do princess cruise ships have waterslides

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Princess Cruises’ First Waterpark Coming to Caribbean Princess

Caribbean Princess will soon become the first of the Princess Cruises’ fleet to feature a waterpark. The new Reef Family Splash Zone will debut following the ship’s return from drydock this summer.

Family Fun (But Not Thrills)

Don’t expect the thrill-a-minute, sometimes frenetic theme park attractions that accompany waterparks on many mega-ships. According to Travel Weekly , Gordon Ho, senior vice president of global marketing and North American sales at Princess, says “A waterslide at this point is not part of our DNA.”

Instead, the new feature will be built on Deck 17 in a space that currently offers several smaller water features. The Reef Family Splash Zone will prominently feature “Splashpad with Whale,” a splash pool with a whale whose fluke spurts water.

The renovated area will also boast oversized backyard games such as cornhole, Jenga, and Connect Four. Adults can lounge on new patio furniture, plus families can enjoy refreshments from a kid-friendly bar. A destination-themed water table for kids at the Camp Discovery outdoor area will feature iconic port city landmarks such as the Panama Canal locks, the Golden Gate Bridge and Sydney Opera House.

Princess Cruises president Jan Swartz said the new waterpark “invites families and kids to experience a multi-functional area to engage, play and reconnect. The Reef is the ultimate spot for families of all ages to enjoy spending time together with new water features, recreational activities, and lounge areas.”

Updates to the pool area during the ship’s drydock also include upgraded lights and music, refurbished pools, shade canopies and wind panels, among other items.

As Travel Agent Central points out , the new waterpark continues a trend over the past few years to augment Caribbean Princess with more features designed to welcome parents and children, such as family accommodations. Meanwhile, it’s designed to offer something unique to Princess, as opposed to the high-energy attractions found on some other lines.

Caribbean Princess Schedule

Caribbean Princess currently sails from Fort Lauderdale. Shortly after emerging from drydock in June, the ship will sail Canada and New England itineraries this summer and fall from New York City and Quebec City. Caribbean Princess will then return to Fort Lauderdale in late 2019.

What’s your take on the new Princess water park? Do you think you’d enjoy Princess’ family-friendly features?

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If Princess wants to compete with other “family cruises, they need to add water slides and other activities for kids ages 5-12. Kids and parents need those activities like are available on Royal Caribbean and Carnival…even Norwegian offers more than Princess. I like your ships but you need to address the needs of families on “some” voyages

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Princess Cruises Adding Their First Water Park to Cruise Ship

Princess Cruises is adding their first water park on a cruise ship later this year when Caribbean Princess goes into dry dock right before summer.

The cruise line is adding The Reef Family Splash Zone that will be a refined, playful and relaxing area for adults and kids alike to gather and enjoy sun and water together.   Located aft on deck 17, The Reef will offer many enticing features, including:

Game Zone – bringing family competition to a whole new level with oversized backyard games, comfy lounge sectionals, and a kid-friendly bar setting, families can grab some cocktails and mocktails while challenging the kids to a game of Connect Four, Jenga or Cornhole.

New Outdoor Furniture – with a variety of seating and lounging options, from single sun loungers to sectional chairs and couches with tables, he Reef transforms into an inviting space for groups of all sizes aimed to be comfortable and conversational, also featuring new fixtures and finishes.

Shade Canopy and Wind Panels – for guests looking for less sun, a canopy will offer a section of the Reef shade and sun protection while wind panels will be installed throughout the area for all-day comfort.

Upgraded Lighting and Music System – updated lighting to the pool and steps as well as wall lighting installations allow the space to be utilized for evening events and activities.

Refurbished Pool, Jacuzzi and Bar – the existing pool, spa and bar will be updated to match the newly designed space featuring updated signage and contemporary artwork. In addition, just below the Reef on deck 16 in the Camp Discovery outdoor area, kids can interact and explore with a destination themed water table. This educational offering features the many destinations and iconic landmarks Princess visits, including the Sydney Opera House and Golden Gate Bridge and also highlights how a cruise ship moves through water, waves and weather and even how to navigate the Panama Canal locks.

Over the last few years Caribbean Princess has undergone a major revitalization, with many family-oriented features and amenities including breakthrough technology, family accommodations, new dining experiences and entertainment offerings.

With family travelers in mind, Caribbean Princess offers 87 connecting staterooms keeping the whole family together. All stateroom types can accommodate up to 4 people. Families of 5 or more can also be accommodated in a two-bedroom family suite. Each stateroom features the cruise line’s award-winning Princess Luxury Bed, designed in collaboration with sleep exert Dr. Michael Breus for the ultimate night of sleep at sea.

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10 Top Cruise Ships With Water Slides

Waterslides on cruise vessels have become an intrinsic part of a holiday at sea, offering exciting and memorable experiences to passengers of all ages. In the past few years, cruise lines have added many attractions to their ships, making them giant sailing cities with shopping areas, game zones, golf and race courses, operas, theatres, full-fledged water parks, and much more.

Water Parks on cruise ships provide a break from conventional activities by adding adventure and thrill to the cruising experience.

The colourful spiral slides that meander around the cruise ship’s deck in several shapes and sizes also give stunning ocean views through their translucent sections. Some slides have unique features, making them true engineering marvels.

However, when did the first slide on a cruise ship come up?

In the 1970s, when the cruise ship industry was still in its infancy, these vessels had a swimming pool, which was still considered a big thing at that time, given that cruise ships were relatively smaller.

However, by the 1980s, Carnival decided to add a single water slide to its 35,000 gross tonne Festivale, capable of accommodating at least 728 guests. This is often said to be the first water slide ever added to a cruise ship. This water slide was like the one found on backyard pools, but it made Carnival an early leader in incorporating water slides in cruise ships.

In 1990, Carnival Fantasy debuted and became the first cruise ship with a proper slide measuring 115 ft. Six years later, in 1996, Carnival made headlines when it unveiled a 214-foot long corkscrew waterslide on the Destiny, now called the Carnival Sunshine, which was at that time, the biggest cruise ship in the world

Norwegian Cruise Line, MSC Cruises and Royal Caribbean began adding waterslides on their ships in the past decade. Many new ships of these lines now have massive waterparks. Disney Cruise Line does have water parks however they are not as crazy since Disney focusses on a family experience, hence has many attractions for kids.

This article will take you through 10 top cruise ships with water slides. So make sure you add these cruise ships to your list to enjoy watery adventures on your next cruise vacation.

1. Perfect Storm Waterslide on Royal Caribbean’s Wonder of the Seas

Wonder of the Seas has more than one giant slide. Instead, it has a whole complex with 2 four-deck high slides, named Typhoon and Cyclone, part of the Perfect Storm. These two boldest waterslides at sea, placed side by side, allow one to have a water-slide race with your partner, friend or family member.

The slides have some translucent sections offering beautiful sea views, too. The Perfect Storm is on three of the cruise line’s Oasis Class Ships apart from the Wonder of the Seas. It is found on Harmony of the Seas, Symphony of the Seas and Oasis of the Seas.

It is important to note that the Royal Carribean’s Navigator of the Seas also has a waterslide complex called the Perfect Storm, but it is entirely different from the one on Wonder of the Seas.

2. The Blaster On Royal Caribbean’s Navigator of the Seas

The Perfect Storm complex on Navigator of the Seas is different from the ones found on other ships of the cruise line.

It features the Blaster, the longest aqua coaster ever built on a cruise ship. At 800 ft, this feels like an endless stretch of the yellow-orange tube that curls around the back deck of the cruise ship.

It is one of the most famous attractions of the Navigator of the Seas. Blaster has a hydraulic system with 5 water jets propelling you and your partner up, down and forward on the ship. Sometimes, one flies over the ship’s side into the open water onboard.

Apart from the Blaster, there is also a headfirst mat racer slide, the Riptide, one of its kind ever built on a cruise ship.

Navigator of the Seas was upgraded in 2019 with €115 million. It was then that water slides, laser tags and an escape room were added to keep it up-to-date and desirable for passengers who love water slides.

3. WaterWorks On Carnival’s Mardi Gras

There is at least one waterslide on each cruise ship of Carnival, something other cruise lines cannot boast about. All Carnival cruises have a water park area, the WaterWorks. However, it differs in size and features from vessel to vessel.

This water park area onboard Mardi Gras comprises 3 massive spiralling water slides, a big dumping bucket that soaks everyone with a splash, twin racing slides and several interactive water features.

Blue Lightning is known for its high-speed turns and twists; meanwhile, Orange Thunder propels you into the water. The Twister slide is another famous slide among water enthusiasts.

The biggest water park areas or complexes onboard Carnival Cruise Ships are found on the newest additions, such as the Celebration, Carnival Venezia and the Mardi Gras. These ships have 3 waterslides, 1 more than most cruise ships of the line.

4. Aqua Park on Norwegian Encore

The largest ship in the fleet of Norwegian Cruise Line is the Norwegian Encore, 1094 ft long with a Gross Register Tonnage of 169,116.

This behemoth has 2 multistory water slides, the Aqua Racer, racing slides and the Ocean Loops Slide that stretches out to the ship’s side.

The Aqua Park has small water slides for kids too, along with a splash area with buckets that drench those who stand below them. One can also enjoy a water fight using the water cannons available at the park.

Norwegian Cruise Line added massive waterslides on its ships in 2010 with Norwegian Epic. It has 3 monster waterslides and an Epic Plunge, a 200-foot-long ride ending in a swirling bowl.

Epic Plunge is a part of Norwegian Epic’s Aqua Park, which was the first water park on a Norwegian cruise ship. Since then, the line has added Aqua Parks to 6 more new ships, including the biggest ship, Norwegian Encore.

Another ship, the Norwegian Breakaway, has twin free-fall water slides that drop you down many stories, 2 twisting racer slides, and a family slide with a modest drop.

5. AquaMouse on Disney Cruise Line’s Disney Wish

The newest ship of the Disney Cruise line is Disney Wish, which has a water coaster called the AquaMouse.

It is different from other ships of the line as riders can see animated shorts of Disney movies and Mickey Mouse clips as they ride up the ramp at the start of the ride.

Riders experience show scenes, lighting, and special sound effects while having a fun-filled ride around and off the ship through the 760-foot twisting tubes.

The Disney Wish also has 10 pools apart from a Toy Story Splash Zone, with huge rubber toys and the Slide-a-saurus Rex family slide.

The family-focused Disney Cruise Line has one of the coolest water slides and attractions. Their ships have a water coaster called AquaDuck, similar to the Blaster on Royal Caribbean Ships.

The water ride is relatively gentle by the standards of water parks since it is designed for kids and their parents who can ride along.

Although the AquaDuck is shorter than the Balster at 765 ft, it is nothing less, given its location surrounding the main pool area on the Disney ships.

Apart from the AquaDuck, Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy have small, kids-friendly waterslides close to the Mickey pool, called Mickey’s Slide.

These two ships also have a water play zone for toddlers called the Nemo’s Reef. Disney Fantasy also has a water zone with geysers, water jets and bubblers called AquaLab.

6. Aqua Park On the MSC Europa

MSC Cruises’ ships also boast water slides, and all the cruise ships unveiled by the cruise line after 2017 have a water park area, usually on the top deck, where all the watery fun begins.

MSC Europa’s Aqua Park has four criss-cross water slides above the deck, along with the use of virtual technology that makes the ride interesting and an interactive experience. There is also a dedicated pool for toddlers.

MSC Seaside’s Aqua Park has 4 slides and a children’s play area. However, these waterslides are massive, two being 25-foot-long slides that stretch over the ship’s sides.

MSC Meraviglia has a winter-themed Polar Aqua Park and an Aquaplay area for the kids. About 14 of MSC Cruises’ 22 Ships have at least one waterslide on their top decks.

7. Twister Waterslide on Carnival Vista

Carnival Vista is said to be one of the most fun ships to be on, with many exciting things to do, attractions to visit and nightlife that doesn’t seem to end.

The highlight of Carnival Vista’s WaterWorks has to be the Twister Waterslide, which is the equivalent of hundreds of feet of spirals that start high and get you down with one of the fastest and wettest water rides ever designed on a cruise ship.

Gallons of water rush through the slide so one is not dry, and by the time one reaches the end of the twists and turns, there is another big splash awaiting you. The ride is open to all; however, height and weight restrictions are applicable.

Then comes the DrainPipe, which ends with a major swirl while the PowerDrencher soaks you completely from above.

8. Supercell on Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas

Royal Caribbean’s Harmony of the Seas welcomes over 4,000 guests on its 16 decks packed with full-on entertainment, delicious dining options and so on. The ship has 7 differently themed neighbourhoods, like the revolutionary Boardwalk and Central Park space.

Harmony of the Seas sails in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean, making it perfect for family holidays, couple trips and even a solo adventure.

This action-packed cruise ship is particularly famous for its impressive waterslides. Young guests can enjoy Splashaway Bay, while adults can check out some really exhilarating waterslides.

The twin slides, Typhoon and Cyclone, are fun to race on with your partner. They have stretches of a see-through tunnel, making it even more fun. Another slide is called the Supercell, which has several loops, turns and twists. This ride is surely not for the faint of heart.

9. Dr Seuss WaterWorks On Carnival Horizon

Carnival Horizon is the 26th ship of the Carnival Fleet and the 2nd cruise ship of the line’s Vista Class. She has a 133,596 gross tonnage that can accommodate almost 4000 passengers and 1450 crew members.

This bold and beautiful ship is loaded with fun activities, perfect for families since it has a lot of kids clubs and dining places with reduced prices for children under 12.

The cruise does not disappoint adults since it has the 2-screen Carnival Multiplex that combines one theatre with IMAX action and the other with stunning 3D visuals.

Not to forget that the ship has a Dr Seuss WaterWorks, for all those who love the waterpark fun. There is the Twister Waterslide, racing slides, the DrainPipe and the ultimate PowerDrencher.

