Top 10 Swim Up Bars for your HoneyLuna honeymoon!

This is a great top 10 list from Trip Advisor  (www.tripadvisor.com)  If you're looking for the perfect honeymoon resort with a swim up bar, then be sure to check these places out -- Trip Advisor has included some fabulous photos as well!  After you've booked your honeymoon, be sure to include "cocktails at the swim up bar" on your HoneyLuna honeymoon registry!

1. Dreams Punta Cana Punta Cana, Dominican Republic See all pool photos 2. Beaches Turks & Caicos Providenciales, Turks & Caicos See all pool photos 3. Excellence Playa Mujeres Playa Mujeres, Mexico See all pool photos 4. Holiday Village Rhodes Kolimbia, Greece See all pool photos 5. Riu Touareg Boa Vista, Cape Verde See all pool photos 6. North Beach Plantation North Myrtle Beach, SC See all pool photos 7. Hotel Mountain Paradise La Fortuna de San Carlos, Costa Rica See all pool photos 8. Hilton Rose Hall Resort & Spa Montego Bay, Jamaica See all pool photos 9. Padma Resort Bali at Legian Legian, Bali, Indonesia See all pool photos 10. Room Mate Grace New York City, NY See all pool photos

Found this great post from a bride about HoneyLuna on a TheKnot.Com

Like Our FaceBook Page and Enter to Win A $50 Gift Card

We used www.HoneyLuna.com   and were thrilled with the site.  It's beautiful, easy for our friends to use and our friends and family LOVED IT!  

They all agreed that it was better giving us a fun, romantic or experiential gift on our honeymoon than something we didn’t need that would just end up in a closet or being returned.  We too lived together and had everything for our house -- we just did not want or need more STUFF.  In no way were we being "grabby".  In fact, when we initially did not register anywhere our friends were outraged - they all said "but we have to get you something."  We took pictures of all the activities our friends bought for us and sent them in our thank you notes.  That way that saw that we enjoyed our gifts and now have a memento of us enjoying their wedding gift.  

As for the service fee - I don't get why people are so hung up on that.  We paid everyone else involved in our wedding for their service - the photographer, the minister, the reception venue, the caterer... This was another great service that made our lives easier, got us wonderful wedding gifts and our friends were happy.  Totally worth it.  

And btw, do you not think there is a fee at a department store?  The registry may be free but the gifts are marked up 40-50% -- so the 7% we paid with HoneyLuna was a real bargain.  

(Actually, we chose the option where our friends covered that fee - and they didn't mind as they didn't even have to leave their house to buy the gifts and knew we wouldn't be returning it!)  So use www.honeyluna.com and go have the honeymoon of your dreams!  Enjoy!!

 Thank you from HoneyLuna!

A Fabulous Cruise Through French Polynesia on the m/s Paul Gauguin (Bora Bora Day 2)

The m/s Paul Gauguin (left) in Bora Bora

Bora Bora is a small island - only 22 miles around - but is such an amazing  tropical playground I could stay there forever!  Thankfully, the Gauguin itinerary stays in Bora Bora for two full days!  There are an abundance of amazing shore excursions on Bora Bora and I do recommend you do them all!!!  Diving, snorkeling, jeep safaris, shark feeding....  all unforgettable! 

A lovely view from the beach

And of course, these are all activities that you can include on your HoneyLuna honeymoon registry (www.honeyluna.com) or your Paul Gauguin honeymoon registry (www.honeymoon.pgcruises.com). I highly recommend taking pictures of the two of you enjoying the activity or shore excursion and that your friends purchased for you as your wedding gift and sending it to them in a "thank you" note when you return home. Your friends will love seeing you having such a good time on your honeymoon cruise on the Paul Gauguin!

    

Bora Bora Beach Day

The diving and the snorkeling are fabulous in Bora Bora so definitely if you are into water, make a snorkel and dive trip happen.  One of my favorite land activities is the jeep safari.  This is really a great way to see the island, have some fun and more importantly, get to higher elevation so you can see from up high the stunning amazing spectacular views of the Bora Bora lagoons.  There really is nowhere else like Bora Bora on earth!  Click here to see your shore excursion choices http://www.pgcruises.com/excursions/default.aspx

A couple enjoys the motu beach

Another option to kick back and relax is to take the tender to the Gauguin's private beach on a motu in Bora Bora.  The Gauguin has a private, lovely white sand beach on the motu with spectacular views back to the main island and Mont Pahia and Mount Otemanu.  You can enjoy a shore excursion in the morning and relax on the beach in the afternoon.  There are limited services on the beach but you can still enjoy a refreshing beverage as you soak up the sun, snorkel, relax and thank your lucky stars you are in paradise!

