Top destinations for romantic winter getaways

Relax on a shimmering white sand beach with turquoise waves lapping against you on a short winter cruise to the Caribbean. These romantic getaways will take you to beautiful beaches, Mexican cenotes and underwater paradise where you can make unforgettable memories with your love. 

The Bahamas is all relaxation, peace and quiet and stunning natural beauty. When you take a winter getaway with Princess to the Bahamas, you’ll experience the best of these beautiful islands, including:

• A luxurious private island retreat. Princess Cays® is a beautiful Bahamas island reserved only for Princess passengers. It’s the perfect place to kick back and relax on a romantic white sandy beach perfect for a date night. Picture this: you and your lover in a private cabana sipping fruity drinks under the Caribbean sun during the coldest, darkest winter months. Sounds perfect, right? 
• Pristine beaches. No trip to the Bahamas is complete without a day at the beach surrounded by azure waters. Princess will take you to jawdropping Nassau beaches, including a private beach for adults only — exactly what you need for a romantic vacation — where you can relax on a lounger and stroll the beach hand-in-hand. Looking for a little thrill? The Bahamas beaches are the perfect gateway to snorkeling, clear bottom kayaking and visiting dolphins. 
• Stunning underwater exploration. The Bahamas is a premiere snorkeling and diving destination with coral reefs and rainbows of colorful fish. Princess will take you and your significant other to two reefs in Nassau’s warm waters. Keep your eyes peeled for fire coral, bottlenose dolphins, nurse sharks, wild Atlantic spotted dolphins and, of course, fish of every color. Want more dolphins? Come with us to the Atlantis Resort where you can swim in a lagoon alongside friendly bottlenose dolphins!
  

What you need in the winter is a little peace and quiet on a stunning beach where you can relax and soak in some romance. That’s what’s great about Grand Turk: it’s only six-miles long with uncrowded beaches and a few uninhabited cays where you and your significant other can have some alone time surrounded by beautiful Caribbean scenery. Some of the highlights you can expect on a romantic trip to Grand Turk include:

• Perfect adults-only couple’s retreats. If you’re looking for a tropical date for two, enjoy a private beach house for the day. You and your lover can stretch out in the sun, swim in the clear water and enjoy some peace and quiet. Plus you’ll eat mouthwatering conch fritters — a Caribbean dish — for lunch. Or head out for a day date at one of the largest pools in the Caribbean for a shady poolside retreat with private waiter service. Swim together, relax with that beach read you’ve been eyeing and eat at Jimmy Buffett's world-famous Margaritaville restaurant and bar when your stomach grumbles. 
• Idyllic beaches. Right next to the historic Governor's Mansion is a picture-perfect beach with pillowy soft white sand with bright cerulean sea. Get some rays on this quiet beach and wade out into the crystal clear water, something that will feel spectacular in the winter. Your Princess tour will also take you to some of the best Grand Turk sites like the John Glenn Space Capsule, the oldest church on the island and the oldest lighthouse on the island. 
• Beautiful underwater landscape. Make new memories together snorkeling at the world's third-largest and deepest barrier reef system. You’ll see schools of fish include parrotfish, angelfish, damselfish and blue tangs. Keep your eyes peeled for sea turtles, nurse sharks or stingrays. There’s nothing more romantic than surrounding yourself with magical underwater scenes.
  

For a warm winter getaway cruise a little closer to home, head to the Golden Coast. Chock full of beaches, iconic landmarks and unbelievable wine, a California vacation will hit the spot when home is feeling a little chilly.  