The ship also has a SkyRide, the Punchliner Comedy Club and Playlist Productions, two of the top onboard entertainment options.

10. AquaDunk On Disney Magic

Disney Magic, like all other Disney cruise ships is known for its fun disney rides. It has the Twist ‘n’ Spout and the Aquadunk. The former is a relaxing, and a children-friendly waterslide, the latter is a thrilling ride extending over the ship’s side.

The AquaDunk begins with a steep drop before it goes into a clear tube shooting out of the ship. This ride was added to the Disney Magic when it was being renovated in 2013, making it the only ship with an AquaDunk.

While one climbs the stairs to the top, there are storyboards about how the AquaDunk came into being. It was Donald’s nephews Louie, Dewey and Huey who created its design.

Then Donald tested many prototypes before finally selecting the current design the guests experience on the Disney Dream.

The AquaDunk is positioned on Deck 13 and after you climb to the top, you enter a clear capsule where you stand with arms crossed and count to the point when the bottom platform opens, dropping you into the slide. The ride is 212 feet or 3 stories.

It is a single rider waterslide with no tube or float to ride in. Guests must be 48 inches to experience this slide.

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About Author

Zahra is an alumna of Miranda House, University of Delhi. She is an avid writer, possessing immaculate research and editing skills. Author of several academic papers, she has also worked as a freelance writer, producing many technical, creative and marketing pieces. A true aesthete at heart, she loves books a little more than anything else.

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The Ultimate Guide To Cruise Ship Water Slides

Here’s a guide that will make a splash on your next cruise vacation! Get ready to slide into excitement and adventure as we delve into the world of cruise ship water slides. Whether you’re a first-time cruiser or a seasoned traveler, this ultimate guide is packed with tips, tricks, and recommendations to help you make the most out of your water slide experience. From the different types of slides you’ll find onboard to the best strategies for avoiding long lines, we’ve got you covered. So grab your bathing suit and let’s dive right in!

Table of Contents

Understanding the Different Types of Cruise Ship Water Slides

Enclosed versus open air slides.

When it comes to cruise ship water slides, one of the first distinctions to be made is between enclosed and open air slides. Enclosed slides are fully enclosed tubes that often feature twists, turns, and thrilling drops. They offer a sense of anticipation and mystery as riders twist and turn through the tight confines of the slide. Open air slides, on the other hand, are those that do not have a fully enclosed tube. These slides can provide riders with a sense of freedom and allow them to take in the surrounding views and scenery as they descend.

Height and Speed Variations

Water slides on cruise ships come in a variety of heights and speeds, catering to different levels of thrill-seekers. Higher slides often provide a more exhilarating experience, with longer drops and faster speeds. These slides are perfect for adrenaline junkies who crave an intense ride. On the other hand, slides with smaller heights and slower speeds are suitable for those who prefer a more relaxed ride or are not comfortable with the high speeds and drops of taller slides. Cruise ships typically offer a range of different slide heights and speeds, ensuring that there is something for everyone.

Single Versus Multi-Rider Slides

Another factor to consider when it comes to cruise ship water slides is whether they are designed for single or multi-riders. Single rider slides allow individuals to enjoy the slide at their own pace and without any interference from others. This can be perfect for those who prefer a solitary experience or enjoy the freedom of navigating the slide on their own. Multi-rider slides, on the other hand, are designed to accommodate multiple riders at once. These slides can be a fun option for families or groups of friends who want to experience the thrill of sliding together. They often feature wide lanes or rafts that allow multiple riders to descend simultaneously.

Theme and Designs of Slides

Cruise ship water slides come in a variety of themes and designs, each offering a unique experience for riders. Many slides are designed to fit the overall theme of the cruise ship, incorporating elements of the surrounding environment or the ship’s design. For example, a cruise ship with a tropical theme might have water slides that resemble lush waterfalls or winding jungle rivers. Other slides may have specific design elements, such as spirals or loops, that add an extra level of excitement. The theme and design of the water slides can greatly enhance the overall experience and add an extra element of fun and adventure to the ride.

Location of Water Slides on Cruise Ships

Slide positions on ships.

The location of water slides on a cruise ship can vary depending on the ship’s design and layout. Some ships feature water slides that are positioned high up on the ship’s deck, offering panoramic views and a thrilling descent. These slides often have a designated area on the top deck, creating a sense of anticipation and excitement as riders approach the slide. Other ships may have water slides located closer to the main pool area, allowing for easy access and constant entertainment for guests. The positioning of the water slides can greatly impact the overall experience and convenience for riders.

Importance of Location for Best Slide Experiences

The location of water slides on a cruise ship is important for providing the best slide experiences to guests. When choosing a water slide location, cruise lines consider factors such as visibility, accessibility, and integration with other onboard amenities. Slides located in prominent positions, such as on the top deck or near main pool areas, allow for maximum visibility and can create a sense of excitement for both riders and onlookers. Additionally, convenient access to the slides, either through stairways or nearby elevators, ensures that riders can easily reach the slides without having to navigate through crowded areas of the ship.

Structural Considerations and Safety

The location of water slides on a cruise ship also involves structural considerations and safety measures. Cruise lines work closely with engineers and safety experts to ensure that the structure supporting the water slides is strong and secure. This includes designing slides that are built to withstand the forces exerted on them, as well as implementing safety features such as non-slip surfaces and sturdy handrails. The location of water slides must also take into account factors such as wind speed and sea conditions to ensure the safety of riders. Cruise lines are committed to providing a safe and enjoyable experience for guests, and the location of water slides plays a crucial role in achieving this goal.

Safety Guidelines for Cruise Ship Water Slides

Age and height restrictions.

Safety is a top priority when it comes to cruise ship water slides, and as such, age and height restrictions are in place to ensure the well-being of all riders. These restrictions are necessary to prevent accidents and injuries, as certain slides may be too intense for younger or smaller riders. The age and height restrictions can vary depending on the cruise line and the specific slide, but they are typically in place to protect riders and to ensure that they are physically able to handle the slide’s movements and speeds. It is important to adhere to these restrictions and to follow the guidelines set by the cruise line to ensure a safe experience for everyone.

Safety Equipment Required

In addition to age and height restrictions, cruise ship water slides may also require the use of safety equipment to further enhance the safety of riders. This can include items such as life jackets or helmets, depending on the specific slide and its design. The use of safety equipment is typically mandatory and is enforced to minimize the risk of injuries and accidents. Cruise lines provide these safety equipment items and ensure that they are readily available for guests to use before descending on the water slides.

Safe Riding Techniques

To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience on cruise ship water slides, it is important to follow safe riding techniques. This includes sitting or lying down in the correct position, keeping hands and feet inside the slide at all times, and not attempting any risky maneuvers or actions. Riders should listen to any instructions given by the slide attendants and should be aware of their surroundings while on the slide. By following these safe riding techniques, guests can help prevent accidents and injuries and can fully enjoy the thrill and excitement of the water slides.

Thrill Factor and Unique Water Slide Features

Integrating innovative technology.

In order to enhance the thrill factor and provide unique experiences, cruise lines have begun integrating innovative technology into their water slides. This can include elements such as LED lighting, music, or sound effects to create a multisensory experience for riders. These technological advancements add an extra level of excitement and immersion, making the water slide experience even more memorable and enjoyable.

Special Effects and Visual Features

Special effects and visual features are another way that cruise lines enhance the thrill factor of their water slides. This can include elements such as misters or water sprays, which provide a refreshing burst of water as riders descend. Visual features such as holographic projections or themed decorations can also be incorporated to create a visually stunning experience. These special effects and visual features add an extra element of excitement and immersion, making each water slide unique and enticing.

Unique Slide Design Concepts

Cruise lines are constantly pushing the boundaries of water slide design, coming up with innovative and unique concepts to wow their guests. From slides that twist and turn in unconventional ways to those that incorporate loops or free falls, there are a wide variety of unique slide design concepts to explore. These designs are meant to challenge and thrill riders, providing an experience that is unlike any other. By continuously pushing the envelope and introducing new design concepts, cruise lines are able to keep their water slides exciting and enticing for guests.

Top Cruise Lines with Best Water Slides

Disney cruise line.

Disney Cruise Line is renowned for its top-notch water slides that cater to all ages. The AquaDuck is a must-try for Disney cruise-goers, featuring a thrilling ride that winds its way around the ship and even extends out over the side, providing stunning views of the ocean. Disney also offers smaller water slides and splash areas for younger guests, ensuring that everyone can enjoy a fun and refreshing water experience.

Royal Caribbean International

Royal Caribbean International is known for its epic water slides that offer exhilarating rides for all ages. The Perfect Storm, featured on many of their ships, is a multi-slide complex that includes two racing slides and a twister slide, providing endless fun for guests. The Ultimate Abyss, found on their Oasis-class ships, is a unique slide that takes riders on a thrilling journey through 10 decks, complete with sound and lighting effects.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line is home to some of the most exciting water slides on the high seas. The Aqua Racer, featured on their Breakaway and Breakaway Plus-class ships, offers a thrilling race experience as riders slide down side-by-side on inner tubes. The Free Fall slide, found on their larger ships, provides an adrenaline-pumping experience as riders plummet down a near-vertical drop. Norwegian Cruise Line’s water slides are sure to satisfy any thrill-seeker.

Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival Cruise Line is no stranger to water slide fun, offering a variety of thrilling slides across their fleet of ships. The WaterWorks aqua park, found on many of their ships, features multiple slides, water cannons, and splash zones, ensuring that there is something for everyone. Carnival Cruise Line’s water slides provide a fun and refreshing way to cool off and have a blast while at sea.

Rider Experience and Reviews

First-hand experience stories.

First-hand experience stories from riders are a valuable resource when it comes to understanding the thrill and excitement of cruise ship water slides. Hearing about the exhilaration of the drops, twists, and turns from those who have experienced it firsthand can provide valuable insights into the overall rider experience. Personal anecdotes can add relatability and credibility to the water slide experience, allowing potential riders to get a glimpse of what they can expect and helping them make an informed decision.

Critiques and Recommendations

Critiques and recommendations from riders can also offer valuable information about the pros and cons of different cruise ship water slides. By sharing their experiences and opinions, riders can provide insights into the overall quality, safety, and enjoyment of the water slides. These critiques and recommendations can help guide potential riders in choosing the best water slide experience for their preferences and expectations.

Guest Ratings and Comments

Guest ratings and comments are another valuable resource for understanding the rider experience on cruise ship water slides. Reading reviews and ratings from fellow riders can give potential guests a sense of overall satisfaction, reliability, and enjoyment of the water slide experience. These ratings can also provide helpful information about a specific cruise line’s water slide offerings, allowing guests to make an informed decision based on the experiences of others.

Maintaining Hygiene and Cleanliness

Cruise line sanitation practice.

Maintaining hygiene and cleanliness on cruise ship water slides is paramount to ensuring the health and safety of riders. Cruise lines have strict sanitation practices in place to keep the slides clean and free from bacteria and germs. This includes regular cleaning and disinfection of the slides, as well as providing hand sanitizing stations for riders to use before and after their slide experience. Cruise lines follow industry guidelines and regulations to maintain high standards of hygiene and cleanliness.

Rider Hygiene Requirements

Guests are also expected to adhere to certain hygiene requirements when using cruise ship water slides. This includes showering before using the slides, wearing appropriate swimwear, and removing any items that could pose a safety hazard or impede the slide experience. These requirements are in place to ensure the health and safety of all riders and to maintain the cleanliness of the water slide area.

Maintaining Water Quality

Maintaining water quality is a key aspect of hygiene and cleanliness on cruise ship water slides. Cruise lines have advanced filtration systems in place to ensure that the water used in the slides is clean and safe for riders. This includes regular water testing to monitor chlorine levels and the presence of any harmful bacteria or contaminants. By maintaining water quality, cruise lines can provide a safe and enjoyable water slide experience for all guests.

Water Slide Operating Times and Peak Hours

Understanding operative timing.

Cruise ship water slides have specific operating times that can vary depending on the cruise line and the specific ship. These operating times are typically designed to accommodate the needs and preferences of guests. Water slides may operate during set hours each day, ensuring that riders have ample time to enjoy the slides. It is important to check the daily schedule and plan accordingly to ensure that you can make the most of the available operating times.

Avoiding Peak Rush Hours

Peak rush hours for water slides can vary depending on factors such as port days, mealtimes, and popular onboard events. To avoid long lines and wait times, it is recommended to plan your water slide experience during off-peak hours. This may involve riding the slides early in the morning, late in the evening, or during less crowded times of the day. By strategically planning your water slide adventures, you can maximize your enjoyment and minimize any potential wait times.

Biding Time for the Best Ride Experience

In instances where there may be a wait for the water slides, it is important to make the most of your time while waiting. Many cruise lines provide entertainment or activities in the vicinity of the water slides, allowing guests to stay engaged and occupied. This can include live music, games, or even nearby pool areas for guests to relax and cool off while waiting. By biding your time wisely, you can ensure that your water slide experience is as enjoyable and seamless as possible.

Photography and Video Policies for Water Slides

Understanding cruise line photography policies.

Cruise lines have specific photography policies in place when it comes to capturing moments on water slides. Some cruise lines allow guests to bring their own cameras or smartphones to document their water slide adventures, while others prohibit the use of personal photography equipment on the slides. Instead, cruise lines may offer professional photography services, including onboard photographers stationed near the water slides to capture action shots. It is important to familiarize yourself with the photography policies of the specific cruise line you are traveling with to ensure compliance and to avoid any potential issues.

Tips for Capturing the Best Water Slide Action

If photography is allowed on the water slides, there are a few tips that can help capture the best action shots. It is important to ensure that any photography equipment is properly secured and waterproof to protect it from water damage. By choosing the right vantage point and timing your shots correctly, you can capture the excitement and thrill of the water slide experience. Candid shots of riders in action, as well as photos of the surrounding scenery and views, can help create lasting memories of your water slide adventures.

