Bride’s Guide: Planning a Honeymoon at Sea

If you and your first mate live for the open water, it’s natural that you’d want to celebrate there. Whether you have a boat or plan to charter a vessel, you need to attend to details you won’t encounter on land.

Here’s a brief guide to planning a honeymoon at sea.

Even if you rent a boat, you want to ensure its seaworthiness by inspecting it before setting sail. Please use more than your eyes — your nose and sense of touch can help detect fuel leaks, dry rot, and other conditions you might not notice immediately.

You also want your ride to look pristine. If you own a vessel, give it a little TLC by touching up the upholstery paint along with any exterior chips. Replace any moldy carpeting and wax your boat to a high shine before leaving port.

You also want to gather your necessities, including medications to prevent seasickness — you don’t want to spend your honeymoon feeling queasy. Ensure you read the instructions for when to take them, as many work better as preventatives than remedies after the fact.

Remember, sunburn strikes more quickly when you’re on the water. Take plenty of SPF along and slather it frequently. You’ll also need a few floppy hats and sunglasses. Please don’t risk the discomfort of losing your one pair.

One of the most entertaining parts of planning a honeymoon at sea is picking your ports of call. If you cruise the Caribbean, you have no shortage of islands to stop and explore.

However, you might decide to sail down the Pacific or Atlantic coastlines. Regardless of where you go, make sure you know the rules when entering international waters. You don’t want to imagine a crime interrupting your honeymoon, but you need to know what to do should one occur.

Boating presents a unique set of dangers. Knowing how to swim alone isn’t sufficient to protect your safety at sea.

Be sure you have a properly fitting lifejacket and wear it whenever you participate in water sports. Learn the nautical rules of the road and consider investing in a pre-departure safety course to ensure you know what to do in an emergency.

Planning a honeymoon at sea requires unique considerations. However, you can have a memorable journey with the right preparation.