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Princess Cruises: 15 Tips, Tricks and Insider Secrets

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Princess Cruises Tips and Tricks You Need to Know

If you’re going on a Princess cruise, here are some cruise tips you should know before you cruise.

The reality is, that although you can read a lot of general cruise tips , every cruise line is unique and has different amenities and offerings.

For this reason, this article focuses on features found on Princess Cruises ; with Princess cruise tips, hacks and insider “secrets” you really want to know!

How to get discounts on your cruise booking
Hacks to get extra onboard credits
Princess Cruises dining “secrets” and specialties
Princess Cruises drink packages
Cruise cabin information
Princess Cruises Ocean Medallion
A shore excursion tip that will surprise you
and more…

Please know that this is not “official” Princess information, so always verify with the cruise line web site for current information, as well as any specifics related to your cruise booking.

Recommended first-time cruiser posts (for general info):

15 Epic Tips First Time Cruisers Need to Know

25 Recommended Amazon Items to Bring on a cruise

10 Ways to Prevent and Avoid Seasickness on a Cruise

Things to know about cruising with Princess (that are pretty amazing)

We’ve cruised on Princess several times, and cruise on other lines as well. However, there are some things we genuinely love about our Princess Cruises.

Princess is a really good cruise line that seems to have something for everyone. We’ve done a few family cruises, couples only cruises, and even one large family cruise – I highly recommend Princess for multi-generational travel .

Firstly, some cruise advice that will pretty much guarantee that you’ll find out all the important stuff

1. Read your Princess Patter (daily planner) or check the daily schedule and activity guide on your Ocean Medallion or Princess Cruises App . The various activities, restaurants and specialty food venues will all be written in the planner. Check the back as well, as sometime the info is there.

2. Just Ask. When you aren’t sure, just ask your fellow cruise passengers or the staff on board. They’ll be happy to share their knowledge and steer you in the right direction.

3. Go to the first time cruisers information sessions. On many cruise ships, there will be Ocean Medallion and even cruise port talks. These information sessions can be super helpful in answering questions you didn’t even know you had. When are they? Check your Princess Patter 😉

Read more: 12 Top Reasons to Cruise with Princess Cruises

Princess First-time Cruiser Tips

Before we begin, I will let you know – you may want to grab a pen and paper, print out, or better yet, save on your favorite Pinterest board for later :-). If you find this helpful, please share.

1. Princess Cruise Cabins

While Princess cabins aren’t the largest we’ve ever seen, they have something we just love! Princess Cruises staterooms have amazing large open closets. From inside cabins to balcony staterooms, the cruise cabins have a sort of separator wall between the sleeping area and closet and washroom area.

While these cabins don’t have large sofa chairs or couches in them, for this you’ll need to move up to a mini-suite, this large open space as you enter your cabin is really practical.

There are even a couple of full size mirrors. In our family, it served as a bit of “private” dressing area, right outside the washroom.

Whether you’re an over-packer like me or not, this extra large hanging space, along with a few shelves. Even though I still love some good cruise cabin hacks , this just makes it easier on everyone.

2. Princess Cruises Dining Options

dinner main dining room life well cruised

Princess has some of the best dining options at sea. There’s literally so much available and included .

Recently, I saw a fun Facebook thread, asking Princess Cruisers to name their first-time cruiser lessons or mistakes. One common first cruise “mistake” was how many people didn’t realize that most of the food on-board the ship was actually included.

We had friends who cruised several years ago, and they recounted the story and lesson from their first cruise. It seemed that they ate each breakfast, lunch and dinner in the buffet. There’s nothing wrong with eating in the buffet, but it wasn’t until the last night of their cruise, that they realized that dinner in the dining room was actually included!

Here is a list of Princess restaurants and food venues that are included (no extra fees)

Main Dining Room (Traditional and Anytime Dining)
International Cafe – This is literally open almost all the time and offers breakfast, lunch (even salads), snack and dessert options
Poolside Grill – Outdoors near the pool there is a grill with burgers, hot dogs, chicken burgers, french fries and more (fries at 4 pm are too good!)
Poolside Pizza – Princess has some of the best pizza at sea (possibly THE best)
Horizon Court Buffet – the buffet has quite a lot available from morning to night
Alfredo’s Pizzeria – while not available on every ship, Alfredo’s is a casual sit down Italian venue open for lunch and dinner and there’s no extra charge.

Alfredo’s Pizzeria Tip

If you’re cruising on Regal or Royal Princess (or another ship with an Alfredo’s restaurant), consider having your lunch here on embarkation day , while your fellow cruisers still don’t realize it’s included. The buffet will be busy that first day, so avoid it if you can.

I put together this review with pictures and the menus , so you could get an idea of what to expect.

On top of this there’s ice cream and popcorn on the pool deck. My best for any ship, is to explore as much as possible, and discover all it has to offer.

Alfredo’s Pizzeria (review and menus): Princess Cruises Alfredo’s Pizzeria; the Best Pizza at Sea (link to article)

3.What food isn’t included?

Specialty restaurants such as Sabatini’s, Crown Grill and Crab Shack have an additional charge. If you’d like to have a more intimate or special meal, you may really enjoy this.

Other food items that aren’t included are the gelato shops in the Piazza (Princess Atrium) and a few odd items like chocolate covered strawberries. There is a fairly small charge if you enjoy them.

4. Are drinks and coffee included?

With cruise lines promoting beverage packages, it can be hard to know what drinks are included, and which are not.

There are additional charges for alcoholic drinks, soda or pop, water bottles and some juices. There’s also an extra charge for specialty coffee and tea.

While “regular” coffee and tea is available in the buffet and in the Main Dining Room, freshly brewed coffee, specialty coffee and premium teas are additional.

Consider purchasing a coffee package at International Cafe, which is an excellent value.

Alcohol and non-alcohol/soda packages can also be purchased as well.

Here’s an extensive guide to the Princess Cruises Drink Packages , that I’ve recently put together. I’ve included bar menus and drink photos as a resource, so do check it out:

Princess Cruises Drink Packages (with bar menus and drink photos)

Tip: You can bring a bottle of wine per adult in the cabin. A corkage fee of $15 may be applied if you drink it in a public area.

5. Bonus for Foodies: Princess Fan Favorite Foods

There are some foods that frequent Princess cruisers just love – they are really kind of fan favorites. So, if you’re cruising with Princess for the first time, and you love cruise food, you might want to know this.

Poolside pizza – It’s really good, and was even voted best at Sea by USA today. More importantly, regular cruisers rave about it, so give it a try.

Fettuccine Alfredo – In my opinion, this dish which is served in the main dining room as a full meal or appetizer, was actually much better when it was served in a parmesan cheese bowl, but it’s still really good and definitely a favorite.

Nutella Donuts – Look out for these in the International Cafe, as they are not available every day. They are so good they’re almost sinful.

Chocolate Journey’s desserts – Most chocolate desserts on Princess are really good. If you see one of these on the dessert menu in the dining room or at the International Cafe, they are worth the calories.

Princess Cruises Love Boat Dream – While this isn’t my personal favorite, it’s certainly popular and perhaps the most romantic dessert on the menu. Shaped in a heart and made of chocolate cake and chocolate mousse, it’s worth a try.

Princess Cruises - Best Tips, Tricks and Secrets PIN image

6. Princess Love Boat Nostalgia

If you’re on a Princess Cruise, there’s going to be some Love Boat nostalgia. From the cruise ship horn playing the Love Boat Theme Song (on some ships), to the Love Boat Disco Deck Party – it’s all in good fun!

You can even find Love Boat reruns on your cruise cabin TV.

7. Hooray for Room Service!

When we first started cruising, most cruise lines offered free room service. But, over the years we’ve seen that change. We love that Princess continues to offer a pretty decent room service menu!

Whether you order a light breakfast to have in your cabin before an early shore excursion, or a late night snack, just know that this is included with your cruise fare.

8. Princess Cruises Discounts and on board credit benefits

There are all sorts of discounts you should check for, if you’re booking a Princess Cruise.

From Military benefits, Past Passenger discounts, and additional on board credits for *referring your friends (did you know about this one?) , these are things you should ask about when booking a Princess Cruise.

These additional onboard credits can be substantial – if you are a veteran or in the military, please inquire about the military benefit when booking with your travel agent or Princess directly.

To use the Refer Your Friends program, you must register your friend as a referral online. You will both get an additional on board credit, even if you aren’t cruising together. Check Princess Cruises website for details and current information.

9. Princess Cruises OceanMedallion Ships

Over the last year or so, you’ve probably heard a lot about Ocean Medallion cruises.

Basically, the Medallion device replaces the cruise card, and quite a bit more. Although not yet available on every cruise ship, Princess has said that 15 of its cruise ships will be OceanMedallion ready by the end of 2020.

If you have a smart phone, there’s a lot that you can do on your device. However, you don’t need to have a smart phone to use this, and it’s “free”. There is no additional charge.

I won’t go into all the details here, as I’ve put together a lot of information in these 2 previous posts (below).

If you’d like to read more about our personal experience with Ocean Medallion, you can find our review here: Our Ocean Medallion Cruise Experience on the Regal Princess

Additionally, as more information was released about Ocean Medallion, I put this together to help answer any questions, from a cruiser perspective: 21 Things You Need to Know About Ocean Medallion

Princess Cruises Tips and Secrets PIN image

10. Princess Cruises MedallionNet – Internet and Wifi

Could it be that the days of expensive and sluggish internet on a cruise ship are slowly becoming a thing of the past?

After cruising on the Regal Princess last Christmas and New Year’s and paying less than $10 a day for unlimited internet – it has really spoiled us!

MedallionNet is available on all OceanMedallion cruise ships. The updated technology has allowed for fast internet, that works well even in your cabin.

However, this isn’t available on all Princess Cruise Ships yet. Check to see if your ship has this, and otherwise what internet packages you can buy, if you need this.

Remember that you don’t need to buy any internet package to use the Medallion or it’s features. You only need to purchase MedallionNet if you want to use the internet.

If you’d like to know more, please read this post .

If you’d like a video explanation of Ocean Medallion, you can see this in my YouTube video below.

11. Future Cruise Deposits and Booking On-board

If you’re cruising for the first time, or even if you’ve cruised a few times, you may not be aware of the advantages of booking your “next” cruise on board.

Most cruise lines offer an on-board booking incentive program, and generally they are advantageous. Princess Cruises has a really good one, which I believe is very worth it.

How does booking on-board work?

I often recommend to people, that if they have enjoyed their cruise, they should put down a deposit for a future cruise. Not only is the deposit reduced, but it will give you additional on-board credits on a future cruise, just for booking on-board.

That’s free money – and who doesn’t love this?!?

If you’ve booked with a travel agent, the future cruise reservation agent will send the booking to him or her, if you wish. You can even go home and transfer it to an agent, which may get you even more perks back home. There are some conditions , so please check before you book.

15 Princess Tips and Tricks you wish you knew sooner

12. Princess Cruises Loyalty Program

One thing you’ll notice on a Princess Cruise, is the amount of repeat cruisers there are.

Why? Well, overall they offer a really good cruise experience and people want to cruise again.

However, they also have a really good loyalty program, called Captain’s Circle. They offer past passenger discounts, free internet minutes, a small discount in stores, and even at a certain loyalty level, free laundry, and more!

Seriously, they had me at free laundry. Ladies, am I right? 😉

13. Some Special Princess Cruise Ship Experiences that we Love!

I feel like I talk about food a lot, but Princess has some really great casual food and special experiences that are worth doing, and many cruisers just don’t know about it (and I want to make sure you do!)

Some “free” foodie experiences that you may enjoy include:

The British Pub Lunch

This is served on sea days often in the Wheelhouse Bar or Crown Grill. There is no extra charge for it.

They serve fish and chips, prawns, bangers and mash, and more. We think it’s fabulous and love it!

Tip: It gets busy and it’s quite popular, so go early.

Afternoon Tea

There are actually 2 afternoon teas served. One is served in the main dining room and there is no extra charge. The other is has a small charge and is served in a more intimate setting.

We did the afternoon tea, in the MDR for the first time while on our last Princess Cruise. We had some little cucumber sandwiches and some scones, cream and jam – it was soooo good!

14. Princess Cruises Shore Excursions Tips

I’m by no means suggesting that you book every shore excursion with Princess, or even that you need an excursion in every cruise port. However, there are times when it’s a good idea to book an excursion .

I’ve found a really good advantage, which many cruisers just don’t know about.

It’s the Best Price Shore Excursion Guarantee . Basically, the way this works is that if you find a very similar shore excursion online with another vendor, Princess will not only match the price, but give you a 10% difference in extra on-board credit.