Safety Considerations for Using Cameras on Slides

When using cameras on water slides, it is important to prioritize safety at all times. This includes ensuring that any photography equipment is securely fastened and does not pose a risk to yourself or others while sliding. It is also important to pay attention to your surroundings and to be aware of any potential hazards or obstructions on the slide. By following safety guidelines and using caution, you can safely capture the excitement of your water slide experience without compromising the safety of yourself or others.

What to Expect Beyond the Water Slides

Post-ride facilities.

Beyond the water slides, cruise lines often provide additional facilities for guests to enjoy after their ride. This can include splash zones, water play areas, or even dedicated pools for guests to cool off and relax. These post-ride facilities are perfect for unwinding and enjoying some leisure time after an exhilarating water slide experience. They allow guests to continue their water-based adventure in a more relaxed and refreshing setting.

Nearby Amenities & Entertainment Options

In addition to post-ride facilities, cruise ships offer a wide range of other amenities and entertainment options for guests to enjoy. This can include additional pool areas, hot tubs, or even water sports activities such as surfing or diving. Onboard theaters, casinos, and retail shops are also available to provide guests with a variety of entertainment options. Whether you prefer to lounge by the pool, try your luck at the casino, or catch a live show, there is always something to do beyond the water slides on a cruise ship.

Provision for Spectators and Non-Riders

For those who may not wish to partake in the water slide adventures, cruise lines often provide provisions for spectators and non-riders. This can include designated viewing areas or seating arrangements that allow friends or family members to cheer on their loved ones as they ride the slides. It is important to check with the specific cruise line for any restrictions or guidelines regarding spectators and non-riders to ensure a seamless and enjoyable experience for everyone.

In conclusion, cruise ship water slides offer a thrilling and fun experience for guests of all ages. Understanding the different types of water slides, their locations on the ship, safety guidelines, and the unique features they offer can help you choose the best slide experience for your cruise vacation. The top cruise lines with the best water slides, rider experiences and reviews, cleanliness and hygiene practices, water slide operating times, photography policies, and what to expect beyond the water slides are all important factors to consider when planning your water slide adventures. So grab your swimsuit, pack your sense of adventure, and get ready for an unforgettable ride on a cruise ship water slide!

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The ultimate guide to Princess Cruises ships and itineraries

Call it the cruise line for people who want a big amenity-filled ship that isn't a floating amusement park.

Princess Cruises operates relatively large, reasonably priced vessels. But unlike many of its competitors in that space — most notably Royal Caribbean , Norwegian Cruise Line and MSC Cruises — it doesn't load them up with sprawling water parks, go-kart tracks, laser tag courses and other flashy, family-focused diversions.

Compared to most of its big ship-operating rivals, Princess is known for a more serene, almost old-school style of cruising that isn't about a lot of gee-whiz attractions.

For more cruise guides, news and tips, sign up for TPG's cruise newsletter .

As Princess executives like to say, the line is all about warm and gracious service in an atmosphere of comfortable elegance designed to spark connections among passengers.

Instead of bustling attractions, the top decks on the typical Princess ships offer lots of quiet and relaxing pool and lounge areas where you can enjoy the experience of being at sea without a lot of hustle and bustle. Inside, the experience revolves around dining, classic showroom entertainment and a classy bar and music scene — just as it has on Princess ships for years.

This is, notably, just the way Princess customers like it. Popular with middle-aged couples, retirees and multigenerational families, the "Love Boat" line caters to people who like a more traditional type of cruising than you'll find on the vessels of most other big-ship lines.

Related: Which cruise brand is right for you? A guide to the most popular lines

3 things TPG loves about Princess Cruises

• The abundance of outdoor pool and lounge areas on its ships
• Its expansive spas
• Its far-flung itineraries

What we could do without

• The lack of big suites on most of its vessels

The Princess Cruises fleet

Princess has downsized its fleet considerably in recent years with the removal of five vessels, but it's still the world's fifth-biggest cruise line by passenger capacity, with 16 ships that together offer roughly 50,000 berths.

In general, Princess operates big ships, though they're not quite as big as the vessels operated by Royal Caribbean and MSC Cruises — the two lines best known for giant ships. The biggest Princess vessel, the line's new Sun Princess , measures around 177,000 tons. That's about 29% smaller than the biggest ship operated by Royal Caribbean. The line's Royal Class vessels are more than 40% smaller than the biggest Royal Caribbean ships.

Sun Princess is, without a doubt, the belle of the ball in the Princess fleet. Newer, bigger and more venue-filled than the line's other ships, it debuted in early 2024 and carries 4,300 passengers at double occupancy.

Also relatively new and chock-full of lots of venues are the line's five Royal Class ships, which measure between 142,229 and 145,281 tons. These vessels began rolling out in 2013 and carry about 3,600 passengers apiece at double occupancy.

Still, the biggest cohort of ships in the Princess fleet are its seven Grand Class vessels. Unveiled between 1998 and 2008, the vessels in this class are smaller than Sun Princess and the Royal Class ships at around 107,000 to 116,000 tons in size. This smaller size allows them to operate a wider range of itineraries than the Royal Class ships, but they're still big enough to offer a lot of onboard venues. The Grand Class ships carry between 2,600 to 3,100 passengers at double occupancy.

Rounding out the Princess fleet are its two Coral Class ships, which, at around 92,000 tons, are the smallest of the line's ships. They each carry around 2,000 passengers at double occupancy.

The downsizing of the Princess fleet over the past few years had a lot to do with the COVID-19 pandemic. Three ships left the Princess fleet starting in 2020 as part of an effort to cut costs during the line's coronavirus-caused global shutdown. Another two vessels — Golden Princess and Star Princess — had been scheduled to leave the Princess fleet even before the pandemic began. They were transferred to one of the line's sister companies, P&O Cruises Australia.

The line currently has one more vessel on order that will be a sister to the recently unveiled Sun Princess. To be called Star Princess, it's due to debut in August 2025.

Destinations and itineraries

Princess Cruises sails to more than 100 countries on seven continents, from North America and Europe to Asia and Australia, and it offers a wide range of itineraries — around 170 in a typical year. The line's ships visit more than 380 different ports and destinations and take passengers to more than 100 UNESCO World Heritage sites.

Among the line's voyages, you'll find everything from three-day sampler cruises down the Pacific Coast to 116-day around-the-world voyages.

Princess is particularly known for cruises to Alaska , where it dominates the market for cruises along with sister line Holland America . In a typical year, Princess deploys seven or eight ships to Alaska in the summer — far more than most other lines. It also operates its own wilderness lodges in the state, as well as tourist trains and buses. It uses the lodges, trains and buses to offer a range of 10- to 17-night Alaska cruisetours that combine a cruise with land-based touring.

Princess also typically deploys five to seven ships to Europe in the summer, and it has a big presence in Australia, where it can deploy as many as six ships for parts of each year. In recent years, it has also become a major player in cruises around Japan that cater to both American and Japanese travelers, as well as Australians.

In North America, Princess ships sail out of Fort Lauderdale; Los Angeles; San Francisco; San Diego; Seattle; Galveston, Texas; Vancouver, British Columbia; and Whittier, Alaska. There are also some sailings that depart from New York City, Quebec City and Honolulu.

In Europe, Princess ships mostly sail out of Southampton in the United Kingdom; Copenhagen; Barcelona; Piraeus, Greece (the port for Athens); and Civitavecchia, Italy (the port for Rome).

Related: The 5 best destinations you can visit on a Princess Cruises ship

Who sails Princess Cruises

Princess appeals to an older demographic than lines such as Carnival and Norwegian. The average age of passengers is around 54, and you'll usually see a lot of couples on board in their 50s, 60s and 70s.

As noted above, these aren't people necessarily craving go-kart tracks and ropes courses at sea. They're people looking to explore the world in a comfortable, classy sort of way that also is relatively affordable. That last part is key. Princess offers a lot of globe-circling itineraries of the sort often available from high-end luxury lines. However, it does so at a much lower price.

While not the biggest line for families with young children, Princess does draw a lot of multigenerational family groups. It's the line you take if you want an affordable ship that'll appeal to your 70-year-old parents as much as your 12-year-old kid.

Princess also draws a lot of passengers celebrating milestones. The line markets heavily to people marking birthdays and anniversaries with special packages and programs. It's also a huge player in the market for destination weddings at sea, with a division that will help you arrange a ceremony on board or at an exotic location on land during a port call.

Princess was, notably, the first cruise line to host modern-day weddings on ships, offering ceremonies officiated by the ships' captains hosted in onboard chapels.

It is, after all, the "Love Boat" line.

Cabins and suites

When it comes to rooms, Princess is sort of the Marriott of the big-ship cruise world. Its rooms are comfortable and functional but a bit bland. Avant-garde style is not a Princess thing.

The vast majority of the accommodations on Princess ships fall into one of three broad categories: windowless inside cabins, oceanview cabins and balcony cabins. Balcony cabins, in particular, are widespread on Princess ships. Among mass-market lines, Princess was the pioneer in adding large numbers of balcony cabins to ships.

While balcony cabins are common on Princess ships, you'll find relatively few suites on them. Just 50 of 2,162 cabins on the line's new Sun Princess are suites, for instance, and that's a lot more suites than you'll find on most other Princess ships.

What this means is there aren't a lot of ways to live large on a Princess ship or to pack a lot of people into a single accommodation. Until the debut of Sky Princess in 2019, the line didn't have a single cabin that could accommodate more than four people.

That said, the Grand Class vessels each offer two Family Suites that can be created by connecting a Mini-Suite with an adjacent inside cabin to form a six- to eight-person complex.

Unveiled five years ago, Sky Princess featured the line's first truly large stand-alone suites, dubbed Sky Suites. Such suites were added to the line's Discovery Princess, too.

There are two of the suites on each of the ships, and they measure a generous 1,800 square feet (though more than half of that space is taken up by a huge wraparound balcony). With two bedrooms plus a living room with a pullout sofa, they're designed for up to five people.

The line's new Sun Princess also has several large suites that measure as much as 1,260 square feet.

Still, even the biggest suites of Sky Princess, Discovery Princess and Sun Princess aren't the truly epic suites with huge interior living spaces that you'll find on the latest Royal Caribbean or Regent Seven Seas Cruises ships. If that's what you're after, Princess isn't your line.

Related: The 7 best cruise ship suites — picked by someone who has seen them all

Restaurants and dining

Every Princess vessel has three main dining rooms where meals are included in the fare, and these dining rooms are at the heart of the dining experience on Princess ships. Many passengers have all or most of their dinners in a main dining room.

As of this year, the three main dining rooms on each Princess ship operate under different formats. At one of the main rooms, you can make a reservation for any time, provided a table at the time you want is available. To ensure the time you want, it's best to reserve a table far in advance of your sailing, which you can do online once you've paid for the cruise in full. You also can make reservations on board ships during your cruise.

At another of the main dining rooms, you can just show up for dinner at any time without a reservation and be seated on a space-available basis.

The third main dining room on every Princess ship offers a fixed-time "traditional" seating option where you can request the same table at the same time with the same waiter every night of a cruise.

Every vessel also has a casual buffet eatery where meals are included in the fare. Near the main pool area on most ships, it's usually called Horizon Court but is also known as the World Fresh Market or Panorama Buffet on some vessels.

Other covered options on at least some Princess ships include poolside pizza outlets and poolside grills serving burgers. Also, on sea days, Princess transforms a bar or dining venue at lunchtime into an included-in-the-fare English-style pub. It serves traditional pub food such as fish and chips and cottage pie, along with Bass Ale or Guinness (for an extra charge).

Every Princess ship also has at least a couple of extra-charge eateries. On most ships, you'll find the line's signature Italian restaurant, Sabatini's. It serves homemade pasta, seafood and other Italian specialties in an elegant setting and comes with a flat fee of $45 per person.

Most Princess ships also have a signature steakhouse. On most vessels, it's called Crown Grill and offers premium beef and seafood cooked to order in an open, theater-style kitchen. On two ships — Diamond Princess and Sapphire Princess — it's called Sterling Steakhouse, where passengers choose their cut of steak from a tray presented by their waiter.

On two ships — Coral Princess and Island Princess — the steakhouse has a Cajun and Creole twist. In addition to steak dishes, the menu features New Orleans-style peel-and-eat shrimp, alligator ribs and gumbo. On those vessels, it's called the Bayou Cafe and Steakhouse.

All the steakhouses come with a flat fee of $45 per person.

Princess ships also offer a chef's table experience — a concept the line pioneered in the cruise world. Costing $95 to $115 per person, it includes pre-dinner cocktails and hors d'oeuvres in the ship's galley with the executive chef before a main dining experience at a private table in the dining room.

Another dining option that recently began popping up on Princess ships is a seafood eatery called The Catch by Rudi, designed by Princess' head of culinary arts, Rudi Sodamin. (Holland America fans will remember Sodamin as that line's longtime master chef.)

The Catch by Rudi is only on Sun Princess, Enchanted Princess, Sky Princess, Majestic Princess and Discovery Princess. Like the Princess steakhouses, it has a $45 per person cover charge.

Related: Cruise ship restaurant nirvana: The 10 best meals you can have at sea

Entertainment and activities

Princess ships are loaded with entertainment that ranges from Broadway-style theater shows to street entertainers who appear in each vessel's central piazza. That said, they're not floating amusement parks. Unlike some big-ship lines, Princess isn't topping its vessels with waterslides, go-kart tracks, ropes courses and other family-focused attractions.

Theaters and shows

There's no shortage of theater and lounge entertainment on Princess ships. On a typical night, you might find a flashy, fast-paced production show playing in the main theater, a comedian performing in a secondary lounge and live music on offer in several more venues.

