6 luxurious ideas for a romantic honeymoon

From here to infiniti
Cruise around the Andaman islands in a luxury ship. Dive in the coral gardens around Barren Island, or get up close and personal with sharks around the southern islands like Cinque, Sisters and Passage, or check out WWII-era wreckage of Japa­nese warships off Duncan Islands. Infiniti Live-Aboard, a large four-decked ship, takes groups of up to 12 people on cruises around the archipelago, visiting dive sites and other little-seen areas of the Andamans’ pristine island ecology. For a slower pace, lounge around on the sundeck or enjoy the lounge en­tertainment system. Weather permitting, the cruise also offers island barbecues and stargazing. (dive packages: $1,499, non-dive packages: $1,199, taxes extra)

Yachting in Goa
Private luxury is promised by this small fleet of topnotch yachts traversing Goa’s backwaters in exclusive experiences that can be customised. So chug past quiet villages and historic landmarks (including impressive views of Palacio Aguada on the hill after which it is named), watch wildlife and dolphins, roar on jet skis, sip cocktails over oceanic sunsets, or picnic at a scenic island (Chorao, Bat, Grand and Butterfly, or the unspoilt Cola beach about 75km from Panaji). The fleet’s flagship is the Fairline Squadron 42, a two-cabin flybridge with cosy living areas, a large cockpit, and an open-plan galley where fresh catch is cooked on board. (from Rs 45,000 per hour)

God’s own cruise
Malabar House’s Discovery cruise has been called the ‘ulti­mate backwater cruise’ and it’s fair to say that that distinc­tion is well-earned. The traditional hull of a wooden rice barge has been modified to create space for a splendid air-conditioned suite. The solitary sundeck above is the perfect viewpoint for watching some of Kerala’s finest views go by. It’s an elegant boat, and it art­fully uses a contemporary superstructure painted a startling aqua blue to create one expansive suite with panoramic windows. They also take care not to leave an ecological footprint on the fragile ecosystem that connects the state’s extraordinary waterways. (from Rs 20,000 for doubles)

Stately river cruises
ABN’s luxury cruises, an Indo-British joint venture with of­fices in Guwahati and the UK, have made it impossible to overlook the great river waterways of eastern India. They have three splendid boats specifically designed to cruise the differing water levels of the Brahmaputra (its river bed often 20-30km across!), the Hooghly (a more intimate experience north of Kol­kata) and the Ganga (from Bangladesh to Patna, if you please). On shore excursions, you get to enjoy unforgettable access to historic monuments, incredible wildlife sanctuaries (including Kaziranga and Manas), ancient urban agglomerations, and the deep rural heart of a nation. (from about Rs 13,000 per person per night)

Lakeside luxury
For a luxurious tour of Kerala’s backwaters, try the Oberoi MV Vrinda. The vessel offers accommodation in eight deluxe cabins with personal butlers and spectacular views of the waterways. The boat is docked at a private jetty on Vembanad lake and offers two- and three-night itineraries. Guests will also get to explore the narrower waterways on rice boats excursions. In the evenings, they’ll be treated to Kathakali and Mohiniattam performances. The upper deck houses a lounge and a bar. Breakfast is served at sunrise on the sun deck; lunch and dinner are a mix of traditional Kerala and Gujarati cuisine. (two-night itinerary: Rs 1 lakh per cabin, three-night itinerary: Rs 1.34 lakh)

Get foxy with this lady
The Foxy Lady doesn’t stint on luxury. The sleek yacht, an offering from the super-luxury Niraamaya Resorts in Kovalam, is outfitted with splendorous staterooms and manned by a crew trained to deliver to your every whim (or you could sip your favourite cocktail while relaxing in the saloon to music from the Linn system as you watch the sun set on the Arabian Sea). There’s an ‘Owners Suite’, and a ‘VIP Suite’ plus two guest bedrooms. Sunbathe by the bow, lean back with a book on the comfy seating in the fly bridge, enjoy a scenic barbeque over on the top deck, take her on a week-long fishing trip. (from Rs 50,000 plus taxes and extras for 1hr sailing plus 1hr anchorage)