Here is the form , which you can download from the Princess website.

princess cruise tips and advice first timers

15. Princess Cruises Glossary and Cruise Lingo Acronyms

First time cruisers will learn quickly that cruisers have a language all their own. You’ll hear frequent cruisers speak in cruise jargon and acronyms all the time.

These are just a few:

MDR – main dining room

IC – International Cafe

FCC – Future Cruise Credit

OBC – On board credit

TA – Travel Agent

B2B/B2B2B – 2 and 3 and more cruises all in a row

For a more extensive list of cruise vocabulary: Cruise Lingo Glossary – 55 Words You Need to Know

Princess Cruises Embarkation Day – What to expect

I’ve put together this YouTube video about our recent Princess Cruise on the Crown Princess. It begins with our embarkation day, and you can follow along on our Caribbean cruise if you’d like to see some samples of dining and other aspects of cruise life on Princess.

If you enjoy, please consider subscribing to my YouTube channel where I share helpful cruise tips and vlogs.

Read next: Princess Cruises Drink Packages (the details and menus) – Premium Beverage Package, New Grounds Coffee Package, Princess Plus perks

Recap:15 Awesome Tips for First-Time Princess Cruises

We’ve gone through some of the best things about cruising with Princess, and things first time cruisers will appreciate knowing.

One of the most important things to do, is actually to refer to your Princess Patter, the daily planner. This, or the app on your phone or portal, will help you to make sure you don’t miss anything important.

Even though my intention is to provide useful and helpful information, always check your own cruise personalizer, with your travel agent and/or Princess Cruises website for the most accurate information, that is relevant to your own booking.

Have you cruised with Princess or are you cruising soon? Do you have any extra tips?

Happy Cruising!!

P.S. If you found this helpful, please don’t keep it to yourself ;-). Please share on Facebook or PIN to your favorite Pinterest board (share buttons at the top). Thanks so much!

Princess Cruise Gratuity (Tips) Full Guide: How Much, How They Work, and More

No matter which cruise line you sail, crew gratuities — also known as service charges or crew appreciation — are a fact of life. This includes sailing on Princess.

Princess medallion on top of cash money.

While you have your cruise fare and then any extras like drinks, specialty restaurants, gambling and shore excursions, you also have a daily fee that goes to the crew as a “thank you” for the service they provide.

And these charges can add up. In the case of a couple traveling on a week-long cruise, they can mean hundreds of dollars out of your pocket. That’s why it’s a good idea to understand what these charges are and exactly how they work.

In This Article...

How Much Are Gratuities on Princess?

Gratuities — or as Princess calls them “Crew Appreciation” — currently run different amounts depending on the type of cabin that you book. Lower tier cabins see lower costs while more expensive rooms also have higher gratuities. Current rates are set at:

Balcony Cabins and Below: $16.00 per person, per day
Mini-Suites and Reserve Collection: $17.00 per person, per day
Suites: $18.00 per person, per day

Those prices can add up. For example, a couple traveling in a balcony cabin would see a charge of $32 per day. Over the course of a week-long cruise, that would be a total of $224.

Who Is Charged Gratuities on Princess?

While some cruise lines do offer a break on these charges for small kids (typically those under 2-3 years old), Princess does not. According to the cruise line, children are included with the charge.

That means you should expect that every passenger sailing the cruise line will see the crew appreciation charge when sailing. So a family of four in a balcony cabin will see a charge of $64 ($16 x 4) each day.

How Do I Pay Gratuities?

When it comes to actually paying the gratuity fee, you have a few options.

First, you can prepay the gratuity before you sail. The full charge is calculated and then you can call the cruise line or pay via your online account up to two days before your trip. This means that once you sail the charge is already taken care of.

The second method is to simply wait until you are on the ship. In this case, the charge will automatically be applied to your onboard account. Then at the end of the cruise the amount is paid with your payment method on file.

Finally, Princess offers two packages — Princess Plus and Princess Premier — that offer a more all-inclusive experience. With these packages, you pay a set daily fee and get a drink package, wi-fi, and crew appreciation included with the cost (other perks are included as well).

Can I Change or Remove the Gratuity Amount?

Say you have a bad experience on your cruise and don’t think the crew appreciation is justified. Are you able to change it? Yes, you can. You can simply head down to Guest Services to explain the situation and have the gratuity amount changed or removed.

That said, you should know that this is considered in poor taste in most cases. If you have bad service, then that is one thing. However, if you are removing or adjusting the amount simply because you think it is excessive, then you should know that the crew works hard and this is a factor in their compensation.

Can I Adjust the Gratuity if I Bought a Princess Plus/Premier Package?

If you bought the package, then the crew appreciation amount is a perk that is included. However, with this package you lose the ability to adjust the tip amount. According to Princes, “You have complete discretion to adjust crew appreciation payment while onboard, but crew appreciation may only be adjusted prior to disembarking the ship. If included as part of a promotion or package, it cannot be adjusted or refunded.”

What Staff Is Covered by Gratuities?

While Princess doesn’t lay out the specifics regarding who gets how much of the crew appreciation, the cruise line does offer some glimpse into where your money goes on its website :

“All of the Crew Appreciation and Service Charge payments made by all guests on all ships in our fleet are pooled, net of credit card transaction fees. The pooled funds are distributed throughout the year in the form of compensation, including bonuses, to crewmembers fleetwide who interact directly with guests and/or behind the scenes throughout every cruise, including those in the Bar, Dining, Entertainment, Housekeeping, Guest Services, Galley and Onboard Revenue areas.”

Can I Tip More if I Want?

Absolutely. If you receive exceptional service and want to show your appreciation, then you can certainly tip more. The staff will certainly be happy to accept cash as a “thank you.”

Does the Crew Appreciation Charge Cover Everything on the Ship? Are There Other Places to Tip?

The gratuity charge covers many people on the ship, and most times when you receive service, you don’t have to worry about an additional tip. However, there are some areas where you might purchase something that is subject to an additional gratuity amount. This includes:

Specialty Dining: 17% (included in cover charge)
Specialty Food Items: 17% (included in item charge)
Drinks/Drink Packages: 18%
Spa Services: 18%

So if you purchase a drink costing $10 on the menu, you’ll actually be charged $11.80 in total once the gratuity is added in.

More questions about the gratuity charges on a Princess cruise? Let us know in the comments below.

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I don’t think a 1 year old baby should have to pay tips on Princess Cruises.

When tipping more (the cash tip at cruise end) what is the rule of thumb

No real rule of thumb, as it’s simply an extra.

Princess Cruises offer 24 hr complimentary room service. Will there be an added service charge or gratuity added to my account for basic Room Service Menu items?

You are stating a tip is included in the cost of specialty dining? We tipped at the end of our dinner not knowing this.

Right. It’s either included in the price or it’s added onto the charge automatically.

I have said this time and time again over the last 20 odd years or so of cruising,”advertise a cabin price with gratuities included this would then take the argument out of the equesion whether people pay or not pay the gratuities.personaly,I think the cruising public are getting sick of the fact that a price is advertised for a cabin,but then find out there a add on over add ons.

Cruise lines should pay a decent wage to all staff in the first place. Declare what is the breakdown of each type of workers pay rate.?

Seems to me the very people who have paid a lot of money for a cruise are digging into their pockets again to pay staff appropriately. Shame on you cruise lines.

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25 Princess Cruise Tips and Tricks You Should Know

The Island Princess cruise ship - tips for cruising

Cruising is back, and while there may be a few changes, most things will remain the same. If Princess is your choice, and it’s usually ours, we offer below 25 Princess cruise tips and tricks that can make your sailing even better.

Whether you have already booked or are still thinking about it, these tips for cruising apply to nearly every line, although written specifically for Princess. They will save you time and money and enhance your cruising experience.

We realized that this list of Princess cruise tips and tricks needed to be written when, after two consecutive weeks onboard the Island Princess, we were still discovering new things. With over 160 days at sea to our credit, we didn’t expect it.

From that point, we set out on a mission, asking officers, crew, and other passengers for their best Princess cruise hacks. While many of these cruise ship tips feel like Princess cruise secrets, in fact, all of this information is readily available on board, and much of it applies to any cruise line.

Our best Princess cruise tips

1. fly to your embarkation port at least one day in advance, 2. learn something about the cruise ports, 3. book some onboard services in advance of embarkation, 4. explore independent shore excursions, 5. bring an emergency kit, 6. verify that your medical insurance covers a pandemic, as well as travel outside of your home country, 7. pack light with our princess cruise packing list, 8. bring a power strip, 9. book your optimal package by understanding the options, 10. don’t be afraid to try different eating options, 11. at mealtime, order everything you want, 12. dine my way allows you to make dinner reservations, 13. speciality restaurants frequently serve lunch at no extra charge, 14. get free or cheaper drinks with these cruise ship hacks, 15. choose the princess drink package that is right for you, 16. know when to order a glass of wine and when to order a bottle instead, 17. prepare for the sun, 18. the dry sauna and large showers at the spa are available to all passengers, 19. some princess ships offer movies under the stars, 20. each ship has at least one deck offering outdoor access to the bow and stern, 21. maximize your internet usage.

22. Texts to other passengers are free using Princess Onboard at Sea

23. The ship bartenders are like hidden concierges

24. although princess cruises gratuities are automatically added to your daily invoice, they can be altered, 25. the future cruise deposit is the best deal onboard, safety guidelines , our recent cruise destinations.

Below we have listed our best Princess cruise hacks and tips in three categories:

Princess cruise tips and tricks for before you sail
Princess cruise tips for dining and drinking onboard
More Princess Cruise tips for enjoying life onboard, including things that you might not know you have access to.

Check out these great deals on Princess Cruises

Princess cruise tips: things to do before you sail

If your plane is late, the ship won’t wait for you. It’s not worth the risk. While the cruise lines offer packages that include airfare, we always check Expedia flights for a cheaper flight. We use Booking.com to compare and find the best hotel prices for the night before we embark.

Travelling between March 29, 2024 and September 30, 2024? Check out: * Booking.com’s Getaway Deals 2024 Save 15% or more on selected accommodations. ( T&Cs ) No codes or memberships required

Reading up on your destinations not only adds to the excitement but it also helps ensure you won’t miss anything. We carry a guidebook for those times when we don’t have internet access. Our current favourite series is the Rick Steves cruise ports books . Steves spotlights things you can do in a limited time, offers suggestions as to what can be booked ahead, and targets the needs of cruise passengers.

Don’t miss out on the things you really want. Princess allows you to book Spa treatments, shore excursions, and specialty dinner reservations in advance of sailing. Many popular activities “sell out” prior to embarkation. By booking in advance, you can guarantee your spot.

In most cases, there is no penalty for cancellation within 48 hours of the event. Therefore, you can make necessary changes or adjustments if you change your mind. Read the fine print before finalizing your booking, as this policy could change. Also, note that some pre-boarding options are not available after you board. Look for words like “special” or “pre-boarding only.”

Booking a massage before embarkation is one of many great Princess cruise tips and tricks

While many of the excursions offered by the cruise line are great, you can normally save money and tour with a smaller group by booking independently. The ship will discourage you from doing this, as excursions are a big moneymaker for the cruise line.

Often, their primary argument is that the ship will wait for their own tours if they return late, but not for independent ones. As a result, Get Your Guide (one of our favourite tour companies worldwide), and many other tour companies now offer easy cancellation policies on most of their shore excursions.

In fact, Get Your Guide offers a huge range of shore excursion options , all with 24-hour penalty-free cancellation. We encourage you to compare their options with those offered by the ship. Finally, read the reviews. And always check the fine print to be sure the cancellation policy hasn’t changed.

For us, we often prefer to have a private tour that we can customize to our needs. Our logic being that we only get a limited amount of time in port, and often it’s somewhere we might never visit again. So when group tours don’t meet our needs, we turn to the experts at Tours by Locals . We have used their guides all around the world and to date have always had great experiences. Check out Tours by Locals and handpick your guide here

Bridge in the Mandala Suci Wenara Wana Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary seen on an excursion in Bali Indonesia

Our kit includes first aid supplies and over-the-counter medication for headaches, sore throat, fever, and diarrhea. While you can get most items at the shop onboard or from the ship’s doctor, they will be overpriced. And if they run out of what you need, it could be days before you get to another port.

If you take prescription medication, carry paper copies of the prescriptions, and bring enough for extra days, should you decide to extend your travels.

We make our own kit, but if you prefer a premade one, this small first aid kit from Amazon.com looks complete for injuries.

To date, we have been on two cruises where a passenger required medical evacuation. One went by helicopter, and the other required the ship to divert its course and make an unscheduled stop, leaving the passenger with a waiting ambulance on the nearest island.

We have also seen the inside of an emergency room in six countries, including, most recently, when I got dengue fever in South America .