While San Francisco doesn’t get very hot, its winters are fairly temperate — but don’t forget a jacket for those foggy mornings by the bay. When you stop in San Francisco on your cruise, grab your special someone’s hand and start exploring:

• Iconic landmarks. San Francisco is full of some of the most famous landmarks in the country, and you can see them on a Princess tour. We’ll take you across the Golden Gate Bridge before taking a ferry to the world-famous Alcatraz prison. Tour “The Rock” with an audioguide and feel like you’ve stepped back into the age of gangsters.  
• Chinatown. Explore secret alleys, eat delicious dim sum or catch a view of the Golden Gate Bridge peaking out over the city on a Princess tour of Chinatown. San Francisco’s Chinatown is one of the largest and oldest in North America, and it’s packed with fantastic restaurants, bustling stores with some of the best souvenirs in the city and culture — especially in Portsmouth Square where you can sometimes catch live music or watch experts play mah jong. 
• Wine country. Have a romantic date night in Sonoma on a wine country tour. We’ll take you and your spouse to the Carneros District, famous for its chardonnays, pinot noirs, cabernets and merlots. Take a walking tour of the Roche Winery and sample a few sips surrounded by the rolling hills of vineyards.  

San Diego is the perfect combination of sunshine, city, beach and Mexican food that you and your loved one can explore for a quick winter getaway. Don’t miss:

• Wine tasting. Join Princess on a tour to Temecula, a California wine haven nestled in hills reminiscent of Tuscany. Its Mediterranean climate is perfect for Italian, Spanish and French grapes that make for great wine. We’ll tour Wilson Creek Winery for a tasting session and Peltzer Family Cellars for a romantic picnic with fine wine. 
• Old Town. See all the highlights of San Diego in only a few hours on this tour of the city. We’ll take you to the San Diego Harbor, across the Coronado Bridge to the beach town of Coronado Island and to the iconic Balboa Park — home to the expansive San Diego and 15 major museums. Finally, you’ll experience the first Spanish settlement in the city, where you can stroll hand-in-hand along historic streets together. 

Set sail to Mexico to Cabo San Lucas for a stunning winter getaway where you can spend your days lounging on the beaches, riding catamarans to jagged rock formations and strolling with your significant other on Lover’s Beach. Some of the best spots to hit during your trip include:

• El Arco & Lover’s Beach. Get ready for a perfect day of romance: a boat ride on the Sea of Cortez and the Pacific Ocean, great views of El Arco, frosty margaritas and time on the secluded Lover’s Beach. Keep your camera handy for the famous sea lion colony that lives here and your eyes peeled for breaching whales that migrate to the area in winter. 
• Horseback riding. Trot on top of a gentle horse and splash through the surf as you ride along a beautiful Mexican beach. The coast is lined with interesting cacti and bright blue water, making this the perfect excursion for a romantic horseback ride. 
• Whale watching. Gray whales make the longest mammal migration in the world — a full 6,000 mile trek — to the western coast of Mexico where they can enjoy the warmer waters. Take a whale watching tour with your loved one to watch these whales breach and blow as they swim around the Sea of Cortez. 
• Médano Beach. Spread out and enjoy the warm winter sunshine on one of the largest stretches of swimmable shoreline in Cabo: Médano Beach. It’s a great spot for swimming, jet skiing, kayaking and waterskiing — with the city nearby for you to grab a bite to eat or to head out for a shopping break to cool off.
  

If you’re looking for a shorter romantic cruise not during the winter, check out these getaways:

• Greece and the Adriatic Sea. Sunshine, ancient ruins and gyros abound in Greece, and you’ll love wandering the Acropolis and basking on gorgeous island beaches. 
• Hamburg. Sail to Hamburg as your gateway to Berlin where you can see Checkpoint Charlie, Brandenburg Gate and remaining pieces of the Berlin wall. 
• Australia. Go down under to Australia and see the Sydney Opera House, swim above the Great Barrier Reef or watch the sunset paint the iconic Uluru bright red. 
• Alaska. Surround yourself with glaciers, towering peaks including the tallest in North America and see moose, whales and bears in the wilds of Alaska. 

Get away from the dreary days of winter with a getaway cruise to somewhere warm like the Caribbean, Mexico or California. Princess will handle the logistics and the romance, and you and your spouse can just enjoy quality time together making new memories. Take the first step creating your perfect vacation by planning your winter cruise.