In many cases, the main theaters on Princess ships are quite elaborate, with Broadway-show-level lighting and special effects, and the productions housed within the theaters are elaborate, too.

Princess has upped its game with its theater productions in recent years through a partnership with Stephen Schwartz, the Tony Award-winning composer of "Wicked," "Godspell" and "Pippin."

Among new productions that Schwartz has worked on is "The Secret Silk," which features life-size puppetry from Jim Henson's Creature Shop, dancing and special effects. It was created and directed by John Tartaglia, a star of Broadway's "Avenue Q" and "Beauty and the Beast."

Princess is also known for its karaoke nights, and it holds a "The Voice of the Ocean" competition during cruises, which is a spinoff of the TV show. Passengers compete in a live performance after karaoke auditions and rehearsal sessions with the shipboard band and backup singers. A team of coaches sits in giant "I Want You" chairs, just like on the show, and passengers vote to choose the winner.

Other interior attractions and activities

In addition to entertainment spaces, the interiors of Princess ships are filled with other venues where passengers can kick back and let loose day and night, including a range of bars, lounges and nightspots.

On many ships, the hub of activity is the Piazza, a sprawling, multilevel space that serves as a central gathering place, like a square in Italy. The configuration of the Piazza varies by ship, but the area typically offers several shops, a coffee bar called International Cafe, a wine bar called Vines and (on some vessels) additional bars and eateries. The Piazza is also home to roving street performers.

Every Princess ship also has a casino, often just off the Piazza, and spas are big on Princess ships. The Lotus Spa complexes on the line's Royal Class ships offer nearly two dozen treatment rooms, an extensive beauty salon and a thermal suite with a hydrotherapy pool, heated stone beds, a Turkish-style steam bath and other steam chambers.

Several of the newer Princess ships, including Discovery Princess, Enchanted Princess and Sky Princess, have jazz clubs called Take 5.

In addition to such venues, Princess offers a lot of enrichment activities on its ships. The line has partnered with Discovery to offer a Discovery at Sea program on vessels that includes activities like stargazing with a specialist from a top deck. The program also brings destination specialists and naturalists on board in places such as Alaska to offer insights.

Inspired by Discovery's popular "Shark Week," Princess has also created Shark Week at Sea programming that runs on select sailings in the summer with activities and games designed to challenge both adults and kids on the myths and interesting facts about sharks.

Culinary demonstrations, wine tastings and dance classes also are popular on Princess ships.

Top-deck attractions

The top decks of most Princess ships are notable for what they don't have: There are no roller coasters or pedal-powered sky rides like you'll find on Carnival ships or the go-kart tracks that top some Norwegian vessels. There are no surfing simulators, sky diving simulators, rock climbing walls or zip lines of the sort found on Royal Caribbean vessels. For the most part, there aren't even waterslides or watery splash zones (two vessels, Caribbean Princess and Sun Princess, do have splash zones).

Princess executives long ago decided not to engage in what they call the "amusement park arms race" taking place among lines operating big resort-like ships.

Instead, the line has mostly stuck to the basics with its top decks. They are covered with relaxing pool and lounge zones — and lots of them.

On the last three Royal Class ships, for instance, there's a main pool area at the center of the top deck with two full pools and three hot tubs, plus a secondary pool area at the back of the ship with another pool. There's also an adults-only pool area toward the front of the vessel, along with an extra-charge, adults-only relaxation area called the Sanctuary.

Between all these pool and lounge areas running along the sides of the ship are additional sunning areas with lounge chairs and four more hot tubs.

In short, there is a ton of space for relaxing on the top deck of these newest Princess vessels — more than you'll find on any other ship of comparable size, save for their earlier sisters in the Royal Class.

The one big attraction that you will find on the top deck of Princess ships, always at the main pool area, is a giant Movies Under the Stars movie screen. A growing number of cruise ships now have movie screens on their pool decks, but Princess pioneered the concept.

The screens show movies, concerts and sporting events during the day, but at night, they really shine. In a longtime Princess tradition, the line turns the main pool areas of its ships into outdoor movie theaters at night by reconfiguring lounge chairs to face the screen and bringing out blankets to ward off the evening chill. They even serve popcorn.

Some ships also feature basketball courts, miniature golf putting courses, shuffleboard games and pingpong tables tucked into corners of their top decks.

Additionally, the new Sun Princess has a family-friendly play zone called Park19 with a hang-gliding-like ride experience, a ropes course and the previously mentioned splash zone — quite a bit more family-fun pizazz than has been the norm at the line. For now, it's the outlier in the Princess fleet when it comes to decktop amusements.

Children's programs

While it doesn't draw as many families with young children as Carnival or Royal Caribbean, Princess offers an extensive children's program that gets high marks from parents.

The Princess Youth and Teen centers were recently rebranded "Camp Discovery" as part of the line's partnership with Discovery Communications and offer free, supervised activities daily for children ages 3 to 17.

The line splits children in the program into three age groups: the Treehouse (ages 3 to 7 years), the Lodge (ages 8 to 12 years) and the Beach House (ages 13 to 17 years). Each age group often has its own separate facilities on ships. On some ships, the age groups may be further divided based on available space.

Each group has its own age-appropriate activities, with newly revamped experiences designed to "help young Princess explorers learn, play and create fun memories."

While the free programming for children ages 3 to 12 ends at 10 p.m., you can pay extra to leave your kids at shipboard Youth and Teen centers from 10 p.m. until 1 a.m. During those hours, they're supervised in what is essentially a group child-sitting service.

The Youth and Teen centers also welcome children under the age of 3 if they are accompanied by an adult.

Related: The 15 best cruise ships for people who never want to grow up

What to know before you go

Required documents.

A passport is required for all international itineraries, including world cruises and sailings to Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, Europe, India, Central and South America, the Panama Canal (partial and full transit), Caribbean voyages that visit Martinique or Guadeloupe, the South Pacific and Tahiti.

If you're a U.S. citizen, you don't need a passport for many domestic itineraries (including Alaska, Bermuda, Canada, Caribbean, Hawaii and Mexico sailings). You can instead travel with an official copy of your birth certificate and a driver's license or other government-issued photo identification. A few other forms of identification, such as a passport card, are also acceptable. That said, Princess strongly recommends that all travelers bring a passport.

Passports must be valid for at least six months. The name on your reservation must be exactly as it is stated on your passport or other official proof of nationality.

Related: Where can I cruise without a passport?

Princess adds an automatic service gratuity of $16 to $18 per person, per day to final bills, depending on your cabin category. If you are unhappy with the service you receive, you can adjust this amount at the Guest Services desk before disembarking. (You can also increase the tip amount if so desired.) Also, an 18% gratuity is added to bills at bars, dining room wine accounts and spas.

Related: Tipping on a cruise: What to know about cruise ship gratuities

Princess has rolled out faster Wi-Fi systems with landlike speeds across its fleet in recent years, such that you now can stream video on ships. That's the upside. The downside is that such service costs a lot more than Wi-Fi access did in the past. Pricing changes over time, but the line was recently charging $24.99 per day to hook up a single device. That's an enormous increase from as recently as early 2023, when Wi-Fi access was available for just $9.99.

The faster Princess Wi-Fi system is called MedallionNet, and it's one of several technological upgrades that Princess has made to its ships in recent years under an umbrella called MedallionClass. MedallionClass also brings expedited embarkation, keyless cabin entry, on-demand food and beverage delivery, and the ability to locate friends and family on board — all via an app for mobile devices and a Princess-issued medallion that passengers carry while traveling.

Related: Wi-Fi on cruise ships: 5 things to know about internet use on board

Carry-on drinks policy

Princess allows you to bring one bottle of wine or Champagne per person onto ships at boarding at no charge (for consuming in your room; you'll be charged a $20 corkage fee if you want to bring it to an onboard restaurant or bar to drink). You can bring even more bottles of wine on board, but you will pay a $20 corkage fee per bottle.

Smoking policy

On all ships, smoking (including electronic cigarettes) is only allowed in designated outdoor areas and in cigar lounges, designated sections within nightclubs and at designated slot machines within casinos (for those who are playing). It's forbidden in cabins and on cabin balconies. Passengers caught smoking in their cabins will be charged a $250 fine per occurrence. One exception to the above rule is that e-cigarettes are allowed in cabins (but not on cabin balconies).

Princess ships have self-serve launderettes on cabin decks with washing machines, dryers, irons and ironing boards. There's a $3 per load charge to use a washer or dryer. The launderettes also have vending machines that dispense small boxes of detergent and water softener at $1.50 per box. Additionally, vessels offer extra-charge laundry and dry cleaning services.

Related: Everything you need to know about cruise ship laundry services

Electrical outlets

All vessels have standard North American-style, 110-volt outlets in rooms, and some also have European-style, 220-volt outlets and USB ports in cabins.

The currency used on most Princess itineraries is dollars. The exceptions are select sailings on ships based in Australia, where pricing is listed in Australian dollars. All vessels operate on a cashless system, with any onboard purchases you make posting automatically to your onboard account. You'll receive a medallion that you can use to make charges. This same card or medallion also is what lets you into your cabin.

Drinking age

You must be 21 to consume alcohol on many Princess itineraries. The exceptions include sailings between ports in Europe, China, Australia and New Zealand, and Singapore, where the drinking age is 18. For cruises between Japanese ports, the drinking age is 20.

During the day, there is no specific dress code, and people dress casually. If it's a sea day in a warm-weather destination, and you're bound for the top deck, that means looking like you're going to the beach — T-shirts, shorts and bathing suits (with a cover-up to go inside) are just fine.

At night, there is an official dress code that is enforced when entering restaurants. Most nights are designated as "smart casual," which Princess takes to mean pants and an open-neck shirt for men and skirts and dresses or slacks for women.

Beach attire, shorts, baseball caps and casual jeans (think: the fraying kind or those with holes) are not allowed. One or more nights per cruise, depending on the cruise length, will be designated as a "formal" night when men are expected to turn out in dark suits with a tie or even a tuxedo. The suggested attire for women on such nights is evening gowns or cocktail dresses.

Related: Cruise packing list: The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise

Princess Cruises' loyalty program

Princess has a four-tier frequent cruiser program, the Captain's Circle, that is worth joining for the perks — if you're willing to bear with its convoluted tier qualifying structure.

You reach the first tier, Gold, by taking a single cruise. However, from there, you move to each successive tier either by accruing a certain number of "cruise credits" (which aren't necessarily the same as the number of cruises you've taken) or by sailing a certain number of days.

To reach the Ruby level, for instance, requires three cruise credits (more on those in a moment) or 30 days on Princess ships. Platinum status kicks in after five cruise credits or 50 days on ships.

Related: Princess Cruises' Captain's Circle loyalty program: Everything you need to know

In most cases, members earn one cruise credit for every cruise they take. However, members who book a suite or travel solo in a cabin meant for two will receive two cruise credits for the voyage. The number of cruise credits you have earned is thus often the same as the number of cruises you have taken, but not always.

As is typical with cruise line loyalty programs, lower tiers don't bring all that much in terms of truly valuable benefits. You'll receive things like an invite to a private party (at the Gold tier) and a free upgrade for your travel insurance package when buying it through the line (at the Ruby tier). However, higher levels of the program start to be enticing.

The second-to-highest tier, Platinum, brings such perks as priority check-in and boarding, and a free internet package.

The top Elite level (15 cruise credits or 151 cruise days) adds such things as an exclusive window to preview and book new itineraries, priority ship-to-shore water shuttle service, complimentary laundry and a complimentary minibar setup.

Members at all tier levels get access to special pricing on certain cruises. They also receive a monthly newsletter and a membership pin.

Note that, in contrast to airline frequent flyer programs, cruise line loyalty programs do not require you to requalify for status every year. So, yes, the perks with lower tiers aren't great. However, it's not as difficult as it might at first seem to hit the more rewarding higher-level tiers in just a few years if you're cruising a lot.

A Princess passenger staying in suites will hit the Platinum level after just three cruises. The top Elite level is reachable within just eight cruises for someone staying in suites.

Related: A beginners guide to cruise line loyalty programs

How much does a Princess cruise cost?

Princess ships are very reasonably priced. They're not the least expensive vessels out there, but they're not pricey by any means. It's possible to find Princess voyages to the Caribbean, the Bahamas or Mexico starting under $100 per person, per night, including all taxes and fees — at least in the offseason.

For instance, as of the date of this story's posting, six-night sailings from Galveston, Texas, to the Western Caribbean in February 2025 started at just $418 per person, not including taxes and fees of $138. That works out to just $93 per night, per person, with taxes and fees for a package that includes your lodging, transportation and meals.

As you might expect, pricing for ships will generally be lower during offseason periods such as September, October, November (not including Thanksgiving week) and parts of December.

When you book can also matter. Cruises book up much further in advance than airplanes or hotels. Many cruisers will tell you that the best pricing for any given sailing is often available when cruises first go on sale (which can be a good two years before a departure). Booking far in advance also gives you the best chance of getting your preferred cabin type and location on a ship.

Once on board a Princess ship, you'll pay extra for most drinks, extra-charge restaurants, spa services, shore excursions, internet service and a few other things — unless you've bought a package for some of these items in advance.

Specifically, the line now offers bundle pricing for extra-charge items such as gratuity fees, Wi-Fi fees and a few other fees for onboard items if passengers pay for them in advance.

The line's Princess Plus plan gives passengers prepaid gratuities, a single-device Wi-Fi plan, a basic beverage package and a few other freebies for a bundled price of $60 per person, per day.

An enhanced version of the above plan called Princess Premier gives you Wi-Fi access on more devices, a premium drinks package and other additional inclusions for $80 per person, per day.

Most onboard activities, such as theater shows, are included in the fare.