Note: World Nomads provides travel insurance for travellers in over 100 countries. As an affiliate, we receive a fee when you get a quote from World Nomads using this link. We do not represent World Nomads. This is information only and not a recommendation to buy travel insurance.

Medical resuce at sea off the coast of Australia.

You won’t regret packing light. It’s so important to us, that we wrote another article just on our best cruise packing hacks. Sign up for our newsletter, and we will send you a FREE copy of our Ultimate Cruise Packing Light Checklist:

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Packing cubes are one of the most helpful tools for packing light. If you haven’t tried packing cubes before, the time is now. Despite being sceptical, I gave them a try. Now, I am hooked.

Not only do packing cubes keep my belongings organized, but the set we love also compacts them, allowing more to fit into a smaller space. And they are sturdy, durable, water-resistant and come with a lifetime warranty. Check out our current favourite packing cubes here

Plus, once onboard or at any land destination, unpacking and keeping organized is easy. Similarly, hanging shoe holders can be hung on the back of the door to give you extra storage compartments if you ignored our suggestion for packing light.

One common complaint of cruise ship cabins is the limited number of electrical outlets, often only one. Carrying a small power strip, we have resolved that problem for ourselves, and we can now charge all our devices or dry my hair whilst hubby uses a different electronic device.

There are two booking options:

Princess Saver fare covers the cruise only.
Princess Plus also includes the premium beverage package and the wifi package in the fare for the first two guests in a stateroom.

Check out these great deals on Princess Cruise s

Tip: note that I found this on the FAQ section regarding Princess Plus: “ Do all 4 guests in a stateroom receive the Premier Beverage Package, Wi-Fi? YES, however, when this fare is selected it will automatically be defaulted to the first 2 guests in the stateroom. Should your 3rd and 4th guest want to opt in to receive the Beverage Package and Wi-Fi they will need to contact Princess or their travel agent to have it applied to the booking. For guests under the legal drinking age, the Premier Coffee & Soda Package will be applied before sailing.”

Princess cruise tips and tricks: dining

If you are gluten-free, dairy-free, or have food allergies, we have great news. Princess Cruise Lines take this very seriously. We personally have never had a food allergy problem onboard a Princess ship. However, all cruise lines are not the same. Check out this article for an epic failure by a competitor: Cruising with Food Allergies .

Food is a big part of every cruise. And on Princess Cruises, your base price includes many meal and snack options.

For a big meal, there is the main dining room (dress code of no shorts or tank tops at dinner), a buffet, and specialty restaurants (extra fee). Each of these will feature full meals and scrumptious desserts.

But that’s not all. Branch out, explore the ship and on most ships, you will find a pastry shop, pizza shop, grill near the pool deck featuring burgers, soft-serve ice cream, an international cafe (beverage charges apply, see below), and my personal favourite – the milk and cookies cart.

And if that’s not enough to satisfy, room service is also included in your fare.

If you eat in a dining room, note that you can order extra of anything. I actually requested extra vegetables while a tablemate ordered a second lobster tail and one of each dessert. Although, you might want to check out these tips for eating onboard without gaining weight.

Best healthy eating cruise hacks: order an extra plate of vegetables.

One advantage of Dine My Way is the flexibility to show up when you want to eat. There are times that are more popular than others, like right after the first show. If you know in advance that this will be your choice, you can make a reservation and effectively cut the queue.

The option to dine at a speciality restaurant comes with a price tag for the added value. However, they frequently offer a special lunch at no additional fee. On the Island Princess, this included Italian Pizza or a British Pub lunch. It will be listed in the daily Princess Patter.

One of the best tips for cruising for Pizza lovers is the free lunchtime meals in the speciality restaurant on a Princess Cruise ship.

Princess cruise hacks and tips: drinks

Discount beverage packages are available pre-departure and onboard (see tips for cruising #15). However, there are plenty of opportunities for free drinks. Coffee and tea are complimentary with meals and afternoon tea (these do not include fancy espresso drinks).

Most art auctions, some spa tours, welcome events, the captain’s party, and a few special events onboard include a glass of champagne or even a drink. Also, there are often happy hour specials at different bars, wine or whiskey tastings, and other events that offer drink deals.

You can also save money by bringing certain beverages with you at embarkation. Ask your room steward to empty the minibar and then restock it with your own beverages. We brought a case of water on our last cruise, and friends brought their own soda. Wine has more rules, but in brief, you can bring one bottle. See the detailed rules here.

In general, alcoholic beverages, soft drinks, smoothies, mocktails and specialty coffees are not included in your Princess Saver plan. Here are the four package options:

Plus Beverage package – unlimited wine, beer, spirits, fountain soda, specialty coffees, bottled water, teas, and other individual beverages that are up to $12 USD each.
Premier Beverage package – includes everything in the Plus Beverage Package plus top-shelf premium beverages up to $18 USD each and a larger selection of wines and spirits.
Coffee and Soda package – unlimited premium and specialty coffees and teas along with fountain sodas, fruit juices, hot chocolate, and “zero-proof” mocktails.
Classic Soda package – unlimited fountain sodas, fruit juices, mocktails, and smoothies.
New Grounds Coffee package – a given number of specialty coffees (determined by the cruise length). Couples can purchase one package as it provides a finite number of drinks, although the plan also includes unlimited filter coffee and hot chocolate only for the cardholder.

All that said, our two best tips:

If you plan to drink wine with dinner, a few alcoholic beverages throughout the day, and enjoy specialty coffee, consider the Princess Plus package, as that includes the Plus Beverage Package.
However, if you are booking under Princess Saver, and you plan to drink only one specialty coffee per day like I do, but you also enjoy fountain sodas, mocktails, and juices, it will probably save you money* to purchase the classic soda package and the coffee card. This will also give you the addition of smoothies over the Premier Coffee and Soda Club. *Prices and terms may have changed since I wrote this.

Getting a bottle of wine instead of a glass is a one of the Princess cruise tips and tricks that will save you money.

If you’re on Princess Saver, never order a glass of wine – order a bottle instead. However, the opposite is more cost-effective for Princess Plus.

If you enjoy a glass or two of wine with dinner and you have opted for Princess Saver, you will save money if you order a bottle rather than a glass. But don’t drink it all in one night.

Your waiter will carefully label and store your unfinished bottle at the restaurant under your name. Or, you can bring it back to your cabin for any time drinking. If you ask your cabin steward, he will provide wine glasses and a bucket of ice.

Princess Plus passengers will get a 25% discount on the bottle, or they can order wine by the glass and have it included in their package.

Getting a bottle or a glass of wine instead, depending on your package, is one of the Princess cruise tips and tricks that will save you money.

More Princess cruise tips and tricks

The sun may be much stronger than you are used to at home. On sea days, you may find yourself lounging at the pool or doing other outdoor activities. Nothing spoils the fun quite like a sunburn. Therefore, we recommend bringing plenty of sunscreen, a sun hat, and a lightweight cover-up that can serve as sun protection if needed. You don’t need to bring a beach towel , as they are available at the pools and can be taken ashore at ports.

Relaxing out the outdoor pool on the Island Princess

Yes, it’s true. Even if you don’t purchase spa services, you enjoy some of their amenities, like the dry sauna and huge showers, at no extra charge.

A wonderful selection of movies showed nearly every night on a huge 300-square foot screen with a 69,000-watt sound system found poolside. Padding, removable pillows, and blankets convert the lounge chairs into a comfortable nighttime movie-watching option. Princess even provides popcorn.

One of the pools on the Island Princess cruise ship

On the Island Princess, decks 10 and 11 forward are optimal for watching the ship enter the Panama Canal , while deck 8 at the stern was the perfect spot as we left Cabo San Lucas . To access these outdoor decks, we passed through an unlabelled door at the end of the hallway.

Our interior cabin on the Island Princess

Princess Cruises wifi hacks

Princess now has what they call MedallionNet, and they consider it to be the best wifi at sea. Best of all, it’s included in the Princess Plus or Premier package. Internet used to be crazy expensive on cruise ships, but even with Princess Saver, you can purchase a package that will give you unlimited internet.

Personally, I would love to log off and enjoy my time at sea. However, that’s neither possible nor desirable for some people, so we offer a few wifi tips for those who purchase a limited amount of wifi onboard:

The number of users at any given time affects Princess Cruises’ wifi speed. Therefore, very early in the morning or very late at night will give the fastest speeds.
If you purchase a limited amount of wifi on board, put your phone or device in airplane mode when not using it. This will protect you from accidental usage or unexpected (and very expensive) updates.
Log in, bring in your email, open each webpage you want to read in a separate tab and log out. Read webpages and reply to emails while offline, and only log back in to send all messages at once. Or, if they are not time-sensitive, leave them in the out basket. They will send the next time you bring in your mail.
If you can log in and out in less than 30 seconds, it often won’t track as time online; therefore, it is free.
To save even more, only check email onshore. In much of the world, Mcdonald’s and Starbucks offer free wifi.

22. Texts to other passengers are free using Princess Onboard at Sea

Bring your mobile device, and you can also access daily schedules, your account, and the ship’s itinerary at no charge. You can even send messages to other passengers while onboard the ship.

The beautiful atriums on ships are a great place to find some of the cruise secrets

More Princess cruise hacks

They are an excellent source of additional cruise excursion tips or advice on ports. They learn the best and the worst while talking to passengers every day. Also, many crew members have been to various ports multiple times.

Or, they can be completely removed. Simply ask at the main desk. While more complicated, altering prepaid gratuities is possible.

There is no risk as Princess will refund unused deposits after two years. Importantly, the deposit must be in the currency of the country of your residence, and you must enrol while onboard.

The Island Princess docked in Vancouver Canada

Check out the great deals on Princess Cruises

CDC offers guidelines regarding staying healthy on cruise ships. Princess Cruise Lines has their own short video on healthy cruising .

MedallionClass

Princess expanded hands-free MedallionClass to the entire fleet. Now, rather than a cruise card that is handed to another person for payment, each passenger is issued a medallion that is worn on the wrist or on a lanyard. Therefore, the electronic medallion goes everywhere you do as it’s waterproof as well as resistant to heat, sand, and salt.

Southeast Asia from Hong Kong to Singapore on the Azamara Quest with ports in Vietnam and Thailand.
New Year’s Cruise in Rio de Janeiro on the Azamara Pursuit from Buenos Aires, Argentina (return) with ports in Uruguay and Brazil.
Pacific Crossing on the Golden Princess sailing from Los Angeles, USA, to Auckland, New Zealand, with ports in Hawaii, French Polynesia, and American Samoa. This is a repositioning cruise .
Panama Canal Crossing on the Island Princess sailing from Fort Lauderdale, USA to Vancouver, Canada, with ports in Aruba, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Mexico.
Australia over the top from Sydney to Perth on the Royal Caribbean Radiance of the Seas with ports in Australia and Indonesia.
Alaska’s interior passage on the NCL Sun sailing from Anchorage to Vancouver, Canada.
The Mediterranean including both the Adriatic and Aegean Seas on the NCL Spirit sailing from Barcelona, Spain to Venice, Italy, with ports in France, Italy, Greece, and Turkey.
Norway on the MSC Opera sailing to and from South Hampton, England, with ports in the Netherlands and Norway.
In the past, we also cruised to the Mexican Riviera and multiple Caribbean cruises; plus, we have been invited guests onboard the HAL Oosterdam and the Celebrity Solstice.

Save for later

If you enjoyed these Princess cruise tricks and tips, please share this article on social media and save them on Pinterest for your next cruise.

A view out while lounging on the pool deck of a Princess cruise ship.

Read next: 7 Hidden Benefits of Cruising that Might Surprise You

Do you have any Princess cruise tips and tricks to add to our list?

Cruisers might also like:

Repositioning Cruises: Are they right for you?
Alaska Cruise Tips: Know Before You Sail
21 Picturesque Cruise Ship Ports Around the World
Our South America Boutique Cruise on Azamara Pursuit
7 Hidden Benefits of Cruising That Might Surprise You

Disclaimer: In addition to VIP treatment onboard the Island Princess, the ship provided us with many complimentary extras. The opinions and observations expressed here are strictly my own. The tips and benefits listed above are all subject to change. Be sure to read the current rules before you sail.

About Rhonda Albom

Capturing the essence of travel through photography, Rhonda Albom is the primary author and photographer at Albom Adventures. She is an American expat based in New Zealand. She travels the world with her husband.

Reader Interactions

May 12, 2024 at 3:50 pm

This post makes me want to take my first cruise. I’ll have to make sure to bring Dramamine as I’m afraid of getting sea sick.

Kenny Lloyd

January 8, 2024 at 1:14 pm

Is there a free bottle of wine like carnival dose if you eat at the stake house the first night??