This is paradise!

The m/s Paul Gauguin leaves Bora Bora tonight.  You cruise out of the magficent lagoon just as the sun sets.  I promise you, you will never forget your two days in Bora Bora! 

Tomorrow, Moorea Day 1.....

Definitely not Iowa!

If you need help booking your Paul Gauguin cruise or your stay at the Intercontinetal Bora Bora Thalasso Resort and Spa, please email us at info (at) honeyluna.com and we will connect you with one of our expert travel agent partners to help you!

Register for your honeymoon!
www.honeyluna.com

A Fabulous Cruise through French Polynesia on the Paul Gauguin (Motu Monday and Bora Bora)

Cruising into Taha'a

 I must confess, this was my second time cruising through Tahiti on the m/s Paul Gauguin.  (The first time was in 2001 and I loved it so much I knew I had to come back!)  So I already knew that my favorite day was "Motu Monday".  Motu Monday is a "Robinson Caruso" kind of day, spent on Paul Gauguin's private island just off of Taha'a. 

Cruising to Taha's (Bora Bora in back)

To get there, we pulled up anchor in Raiatea and cruised slowly over to Taha'a.  No matter where you look, the scenery is amazing.  On one side of the ship you can look over to see Bora Bora in the distance.  On the other side, you see the beautiful island of Taha'a.  It is so beautiful, it's actually almost impossible to understand and believe that it's real!

Paul Gauguin's Motu!!

There are several shore excursions on Taha'a, and it is possible to enjoy a shore excursion and also spend time on the motu! (Click here to see PG's shore excursions! http://www.pgcruises.com/excursions/default.aspx ) Since I had been here before, I opted to do just a full day on the motu.  And a full day is not long enough!!  The motu is staffed with Paul Gauguin's gracious employees, who bring you water, cook you lunch, mix cocktails, serve you coconut water in coconuts, offer you kayaks.... it's just truly an amazing, enjoyable day!

Vow renewal on Motu!

 One couple had opted to enjoy their vow renewal (after 17 years!) on the Motu.  The Paul Gauguin staff can arrange weddings or vow renewals on the ship or several different places / choices throughout the cruise.  The motu of course is the perfect place for that wedding or vow renewal in paradise!  The ship's captain and the cruise director performed the ceremony -- and of course the staff did an amazing job of setting up the "venue". 

Happy Couple!

After the ceremony, they enjoyed cake and champagne before taking that celebratory dip in the South Pacific!!  What better way to "seal" your commitment?!

Strolling around the motu!

The Stunning Intercon Thalasso

It might be a slight exaggeration to say I cried shamelessly when we left the motu, but I was clearly very sad!  However, Bora Bora was our next stop (2 days!)  so at least I had something to look forward to!   We planned a day to the stunning Intercontinental Bora Bora Thalasso Resort and Spa.  This is also a day trip you can book as a shore excursion.  The resort is all over the water villas and offers stunning views wherever you are! 

The pool and beach.

The resort truly is a paradise and again, their amazing Concierge (Laure Salabert) and her team go out of their way to make your stay as spectacular as possible. And oh my goodness, the Spa.....

View from the Wedding Chapel

The Intercontinental Bora Bora Thalasso Resort and Spa is also a fabulous place for a wedding or vow renewal.  There are several places on the property to get married on the beach with a view, or they have a stunning chapel built out over their lagoon....again with amazing views.  The team will put together an unforgettable service to say your "I Do's" in paradise. 

I can't say enough about this property.... and... if time and budget allow, I highly recommend actually adding a few extra days pre or post cruise for a stay at the Intercontinental Bora Bora Thalasso Resort and Spa.  It will truly be some of the best days of your lives!!!


And I forgot to mention, the Intercontinental Bora Bora Thalasso Resort and Spa also has a honeymoon registry where you can register for the items and activities of your honeymoon at the Intercontinental Bora Bora Thalasso Resort and Spa as your wedding gifts!  Check it out!   http://www.honeymoonregistryborabora.com/

For more information on the Intercontinental Bora Bora Thalasso Resort and Spa you can visit their site at http://tahiti.intercontinental.com/

Tomorrow's post.... Day 2 Bora Bora. 