Related: 15 ways that cruising newbies waste money on their first cruise

How to book

If you're sure you know what sort of cabin you want, on which ship, on which itinerary — and about a dozen other things — you can head over to Princess.com to make a booking directly.

That said, given the complexity of booking a cruise — there are a lot of decisions to make during the booking process, trust us — we recommend that you use a seasoned travel agent who specializes in cruises.

A good travel agent will quiz you about your particular interests, travel style and preferences, and steer you to the perfect cruise line, ship, itinerary and cabin for you. They can also help you if something goes wrong just before, during or after your voyage.

If you're sure that Princess is your line, look for a travel agent who specializes in trips with the brand. You want someone who understands all the little quirks that are unique to Princess cabin categories and, preferably, has done ship inspections to see the cabins firsthand.

Related: How to book a cruise using points and miles

Whether you use a travel agent or not, make sure to maximize your credit card points when paying for the cruise by using a credit card that offers extra points for travel purchases . This could be the Chase Sapphire Reserve® , which offers 3 Chase Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on travel and dining (excluding the annual up-to-$300 travel credit). There's also the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card , which brings 2 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on travel and 3 Ultimate Rewards points per dollar spent on dining.

Bottom line

Princess offers big, amenity-filled ships that are comfortable and classy at an affordable price.

If you're looking for a lot of top-deck fun zones — waterslides, go-kart tracks and the like — it's probably not the line for you. However, if you're on the hunt for not-too-expensive vessels that will take you to the farthest corners of the world in comfort, Princess ships should be on your shortlist.

It's also a great line if you're trying to put together a multigenerational trip, as its ships are designed to appeal to a wide range of age groups.

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

• The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
• A beginners guide to picking a cruise line
• The 8 worst cabin locations on any cruise ship
• The ultimate guide to what to pack for a cruise
• A quick guide to the most popular cruise lines
• 21 tips and tricks that will make your cruise go smoothly
• Top ways cruisers waste money
• The ultimate guide to choosing a cruise ship cabin

Which Cruise Ships Have Water Slides

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I have always enjoyed water slides! The rush, speed, thrills and adrenaline felt are always fun! But it can only get better when you are aboard an amazing cruise ship and the joy is at sea. It is really fun to see how the cruise industry evolves and they all compete again each other to have the very best aboard.

I have been on a few cruises already and experienced all the water slides that they had aboard. I have compiled a list of the water slides and rated them for your enjoyment.

The Best Cruise Ship Water Parks For Kids And Tweens

Anyone whos ever cruised in the Caribbean or Mexico knows how hot a day at sea can get. With temperatures routinely hitting 80 degrees and above, being able to cool off onboard your ship is a must. And for families with young kids and tweens, nothing beats a cruise ship water park with water slides when it comes to keeping everyone happy and refreshed on days at sea.

Dr Seuss Waterworks Carnival Horizon

A compact zone of splish-splash fun for the whole family sits high atop the Carnival Horizon . Dr. Seuss Waterworks is dominated by the colorful red and white Cat in the Hat slide and the twisting Thing 1 and 2 waterslide, appropriately colored blue like their whacky hair. The park also includes a youthful splash area with smaller slides and a big bucket regularly pouring hundreds of gallons of water down onto happy kids.

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The Perfect Storm Twice The Exhilaration

Whats three stories high and loaded with super-soaked twists and turns? The Perfect Storm water slide duo . Its made up of two high-speed slides Typhoon and Cyclone intertwined in one white-knuckle experience, which means you can dare a friend to join in the action and race them to the bottom. Some of the panels are even translucent, offering breathtaking views as you speed along on your journey.

Try To Ride Them In The Morning Or Evening

Lines for the water slides are to be expected, but you can beat the crowds if you are flexible in your time. Check the Cruise Compass for exact times of operation, but try to ride the water slides in the morning when they first open and/or in the evening when many guests are having dinner.

Both of these times will result in much shorter lines. The late-morning and afternoon are the peak times for the water slides, so expect a longer wait if you want to ride during those times.

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But First Of All Lets Look At The Water Slides On Harmony Of The Seas

Which royal caribbean ships have water slides onboard.

• Wonder Of The Seas

Which Are The Water Slides On Harmony Of The Seas?

Harmony of the Seas has 3 large water slides on-board, as well as smaller slides on Splashaway Bay. The Perfect Storm Waterslides Are Made Up Of Typhoon, Cyclone and Supercell.

Typhoon And Cyclone

This three story high Perfect Storm water slide duo is made up of two high-speed slides, Typhoon and Cyclone. These crazy slide are intertwined in one exhilarating hair raising ride.

Thus meaning you can challenge friends and family to join in the race to the bottom and ultimate victory. Made of a combination of twist, turns and translucent sections so you can see your opponent whizzing past as you check out the views of sea and horizon.

The Supercell

The Supercell is the craziest fun addition to The Perfect Storm, the ride starts off as a typical water slide but is full of surprises such as translucent panels which offer the most amazing views of the sea.

With psychedelic pulsing lights which seem to push you faster all building up to the Supercell, a huge bowl which swirls you around and around in a tightening spiral before finally letting you slide out though to the exit.

Msc Meraviglia And Msc Bellissima

MSC Cruises Meraviglia class ships feature three water slides two with tubes which twist and turn through mostly darkness, and one which looks like a wide-brimmed champagne glass where riders swirl round and round.

Theres also a polar-themed water park for youngsters, with large sculptures of polar bears and whales as well as spray guns, water dunkers and a small slide.

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The Most Fun Water Slide On A Cruise Ship

One more water slide which I couldnt possibly leave out ofthis article about the best water slides on cruise ships is Norwegian CruiseLines Epic Plunge.

Epic Plunge, which can be found only on NCLs Norwegian Epic cruise ship, is unique in that it has a large bowl where you whizz round and round before plopping out the bottom.

This is my favourite kind of water slide its just so much fun. To make this slide even more interesting, guests can choose whether they want to ride with or without an inflatable ring. MSC Virtuosa also has a similar slide but without option of the ring.

This slide is 200 feet long but feels much longer as youre never quite sure how many times youll spin around the bowl before slowing down and falling through the middle.

Restrictions for NCLs Epic Plunge slide:

• Minimum height is 42 inches

Dueling Demons The Ultimate Altitude Adjustment

If you love the sensation of free falling, this is the ride for you. The Dueling Demons are twin drop slides that launch riders from a vertical position 75 feet above the ground. Whos ready for a little heightened adrenaline?

Located at Daredevils Tower inside Thrill Waterpark on Perfect Day at CocoCay .

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The 5 Craziest Cruise Ship Water Slides

Cruise ship water slides have come a long way. Read on for the craziest innovations yet. – Photo by Carnival Cruise Lines

If youre the type of cruiser whose daytime entertainment needs to go beyond a dip in the pool, then youll want to take note of these five adrenaline-pumping water rides. Complete with twists, turns, drops even some surprises! these slides can add some excitement to your sea day, and make you feel like a kid again:

1. AquaDuck

Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy , Disney Cruise Line

Located on Deck 12, this water slide is dubbed an aqua coaster due to its roller coasterlike warren of twists and drops. As you ride through the 765-foot course, you can take in views high above the ocean until your single or double raft drops into the lazy river at the end.

Also Look for: Each ship also has themed splash zones dedicated to little ones 8 years and younger. Nemos Reef on Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy and AquaLab, also on Disney Fantasy, have water jets, fountains, and mini-water slides.

2. Free Fall

Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Cruise Line

These ships have the largest water parks in the fleet, featuring the heart-stopping Free Fall ride. Two brave souls step up to the side-by-side slides, where they stand and wait in anticipation for the trap door to drop from underneath their feet. Fellow passengers can watch the action below through the translucent tubes, as their courageous counterparts loop around to a fast-paced finish.

Msc Seaside And Msc Seaview

Almost-identical twin ships MSC Seaside and MSC Seaview take cruise ship slides to the next level with the Slideboard. The Slideboard is more than just a water slide, its also an interactive game, dropping two decks, this duo of slides twists and turns with flashing lights and music.

Riders sit on slideboards, which have buttons on them to press in time to the flashing lights to score points. A leader board at the exit keeps track of each riders score. As if that wasnt enough, there are a further two fast racing slides with clear sections over the side of the ship and an open spiral slide.

Younger cruisers will love the Forest Aquaventure Park. Located inside the ships funnel surround it has a good amount of shade from the sun and features a shallow pool, fountains, spray nozzles, mini slides and a giant water bucket.

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Craziest Water Slides At Sea

If youre the type of cruiser whose daytime entertainment needs to go beyond a dip in the pool, then youll want to take note of these five adrenaline-pumping water rides. Complete with twists, turns, drops even some surprises these slides can add some excitement to your sea day, and make you feel like a kid again.

Located on Deck 12, this water slide is dubbed an aqua coaster due to its roller-coaster-like maze of twists and drops. As you ride through the 765-foot course, you can take in views high above the ocean until your single or double raft drops into the lazy river at the end.

Also Look For: Each ship also has themed splash zones dedicated to little ones 8 years and younger. Nemos Reef on Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy and AquaLab, also on Disney Fantasy , have water jets, fountains, and mini-water slides.

These ships have the largest water parks in the fleet, featuring the heart-stopping Free Fall ride. Two brave souls step up to the side-by-side slides, where they stand and wait in anticipation for the trap door to drop from underneath their feet. Fellow passengers can watch the action below through the translucent tubes, as their courageous counterparts loop at 4G speeds to a fast-paced finish.

Also Look For: Norwegian Breakaway and Norwegian Getaway have Nickelodeon-themed aqua parks for toddlers, featuring life-sized characters, such as SpongeBob SquarePants, along with water squirters and shallow splash pools.

Cruise Ships Wage Water Slide War

The warm summer months of cruising mean even more time to enjoy top-deck activities on the cruise ships. While for many years that meant lounging by the pool, recent years have brought on more thrilling experiences including the proliferation of the water park.

A signature water park with extreme water slides has been one way for cruise ships to set themselves apart.

Disney Cruise Line, for instance, introduced the AquaDuck water coaster on its Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy ships. That ride sends one or two people on floats through 765 feet of clear acrylic tubing around the top deck, through the ship’s forward funnel and eventually dropping down four decks into a lazy river at the end. The ride commands hour-long waits on busy days on board. On the older, smaller Disney Magic, the line offered up a more thrilling 8-second ride called the AquaDunk that drops riders through bomb-bay doors and shoots them down and out over the side of the ship for a fleeting view of the ocean below.

The trend has meant cruise lines have had to up their game on new ships coming to market.

MSC Preziosa for instance, which debuted in 2013, holds the record for longest single-rider body slide at sea, a 390-foot-long twisting slide with strobe effects.

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“We’ve done that to provide that sense of danger and excitement,” Martin said.

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Learn More About The Slides And Swimming Pools Available On Cruise Ships

Cruises are all about having fun, so what better way to start your adventure than to make a splash in one of the many waterslides and pools on offer?

There are plenty of cruise lines out there which are packed full of fun and incredible pool activities to keep you entertained, from luxurious and tranquil pools to adrenaline-fuelled waterslides.

So if youre looking for something a little different with your next cruise, why not take a look at our waterslide and pool guide to find a cruise line which will cater to your needs?

Best Cruise Ship Water Parks

Cruise ship water parks are a top-deck jumble of cascading tubes in Crayola colors, cartoon characters playfully spraying into kiddie pools, and delighted screams that splash out of slides and from behind water cannons. These water playgrounds are an especially attractive diversion on the warm-weather itineraries offered year-round by most cruise lines.

Cruise ship water parks are being quickly one-upped as cruise lines get creative with their brand-new ships. Innovative slides that thrill riders with drop-out floors, two-person floats and spiraling funnels now include dazzling light effects, and expansive top-deck areas have added even more square footage and water features as cruise lines roll out their largest water parks to date.

In today’s world of water parks at sea, five cruise lines stand out because of their impressive aquatic chops. Here are our favorites.

• Royal Caribbean’s H2O Zone and Splashaway Bay

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Coco Cay Inflatable Slide

Ship: Royal Caribbean Shore Excursion

When arriving at the beautiful Bahamian resort of Cococay, Royal Caribbean passengers have the opportunity to either relax on the beach or plunge 40ft on the Sea-Trek slide. The slide is available all day during the Cococay excursion for all guests capable of swimming and at least 48 inches tall.

For a full range of fantastic cruise deals, visit the Cruise1st homepage or .

Images sourced via Flickr Creative Commons. Credits: CruiseSource.us, Triple Tri, Kim, Chris Gent

Disney Cruise Water Slides: The Ultimate Guide

This post may contain affiliate links. if you click one, i may earn a commission at no cost to you. as an amazon associate i earn from qualifying purchases..

Disney cruise ships feature some fantastic water slides for kids and adults alike. From small slides that are just for kids to thrilling water coasters that whizz over the edge of the ship and drop down as many as four decks, Disney cruise ships have a slide for everyone.

But, the slides are different on each ship. If youre wondering which water slides youll find on each Disney cruise ship, youll find all the info here.

Ive also included the height and age requirements to ride on each of the slides, as well as some videos so that you can see what to expect before you board your cruise.

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Water Slides Tips & Advice

• Water slides are open on embarkation day, so bring your bathing suit in your carry-on luggage so you can take advantage of lower lines.
• Want to go faster on any of these slides? Bating suit materials and rash guards slow you down, so the less material in contact with the slide, the faster you will go.
• At Perfect Day at CocoCay, life guards will ask you to remove rash guards when going down slides on Daredevil’s Peak.
• When your ship is in port is a great time to enjoy the water slides with less of a wait.
• Many times there are multiple lines for slides, but guests can stand together blocking the way. Politely ask to move past them if you do not see the end of your line.