December 29, 2019 at 7:02 pm

Awesome tips you got here, I never knew that there is so many tips that you need to know when going for a cruise. But it is awesome that you are sharing these

December 29, 2019 at 2:44 pm

These are great tips, but I especially love tips #5-8 and 15. You never know if the local cuisine will irritate your stomach or not (happened on 2 occasions for me), I don’t remember my old insurance name but I agree about making sure you are insured when overseas in case of an emergency, jeans are heavy, so don’t pack many of them, also carry a power strip in case you need to plug in anything extra and/or to share your power with others in need when outlets are limited. Last, for goodness sakes, buy the bottle! lol Even if you don’t think you’ll drink a whole bottle, buy the bottle; you’ll end up paying more glass by glass. Take the bottle to the room if you aren’t able to down it at the table.

December 29, 2019 at 4:56 am

Thanks for the fantastic tips! We’ve never been on a cruise so going to save this post for the future. It will come in handy if we do book one!

December 29, 2019 at 12:09 am

Those tips and tricks are super helpful! I’ve never been on a cruise but if I go I’ll definitely use them! 🙂

Ana Palombini

December 28, 2019 at 11:28 pm

This is all so interesting, I honestly had NO IDEA. I did a cruise years ago, when I was a kid. It was the Disney Cruise and I went to the Bahamas with my mother and father. I will never forget this experience. Great post, very detailed!

December 23, 2019 at 11:30 am

Omg thank you so much for this amazing tips, I wish I could do next year a cruise trip with my little daughter 😍

December 23, 2019 at 7:59 am

Excellent tips, Rhonda. Never thought of booking services in advance, I think that’s a good idea. We don’t go on cruises very often, but I enjoy going when I have a chance. I prefer the traditional dining onboard because I believe you get much better food then in the “anytime” dining rooms.

January 23, 2020 at 10:32 am

The menu is the same in traditional dining and anytime dining. Comes from same kitchen.

Charlotte Lint

December 21, 2019 at 2:00 am

Loving all of these tips on cruising! I did a couple of them myself when I was younger and love being on the ocean!

December 20, 2019 at 5:20 am

SO many great tips- especially about ordering a bottle of wine & they’ll put it aside for you, thats incredible!

December 20, 2019 at 2:02 am

These are such great tips. We always book our excursions independently. We have found that it is usually a much better experience.

December 20, 2019 at 12:58 am

Wow, this looks like a super classy cruise. I’ve only ever been on one but not with Princess. I have a friend who works for them and I hear all kinds of cool things. I might need to go sometime soon. Love your wifi tip especially!

November 23, 2019 at 7:39 pm

Hi Rhonda, Great article & tips … I’m going on the majestic princess next year & would like to explore ‘the drinks situation’ in a bit more detail please.

When you say “On our last cruise, we purchased a case of water before embarking, saving us tons of money. We simply added one of the luggage tags to it and it appeared in our room later. We know others who have done the same with soda. You can ask your room steward to empty the minibar, and then restock it with your own beverages.”

Was the case of water purchased through princess or you bought it onboard yourself meaning you purchased it outside of princess? (like at a local supermarket) … And when you say case, is that like 12 x 500ml bottles? Same Q with the soda …

I’m after some clarity as I’ve read elsewhere you can’t take water/liquids onboard or they’re confiscated … Much appreciated 🙂

Rhonda Albom

November 24, 2019 at 1:04 pm

We stopped a grocery store on our way to the ship and picked up a case (25 bottles at 500ml – our last cruise was 21 days, and the water was on sale at that quantity). We don’t drink sodas, so we didn’t bring any. We were given luggage tags with our tickets that direct our belongings to our stateroom. We simply attached one to the case of water and had no problems. I cannot comment on others saying there’s was confiscated. We only needed bottled water on shore, as we are happy to drink the ship’s water.

November 26, 2019 at 10:05 pm

OK Great ~ Thanks Rhonda 🙂

November 13, 2023 at 1:00 am

Alcoholic liquids (besides the allowed 1 bottle of wine) is what will be confiscated if you attempt to smuggle that aboard.

September 13, 2019 at 6:48 pm

You’re really gearing me up to book a cruise next year!

September 9, 2019 at 12:38 pm

Someone recently recommended a Princess cruise to us for our trip to Alaska! Thanks for these awesome tips. I will be referencing this again.

September 9, 2019 at 12:44 am

Smart, insider tips for cruising. I like that you made sure to include tips about reservations, which sometimes seems overwhelming for cruisers. Great post!

September 8, 2019 at 11:05 am

Great tips! I have cruised a TON on Princess and didn’t know about #12! We do the Specialty restaurants for dinner but had NO idea about lunch! We always get coffee cards and save with that and even if we aren’t sure when our next cruise is we always purchase the future cruise credit!

December 18, 2019 at 7:22 pm

We are going on a cruise for 🎁 and only booked a few weeks in advance , not only did we get a balcony for a great price , we also got a free premium drinks package , booking late is recommended , going Friday 20th Dec ,

September 6, 2019 at 12:22 am

It’s been a while since I’ve gone on a cruise. I’d have enjoyed having this info first!

Brooke of Passport Couture

September 4, 2019 at 4:01 pm

What a fantastic, comprehensive guide to cruises! You’ve done a great job of showing how to get the most of your experience. I would love to watch a movie on a cruise under the stars. It sounds like a romantic way to end the night!

Cheryle Matthew

September 1, 2019 at 12:04 pm

Hi, can you please explain what is a “picture” charge. Thankyou for the great article, We have just booked our first cruise.

September 3, 2019 at 6:07 pm

The cruise line employs photographers. They will capture all significant events, like embarkation, parties, formal night etc. They also will have time set for taking photos with various backgrounds. There is an option to purchase any or all of the photos.

Benjamn Williams

April 6, 2019 at 7:06 am

The way you write it really makes me want to take a cruise, rest, enjoy and eat all day.

Kirk Murray

August 6, 2018 at 11:25 am

I know a lot of people are in love with packing cubes but you still look like an unmade bed (or at least a “folded” bed!! We travel with a spray bottle of Downey Wrinkle Release. You simply put your clothes on hangers the night before you wear them, spray them and the next morning they look like they have been ironed!!

October 10, 2017 at 7:51 am

Here are a few additions that I have learned about over the years. 1. If you have an inside cabin, turn your tv to the bridge camera. As the sky lightens on the camera, your room will lighten as well. 2. Power strips or extension cords are needed since there is usually only one outlet. Check the cruise ship rules as they change from time to time. (There may be an additional outlet behind the tv) 3. Many companies allow you to bring a bottle of wine per person onboard. Check the rules, as again this changes. 4. If you order a food item you have been brave enough to try but find you don’t like it, just order something else. This is a great time to experiment with food. You may love escargot or Creme Brûlée. 5. You can cruise without spending extra money, but if you do, keep track of your purchases on your tv screen. Drinks and pictures add up fast. 6. Most ships charge for cell phone service at unbelievable rates. To avoid nasty surprises on your bill, put your phones and tablets in airplane mode. 7. Many people wear their sign and sail card on a lanyard. 8. I like to take battery votive candles for night lights. 9. Make sure your watches are set to SHIP time. People have missed the ship from having the wrong time. 10. Watch for lower prices for your particular cruise. There are several apps to help. You can sometimes re-book and save money.

Fly With Shaunak

May 22, 2017 at 12:43 am

Great tips Rhonda. The only thing stopping me from attempting to be on board is may be my mindset that I’ll feel extremely uncomfortable in the seas. The movement of the waves causing the cruise-liner to go up and down may make me feel like passing-out. I know that’s just a mindset but yeah, someday I will change it… The pictures here too lovely, especially the first one.

May 22, 2017 at 8:33 am

Cruise ships today are so big that unless there are huge seas, you rarely feel the movement onboard. There are short 3 day cruises. You could try one of those.

April 12, 2017 at 9:29 pm

It looks like it was an amazing experience! This cruiseline seems very family friendly. I would love to try a cruise one day!

April 12, 2017 at 10:13 pm

We have been on 5 different lines, and Princess is my favourite.

May 22, 2017 at 9:08 pm

Lucky you Rhonda!

May 23, 2017 at 5:11 pm

Elizabeth Merryweather

March 16, 2019 at 6:08 am

have you ever been to Alaska ?

March 16, 2019 at 7:45 am

Yes, we cruised Alaska a few years ago. It is so beautiful. We blogged about every port, just put “Alaska” is the blogs search box – or click here: https://www.albomadventures.com/?s=alaska

August 14, 2016 at 10:27 am

I love to cruise!

We recently cruised Princess for the third time and were allowed one bottle of wine per passenger to bring onboard! You can consume it in your stateroom to avoid corkage. Room service will open it for you and bring wine glasses. We tip them for that.

As for the lounge chairs, if all are “reserved” with a towel, I simply move them and sit. Haven’t had a problem, as the people are usually not even at the pool.

Regarding the drink cards, it should be noted that they are per person and not to be shared. Sure, you can try to scam the system and maybe succeed, but it’s important to know that you may have a problem if caught. We found that the card was to our advantage, as we enjoyed daily specialty coffees, bottled waters and cocktails. You also get a discount on wine with the card.

August 16, 2016 at 9:44 am

We love cruising too. Thanks for the additional tips. As for the drink cards, they each have different rules. The coffee card can be shared as it is for a specific number of coffees. In fact, we always ordered both my specialty drink and hubby’s free filter coffee at the same time. It was the bar tender who suggested we share. We didn’t have an alcohol card, but we certainly saw many couples ordering one alcoholic and one alcoholic drink at the same time.

Paula McInerney

August 14, 2016 at 8:48 am

We have never been on a cruise. We did however get invited to the culinary immersion experience on board that Golden Princess, which gave us a glimpse of life on board. Great tips that we may use one day.

August 14, 2016 at 9:39 am

We had a culinary experience on a Holland America ship and got a tour of it as well. Yes, it gives an idea, but life onboard is actually much more fun than it just appears on a tour.

Marcelle Simone Heller

August 9, 2016 at 1:24 am

You sound like a real cruise expert! Great tips. The part of the on board internet charged on a per-minute basis doesn’t sound very attractive. Also that the speed is effected by number of users. I wonder if they couldn’t offer internet for free as a incentive for their guests like even buses in the US do. #wkendtravelinspiration

August 9, 2016 at 8:25 am

I sound like an expert because I asked the experts onboard and took notes. As for internet, they do use it as an incentive for frequent travelers. The more you cruise with the same line, the more bonuses they give you. It’s a great way for a good company to build loyalty.

Sandra Moore

May 11, 2018 at 11:33 am

Watch the sales as this is sometimes offered as is the drink package. The all inclusive picture package is not offered and if prepurchased it is usually a $50savings. Our cruise was discounted almost $600 before we had to pay in full. Our wonderful TA got it fir us, We had prepaid our gratitudes, the Princess offered free prepaid gratitudes, right after we paid in full. She called them and they refunded it in the form of OBC. Sadly, our cruise has gone down some more but the refunds were not given because we had already paid in full. We were offed a suite but is was on the same side as our balcony and it was going to cost us $1000. More so we said unless it was at the bow or the aft we were. It interested. This is a Panama Chanel cruise so those we our preference.

August 8, 2016 at 4:37 pm

These are wonderful cruise tips. I only cruised once–on the Queen Mary 2 in her inaugural year, 12 years ago. I am way overdo! Hopefully we can plan one soon. I’d like to cruise to Alaska. I linked up tonight. Hope to join in more frequently!

August 9, 2016 at 8:22 am

Oooh, that would be an exciting cruise on Queen Mary 2. We loved our Alaska cruise. We spent a week first and cruised from Anchorage to Vancouver, Canada.

June 16, 2017 at 3:35 pm

How did you decide how much to pack? We lead with 5 days on land then 7 days cruise I,m very nervous about this???

June 17, 2017 at 10:14 pm

I pack very little and I dress in layers. One trick is to pick a colour theme, so everything matches. For me, it is usually black, white, and one other colour. My shoes are always athletic/walking shoes, sandals, and black flats. Don’t worry. You can pick up whatever you need on the ship, or in port.

August 8, 2016 at 2:46 pm

I’m not a cruiser so I was interested to read your whole post. There is so much more to it than what I would have thought. An excellent resource for anyone thinking of taking a cruise.

August 9, 2016 at 8:20 am

Thanks Jan. Actually there is plenty to do onboard a cruise ship. Boredom is never the issue. For me the major downside is the limited amount of time off the ship. It’s a trade off.

Paul F. Pietrangelo

August 7, 2016 at 11:18 am

You are very correct Rhonda. We have learned a great deal after cruising 10 times, 11 times January 28th 2017 on the Carnival Vista. One thing that I really learned form my first cruise was to watch what you eat. I gained 10 lbs on my first cruise and my slacks wouldn’t fit when I got home so I learned from that. You just have to watch and you can still enjoy the cruise. I stayed away from the all desserts. It was hard but it helped and I still enjoyed the many foods. Great ideas Rhonda. See ya.