If you need help booking your Paul Gauguin cruise or your stay at the Intercontinetal Bora Bora Thalasso Resort and Spa, please email us at info (at) honeyluna.com  and we will connect you with one of our expert travel agent partners to help you!

A Fabulous Cruise Through French Polynesia on the Paul Gauguin! (boarding the ship and Sunday Raietea)

Teahupoo

The m/s Paul Gauguin doesn't leave Papeete until 10 p.m. Saturday night.  Our flight landed in Tahiti at 5 a.m.!  After clearing immigration we grabbed a cup of coffee, got some French Pacific Francs (there is both an ATM and a money changing machine at the airport), rented a car and hit the road to explore the island.

Beautiful water lily

Driving on Tahiti is very easy -- and you really can't get lost.  It's worth it to rent a car and spend the day exploring this gorgeous island.  Being an avid wannabe surfer, we set out immediately for Teahupoo - the legendary surf spot on Tahiti Iti.  It is literally at the "end of the road" and just a gorgeous paradise.  The day we were there, the surf was small.  Plus the break is about 1/4 mile from shore - so we didn't see much, but at least I can say I've been there!

Black sand beach on Tahiti

After Teahupoo, we drove to the lookout at the Taravao Plateau.   Not only do you drive through a gorgeous plain, the panoramic views form the top are breathtaking.  Highly recommend this side trip!  We continued our drive around Tahiti Nui to the black sand beach near Tiarei - this is also a great place to hike / explore "Les 3 Cascades".

 Moorea from Intercontinental Tahiti

We ended our day of exploring with a stop at the Intercontinental Tahiti Resort. This is a large, lovely property with stunning views over the pool to the island of Moorea.  We enjoyed an ice cold Hinano as we relaxed in the sun, absorbed the ambience and counted our blessings that we were in Tahiti!

The lovely m/s Paul Gauguin

Now it was time to board our home for the next 7 days, the m/s Paul Gauguin!  We dropped our car at the airport  (total rental by the way was about $60 USD - well worth it if you're up to exploring on your own!) and took a taxi to the port.  There the m/s Paul Gauguin stood proudly, looking luxurious and elegant, waiting for her next group of passengers to dazzle!

Our beautiful stateroom

We were just a few minutes early to board but no matter - the crew was already there to provide service.  They welcomed us warmly,  offered us cold water and tagged our luggage.  They seemed genuinely happy to see us!

A balcony stateroom is a MUST!

As you can see, the staterooms are gorgeous!  They are roomy, well appointed, plenty of storage and offer large bathrooms will a full tub/shower.  I encourage you all, to definitely book a stateroom with a balcony!  Yes, it does cost more, but it is worth it!  We spent lots of time relaxing on our balcony.  Being early risers we were up with the sunrise about 5:30 and have coffee delivered to us every morning to enjoy on our balcony while we soaked up the view and started our day!

By using HoneyLuna's honeymoon registry  (www.honeyluna.com)  or Paul Gauguin's honeymoon registry  www.honeymoon.pgcruises.com )  you can let your friends and family buy pieces of your Paul Gauguin honeymoon as your wedding gift and have those additional funds to pay for a balcony stateroom!

Exploring Raiatea

Saturday night we "set sail" or technically, began motoring / cruising to Raiatea.  When we awoke Sunday morning, we were still several hours from Raiatea but could already see it in the distance rising from the Pacific.  It was so beautiful watching the island as we got closer and closer... Although not a touristy island / as well visited as others in French Polynesia, Raiatea is a lush, beautiful island and I LOVE IT!  

Raiatea

Raiatea is called "The Sacred Island".  It was the first island settled by Polynesians and is considered the cradle of Polynesian culture.  My favorite shore excursion on this island is the combo Faaroa River cruise
with the jeep safari (which also takes you to the Taputapuatea Marae).  One of the great things about cruising on the m/s Paul Gauguin is that it does visit some of the smaller islands and you do get to spend a lot of time on each island - which gives you plenty of time to do some shore excursions as well as to explore on your own if you wish!

Local dancer welcomes us!

After our day of exploring, we stopped by the Grand Salon for a Polynesian Dance Show  / Welcome put on by a local dance troupe.  The children were lovely, charming and gracious and the show really put us in the mood!!  I even got up on stage and danced a bit.... I might have blown my back out trying to swing my hips like these girls but it was really fun!!


