, which also helped to calm our nerves after the experience. And at the end of our journey, the very early transfers were accompanied by a light breakfast and a packaged sandwich to take with us.”

3. Princess Cruises and Royal Caribbean: Cruises for Couples and Families

Discovery Princess

• Recommended: Families and couples; the ship has adult-only areas.
• Who: Susan Cupp, The Auto Club Group, last took a cruise to Alaska for seven nights; she prefers to cruise in the spring and fall.
• Experience: This AAA Travel Agent is an avid cruiser who’s traveled to many parts of the world on cruises.
• AAA Difference: “We will always have your back and take care of all of your needs without taking time out of your day to do the work. We also have a relationship with the cruise lines and can go to bat for our clients if needs arise. Plus, we add in perks on most sailings.”

Princess Cruises is one of Susan Cupp's favorites for its all-inclusive packaging. (She also likes Celebrity Cruises for this reason and notes Celebrity Edge or the Edge-class series, i.e.: Apex, Beyond, Ascent, also are great for a couples cruise.)

Regarding her experience on Princess: “On my last cruise which was on the Discovery Princess, I absolutely loved the Medallion feature they use. You can wear it in jewelry i.e.: necklace or bracelet. This is actually like a tracker. When you get to your room, the door automatically unlocks. You can order a drink on the Medallion app on your phone anywhere you are on the ship and they will deliver it to you,” she says. “Every staff member knows your name because your photo and name appear on their screen as soon as you walk up to them. They greet you using your name.”

Emerald Princess

• Recommended: Families and couples looking for a quality, mid-priced experience
• Who: Nikki Schuller, AAA East Central, took a 14-night Circle Caribbean Cruise in April 2022.
• Experience: Worked on Holland America Line ships as a youth counselor before coming to AAA
• AAA Difference: “I traveled to 43 countries during my time with the cruise line and find that personal travel experience really valuable as an advisor when planning a variety of trips.”

Nikki Schuller cites how the crew made everyone feel welcome and at home. Should you go, expect high-quality food and an array of activities throughout the day, including game shows, trivia and entertaining experiences.

Additionally, she recommends knowing about the MedallionClass technology onboard and then completing key steps before arriving at the pier in order to create a seamless curb-to-ship process. “We were happy we took the time to use the MedallionClass app to complete all steps before arriving to the pier in Fort Lauderdale,” Schuller says. “It also comes in handy throughout your time on the ship.”

Oasis of the Seas by Royal Caribbean

• Recommended: Families and Couples
• Who: Marie Kwash, AAA Northeast, sailed in February 2022 to St. Thomas, St. Maarten and Royal Caribbean’s private island, Perfect Day at CocoCay.
• Experience: 15 cruises and has sailed every cruise line.
• AAA Difference: “The benefit of working with a travel agent is there are so many choices when it comes to cruising. We can help you make the right choice for you.”

Marie Kwash regards the Oasis as an amazing ship, especially if a member is looking for adventurous things to do like zip lining, rock climbing or even ice skating. “Yes, you can do [ice skating] on board this boat,” she says. “Or…relax and find a quiet place in Central Park to read. I love the Oasis-class ships.”

AAA Travel provides peace of mind when you travel — before, during and after your vacation! AAA Travel has teamed up with some of the industry's best cruise lines to provide you added amenities, AAA Vacations® 24/7 Member Care and Best Price Guarantee. Your next cruise vacation starts with AAA — your complete travel solution. Visit your local AAA Travel Agent or book at https://vacations.aaa.com/cruises.