Cruisin Paul

August 8, 2016 at 1:22 pm

LOL – it sure is easy to gain weight on a cruise ship. The food is fantastic, and so plentiful.

August 7, 2016 at 10:07 am

Great advice, Rhonda. Many these tips are kind of common to all cruise lines from all I’ve noticed. Once you’ve done a cruise you learn the ins and outs of cruising and next time around you know what to do. I am not a great fan of cruises however. I profoundly dislike the idea of going where other people want to take me and follow their rules. I like to make my own itinerary, which obviously is not possible on a cruise.

August 8, 2016 at 1:21 pm

I debated whether to call it tips for cruising or for Princess. For us we learned new things each time, and even after 8 cruises I was still surprised by a few of these that I learned from talking to officiers.

June 10, 2018 at 4:19 pm

Hi Anda, sure you can make your own itineraries on a cruise. After 12 cruises, all you need to do is research your port and find what interests you. You can walk or use taxis to get you to your desired destination. Give cruising another try, it’s my most favorite venue for a vacation and Princess Cruises is my cruise line of choice.

August 7, 2016 at 9:48 am

I’m a bit surprised they charge extra for beverages and that because people can pre-book things, others may not be able to partake while on board. i worked for years in the resort community. Their on site stores overcharge by a lot but there are always places you can go off the grounds to buy things. Not so on boats, I guess. You’re pretty much stuck and have to pay the going rate.

August 8, 2016 at 11:30 am

I should clarify, if you don’t pre-order you don’t get the special deal. Anyone can get bottled water onboard the ship (we drink and filled our bottles with the tap water). And while things are more expensive onboard, the ships do stop in ports, so you can get most things off the ship if you want.

Lady kendal jaggar

August 9, 2016 at 12:06 am

I brought the drinks package ans I also paid for wine at the table for fine wines .. I can say that princess was best for this aa I often travel with cunard and just 6 bottles of my fave pouilly fume was 350 dollars plus tax where as princess 788 dollars allowed me 14days hassel free unlimited ans my poulliy fume was only 24.14 dollar on board . Per bottle no hassle perfect cruising no stress .chef table was beautiful and wine tasting perfect trips out and the spa was great I used the wonderful deposit system to book asia on new majestic next year . Love cruising

August 9, 2016 at 8:23 am

I love cruising also, and agree that Princess seems to do it well. Glad you had a good experience too.

August 15, 2016 at 7:04 am

Princess majestic Asia looking forward to reviewing this ship June 18 21 nights hope its going to live up to expectations

August 16, 2016 at 9:50 am

We had 19 nights on the Island Princess and it lived up to expectations.

August 7, 2016 at 3:42 am

These are some great tips! We were supposed to go on a cruise this October, but we’ve had to cancel it as we got engaged and I wanted our wedding in the fall. However, my mom still really wants to do a cruise soon so this will come in helpful!

August 7, 2016 at 8:34 am

Why not go on a honeymoon cruise?

Mary(The World Is A Book)

August 6, 2016 at 3:30 pm

These are all great and practical tips. We’ve sailed Princess several times and love them. You’ve covered so many.

August 6, 2016 at 9:37 am

I have only been on one cruise- that was a Holland America cruise going from Santiago Chile to Rio de Janeiro Brazil. 16 great days and what a feast every night! Plus great entertainment! NO rules whatsoever at that time- 2008- we were even allowed to bring wine on board for taking to the dining room if we wished and the corkage fee was only $10. The only thing I would do differently would be having a room with a view. Interior rooms were a bit claustrophobic!

August 6, 2016 at 10:22 pm

Amazing that there were no rules in 2008 but pretty cool.

Comedy Plus

August 6, 2016 at 3:43 am

Good things to know if cruise ships are your thing.

Have a fabulous day. ☺

August 6, 2016 at 9:16 pm

I know you had a bad experience, but maybe one day you will try again.

stevebethere

August 6, 2016 at 12:27 am

Good tips Rhonda for someone like me who has never cruised I wouldn’t have a clue, although I did go on a 2 day one to Denmark and back heheh!

Have a cruisetastic day 🙂

August 6, 2016 at 9:15 pm

Even people who cruise often may not know all of the little on-board secrets.

Alex J. Cavanaugh

August 6, 2016 at 12:00 am

Sounds like you could spend your whole day eating.

August 6, 2016 at 9:14 pm

You can. I think that is why so many people gain so much weight when they cruise.

Trekking with Becky

August 5, 2016 at 9:24 pm

What a great post! I’ve always wanted to take a cruise, but I had no idea about these things! My great-aunt is a huge Princess Cruise fan, and I wonder if she knows all these things.

Great work! 😀

August 6, 2016 at 9:13 pm

If you send it to her, I would love to know what she has to say. 🙂

Lyn aka The Travelling Lindfields

August 5, 2016 at 8:12 pm

Sometimes things you didn’t even think of seem obvious in hindsight and you just wish someone would have mentioned them.

That’s exactly why I wrote this 🙂

Lydia C. Lee

August 5, 2016 at 6:39 pm

I’d go bananas if people were hogging lounges – I can’t stand that. If you aren’t sitting on it, what do you need it for??? So selfish. Good tips on the discount cards – I had no idea.

August 6, 2016 at 9:12 pm

There are so many rude people out there. It does surprise me that Princess doesn’t enforce their own rules, but it is quite common. We found the same issue on NCL and MSC in the past.

August 5, 2016 at 4:31 pm

I can see how people who have never cruised are not aware of certain important details. One time on a cruise, we were assigned to seat with two other couples during dinner. They didn’t now they were able to order more than one of everything. They got the hint when they saw my husband and I doing it.

August 6, 2016 at 9:10 pm

This was my ninth cruise and I learned many of these things for the first time. There are so many little tricks and things that make it just a bit more fun.

August 28, 2017 at 9:01 am

A lightstick on the step-up to the bathroom helps to avoid stubbing your toe in the middle of the night. Battery operated votive lights are a nice touch in the bathroom too. Magnets stick to most wall surfaces (except in the bathroom). They also stick to your stateroom door. Have fun!

Privacy Overview

Princess Cruise Tipping Etiquette: Tips for a Royal Experience

Embarking on a Princess Cruise presents an opportunity to experience the high seas with comfort and luxury. This article explains Princess cruise tipping etiquette, including recommended daily amounts for staff and tips on expressing gratitude.

Princess Cruises automatically adds a gratuity of $14.50 to $16.50 per day, per guest to the onboard account, which covers dining and cabin staff. Additional tips are at guests' discretion for exceptional service.

Tipping Customs

Gratuities on a Princess Cruise signify appreciation for crew services.
Knowing tipping guidelines ensures crew members receive proper recognition.
Proper tipping enhances the cruise experience for both guests and service staff.

Automatic Gratuities vs. Cash Tips

Most cruise lines, including Princess , add an automatic service charge to your onboard account that covers general tipping. This daily rate per person takes the guesswork out of how much to tip, but you can still offer cash tips for exceptional service.

Tipping Policies by Cruise Line

Each cruise line has its own set of tipping policies . Princess automatically adds a service charge to your bill, while other lines like Carnival and Royal Caribbean have similar practices. It's important to check the specifics for your chosen line and adjust your budget accordingly. For a better understanding of industry-standard rates and gratuity practices, a good resource is available regarding tips on a cruise.

When you embark on a Princess Cruise, expressing your gratitude through gratuities acknowledges the impeccable service you receive from a dedicated crew. The daily crew appreciation fee covers various services, ensuring that those who go above and beyond for your comfort are rewarded.

Dining Room Staff and Waiters

Service Charge : A daily fee is automatically added to your bill for dining services.
Personal Thanks : An additional tip for exceptional service is at your discretion.

Crew members in the dining areas work tirelessly to provide you with memorable meal experiences. It's expected to pay a service charge which is shared among the wait staff and personnel you might not see directly, such as kitchen crew and others who contribute to your dining enjoyment.

Room Service and Housekeeping

Included in Daily Fee : Your room service and housekeeping staff are covered by the daily charge.
Personal Gift : For extraordinary care, feel free to offer a personal tip.

Your housekeeping team ensures your cabin is a clean, welcoming space throughout your voyage, and room service provides the convenience of refreshments in the comfort of your quarters. Although the daily gratuity includes these services, personal recognition for exceptional service is always appreciated.

Specialized Personnel

Spa and Butler Services : Typically receive tips separately for personalized service.
Entertainment Staff : Although not customary, tips for outstanding performances can be offered.

Specialized crew members, such as spa technicians or butlers, may not be covered under the standard gratuity charge. In cases of spa services, personal tips are recommended to acknowledge the individual care you receive. Tips for the entertainment staff are less common but are a thoughtful gesture for exceptional enjoyment.

When enjoying the vast array of services on a Princess Cruise, understanding when and how to tip for those extra perks can enhance your experience and show appreciation for exceptional service.

Beverage and Specialty Dining

A tip is typically included in your beverage package price, but for exceptional bar service, an additional tip is appreciated.
Bartenders: For ala carte drink orders, consider tipping $1-2 per drink to acknowledge their service.

Specialty Dining:

An additional tip on top of the dining package can show gratitude for a memorable culinary experience.
A suggested amount is $10-20, depending on the level of service and group size.

Casino and Spa Extras

Casino: Feel free to tip dealers and service staff if they've contributed to a great casino experience. This is not mandatory but can be done at your discretion.

Spa Services:

While a gratuity may be included in your spa bill, additional appreciation for exceptional service can be expressed with an additional 10-15% tip.
This is especially true for personalized attention or extended treatments.

Excursion and Port Assistance

Excursions:

Tour guides and operators often go above and beyond. For these individuals, $5-10 is a common tip for a half-day tour, and $10-20 for a full-day.

Port Assistance:

For the port staff who assist with luggage, have a few dollars ready per bag. This small gesture acknowledges their efforts in handling your belongings with care.

When cruising with your family or in a group, tipping can reflect appreciation for the personalized attention you receive. Here's how to navigate gratuities in a way that feels generous and appropriate for larger parties.

Family-Oriented Tipping

When you're traveling with your family , particularly with kids, the crew's extra efforts to ensure everyone's comfort can be significant. Establishing a standard tip for the room steward is important, and you might consider a higher amount for a family of four staying in balcony cabins , owing to the likely increased workload.

Room Steward: Suggested tip of $3-5 per day, per person.
Dining Staff: If your family frequents the same dining settings, a collective tip to acknowledge their service can be a kind gesture.

Group Tipping Strategies

For those cruising as a group , pooling tips can be an effective approach. This is particularly manageable for groups such as couples traveling together. Collectively decide on the gratuity to allocate for consistent services received during the cruise.

Shared Services: Discuss as a group to determine a fair gratuity for shared experiences, such as group excursions or special onboard events.
Individual tipping: Despite pooling for some services, personal tips should still be given for individual service encounters.

By understanding these tipping practices, you ensure that the exceptional service provided to your family or group doesn't go unrecognized.

When embarking on a luxurious cruise with premium lines like Princess Cruises or Silversea, understanding tipping policies enhances your voyage experience. These policies vary across companies and may include all-inclusive packages that cover gratuities.

All-Inclusive Packages

Many luxury lines, such as Seabourn and Silversea , offer all-inclusive packages. These typically roll gratuities into the overall fare you pay, simplifying your experience.

Princess Plus package : Includes tips along with added benefits.
Azamara : Gratuities are part of your cruise fare.

When opting for these packages, you won’t have to worry about tipping staff directly, as service charges are already taken care of.

Tipping on Upscale Cruise Brands

Despite all-inclusive fares, you may encounter occasions where additional tips are appreciated.

Butlers and concierge services : On lines like Viking and Seabourn , a special thank you for exceptional service is at your discretion.
Premium lines such as Princess Cruises : May suggest additional gratuities for outstanding service.

Remember, while tipping policies vary, acknowledging exceptional service is always a kind gesture.

When cruising with Princess, you have the option to handle gratuities according to your preference and manage onboard expenses with ease. This section will guide you through the nuances of prepaying gratuities and maintaining your onboard account.

Prepaying vs. Tipping Onboard

Pros: You can prepay gratuities before your cruise, allowing you to budget your trip more accurately. Prepaid gratuities ensure that service fees are taken care of without the need to handle cash transactions while onboard.
Cons: Less flexibility since you pay a fixed amount regardless of the actual service level experienced.
Pros: You can adjust tips based on the service you receive. A personal touch is added when handing gratuities directly to crew members.
Cons: Handling cash may be inconvenient, and it could be easy to overlook some staff members who contribute to your experience.