Let me just say that for each and every night on the cruise we enjoyed the MOST amazing dining experience!  The food was wonderful, the wines magnificent, and the service was just spectacular.  So I won't go into a lot of detail about what we ate (there's really not enough room!) but suffice it to say, it was all great.  The dinners are a la carte (no buffets!) with a wide range of excellent choices.  Also, I will say that I'm a vegetarian -- and I had so much to choose from that it was never a problem for me.  My cruise mates enjoyed the fish and meat dishes and assured me they were fabulous as well!

Next post, Motu Monday!  (My favorite!!!)

Take a look at the amazing / fun / adventurous shore excursions offered by the m/s Paul Gauguin   http://www.pgcruises.com/excursions/default.aspx   Of course you can include the shore excursions in your HoneyLuna honeymoon registry!!  Your family and friends will love purchasing for you these fantastic experiences that you will cherish for a life time!

If you would like help booking your Paul Gauguin honeymoon cruise, please email us at info (at) honeyluna.com   and we will refer you to one of our preferred travel agents!

Start your honeymoon registry now!  Visit HoneyLuna's honeymoon registry  (www.honeyluna.com)  or Paul Gauguin's honeymoon registry  www.honeymoon.pgcruises.com )

A Fabulous Cruise Through French Polynesia on the Paul Gauguin!

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of cruising through Tahiti and Her Isles on the m/s Paul Gauguin. What a fabulous 7 days it was!  And I couldn't help but think, EVERY honeymoon couple should be spending their honeymoon doing exactly this!

If French Polynesia is heaven on earth (and it is!) then the Paul Gauguin is the vehicle that gets you there!

The best part is, you can use either HoneyLuna's Honeymoon Registry (www.honeyluna.com)   and select the Paul Gauguin registry template (when registering and selecting your destination, go to Cruises - Paul Gauguin and you'll see the available itinerary registries) or you can use Paul Gauguin's site for their honeymoon registry.  With the Paul Gauguin Honeymoon Registry, gift monies go to the ship for on-board credit to use for the shore excursions and spa treatments that are purchased for you.  Check out their honeymoon registry site at:  http://honeymoon.pgcruises.com/ 

In addition to using the honeymoon registry to receive pieces of your m/s Paul Gauguin honeymoon as your wedding gift, the m/s Paul Gauguin is the best value in French Polynesia!  It is truly truly ALL INCLUSIVE!  If you want room service, it's included!  If you want glasses of champagne every afternoon at La Palette after your busy day of sightseeing, it's included!  The food is amazing, the wine list is fabulous and the staff and service will and do make you feel so special!

I will be posting a "day by day" review of our cruise with pics -- I highly encourage you to check back for each day's update and to share this great experience with me!  If you haven't yet decided on your honeymoon location, do check this out -- PG Cruises has some great deals going for 2012!

If you would like help booking your honeymoon cruise on the m/s Paul Gauguin, please email us at info (at)honeyluna.com and we will get you in touch with one of our travel agent partners to assist you!

Creating A Successful HoneyLuna Honeymoon Registry

Jenny and John had a succesful HoneyLuna honeymoon registry!

When Jenny Johnson and John Ericson got married, they didn’t bother registering with the traditional registries. They already lived together, owned a home, and had the household items they needed.

Instead, Jenny and John registered with HoneyLuna, the Honeymoon Registry Service, (http://www.honeyluna.com/), and received “pieces of their honeymoon” as wedding gifts.

Jenny and John had a very successful honeymoon registry! “Our honeymoon included Spanish Language courses in Cusco and hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru,” says Jenny. “It was so much more fun creating a gift registry that included these experiential gifts we would always remember. Our honeymoon was filled with fantastic adventures we will never forget, and allowed us to tie these special gifts to our loved ones back home.”

Honeymoon registries today are no longer “alternative” and are acceptable wedding registries. HoneyLuna's Honeymoon Registries offer the opportunity for families and friends to give the couple something worth remembering for their honeymoon. However, because many people are not aware that honeymoon registries exist, it is important that the bride and groom (and their close friends, maid of honor and best man) let people know that their honeymoon registry exists and to “educate” their family friends about the concept. This will insure that they have the most successful honeymoon registry possible.