Carnival Waterworks Carnival Cruise Line

Kids of all ages will love the brightly colored Carnival WaterWorks water parks found on most Carnival Cruise Line ships. Though the space and design varies by ship, all of the Carnival ship water parks feature one or two water slides, a giant tipping bucket, and kiddie spray zones with fountains and water cannons that are perfect for younger kids.

Most ships have either straight or curling slides, but Carnival Vista offers up the Kaleid-O-Slide . This water slide, geared toward the seven-and-up crowd, takes riders on mats down a 455-foot-long series of twists and turns amidst flashing kaleidoscopic lights and visual effects. Even younger kids will appreciate the Dr. Seuss-themed WaterWorks and spray zone on Carnival Horizon , which includes a massive water-tipping top-hat and two water slides.

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Princess Cruises Adding Their First Water Park To Cruise Ship

Princess Cruises is adding their first water park on a cruise ship later this year when Caribbean Princess goes into dry dock right before summer.

The cruise line is adding The Reef Family Splash Zone that will be a refined, playful and relaxing area for adults and kids alike to gather and enjoy sun and water together. Located aft on deck 17, The Reef will offer many enticing features, including:

Splashpad with Whale Feature this interactive and inviting water playground features a splash pool, assorted water sprays and showers where families can enjoy a day of splashing, laughing and playing. The focal point is an interactive whale feature, with rain from its fluke.

Game Zone bringing family competition to a whole new level with oversized backyard games, comfy lounge sectionals, and a kid-friendly bar setting, families can grab some cocktails and mocktails while challenging the kids to a game of Connect Four, Jenga or Cornhole.

New Outdoor Furniture with a variety of seating and lounging options, from single sun loungers to sectional chairs and couches with tables, he Reef transforms into an inviting space for groups of all sizes aimed to be comfortable and conversational, also featuring new fixtures and finishes.

Shade Canopy and Wind Panels for guests looking for less sun, a canopy will offer a section of the Reef shade and sun protection while wind panels will be installed throughout the area for all-day comfort.

Ocean Loops On Norwegian Cruise Line

Ocean Loops hand over the side of the ship Photo: Norwegian Cruise Line

Ocean Loops is an evolution of the drop slide concept. You stand vertical in a closed tube as you wait for a trap door to drop from underneath your feet. After dropping freefall you then slide up in a loop-de-loop that extends over the side of the ship during your ride.

Thrill Score: 5/5 Similar to The Green Thunder. The ride is intense but short. You may not like if you suffer from claustrophobia.

Restrictions: Minimum height is 122 cm/48″ inches. Minimum weight is 59kg/130 lbs. Maximum weight is 136 kg/300 lbs.

Available on: Norwegian Bliss, Norwegian Encore, Norwegian Joy

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All 16 Princess Cruises Ships, From Newest to Oldest

Here’s everything you need to know about the Princess Cruises fleet.

Courtesy of Princess Cruises

Sailors of all ages love Princess Cruises for its quality, service, value, and serene style of cruising.  What’s more, the 2023 T+L World’s Best Award-winning mega-ship line   — which is also a WBA Hall of Fame Honoree — tends to steer clear of splashy entertainment (for example, you won’t find go-karts, water slides, or ziplines on board most ships) in favor of more refined activities. Discovery at SEA programming is a standout offering: In partnership with Discovery and Animal Planet, guests can partake in nature-centric onboard activities and shore excursions. Most Princess ships boast a majestic atrium modeled after an Italian piazza, and it’s here where you’ll find some of the best drinking, dining, and shopping venues on board. 

According to travel advisor and cruise specialist Jennaca Boose of Marvelous Mouse Travels , Princess’ fleet of 15 ships — 16 if you count the upcoming Sun Princess , which will make its long-anticipated debut this year — is family-friendly, and each vessel is “equipped to entertain all ages;” however, some cater towards specific age demographics better than others. For example, she says, travelers sailing with younger children will especially love Royal Princess and Regal Princess , which “have even more to offer” beyond the kids club, such as “outdoor play areas with jungle gyms and a separate teen space with a hot tub.” Meanwhile, says Boose, cruisers craving an intimate onboard experience may consider sailing aboard Coral Princess or Island Princess , which are two of the line’s smaller ships. 

Finally, it’s also worth noting that the line ​​offers dozens, if not hundreds, of itineraries across the globe, including Alaska, Mexico, Japan, the Mediterranean, and many more. “Whether you’re looking for a quick getaway or an immersive cultural itinerary,” says Boose, “Princess has a ship for you.” Without further ado, keep scrolling for a breakdown of each ship in the Princess Cruises fleet to help you narrow down which vessels would be best for you. 

Related: 21 Cruise Tips That Will Help Make Your Trip Even Better, According to Experts

Sun Princess

Inaugural Year: 2024

Ship Class: Sphere

Ship Capacity: 4,300 guests

The inaugural ship in Princess' new Sphere class, Sun Princess is the line's largest — and flashiest — vessel to date. Set to sail the Mediterranean and Caribbean, this 20-deck mega-ship is sure to make waves following its early 2024 debut. The Park19 family zone will offer nine fun-filled activities, including the Sea Breeze (the first Rollglider at sea), The Lookout (an open-air observation deck), and Coastal Climb (a climbing structure for adventure enthusiasts of all ages). There’s also a two-deck arena, the multi-level Dome entertainment space, and the brand-new Spellbound, a Victorian-themed bar where guests can watch magicians while sipping theatrical cocktails.

Discovery Princess

Inaugural Year: 2022

Ship Class: Royal

Ship Capacity: 3,660 guests

For an elegant onboard experience complete with world-class specialty dining that’ll entice any gourmand, spectacular live entertainment in the lavish Princess Theater, and the largest balconies at sea (spanning over 1,000 square feet) found in one of the ship’s splurge-worthy Sky Suites, look no further than Princess’ final Royal-class ship. Spend sea days soaking up the sun — and the ocean views — by the infinity Wake View Pool.

Enchanted Princess

Inaugural Year: 2021

The elegant Enchanted Princess is a haven for relaxation-seekers with four sparkling pools (including the infinity-edge Wake View Pool), 10 hot tubs, and a serene spa offering Asian-inspired treatments. For the ultimate splurge, reserve one of the sprawling Sky Suites, best known for their expansive balconies offering 270-degree sea views. Other honorable mentions include the Sanctuary, Discovery at SEA, movie screenings under the stars, and the SeaWalk, a 60-foot-long glass-enclosed hallway with floor-to-ceiling ocean vistas.

Sky Princess

Inaugural Year: 2019

The snazzy Sky Princess made its grand debut in 2019; fast-forward five years later, and the ship has retained its allure. The three-story atrium is the beating heart of the ship, dotted with shops, bars, and restaurants galore. Check out Chef’s Table Lumiere, or try your luck at the casino for the ultimate splurge. Finally, for the best ocean views, book one of the Sky Suites.

Majestic Princess

Taylor McIntyre/Travel + Leisure

Inaugural Year: 2017

Ship Capacity: 3,560 guests

This Royal-class ship was initially designed for cruises from Shanghai, which means passengers can expect Chinese-inspired decor along with the fantastic specialty restaurant, Harmony, which features mouthwatering Asian menu items like wok-fried lobster, spring rolls, and more. Also unique to Majestic Princess is the adults-only Hollywood Pool Club, a perfect spot for grown-ups looking to soak in style. Meanwhile, don’t miss the dazzling casino and incredible SeaWalk, where panoramic ocean views await.

Regal Princess

Inaugural Year: 2014

This 2014 mega-ship definitely delivers in terms of onboard attractions. A few fan favorites include movies under the stars (best enjoyed with popcorn and candy in hand, of course), original productions, an outdoor musical fountain show, and Princess Live!, where passengers will find interactive culinary shows along with late-night comedy and game shows that can be viewed in-person or from the comfort of one’s stateroom. Last but not least, don’t forget to snap a selfie on the SeaWalk.

Royal Princess

Inaugural Year: 2013

Prepare to receive the royal treatment (pun intended) aboard the 3,560-passenger Royal Princess . The ship’s dazzling common spaces, including the grand atrium and the SeaWalk, are sure to impress design lovers, while the drinking and dining options, including the extravagant Chef’s Table Lumiere — available only on Royal-class ships — will delight culinary connoisseurs of all ages. 

Ruby Princess

Inaugural Year: 2008

Ship Class: Crown

Ship Capacity: 3,080 guests

Entertainment options abound on the 19-deck Ruby Princess , from movies under the stars and basketball to golfing and (hopefully) winning big at the casino. While party-going cruisers can dance ‘til the wee hours of the night at Skywalkers, serenity-seeking travelers may choose to hit the sack early before waking up to enjoy the spa or The Sanctuary.

Emerald Princess

Inaugural Year: 2007

Last refurbished in 2019, Emerald Princess features something for families of all ages, including  reimagined Camp Discovery youth and teen centers and the serene Sanctuary, a kid-free slice of paradise in the middle of the sea. Passengers can also perfect their swing at the putting course, enjoy poolside movie screenings, unwind at one of several swanky bars and lounges, including the Speakeasy Cigar Lounge, hit the spa, or dance the night away at the onboard club. In summary, it’s pretty much impossible to be bored on this ship.

Crown Princess

Inaugural Year: 2006

Despite its 3,000-plus passenger capacity , Crown Princess never feels super crowded thanks to abundant onboard amenities and activities. Highlights include three main dining rooms, a three-story atrium, and, of course, ample activities and programming, which run the gamut from basketball courts and pajama movie nights for kids to karaoke and an onboard nightclub.

Diamond Princess

Inaugural Year: 2004

Ship Class: Grand

Ship Capacity: 2,670 guests 

Best known for its Asia itineraries, Diamond Princess is sure to wow cruisers of all ages with its unique onboard features. Wellness-seekers need not miss the Izumi Japanese Bath, where guests can enjoy a traditional Japanese bathing experience coupled with breathtaking ocean views. There’s also the adults-only Sanctuary sun deck, Broadway-caliber entertainment, ample restaurants (including five main dining rooms), a nightclub, and so much more.

Caribbean Princess

Ship Capacity: 3,140 guests

This massive 18-deck ship was last refurbished in 2019 to bring it up to par with the line’s latest vessels. The European-inspired piazza , boasting street performers, eclectic boutiques, restaurants and bars, and a striking spiral staircase, is the beating heart of the ship. Plus, as part of the line’s partnership with Discovery, guests can enjoy nature-filled activities and lectures.

Sapphire Princess

Ship Capacity: 2,670 guests

Those craving a traditional cruising experience need not look further than the 20-year-old Sapphire Princess . With an onboard nightclub, five main dining rooms (plus many other bars and lounges, including a cigar lounge), this 2,670-passenger ship is among the line’s buzziest. After dancing the night away, adults can spend the day relaxing at The Sanctuary, while families will surely appreciate the dedicated spaces for kids, tweens, and teens.

Island Princess

Inaugural Year: 2003

Ship Class: Coral

Ship Capacity: 2,200 guests

Island Princess was purposefully built to sail through the Panama Canal. This 2,200-guest, 20-plus-year-old ship offers a more refined onboard experience compared to the line’s newer, flashier vessels. Sea days are well spent at the spa, in swimming pools, or sipping cocktails in the massive atriums; come nighttime, watch movies under the stars (a Princess staple) or catch live musical performances before hitting the sack — and getting ready to do it all again the following day.

Coral Princess

Ship Capacity: 2,000 guests 

Coral Princess is Princess’ smallest ship; however, there is still plenty to see, do, and experience on board. Guests can make themselves right at home in the piazza-style grand atrium, where prime people-watching awaits. For some R&R, grown-ups can head to the tranquil, adults-only Sanctuary while the kids are at play at the children’s centers.

Grand Princess

Inaugural Year: 1998

Ship Capacity: 2,600 guests

Princess’ oldest ship underwent a major renovation back in 2019, adding fan-favorite restaurants like Alfredo's Pizzeria, Salty Dog Grill, and Coffee & Cones. Catch a Broadway-style show, relax at The Sanctuary, or partake in nature-centric activities as part of the line’s Discovery at SEA programming.

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Top 10 Water Slides On Cruise Ships

Cruise ships offer a variety of entertainment options, but one of the most exciting and adrenaline-pumping activities on board is undoubtedly the water slides. With innovative designs and thrilling drops, these water slides are a major attraction for guests of all ages . Take a look at the top 10 water slides on cruise ships.

Perfect Storm – Royal Caribbean

The Perfect Storm on Royal Caribbean’s ships is a trio of water slides that will leave you breathless. Cyclone, Typhoon, and Supercell are the names of the three slides, and they offer different experiences, from a swirling ride and hair-raising twists to a steep drop. 

AquaDuck – Disney Cruise Line

Disney’s AquaDuck is a fan-favourite among Disney cruisers. It is the first water coaster at sea and you can find it onboard  Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy . Slide through the water-gushing acrylic tube that takes you all over the ship, providing epic ocean views. Both ships also have Mickey’s Slide and Mr. Ray’s Slide in the Nemo’s Reef area for the 8 and under cruisers.

Twister and Cyclone – Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival’s Twister and Cyclone are two of the most popular water slides at sea. Twister features a 300-foot-long corkscrew slide, while Cyclone offers a thrilling 450-foot-long ride that ends with a splash. Carnival Cruise Line is known for offering the largest fleet of waterparks at sea and each of the ships feature a spiralling water slide. 

Aqua Racer – Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian’s Aqua Racer is a tandem water slide that takes riders through several twists and turns before finishing with a splash. The fleet also houses The Drop, a 10-story free fall down the side of the side, and The Rush, a pair of intertwined racing tubes. 

Tidal Wave – Royal Caribbean

Tidal Wave on Royal Caribbean’s Anthem of the Seas is a boomerang-style slide, the first at sea, that takes riders up a steep incline, experiencing tidal weightlessness before dropping them down a reverse slope and into a splash pool. 