Onboard Accounts and Charges

Setting Up Your Onboard Account:

Link it to your credit card to handle all charges , including service fees.
A hold will be placed on your card for incidental expenses upon boarding.

Understanding Charges:

A daily gratuity fee is charged to your onboard account, covering your room steward and dining staff.
You'll find additional service charges for certain onboard services and premium dining options.

Remember, when it comes to tipping and managing your onboard expenses, you have control and options that suit your personal preference and budgeting style.

5 Cruise Tips for First-Time (or Experienced) Cruisers

By marcia frost.

Whether you're new to cruising or are taking off on your umpteenth cruise vacation, it never hurts to have a little guidance. As cruise ships get more sophisticated, cruisegoers have more and more choices available to them. Where should you go first? What shouldn't you miss? Follow these five cruise tips , and it'll be smooth sailing all the way.

1. Packing for Your Cruise

The best mantra to follow when you're packing for your next cruise is this: Pack light. You'll want to start with the essentials. If your cell phone can take high-quality photos, leave your camera at home. Where clothes are concerned, pack minimally and bring a wrinkle-releasing product that allows you to wear an outfit more than once. And do your research — if your stateroom will already be supplied with a robe and some toiletries, you can leave those things at home as well. Save space so you can travel light and even bring home a souvenir or two!

You'll never go hungry on a cruise ship — and no need to fret over dining options . You can always hit the pizza bar or the buffet if you feel like having a casual evening, or even order room service. A selection of internationally-inspired dining options is always available; don't feel pressured to make an early decision about whether you'll want late or early dining on your cruise. One piece of advice, though: If you think you might like to indulge in fine dining, you'll want to make a reservation ahead of time. Those specialty restaurants tend to book up at the beginning of each cruise.

3. Onboard Activities

You won't need to memorize all the activities and events each day. During turn-down service, your cabin steward will leave you a copy of the Princess Patter , a newsletter that will tell you when the casino opens, the hours for the health and fitness center , what pool the volleyball game is taking place in, daily tips for cruising, and an hourly listing of all other happenings on board.

4. Cruise Shore Excursions

One of the most important steps you can take before your next cruise is to do your excursion homework before you depart. It won't take long to navigate through shore excursions to plan your vacation days. Availability for everyone is not guaranteed on each excursion, so you'll want to pre-reserve shore excursions early for anything you want. The other advantage to planning in advance is making sure you bring anything that an outing might call for, such as hiking boots or water shoes.

5. Shopping

Keep an eye on the Princess Patter and the Princess Shopping Host — available at the tour office and on your stateroom television — before you make purchases. This is where you'll get insider cruise tips on when there are onboard boutique sales . You can also check with your host about any onshore purchases you are interested in making, that way you'll get the best bargains and quality.

Cruise Tips For Families & Single Cruisers

Things to Know Before You Cruise

Princess Cruise Boarding tips: Early Arrival, Priority Boarding, And More!

Hey there fellow cruisers! Are you planning a Princess cruise and looking for some helpful tips to make your boarding process a breeze? Well, look no further because I have got you covered! As a seasoned Princess cruiser, I have learned a thing or two about boarding and I am excited to share my knowledge with you.

In this article, I will be sharing some insider tips on everything from selecting your arrival time to using the MedallionClass app. Whether you are a first-time cruiser or a seasoned veteran, these tips will help ensure that your embarkation goes as smoothly as possible.

Plus, who doesn’t love a stress-free start to their vacation? So sit back, relax, and get ready to learn all about Princess cruise boarding tips, because trust me, you don’t want to miss out on these.

The earliest boarding time for Princess cruises is typically 11 am for the first boarding group, with priority boarding available for certain guests such as Platinum or Elite Captains Circle Members and Suite Guests.
Guests with special needs or mobility issues must call Princess cruises 30 days before departure to arrange for early boarding, and arrival times are selected via the MedallionClass app 30-45 days before departure on a first-come, first-served basis.
All-aboard time is around one hour before the ship’s departure time, and missed all-aboard time means not being allowed to board the ship.
The MedallionClass app can be used to select arrival time, but standing in line may be necessary without the app, and guests should check the app daily from 45 days before boarding to select the earliest arrival time.

Boarding Time Options

I can choose my arrival time for a Princess cruise via the MedallionClass app 30-45 days before departure. This is a great feature that allows me to select the earliest possible time to board the ship.

However, it’s important to note that priority boarding is available for certain guests like Platinum or Elite Captains Circle Members, Suite Guests, Guests With Special Needs, and Bon Voyage Experience Guests. If I arrive before my designated time, I may end up waiting outside the terminal building until my group is called.

That’s why it’s crucial to check the app daily from 45 days before boarding and select the earliest arrival time possible. Boarding group eligibility is determined on a first-come, first-served basis, so the earlier I arrive, the better my chances of being in the first group.

The benefits of early boarding include having more time to explore the ship, avoiding long lines at check-in, and securing the best seats at shows and restaurants.

Priority Boarding

Platinum or Elite Captains Circle Members, Suite Guests, and those with special needs can enjoy the benefit of boarding the ship earlier than other guests. This means that they can avoid the long lines and wait times that other guests may experience.

Here are some ways to qualify for priority boarding:

Become a Platinum or Elite Captains Circle Member: If you’ve sailed with Princess Cruises before, you may qualify for Platinum or Elite status, which comes with a range of benefits, including priority boarding.
Book a Suite: Guests staying in a suite can also enjoy the benefit of priority boarding, which is just one of the many perks of booking a luxurious suite.
Have Special Needs: Guests with special needs or mobility issues can call Princess Cruises 30 days before departure to arrange for early boarding. This ensures that they have the time and assistance they need to board the ship comfortably.

The benefits of priority boarding for Princess Cruises are numerous. Not only can you avoid the long lines and wait times, but you can also settle into your room earlier and start enjoying all the amenities the ship has to offer. With more time to explore the ship and get settled, you can start your cruise off on the right foot and make the most of your vacation.

Arrival Time Selection

Using the MedallionClass app, I highly recommend guests to select their preferred time of arrival for their Princess cruise up to 45 days before departure. This is one of the best practices to ensure a smooth and stress-free boarding experience.

The app allows guests to choose from half-hour windows starting from 11 am to around 3 pm. It’s important to note that arrival times are on a first-come, first-served basis, so it’s best to select the earliest possible arrival time to avoid waiting outside the terminal building.

Here are some tips and tricks when using the app for arrival time selection: check the app daily from 45 days before boarding to select your preferred time, and keep an eye out for any cancellations that may become available two to three days before the cruise.

Also, arriving before your designated arrival time may result in waiting outside the terminal building until your group is called. By following these best practices, you can make the most out of your Princess cruise and avoid unnecessary stress.

Special Needs Accommodations

Guests with special needs or mobility issues can ensure a comfortable and stress-free boarding experience by arranging for early boarding with Princess cruises 30 days before departure. This allows for extra time to navigate the terminal, settle in the cabin, and explore the ship’s accessible facilities.

Princess Cruises offers a range of accommodations for guests with special needs, including accessible staterooms, wheelchair-friendly gangways, and priority seating in theaters and restaurants.

When requesting accommodations, it’s important to provide detailed information about any specific needs or requirements. Princess Cruises recommends contacting their Accessible Shore Excursion Desk to discuss any accessible shore excursions, and to check with the medical staff on board regarding any special dietary requirements or medical equipment needs.

With early boarding and accommodations in place, guests with special needs can relax and enjoy all the amenities and experiences that Princess Cruises has to offer.

All-Aboard Time

I need to make sure I know the all-aboard time for my Princess Cruise so I don’t miss the ship’s departure. Here are some tips for not missing all aboard time:

Arrive at the terminal at least an hour before the all-aboard time to give yourself enough time to check in and go through security.

Keep track of the time and listen for announcements about the all-aboard time. Set reminders on your phone or watch to ensure you stay on schedule.

If you do happen to miss the all-aboard time, contact the ship’s staff immediately to see if they can make arrangements for you to catch up with the ship at the next port.

During the all-aboard period, there are several ways to spend your time. You can explore the terminal, grab a bite to eat, or relax in a lounge area. Some terminals may even have entertainment or activities to keep you occupied. Just make sure to keep an eye on the time and stay close to the boarding area to avoid missing the ship’s departure.

MedallionClass App

Navigating the MedallionClass app can be a bit tricky, but once you get the hang of it, it’s like having a personal concierge in your pocket. The app allows you to select your preferred arrival time for boarding the ship, which can save you a lot of time and hassle.

However, there are some pros and cons to using the app.

One of the pros is that you can select your arrival time in advance, which can help you avoid long lines and waiting times at the port. Additionally, the app allows you to access real-time information about the ship, such as dining options, entertainment schedules, and activities.

On the other hand, the user experience may not be as smooth for everyone. Some users have reported difficulty with installing and using the app, and some may prefer to simply stand in line and wait for their turn to board.

Ultimately, whether or not to use the app is a personal preference, but it’s worth exploring if you want to streamline your boarding experience.

Transportation Considerations

When planning my transportation to the port, it’s important to consider the specific cruise I’ve booked and whether or not shuttle or transportation services are available. Some Princess Cruises provide shuttle services to and from certain airports, while others may require guests to arrange their own transportation. It’s always a good idea to check with the cruise line or travel agent to confirm what options are available for my specific cruise.

To help illustrate the different transportation considerations, I’ve created the following table:

Knowing the shuttle availability and airport transportation options can help me plan my arrival time and make any necessary arrangements in advance. Overall, it’s important to do my research and plan accordingly to ensure a smooth and stress-free boarding experience.

Founder and Social Media

The Cruise Tips founder, Mike Schimdt, has been a valuable asset to the cruise industry since 2006. With over 20 cruises under her belt, she has a wealth of experience in planning and executing the perfect cruise holiday.

Through her social media platforms, which include Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and LinkedIn, she has helped over 1 million people per month plan their dream vacations. Mike’s social media strategy is like a compass guiding travelers to their ultimate vacation destination.

Her engaging and informative posts cover everything from the best cruise deals to the must-see destinations on each voyage. Her weekly emails, which are read by over 40,000 cruisers, provide valuable insights and tips for making the most out of a cruise holiday. Thanks to her experience and expertise, Mike is a trusted source of information for anyone looking to embark on a Princess cruise.

What happens if I arrive after the designated all-aboard time?

If you arrive after the designated all-aboard time, you will not be allowed to board the ship and will have to make arrangements for lodging and transportation. However, there may be boarding exceptions for certain circumstances, such as medical emergencies or delayed flights.

Is there a limit to the number of early boarding groups?

To secure priority boarding, I recommend Platinum or Elite Captains Circle Membership, or booking a suite or Bon Voyage Experience. For early boarding, choose earliest arrival time and monitor app for cancellations. Benefits include avoiding long lines and enjoying ship amenities sooner.

Can I change my selected arrival time after I have submitted it?

Unfortunately, once you have submitted your selected arrival time via the MedallionClass app, you cannot change it. It’s important to arrive on time as late arrival may result in waiting outside the terminal building and missing the all-aboard time, which means not being allowed to board the ship.

How can I arrange for special accommodations if I have dietary restrictions?

Navigating dietary restrictions on a cruise can be daunting, but Princess Cruises offers special menus for various dietary needs, including gluten-free, vegetarian, and low-sugar options. Medical documentation may be required, so be sure to check with the cruise line before departure.

What is the process for disembarking from the ship at the end of the cruise?

Disembarkation process begins after customs clearance and is done in groups based on flight departure times or disembarkation plans. Luggage is collected and taken to designated areas for easy pickup. I suggest packing a carry-on for essentials.

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5 Tips for First Time Cruisers on Princess Cruises

5 Tips for First-Time Cruisers on Princess Cruises

Princess Cruises is the perfect vacation for all - from couples to families. But before planning your trip, here’s what you need to know.

Book Princess Cruises Now

Princess Cruises offers a perfect balance of fun and relaxed vacations. With its wide array of ships traveling to more than 300 destinations, it provides the perfect itineraries for all ages.

Planning on taking your first Princess Cruises trip? Brace yourself for one of the most fun-filled and relaxed vacations of your life. Here are some important tips and tricks that you must not miss out on:

5 Best Tips and Tricks for First time cruisers on Princess Cruises

1. plan your day with princess patter.

Don’t skip the Princess Patter; Princess Patter is your go-to planner for a fun-filled vacation on Princess Cruises. It gives a detailed account of all the events and activities for the day that are happening onboard. The planner also comes with other important information, including restaurant timings, weather reports, information about updated itineraries, and other necessary information. Having proper knowledge of the daily events and the schedule of the cruise will help you plan your day accordingly.

2. Be anywhere on the ship and get your food delivered to you

Princess Cruises offers the privilege to order food from the on-demand menu and get it delivered to you anywhere on the ship. The best part about this service is that the staff will deliver it to your exact location without any extra charges. You can now enjoy your favorite dish with a view of your choice. You can also get a real-time update about your food.