HoneyLuna provides many tools to help create a successful honeymoon registry and to “get the word out” such as:

• Easy to use honeymoon registry templates to create a dynamic and customized honeymoon Registry announcement postcards to send to family and friends letting them know about your honeymoon registry
• FREE Wedding Website with your own unique HoneyLuna URL which allows you to add up to 17 pages of information about your wedding, honeymoon and your HoneyLuna honeymoon registry!
• Email announcements via honeyluna.com to send to family and friends letting them know about your honeymoon registry
• An easy to use website to for friends and family to view your itemized registry and purchase your gifts.

Although HoneyLuna provides some great tools to help you have a successful honeymoon registry, the bride and groom can also help make the honeymoon registry successful. Here a few things you can do to create a successful honeymoon registry.

1. Be Creative - Have fun with your registry. Don’t’ just ask for cash – include fun items and activities your friends and family can get excited about. HoneyLuna’s registry page allows you to include comments and even links to the hotel or activity to personalize your registry even more.

2. Include Gifts In a Variety of Price Ranges - When creating your registry do include a variety of items in different price ranges. You don't want to leave anyone out, nor make anyone feel uncomfortable. With a wide variety of price ranges, guests can contribute anywhere from $20 on up – more if they want!

3. Upload Photos – Be sure to upload a photo for your HoneyLuna honeymoon registry page -- as well as lots of photos to your wedding website.  The photo on your registry page makes it more personal for your friends and family when they are shopping on your HoneyLuna registry..

4. PROMOTE YOUR REGISTRY – Don’t be Shy – PROMOTE YOUR REGISTRY! For a successful registry let everyone know where you are registered. Include registry announcement cards in your engagement letters, shower, and wedding invitations. Advise family members and bridal party of your gift wishes, so that they may be actively involved in communicating directly to your guests. Use HoneyLuna’s email announcements as a follow up close to the wedding date. People DO want to buy you a wedding gift, so you might as well make it as easy for them as possible.

Here is an example of some language you can use in email notifications or on your own wedding website:

Dear Tom and Susan:

We would like to share with you our honeymoon registry.

We have registered for the items and activities of our honeymoon as wedding gifts through HoneyLuna, a Wedding Registry for Honeymoon Travel! The gifts from our honeymoon registry will help us create memories that will last our lifetime! And, you'll be really connected with our honeymoon!

If shopping on line is not your preference, please call HoneyLuna at 1-877-699-5884. You may also find our registry on line at www.honeyluna.com/nancyanddave.

Thank you so much for thinking of us. We look forward to seeing you and sharing our special day.

Nancy and Dave

Remember, the more you promote your honeymoon registry, the better your chances of having a successful honeymoon registry. Wouldn't you rather have some fantastic honeymoon experience as your wedding gift rather than a zebra head cookie platter or another turkey baster?

Tell your parents and their friends about a Celebration Travel Registry!

AMAWATERWAYS - the ultimate Celebration Registry!

HoneyLuna, The Honeymoon Registry Service launched in 1995 -- and was the first online bridal registry for honeymoons!  Since then, HoneyLuna has pioneered honeymoon registries.  Throughout the years, people came to HoneyLuna and asked if they could use HoneyLuna as a "travel registry" for a significant life event -- 50th wedding annviersary, graduation, retirement, 40th birthday -- all great reasons to throw a party and take a trip!

Over the years, more and more people began using travel registries.  Now  one of HoneyLuna's sister companies offers Celebration Registries for any trip!   So if your parents or friends are having a big wedding anniversary, significant birthday or maybe a retirement trip, tell them to create a celebration travel registry.

Many of AMAWATERWAYS cruises
have pre or post cruise stays in  Paris!

If you - or someone you knows, wants a truly special life event / celebration travel registry, one of HoneyLuna's partners, AMAWATERWAYS  has celebration registries for their stunning river cruises with ships sailing in Europe, Russia, Vietnam and Cambodia.   Wouldn't it be great if you could buy a piece of an amazing river cruise for your parents anniversary or friends big birthday?

Check out .http://celebrationregistry.amawaterways.com/

HoneyLuna and the Question of Service Fees

TO FEE OR NOT TO FEE?.....


In my opinion, there is truth in the oft heard phrase..."You get what you pay for".....