The Venom Drop – MSC Cruises

Okay, we know this isn’t a “water slide”, but it’s pretty cool! Descend from deck 20 to deck 8 at top speed on the longest dry slide at sea, aboard MSC World Europa. Add a little adventure into your voyage on this stainless steel work of art which is sure to become one of the most photographed locations on the ship.

Vertigo – MSC Cruises

MSC Preziosa claims the longest single rider waterslide at sea boasting 120 metres in length. The dark enclosed slides provides thrills with a nine metre transparent section looking down 18 decks to the ocean, living up to the name, Vertigo. 

Blaster – Royal Caribbean

Blaster is a high-speed water coaster that takes passengers on a tandem tube as five water jet blasters propel you along more than 245 metres of dips, drops and straights, on a winding journey around the ship. The slide even features uphill sections that provide a sensation of weightlessness. At the end, you’ll hurtle through an open-air chute – the longest stretch of slide ever suspended over water. 

AquaDunk – Disney Cruise Line

Disney’s AquaDunk is another thrilling slide that features a drop floor. Riders step into the capsule, the floor drops, and they are launched into a clear tube that extends 20 feet over the edge of the ship.

Epic Plunge – Norwegian Cruise Line

The Epic Plunge Slide on Norwegian Epic starts with a short enclosed tube ride before circling a large bowl, spinning ever closer to the centre. Once you get to the middle, you will fall into a small pool. The 61-metre slide is not a fast-paced thrill ride but appeals to all water slide fans.

Water slides have become an integral part of the entertainment options offered by cruise ships. With designs that range from high-speed coasters to boomerang-style slides, these water slides provide an exciting and thrilling experience for guests of all ages. So if you’re looking for a unique and adrenaline-pumping activity on your next cruise, be sure to check out these top 10 water slides onboard cruise ships.

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6 Free Cruise Activities on Princess Cruises that You Need to Know About

E very cruise line has its own signature onboard activities, and Princess Cruise is no exception. From its iconic champagne tower to outdoor movie nights, there are experiences that you definitely shouldn’t miss. Here are the top cruise activities on Princess Cruise that you should make sure not to miss out on. The best part is these activities are completely free!

Must-Try Cruise Activities on Princess Cruise

Champagne tower.

One of the highlights of a Princess cruise for me is the champagne tower event. It takes place in the atrium and involves a grand display with hundreds of champagne glasses stacked into a tower. The cruise director starts it off by pouring champagne from the top, creating a mesmerizing cascade. 

The best part is that guests can take turns pouring champagne onto the tower. It’s a lot of fun, and the cruise photographers capture the moment. If there’s one cruise photo worth buying, it’s this one. Trust me, I have a photo of the champagne tower in my home office, and it never fails to make me smile!

Outdoor Movies

Outdoor movies are a must-try activity on Princess Cruises! The movie screenings happen on the pool deck, where the cruise staff creates a cozy and inviting atmosphere for watching movies under the stars.

They transform the pool loungers into a comfortable outdoor movie theater by adding plush seat cushions and cozy blankets for snuggling. To top it off, they serve popcorn for you to enjoy during the movie. It’s truly a unique experience that you shouldn’t miss on Princess Cruises.

Afternoon Tea

Afternoon Tea is one of my favorite onboard activities on Princess Cruises. This elegant service is typically available in one of the main dining rooms on days at sea.

Treat yourself to a spread of freshly baked scones, tea sandwiches, pastries, clotted cream, jams, and a variety of teas. It’s a great way to take a break from the afternoon activities and enjoy an elegant experience onboard. And the best part is, it’s completely free!

Back of the House Kitchen Tour

Don’t miss the free back-of-the-house kitchen tour on Princess Cruise. It’s really interesting to get a sneak peek behind the scenes in the kitchen.

But don’t expect to see a fully operational kitchen during the tour. Instead, you’ll see a clean kitchen with minimal food preparation and cooking activities. Get a tour of where your assistant waiter goes to get your drinks, lock up all the liquor, and where the line cook does their prep.  

When I was on the tour, the pastry chefs displayed elaborate cakes, which was quite impressive. It’s a great experience to see what happens behind the scenes, especially for kids. Some cruise lines charge for a behind-the-scenes kitchen tour, but luckily, Princess Cruise Line offers it for free!

Cooking Demos

The Princess cruise cooking demonstration is a fun activity to go to. It usually takes place on sea days at the Princess Theater.

Unlike some other cruise lines like Holland America, where you might expect a more serious cooking demonstration focused on teaching you how to prepare a dish, the cooking demo on Princess Cruises is more about entertainment than education. It’s a lighthearted, comedic cook-off between the chef and the cruise director. The slapstick comedy makes it fun for the kids! It’s amusing to see the chef in action.

Bartender Competition

The bartender competition on Princess Cruises is a lively event that you don’t want to miss. Held in the atrium on one of the at-sea days, it features talented cruise bartenders competing against each other in expertly mixing drinks and cocktails.

Similar to the cooking demo, it aims to entertain rather than educate. Expect acrobatic stunts, cocktail-making, and mixer juggling. They even choose a few audience members to sample the cocktails for free! It’s a family-friendly activity, so bring the kids. They will enjoy watching the bartenders compete! Check out: 21 Smart and Easy Ways to Save Money on a Cruise

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Top 10 FAQs From New Cruisers

Questions about cruises commonly asked by first-time cruisers.

Here we have assembled a list of answers to the top 10 cruise FAQs by customers who are new to cruising. If you have additional questions please give us a call by using the number at the top of the screen. You can also  visit our FAQ section  for more expansive cruise FAQs and answers.

1. What’s included that makes cruising a great value?

Your cruise fare includes accommodations, meals throughout the day including our 4-course dining rooms, entertainment, and an endless array of activities, including newly launched Discovery at Sea programs like Stargazing, kids crafts and more! Plus, you won’t have to pay for costly airfare, trains, or cabs to get you from one city to the next. When you take everything into consideration, you'll discover that you can actually save money by going on a cruise, as opposed to a land-based vacation.

Additional fees may apply for services such as specialty restaurants, shore excursions, laundry, etc.

2. Will I get seasick?

Our larger ships are more stable with heavier weight and therefore are less prone to rolling motion. Most ships are so large and well-stabilized that it doesn’t even feel like you’re moving, especially in calmer waters such as Alaska’s Inside Passage and the Caribbean. The middle of the ship tends have less motion, as it is the natural balance point.

If you are prone to sea sickness, consider itineraries with fewer sea days. Port intensive cruises will give you the opportunity to spend more time on land. Consult your physician for a drug or alternative solution. Guests find over-the-counter medicine, patches and special wristbands often remedy the situation.

3. What is a crew appreciation?

The crew appreciation is a daily (adjustable) amount added to your onboard account and pooled in order to recognize the many crew members in the Bar, Dining, Entertainment, Housekeeping, Guest Services, Galley and Onboard Revenue areas and entertainment areas throughout our fleet who contribute to the guest experience. The daily amount of the Crew Appreciation is based on stateroom category: $16 USD per guest in Interior, Oceanview and Balcony, $17 USD per guest in Mini-Suite and Reserve Collection, and $18 USD per guest in Suites.

4. What should I wear?

Casual sportswear, including shorts, lightweight pants and jogging suits, is the order of the day both at sea and ashore in hotter climates. We recommend you bring a sweater, a jacket or an all-weather coat for cool evenings, and for shore excursions, depending on your destination. You'll also want comfortable shoes for strolling on deck.

For evening dining, keep with what you would wear to a nice restaurant at home: skirts/dresses, slacks, and sweaters for ladies, pants and open-neck shirts for men. Cruises five days or longer include at least one formal dining night: evening gowns and cocktail dresses for ladies and tuxedos, dinner jackets or dark suits for men.

5. Are all princess ships alike?

Princess has a variety of ships, some that can carry over 3,500 guests. Every vessel in our fleet is designed to give you plenty of room to yourself with spacious decks, public spaces and balcony staterooms. Yet each also creates many opportunities to socialize through activities and entertainment to suit your mood.

6. Is there phone and internet access?

Mobile phone service is available for use when the ship is at sea, in international waters, and in other areas where such use is permitted. All charges will be conveniently billed to you directly by your mobile device provider.

Your mobile phone provider must have a roaming agreement with Maritime Communications Partner (MCP)or Wireless Maritime Services (WMS). Please contact your provider for more details on rates and availability.

Not only do we have the internet, we offer the best Wi-Fi at sea! With MedallionNet® Wi-Fi, you can stream your favorite movies and shows, video chat with family and friends back home and post photos of your vacation with ease. You can purchase a package before or during your cruise.

7. Will I be bored?

Nope! You couldn’t do all the activities or attend all the events on board if you tried. (And we don’t recommend it.) The possibilities are just this side of endless – culinary demonstrations, bingo, wine tastings, spa treatments, Encounters with Discovery at SEA™ featuring local experts, destination-specific onboard programs like North to Alaska, miniature golf, a book club, dance classes and that’s just for starters.

8. Is cruising safe?

1.7 million passengers sail with Princess annually. Your safety is our top priority. All of our onboard medical facilities meet or exceed the standards established by the American College of Emergency Physicians. Our onboard medical facilities are staffed by full-time registered doctors and nurses. In addition to twice-daily office hours, they are available 24 hours a day in the event of an emergency.

All ships must follow rules and regulations to protect passengers' (and crewmembers') safety while onboard. The Coast Guard conducts quarterly inspections of all ships that operate from U.S. ports, making sure they comply with emergency-response requirements. Ships operate under international rules that regulate everything from fire safety to navigation and maritime security. We were the first in our industry to have a virtual training facility for our bridge crew, which we call the SeaSmart program. We also have voluntarily installed fire sprinklers in all cabins and balconies on all our ships.

9. What are the rooms like and how do I choose?

The staterooms are comfortable as can be, whether you’re sailing in an interior or a suite. But of course the higher the category, the nicer the experience. It all comes down to what you’re looking for. If you are keeping an eye on your budget – totally fine! – try an interior or oceanview. If you want the freedom to go outside from your stateroom, go with a balcony. (No matter where we sail, there’s always a great view.) And if you want more space – and a larger bathroom with tub – we recommend a mini suite. Looking to indulge in the best? Try a full suite. It includes all sorts of extras, like laundry and professional cleaning services. And if you’re traveling with a group, we have connecting staterooms and family suites, which sleep up to eight guests.

10. What is a shore excursion and how do I make reservations?

Exploring ports of call will be one of the highlights of your cruise, and one of the best ways to do this is on a shore excursion. You will find a variety of options available to suit your taste including family friendly options with discounted rates for children.

Excursions offered through Princess are carefully selected and provided by reputable tour operators who meet the high standards of Princess. Your security and comfort are of paramount importance. Every effort is made to ensure that each tour operates safely.

Princess organizes your tours in advance so your time in port is maximized and worry-free. We closely monitor tour departures and returns and we are able to hold the ship in the event your tour is delayed.

You can  book your shore excursions with Cruise Personalizer ®  from approximately 12 weeks before travel, and up to 5 days before you depart.  Learn more about our ports and excursions, or watch one of our  cruise destination videos.

Recommended destinations for first-time cruisers

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Sun princess: the best dining, amenities and more on princess cruises' newest ship.

Sun Princess features an updated layout, delicious new restaurants and plenty of spaces to be entertained.

Sun Princess Review

Courtesy of Princess Cruises

Key Takeaways

• Sun Princess' fresher, more modern design may appeal to a younger crowd than the line normally caters to.
• Incredible dining options abound, including The Catch by Rudi and the new Spellbound dinner and magic show.
• New Cabana Mini-Suites feature indoor-outdoor cabana areas and spacious balconies.

As a travel writer who cruises with all the major lines, I was excited to travel through the Mediterranean on the new Sun Princess cruise ship in May 2024. I traveled with my mother to celebrate her 76th birthday shortly after the new ship's February debut in Rome . The itinerary we sailed was a unique, one-way offering that departed from Athens, Greece , with visits to ports like Bar, Montenegro; Corfu, Greece; and Messina and Naples, Italy .

A true marvel of modern engineering and ship architecture, Sun Princess boasts a maximum guest capacity of 4,300 and room for 1,600 crew. The Sphere-Class vessel is 1,133 feet long and 200 feet high, with a breadth of 139 feet and 21 total decks. There are 2,157 staterooms, including 80 unique suites with extra space for guests.

Standout features include a three-floor main dining area, the Princess Arena with capacity for 990 guests and a 250-person entertainment space known as The Dome. Read on to learn everything there is to know about the Sun Princess cruise ship, including my own take on the dining and entertainment options available to cruisers.

Find your perfect cruise

Sun Princess itineraries for 2024 and 2025

Holly Johnson

While Sun Princess is scheduled to cruise the Mediterranean through September 2024, the ship will cross the Atlantic on its way to Fort Lauderdale, Florida , by October for the winter cruise season.

From this new homeport, Sun Princess will offer seven-day Caribbean cruises with the stops in Honduras, Belize , Mexico, the Bahamas , the Dominican Republic, and Turks & Caicos through March 2025.

Sun Princess will then embark on a 14-day Spanish Passage voyage in March 2025, which ends in Barcelona, Spain , and repositions the ship for its summer in the Mediterranean. At that point, cruisers can book a range of lengthy Mediterranean options over various dates, which include stops in Turkey, Greece, Montenegro, Italy, France, Spain and more.

Who should sail on Sun Princess?

While most people may think of Princess Cruises as a cruise line for baby boomers, Sun Princess aims to attract a younger, livelier crowd. This is immediately apparent when walking around the ship's common areas; Sun Princess boasts bold color schemes, endless windows, sparkling lights and a more modern central piazza than other Princess ships.