3. Movie night under the stars

It is almost like a dream to watch a movie under the night sky full of stars. Princess Cruises will give life to your world of fantasy. Don’t miss out on the chance to cuddle up with your family or partner in the blanket provided and watch a movie on the big screen amidst the sea. It's the perfect movie night for you and your loved ones.

4. Use the Princess Cruises’ Ocean Compass feature to find your way back

Princess Cruise’s ships are huge with a wide range of areas and rooms to explore. Princess Cruises’ Ocean Compass feature, you will never be lost. It will guide you to your desired location onboard and even provide a step-by-step direction to make things simpler for you. So go explore the ship as much as you want without the fear of getting lost.

5. Tea-lovers - this is certainly your cup of tea!

To give your daily life a touch of royalty, Princess Cruises serves British-style afternoon tea every day. The white-gloved waiters serve finger sandwiches, cookies, biscuits, and cakes. Nowadays, you won't find this on most cruise lines, but it's a nice mid-afternoon treat to look forward to when you have a sea day or decide to return to the ship early from port.

What else to keep in mind?

Princess Cruises is the hub of enjoyment and it will undoubtedly be one of your best vacations. Visit cruisebooking.com to find your perfect Princess Cruises itinerary.

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19 Shocking Cruise Ship Secrets And Tips I Learned After Going On Seven Cruises

Booking a cruise is just like buying a car, meaning you can negotiate the price and get bonus perks, so ~never~ pay the price you see online.

BuzzFeed Staff

Hey! I'm Spencer , and I just got back from my seventh cruise. I've seen and learned a lot of really cool behind-the-scenes secrets while traveling the world on these ships, so I wanted to share some of the most interesting ones with you here, including some tips that may be helpful for your own future adventures. Enjoy!

Man giving a peace sign on a boat with a cruise ship in the background

For context, I've traveled on four different cruise lines: Royal Caribbean, Princess, Holland America, and now Carnival. My most recent trip was a seven-day sail aboard Carnival Firenze, which traveled throughout Mexico. This was my first time on Carnival, and I somehow managed to get a private tour to areas of the ship that even the most elite VIP passengers will never, ever see. Here are some things I learned along the way.

1. First of all, yes, most cruise ships have both a jail and a morgue on board. These were the only areas of the ship where I wasn't allowed to visit (trust me, I asked multiple times) because they're strictly off limits unless you find them the old-fashioned way...by getting arrested or dying. I didn't want to take those chances, but I did find out that shorter cruises tend to see a LOT more action in the jails (aka "the brig"). Guests typically treat shorter sailings as more of a party by taking advantage of unlimited drink packages, and more alcohol = more fights on board, so needing a jail totally makes sense.

Ship's brig with a closed barred gate, a sign of onboard security measures

In terms of the morgues, those are usually located on one of the ship's lowest decks. Think of these as giant refrigerators that, depending on the ship's size, can house anywhere from a couple to nearly a dozen bodies. The majority of these deaths are obviously of natural causes – for reference, as of 2018, fewer than 25% of global passengers were under the age of 30 – but the average age of a cruise ship passenger is getting younger and younger every year now.

2. The higher you are on a ship, the more movement you'll feel, so if you're someone who tends to get motion sickness then you should definitely book your room on the lowest floor possible (just not in the morgue). I've personally never had an issue with motion sickness on a cruise, but I'll occasionally see passengers with at-sea patches behind their ears for help. Contrary to what you might think, though, you'll probably get the best night's sleep of your life on a cruise. Yes, there's a ~very~ slight rocking, but it'll feel sort of like you're a baby again who's being lulled to sleep in a cradle. Just trust me on this one.

Cruise ship cabin with two twin beds together, balcony, desk, couch, bathroom, closets, and a dresser

This is a photo of what my cabin looked like. I also included a picture of my bathroom, which was a little bigger than I thought it'd be. The shower itself was a pretty decent size and left me with room to spare (if you want a point of reference, I'm 5'11" [a real 5'11", not a Tinder 5'11"]).

I was in a balcony room on Deck 6, and, again, I had no issues with motion sickness. I've also sailed on higher deck levels before (up to Deck 9) and didn't have any issues then either. In terms of where on each deck you should book your cabin (i.e. midship, aft, or forward), that doesn’t actually matter because you won’t really feel the motion differently in other spots on the same deck.

3. But I promise that you probably won't even have to worry about getting seasick. I got a private tour of the ship's control room, and I learned that they do a lottttt to combat any movement from the waves. For example, ships try to hit waves at a 45-degree angle because that's apparently the most effective way to help break them up and cut down on the extra motion. Ships also have stabilizers that can extend outwardly (picture, like, wings on an airplane), which help to keep things super, super stable.

engineers working in the ship's control room while surrounded by several computer screens

Think of these stabilizers like fins on a fish, so they help each ship glide along the water. I spoke with the captain and some of the engineers in the control room, and they explained that the stabilizers require extra fuel and also decrease the speed of the ship, so they tend to not use them unless the water is pretty rocky.

4. Before you book a cruise, you should know that they're sort of like buying a car: you can negotiate! Basically, the price you see online should almost never be the price you pay (though they often offer great discounts that you should absolutely check out!). Instead, it's best to call and book your trip with an actual person (i.e. someone who works for the cruise line, a travel agent, etc.). For example, travel agents are usually free, and they can get you a ton of bonus perks and huge discounts on rooms for a fraction of the original price.

Person sitting on a bed by a balcony, text overlay discussing negotiating prices and room upgrades

A lot of cruise lines occasionally offer "buy one, get one" discounts, as well as a ton of other sales around specific holidays. There are also a bunch of sites where you can book discounted sailings to fill the leftover rooms that haven't sold, so just do a little research. Also, places like BJ's and Sam's Club offer trip discounts if you have a membership card to their stores, so take advantage! I booked a previous cruise through one of them a few years back and got a massive discount for my room, onboard credit, and free gratuities. It pays to save!

5. And if you ever want a "free" cruise then you should definitely hit up the casinos on board. It's super common to get extra perks on future sailings (like free Wi-Fi, drink packages, or even entire trips altogether) if you're someone who gambles a lot. Basically, each bet is tied to your personal cruise card (i.e. your room key) every time you play the slots or put money down at a table game. Your total winnings are tracked on that card, and you'll earn points based on the amount you spend. The more you gamble, the more likely you are to get offered those extra perks.

Man in a suit placing chips on a roulette table at a casino, dealer and others present

I'm always mesmerized by cruise casinos because they literally created their own mini Las Vegas on board. Like, there are pit bosses and thousands of tiny security cameras and everything else that a real casino would have. The only downside is that these casinos are obviously much smaller than what you'd find in Vegas, so they probably won't have every table game you're looking for. Yes, they have roulette (my favorite) and craps and half a dozen variations of poker, but I still haven't found a pai gow table on board. Maybe next time!

6. The cool thing about cruises – especially for people who are ages 18 through 20 – is that they can sort of make their own laws while at sea. This is known as Maritime Law. For example, gambling at the casino is only allowed once the ship is at least 12 miles from land, but that also means they can lower the age limit from 21 to 18 while in international waters. The legal drinking age on most cruise ships is also 18, not 21.

me, holding all of my gambling winnings from one night in the casino

There were actually two separate casinos on my recent Carnival ship. The larger area allowed smoking and had hundreds of slot machines, a ton of table games, and "adult" claw machines that replaced stuffed animals for huge wads of cash. The other casino, though, was the designated non-smoking area, and even though it was much smaller it still got the job done.

I'm still surprised that people are allowed to smoke in the main casino (there was also a cigar room on board but on a different deck), but, hey, I guess that's Vegas, baby.

7. There are themed cruises for pretty much anything you could ever imagine – for example, Royal Caribbean offers an immersive Star Trek cruise , and Norwegian is even offering a 2,300-person nude cruise next year – but on "regular" cruises there are certain SFW guidelines that guests (and staff!) need to adhere to. For instance, it's forbidden for staff to hook up with guests on board. Doing so would result in a pretty quick termination of their employment contract. Also, there are thousandsssss of security cameras on board, so, like, good luck trying to get away with it.

Person standing in a sauna facing window with mountain view, text overlay about gym/spa being empty

Years ago I befriended one of the gym trainers on a cruise, and he revealed that he actually managed to hook up with a guest on board. Because there are so many security cameras, it would have been impossible for either of them to visit the other person's cabin without getting caught, so he told me they hooked up in a random towel closet. I guess this is why a lot of cruise ship employees end up dating each other instead of the guests, because it's way less risky and a lot more convenient.

8. Speaking of hooking up on board, there was so much "swinging" happening between couples that a lot of cruise lines had to create training programs for the staff. Basically, decorating cabin doors is a pretty common thing for elite cruisers (as pictured below), and the secret symbol for swingers is an upside-down pineapple. As a result, a lot of couples would decorate their doors with upside-down pineapples to let other guests know that they're open for fun. According to the high-up staff member I talked to, employees on their previous ship were instructed to report any pineapple decorations found on board.

Bulletin board with numerous sticky notes, a net with words "joy", and assorted hanging decorations

That staff member also told me that this whole issue started because some couples would leave their cabin doors ajar as an invitation for other swingers. However, the housekeeping staff (who are truly, truly incredible!) unknowingly entered while the couples were ~doing the deed~. Employees on cruises typically come from all over the world (on my Carnival ship, they had staff from over 100 different nations), which means they also have certain religious backgrounds. Spotting and removing these pineapple decorations was done in an effort to protect the staff and their religious beliefs.

9. You have to remember that these ships are basically floating cities, so they have everything you could ever want. Like, I've been on ships with a freaking ice skating rink before, and my recent Carnival sailing had an 18-hole mini golf course on the top deck. Also, itineraries are left outside each guest's stateroom every morning, and they list alllll the activities you can do (or not do!) that day. Want to try your luck at bingo? Have at it. Always wanted to go to an art auction? They've got those too. Want to prove your sports, movie, history, Harry Potter , Friends , or just general knowledge at dozens of trivia events? Be their guest! I promise that you'll never be bored on a cruise.

Person playing mini-golf on a cruise ship deck

Cruises even have LGBTQ+ mixers, silent disco parties, wine tastings, and cooking classes. There are also discreet meetings for those who are sober or in recovery. For example, Alcoholics Anonymous meetings are labeled as "Friends of Bill" events on each ship's itinerary (this is a nod to Bill Wilson, who co-founded AA).

10. Keep in mind that items on cruise ships are definitely more expensive than what you'd normally pay on land. The spa and salon on my last sailing, for example, charged $175 for a 75-minute Swedish massage and $99 for a "red carpet blowout." If that's somehow in your budget then have at it, but if you want heavily discounted prices then you should book those treatments on days when the ship is at port – this is when most passengers will be off the vessel, so a lot of cruise lines offer discounted treatments to help fill up those time slots and prevent people from hitting up the spas on land. Again, though, you can typically negotiate for certain spa perks when booking!

Person relaxing with eyes open under red light, text overlay shares their relaxing experience at a spa

Every cruise I've been on has had a full-fledged shopping mall on board. There are dozens of stores that sell everything from designer goods to any type of candy or snack you could want. Again, these prices are pretty steep, so if you forget to bring sunscreen then it's probably best to just wait until you get to the next port. Even so, there are definitely ways to save money while cruising!

11. The more you cruise with a specific line, the more perks you'll get (like free room upgrades, priority access, unlimited internet, and on-board casino credit). These loyalty programs are based on the number of days you sail with each line, so, for example, everyone on their first Carnival cruise is in the Blue tier, then they reach Red status on their second sailing, and once they hit 25 days on board they'll reach the Gold tier. Platinum is achieved after 75 total days of sailing, and Diamond status is for people who've sailed for at least 200 days. I met so many Diamond members that my jaw kind of dropped – like, these people LOVE cruises and go on several a year. It isn't just a vacation for them; it's a full-on hobby.

Cruise ship deck with seating area under an umbrella, next to text about exclusive amenities

While doing some research, I also found out that Royal Caribbean even has a "Pinnacle Club" for people who've sailed for over 700 days on their ships, which, holy crap??? So if you're prepared to spend the equivalent of two years on a ship (which kind of sounds like a dream to me, to be honest), then get ready for the ultimate form of perks and luxury.

12. Another way to save money is by booking your shore excursions through third-party vendors. Booking through the ship is definitely the most expensive route, but it's also the safest because you'll never have to worry about the ship leaving without you. Ships have strict docking schedules to follow on port days, so they ~will~ leave without you if you aren't back in time. Otherwise, you're in charge of making it to the next port of call on your own, so good luck. If you have a short port day and are only docked for a few hours then I'd suggest booking through the ship so you don't risk getting left behind.