I often read the wedding website forums and bridal chat rooms and see that many bridal couples think that charging a service fee for a honeymoon registry is a crime. Obviously I understand that every bridal couple wants a good deal and are looking to save money wherever they can!  But do read on to learn how thinking saving with a "free" honeymoon registry could actually harm you in the end!


Although I could probably write pages on WHY HoneyLuna charges a fee and why either paying the fee or having your guests pay the fee is a WISE decision, I will narrow it down to a few key points.


First, let's look at all of the things that brides and grooms DO pay for -- and are WILLING to pay (often exorbitant prices) for -- for their wedding -- excluding the necessities like location and hard goods such as food, let's focus on "services"

1. Caterer
2. Florist
3. Minister
4. Photographer
5. Musicians or DJs
6. ValetsWedding Coordinator
7. Psychic (just kidding.... maybe...)
8. And the list goes on....

Let's be honest, couples pay for these services because they want them "just right", classy, to be fun/good for their friends, and they want plain old good service.  


HoneyLuna is a service.  It is a service that provides not only the bridal couples with an exceptional honeymoon registry experience, it also provides LOTS AND LOTS of other tools that bridal couples love -- like a FREE wedding website (yes, it IS truly FREE), online wedding photo albums, wedding blogs and a comprehensive, easy to use, looks beautiful honeymoon registry.  


I think it warrants a SPECIAL mention that our registries are AD FREE!


Did I mention that we have a toll FREE phone # for you to call with questions. And yes, your guests can call too if they have a question or want to place their order over the phone?  We have dedicated customer service staff to provide both you and your guests excellent customer service!


Now let's talk about your guests' experience.  Many of your guests may not have heard of a honeymoon registry.  As such, it's especially important that their experience is a happy one.  So let's consider, what does your honeymoon registry look like?  Is it aesthetically pleasing?  Does it have professional images for each item with a descriptive narrative of the items?  If it's fun and exciting to read, your friends and family will have more fun shopping for your gift.


Now back to your guests... does the registry allow them to actually complete their transaction with a credit card?  With some of the free registries couples have to have a paypal BUSINESS account for their guests to use credit cards! 


And if they can't pay by credit card, they are only "pledging" to give you cash or a check at your wedding.  That brings me back to the "classy, easy, positive user experience" I mentioned above.  Which I think warrants a second mention -- the "free" honeymoon registries have ADS all over your honeymoon registry page!!


(And ironically, some of the ads are for the competition!)


In my mind, classy and elegant is out the window.  What they have done is traded a service fee revenue to support the business with selling advertising space so that in order to have a free registry your friends and family are inundated with ads on your registry page.  That may be good for some, but personally, I prefer -- and don't mind paying for -- fees when a good service is provide!


Now, let's look at actual gifts received -- with HoneyLuna, the average gifts received is $2,500/ registry  (actual amounts vary of course and depend on many factors -- but this is "average") 


By their own accounts, free registries receive MUCH LESS than $2500.  One company posts that their "free" registries receive on average just over $1100... hmmmmmmm....


I can't help but wonder if it's because friends and families don't like the look and experience of the free registry -- and don't like pledging cash or checks.  I wonder if it's because for a small fee, guests actually LIKE ad free registries, the convenience of paying by credit card, and knowing they can call a real person to talk to, ask questions, and place an order.  So for saving a 7% service fee, you LOSE $1400?.....  Free registries just don't add up!


For the record, I've never had a call from a gift giver that was mad/upset about the service fee.  In fact, most calls are happy callers and LOVE HONEYLUNA!


In the end, my feeling is that many couples choose the "FREE no fees option" thinking they will come out ahead -- but in reality, for a small fee, couples using HoneyLuna will have more wedding tools, more gifts, and happier guests!


CHOOSE HONEYLUNA!  The Premier online bridal registry for honeymoons since 1995!


Lastly, many people comment with companies like HoneyLuna, that, in the end, the couple is still just receiving cash.  Yes, that is true.  But it's a much more elegant and sophisticated way of receiving the cash to pay for the items and activities of they honeymoon.  If a couple chooses to dupe their friends and family by not using the gifts for which they were intended, well that's their karma.  


But, if this is really a sticking point for some, then take a look at some of our partners' sites where the gift monies actually go the resort or cruise line for the couple to spend on the actual gift while they are there...


Starwood Hawaii
Paul Gauguin Cruises
Intercontinental Bora Bora Thalasso and Le Moana 
Starwood Caribbean




and many more!