While my Mediterranean sailing largely consisted of adult travelers, Sun Princess will likely attract more families on its Caribbean itineraries. The ship's layout is ideal for parents with children of all ages, and amenities geared specifically toward kids abound. It all starts with the ship's Park19 family area, which features a huge climbing structure, a splash zone, a recreational court, a jogging court and more. Sun Princess also has three dedicated youth clubs: Firefly Park Kids Club (ages 3 to 7, with a separate play area for babies and toddlers 6 months and older), Neon Grove Tweens Club (ages 8 to 12) and The Underground Teen Lounge (ages 13 to 17).

What's interesting about Sun Princess is that it still has so much to offer more mature travelers, including couples who want to enjoy a romantic, upscale vacation. This is shown in the ship's elevated dining venues, expansive casino and luxurious spa. Sun Princess also offers the Sanctuary Collection of rooms and suites, which offer more amenities and spaces to relax on the ship.

Travelers who book a room in the Sanctuary Collection get their pick of a nicer selection of rooms, a premium beverage package, access to a private restaurant and pool deck and a more personalized experience overall. Think of the Sanctuary Collection suites as an alternative to MSC Cruises Yacht Club cabins – the biggest difference being that the venues available to cruisers in these cabins are spread throughout the ship.

The stateroom

I stayed in one of the new Cabana Mini-Suites on the Sun Princess, which I would book again in a heartbeat. These rooms are a take on the classic balcony cabin most cruisers expect, but with a twist. In addition to an outdoor balcony, Cabana Mini-Suites have a separate indoor-outdoor cabana-like area with a flat-screen television.

This extra space means the new Cabana Mini-Suites are much longer from one end to the other than a traditional balcony stateroom. The additional space is nice to have whether you want more room for storage or a separate place to read or relax while your cabinmate naps. My mom sat in our cabana area and read several times while I showered and got ready for dinner, and she even took a nap out there while I worked on my computer in our stateroom.

Regardless of the stateroom you book, know that Sun Princess cabins feature soft, neutral tones and plenty of closet space. Power outlets are abundant, and there are all kinds of nooks and crannies for storage. Cabin types on Sun Princess include the following:

Interior Cabins (136 to 145 square feet)

Basic interior rooms offer a queen bed or two small twin beds, a flat-panel television, a refrigerator, and a private bathroom with a shower. These are the most affordable cabins on the ship, and they work best for guests who just want a place to relax and sleep.

Premium Oceanview (212 square feet)

Ocean-view cabins have slightly more space than interior rooms, but they still lack a balcony. These rooms feature a queen bed or two twin configurations, a large flat-screen television, a refrigerator, and more floor and storage space.

Deluxe Balcony (235 square feet, including balcony)

Balcony cabins offer more space than ocean-view rooms due to the addition of a spacious balcony with outdoor seating. Balcony cabins can also come in a queen bed or two twin configuration and have a large flat-screen television, a refrigerator, and more floor and storage space.

Mini-Suite (303 square feet, including balcony)

Mini-Suites are essentially large balcony cabins with more storage space, more closet space and more floor space. These rooms have all the amenities of other cabins but include two flat-screen televisions (one for the bedroom area and another for couch viewing).

Cabana Mini-Suite (329 square feet, including balcony and cabana)

These rooms add the indoor-outdoor space of the cabana adjacent to the outdoor balcony. The cabana area has seating for several people and its own flat-screen television (in addition to the in-room TV).

Signature Suites (304 to 636 square feet, including balcony)

Signature Suites range in size and include larger balconies with premium furniture, two flat-screen televisions, a more spacious bathroom with a separate tub and shower, and dedicated sleeping and living areas.

Signature Sky Suites (1,262 square feet, including balcony)

Princess Cruises Signature Sky Suites are the largest staterooms across all Princess vessels, and they have all the bells and whistles you can imagine. Standout features of Sky Suites include separate living and dining areas; huge, luxurious bathrooms; and Nespresso coffee machines.

(Note: Sanctuary Collection rooms are dotted throughout the ship and consist of balcony-, mini-suite- and suite-category accommodations.)

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Best amenities on Sun Princess

Since my itinerary on the Sun Princess cruise ship included multiple port stops, I didn't get to experience everything the ship had to offer. However, what I did experience was worth it – from the nonstop entertainment in the piazza to over-the-top dining features. Some of my standout experiences include:

Part dinner and part magic show, Spellbound by Magic Castle is bookable for an additional charge. The experience begins with a small group dinner with drink pairings, then moves to a hidden bar area of the ship, where the magic begins. The bar itself features magical artifacts and vintage curiosities, a "ghost" pianist, and an incredible drink menu designed to wow and delight guests. Some drinks were served in cages, golden owls and elaborate chests with dry ice.

Magic came in the form of intriguing card tricks and disappearing acts at the bar, plus a separate stage area where crowd participation helped facilitate the illusions. I don't want to give anything more than that away – you must simply experience it for yourself. Though I thought Spellbound was slightly cheesy at times, I thoroughly enjoyed the dinner and show and feel it was worth the added cost.

The Dome on the Sun Princess is part pool area and part stage. Guests can swim in a unique indoor-outdoor pool by day and watch entertainers dance in the evening, with alluring lighting effects and a cozy, intimate atmosphere.

I watched an acrobatics show in The Dome from the comfort of a padded lounge chair and thought the venue was the place to be.

Princess Arena 

The Princess Arena is a circular stage area that holds up to 990 guests. Shows on offer include multifaceted stage productions and acrobatic features with plenty of surprises.

Fitness center

The Sun Princess' fitness center was huge and featured a range of treadmills, stair climbers, weights and machines to choose from. I never had trouble securing a treadmill at any time, even though I've had to wait and fight crowds for machines on other cruise ships.

I also loved the expansive walking track on the ship, which was constantly in use by both serious exercisers and cruisers walking leisurely to enjoy the views. I used the walking track every morning for at least an hour; I found it much more spacious and usable than other ship walking tracks, which are often congested and never quite wide enough.

The ship also features a Fitness Studio with guided classes, but I did not use it during my trip.

Sun Princess features five large pools and nine hot tubs. There are two pools on the lido deck, plus an indoor-outdoor pool in The Dome, a Sanctuary pool (for Sanctuary Collection guests only) and a wake-view infinity pool.

Medallion services

Princess MedallionClass is one of the coolest and most convenient amenities at sea. In place of a traditional cruise card, Princess gives you a small wearable device to bring with you around the ship and on shore. The medallion tracks your physical location on the ship, which allows you to order services and deliveries on board no matter where you are. Medallion delivery options range from food and drinks to extra pillows or bottled water.

I ordered room service through my medallion multiple times and hot, fresh food arrived in my cabin in less than 20 minutes. Meanwhile, drinks were delivered to our cabin and elsewhere on the ship in less than five minutes.

MedallionNet

Princess' Wi-Fi at sea (MedallionNet) is the fastest internet service I have ever used on a cruise ship. The internet was fast and reliable enough for me to complete some work while on board, which is not the norm on cruise ships.

Best dining venues Sun Princess

Sun Princess features 30 dining and bar options, many of which are included in the base cruise fare. Complimentary dining venues on Sun Princess include three traditional dining rooms, The Eatery (a take on the classic buffet, but with staff service), a café for coffee and light bites, The Lido (serving up salads, pizza and more) and the Promenade Dining grill.

Specialty dining options for an extra charge range from O'Malley's Irish Pub to a sushi spot to steak, seafood and Italian restaurants. For an extra special experience, head to Love by Britto to indulge in fine dining, or opt for Umai hot pot or teppanyaki venues. Meanwhile, bars on Sun Princess include Bellini's Cocktail Bar, Sea View Bar, The MIX and more.

My personal favorite dining experiences included:

My Spellbound dinner was excellent, even though the menu is fairly brief. I enjoyed a delicious shrimp cocktail and seafood entree, followed by a vegan dessert (I'm allergic to dairy and the ship happily accommodated). What stood out for me with Spellbound, at least food-wise, was the eclectic selection of drink pairings offered with the meal. It started with a caprese salad cocktail that tasted like tomatoes and balsamic vinegar in a strange, delicious way, then moved on to the spooky concoctions offered in the Spellbound bar.

Crown Grill

Crown Grill, a specialty dining venue, is not unique to Sun Princess, but it is the cruise line's most popular steakhouse brand. My mom and I had a delicious meal here for her birthday that included a Mediterranean-style spiny lobster cake, Chilean sea bass and a huge (surprise) birthday cake delivered to our table.

The Catch by Rudi

The Catch by Rudi is the ship's specialty dining seafood restaurant. Here, I dined on a delicious shrimp cocktail and the catch of the day (a grilled dorado filet). Everything was fresh and the meal was exceptional from start to finish.

I loved The Eatery, the ship's buffet-style dining option. The main difference between this venue and more traditional cruise ship buffets is that you're served by staff instead of serving yourself, which I prefer. The Eatery featured a rotating selection of exceptional main courses (seafood, chicken, beef and ethnic options), salads, appetizers and delicious desserts. It even had a vegan section and an easy-to-find selection of gluten-free offerings.

Best excursions on Sun Princess

The best excursions on Sun Princess vary depending on where you're going on your cruise – the Caribbean or various Europe destinations. Here's an overview of some excellent excursions offered aboard Sun Princess, a few of which I did myself.

Corfu, Greece 

Catamaran Coastal Cruise & Swim: This easy excursion lets you see Corfu from the sea and get out into the water for some snorkeling and swimming. I picked this excursion so we could relax for one day and avoid a lot of walking, and it delivered. A delicious lunch with an open bar was served on board as we sailed around the island taking in some of Corfu's most beautiful sights.

Naples, Italy

Sorrento & Amalfi Coast Cruise: No trip to this region of Italy is complete without a stop in the Amalfi Coast . This excursion was a long one (eight to nine hours) with lots of walking and bus time, but the views of this dynamic coast and time spent in Amalfi and Sorrento made the travel time well worth it.

Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos

Island Vibes & Beach Swim: This relatively short excursion includes a narrated bus trip throughout the island of Grand Turk, highlighting some of the island's top sights. A beach break at picturesque Governor's Beach is included.

Princess Cays, Bahamas

Princess Cays Coastal Cruise: Princess Cruises' private island offers a range of bookable activities, from banana boat rides to snorkeling tours. This coastal cruise is another option that takes you along the shores of Eleuthera in a 40-foot Reef Princess boat.

Overall impressions of Sun Princess

If you're considering a cruise on Sun Princess, you should know that this isn't your traditional Princess ship. The look and feel of this vessel are younger and livelier compared to other Princess ships I have sailed on. Gone are the hallways filled with cruisers knitting and playing cards; in their place, you'll find dancing, entertainment, music and activities around the clock.

When it comes to Sun Princess dining, every meal I had on board was either very good or excellent. You don't even have to opt for an extra-cost specialty dining venue to get a good meal. The Eatery and the regular dining rooms feature fresh, seasonal foods that are more than enough for the average palate to enjoy.

Caribbean itineraries on offer later this year (and into 2025) start at around $660 per person for an interior cabin, and Princess features an endless roster of sales throughout the year. If you're looking for a new cruising experience and want to give Princess a try (or another chance), Sun Princess is more than worthy of your consideration.

Why Trust U.S. News Travel

Holly Johnson is a travel writer who covers all aspects of family travel, including all-inclusive resorts and cruises with both boutique and major cruise brands. Johnson has traveled to more than 50 countries around the world, and she has cruised in destinations throughout the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, Northern Europe and the Arctic Circle, and the Middle East. Johnson works alongside her husband, Greg, who runs the travel agency Travel Blue Book .

You might also be interested in:

• Icon of the Seas Review
• Celebrity Ascent Review
• Crystal Symphony Review
• Cruise Packing List
• The Best Cruise Insurance

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• Princess Cruises

water slide on Sun Princess?

By dean45 , July 23, 2005 in Princess Cruises

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Hi can anyone tell me is there a water slide on the Sun Princess and anything your children loved about this ship? thanks!!

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No waterslides.....

Here are pics of the main pools:

One pool was designated for children, the other for adults.

Toto2Kansas

There are no water slides on any Princess ships. Sorry!

And when I wanted to ride the water slide on the Disney Magic, I was told it was restricted to children!

But you paid full price and why shouldn't you be allowed to use it??? :D

Discrimination!!!

No waterslides.....   Here are pics of the main pools:   sun   One pool was designated for children, the other for adults.

I noticed on your veranda you had teak furniture and I think you were in an AB mini suite, we are in an AC mini will we get teak too?

Hi - I actually just took pictures of the suite on that ship. I have been in AA and AB cabins on Sun and Dawn and they both have the teak furniture. I have never been in an AC mini. You may want to post a question to Toto - she has stayed in the AC's I believe and may have pictures.

No, the AC's do NOT have teak furniture. Here is a link to two pages of pics of the AC's on the Sun (which are the same for all of the Sun Class ships in an AC mini). Enjoy! http://community.webshots.com/album/133123604noDdgi

But you paid full price and why shouldn't you be allowed to use it??? :D Discrimination!!!

Maybe he was wearing a swim diaper! :eek:

Sorry Michael! I'm just playin'!

No offense taken, but that does remind me of a trans-Atlantic on the Crown Odyssey, 8-90.

June Allyson, Esther Williams, and some other tv personality were on-board, and agreed to a question and answer period in the show lounge. At the time, June Allyson was a tv spokeperson for Depends, the diaper for adults.

Some clod in the audience asked her if she wore them also!

You could have cut the atmosphere with a knife!

Incidentally, she looked just like she had in the 40s & 50s movies - time was not so kind to Esther Williams.

thanks toto, that is a shame that teak sure looks beautiful, oh well at least I am going and in a minisuite, away from the cold for ten days can't be bad anyway you look at it!

You will enjoy the AC's as there is so much more room in them then a balcony cabin on the Sun Class. They are more like the VS suites on the Grand Class ships.

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