Me, standing on a yacht with the blue water and cruise ship behind me

Cruise lines display all excursion reviews from past passengers on their site, so this can be such a helpful resource to prevent you from booking something that sounds good on paper but is underwhelming in reality (been there, done that). I typically book excursions through vendors who are waiting outside as soon as everyone gets off the ship, but I do a lot of research ahead of time and will often find things to do that aren't even offered by the cruise.

You obviously don't have to go on any excursions at all either. There have been plenty of times when I've simply explored on my own by walking around, grabbing a bite from a local spot, or relaxing at the beach. You also don't even have to leave the ship if you don't want to. In fact, port days are incredible for peak relaxation on board because it's way more quiet, and you'll never struggle to find an open lounger by the pool. Free is my favorite number, so remember that there will always be plenty to do no matter your budget.

13. You should know that there are some banned items you simply can't bring on a cruise. Before boarding, you'll quickly go through security, sort of like a relaxed version of TSA at the airport. The whole process typically only takes a few minutes. Depending on the cruise line, you're usually allowed to bring up to 12 cans of non-alcoholic beverages (my friend brought a six-pack of ginger ale in case she felt seasick, and those made it through just fine. I also saw a bunch of Diet Coke-obsessed people with whole cases, and those made it through too). Candles, hot plates, and the obvious knives, guns, fireworks, etc. are all banned as well.

Two hands holding cans of Schweppes Ginger Ale with text about a friend bringing them through airport security

Bottled water isn't typically allowed through security when checking in, but you can absolutely buy it on board. More importantly, though, there will be plenty of free fill-up stations for your water bottle throughout the ship, so that's an easy fix. I can't stress enough how necessary having a water bottle is, so make sure you bring one (both for your regular onboard living but also for when you leave the ship on port days).

14. Also, don't even try to sneak alcohol on board because you'll definitely get caught. Each ship is different, but for the most part you're only allowed one unopened bottle of wine or champagne in your carry-on. If you buy spirits while at port then you'll have to check them when you get back on the ship, and they'll be returned when you disembark. After all, most cruises only become profitable after adding up their total alcohol sales and casino winnings (I guess it helps that Carnival's 27 ships, for example, sell over 14,000 margaritas each day). For reference, a standard cocktail on my last trip was about $13, and the unlimited drink packages were about $60 a day.

Four variously garnished cocktails on a table, with people in the background

Depending on the cruise line, these unlimited drink packages can range from $55 to over $100 each day. These include specialty coffees, soda, beer, wine, cocktails, and the works. Remember, some people treat cruises like parties (my last sailing had FIVE different types of espresso martinis at the bars, so, like, I sort of don't blame them), and they certainly try to get the most bang for their buck. I've done the math, and you need to have at least five specialty drinks per day to make the unlimited package "worth it."

Non-alcoholic drink packages also exist, like a $9.50-a-day pass that'll get you unlimited sodas. But there are free drinks on board, whether you're at the buffet or sit-down dining, like tap water, brewed coffee, hot teas, hot chocolate, lemonade, iced tea, fruit juices (fresh-pressed ones will cost extra), and milk.

15. Cruise ships obviously make tons (and I mean that literally, not figuratively) of food every single sailing. After all, the average ship holds about 3,000 guests and 1,000 crew members. An employee who I spoke with said Carnival serves about 30,000 burgers every single day, and they'll make over 1.3 million pounds of French fries each year. There are free sit-down restaurants and buffets on board, but there are also specialty dining options that guests can pay for, like hibachi and steak houses. My family always sticks with the free dining options, and I think non-cruisers will be shocked by how good the food actually is, but the best part is that you can order several appetizers, entrées, and desserts per person, so, like, you'll never leave hungry.

Close-up of assorted Japanese appetizers with a text overlay expressing fondness for the yakitori bites

All of that food used to mean there's a lot of food waste, but that's not really the case anymore. In fact, a lot of ships are working on how to become more and more sustainable and environmentally friendly. For example, rather than dumping food waste in the water, I saw on my private tour that Carnival has a "food digester" room. Basically, it's a massive machine filled with bacteria that'll break down all the food scraps, just like how your own body breaks down food. Yes, it smelled just as bad as you probably think it would.

Similarly, some ships are even using artificial intelligence to make their sailings more environmentally friendly. While in the control room, one of the engineers told me about how their ship is using new AI that basically studies each sailing so it can recommend new ways to make future voyages as efficient as possible, like by creating energy-saving routes and so on.

16. If you're worried about potentially having bad weather on your cruise then, well, think again. Yes, there's obviously a lot to do inside, but a lot of ships also have retractable roofs on their top decks. So, if it's ever too cold, rainy, or windy then they can usually cover the entire lido deck (i.e. where most of the pools, jacuzzis, and lounge chairs are), which means you can relax "outside" even in the terrible weather. A lot of ships also offer indoor pools and adults-only sections, so, like, you'll totally be set no matter what.

Cruise ship deck with rows of lounge chairs and a pool, text overlay states missing retractable roof

My recent cruise had a regular pool and jacuzzi setup on the lido deck, but there was also another section at the back of the ship with one more pool and two more jacuzzis. There was even a "Serenity" section at the top deck, which served as an "adults-only retreat," meaning passengers younger than 18 weren't allowed. That area unfortunately filled up super fast on sailing days, so if you ever go on a ship with one I'd definitely recommend getting there early.

A lot of ships also offer private areas and decks that are exclusive to only those who book certain rooms. This secluded area was much quieter, super luxurious, and actually felt like I was on a totally different ship. If you're booking a cruise and see that there's an exclusive area, you should absolutely ask about how to get access ahead of time.

17. It's tradition for every ship to have a celebrity godmother or godfather who christens the boat before the inaugural launch, and those celebs are typically rewarded with free cruises for life (!) on that specific vessel. For example, Oprah Winfrey is the godmother of a Holland America ship, and even Audrey Hepburn was the godmother of a Princess ship. Carnival only has two godfathers, and they're fittingly both for their Italian-themed cruises: Jay Leno and now Jonathan Bennett. Christening the ship used to entail smashing a bottle of champagne against its hull, but the night before my cruise I got to watch Jonathan Bennett pour a bottle of champagne over the ship's bell to toast its safe travels instead.

Jonathan Bennett and a captain christen a ship with champagne at a ceremony

Judi Dench is also the godmother of a ship, and it famously took her three different attempts to break the bottle of champagne against its hull, which then sprayed all over her. That was in 2002, so I think switching to this new christening method with the ship's bell is definitely less messy.

18. One of the most unique parts about cruising is that you'll typically find a cool towel animal waiting for you after returning to your cabin every night. The housekeeping staff are all trained in towel folding, so after dinner you'll have a new animal sitting on your bed or, in my case, hanging from the ceiling. A lot of ships even host towel-folding classes during sailings so guests can learn how to make the animals themselves, and how-to books are also available in the bookstore. I found out that Carnival's housekeeping team makes about 15 million towel animals every single year, which, holy crap.

Man smiling with a towel folded like an elephant on his head, in a suit, indoors with curtains behind

One morning while on my way to the gym, I walked through the lido deck and saw hundreds of towel animals sitting on every single lounge chair outside. There were monkeys and elephants and dogs, but the most impressive towel animal that I saw was an octopus. I still have no idea how they managed to pull this off, and I'm genuinely so impressed.

19. And finally, the most important thing you should know about cruises is that there are several self-serve ice cream machines on board, and they're all completely free (and unlike McDonald's, these machines are always working!). If you're like me and deserve a sweet treat after dinner – or, let's face it, after or even before breakfast – then you understand how big this is. After all, you're on vacation, so you should be eating as much ice cream and frozen yogurt as you can get your hands on.

Person holding a swirl soft-serve ice cream cone

I worked at Dairy Queen for a few summers as a teen and genuinely loved it there, so having the ability to serve myself a cone whenever I wanted made me feel at home. And if you're more of a gelato person then I totally understand! Luckily for you, cruises have got you covered. My ship had a freaking gelato spot on board, and they expect to serve about 750,000 scoops this year, but I have a feeling half of them were because of me.

That's it! If you have any other cruise travel tips that have worked for you, please feel free to share them in the comments. Thanks!

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What cruises are like for plus-size travelers: 'The worst part ... is getting on the flight'

A number of plus-size travelers who have found cruising to be a largely inclusive way to travel.
Some aspects of the sailings could be improved, such as tight theater seating.
Guests can take steps to ensure they have a comfortable trip, like booking a balcony room with more space.

"How to travel better" is a five-part series focusing on uncomfortable or inefficient travel experiences and how the industry can do better. If you'd like to contribute to our future reporting and share your experience as a source, you can fill out this quick form .

It took a divorce to get Brittany Bloomfield on a cruise.

When her best friend found herself without a plus-one after splitting from her husband, Bloomfield decided to face her fears and step aboard. The 31-year-old administrative assistant and model was scared of both being in the middle of the ocean and that, as a plus-size traveler, she would not be welcome.

But sailing on Disney Cruise Line's Fantasy ship for a seven-day Eastern Caribbean cruise last November, she got a series of pleasant surprises. Unlike elsewhere, the metal deck chairs supported her well, there was ample armless seating in the dining rooms, and the bathrooms in her cabin were comfortable.

"I felt like I had just wanted to travel my whole life and I finally was able to and it was everything that I wanted it to be," Bloomfield, who lives in New Jersey, told USA TODAY. She is among a number of plus-size travelers who have found cruising to be a largely inclusive way to travel, from the design of the ships to the service on board.

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'The space was not built for me': Plus-size flyers say airlines have room to improve

'Pretty much the best way to travel'

Matt Waitt, a sales assistant based in Michigan, has found cruising to be "pretty much the best way to travel," as compared with other modes like trains or airplanes . On flights, the 38-year-old said, he has had to purchase an extra seat or preboard with other people "looking at me kind of funny that I got to go on first when I don't have a physical impairment."

Waitt, who has been on five cruises with Carnival Cruise Line and Princess Cruises and has another coming up in October, has never felt that sort of discomfort on a cruise or that he was the subject of unwanted attention.

For Libby Sergey-Kalen, a mental health therapist from Massachusetts, who has also been on five cruises "the worst part of trying to do a cruise is getting on the flight."

On cruises with Princess and Royal Caribbean International, she was impressed by the customer service and she has not felt "particularly cramped or like things aren't made for people my size," she said, even if the cabins can be on the small side.

Some travelers take particular pains to avoid other kinds of travel. Bloomfield, who has not flown since she was 7 years old in part due to concerns about how others on board might treat her, drove about 20 hours to Florida for her cruise.

There is room for improvement

However, some travelers have found that ships are still not as inclusive as they could be. Amanda Ervin and Jimmy Lierow, who make YouTube videos about their travels under the name Chubby and Away and run a travel agency, said how well a cruise accommodates plus-size travelers varies by ship – or within the same vessel.

"It's always: one thing's really great, one thing really sucks," said Ervin.

In addition to tight theater seating, which Ervin called "one point of absolute misery and pain," the Texas-based couple said bathrooms are hit or miss. Some showers, for instance, have curtains, making it easier to maneuver, while others have a hard door that can limit movement.

'More than I hoped for': This is what it's like cruising with a disability right now

First-time cruisers: 3 to know before stepping foot on the ship

On Bloomfield's cruise, she was disappointed that the pools did not have stairs and only had ladders, which she could not use. A Disney Cruise Line spokesperson told USA TODAY that the line's pools have "a variety of entry points for guests," and that some hot tubs and shallow pools have steps while others have ladders. "Each of our ships offers pools and hot tubs with pool lifts that guests may request in advance," they said in an email.

Sergey-Kalen, 26, added that she wished cruise lines have more excursion options for plus-size travelers, as some activities, such as zip-lining, have weight limits.

Story continues below.

What accommodations do major cruise lines offer plus-size passengers?

► Carnival offers a number of accommodations for plus-size travelers, including life vest extenders, chairs without arms in main dining rooms and cabins, and tables rather than booths in main dining rooms, spokesperson Matt Lupoli told USA TODAY in an email.

► Celebrity Cruises makes "great efforts to consider all body types and abilities" in designing its ships, spokesperson Susan Lomax said in an email, including trying out chair prototypes with "trial guests" of different sizes. The line also works to make sure guests with mobility challenges can safely access onboard amenities and experiences.

Magic Carpet

► Princess Cruises spokesperson Briana Latter said the line "strives to accommodate all guests’ individual needs to ensure they are comfortable" during their sailing. "If there is something a guest requires pre-cruise, our Customer Support team is available to assist," she said in an email.

Latter said aisle seats in the Princess Theater do not have armrests "to allow for more space," and passengers can ask for a chair without armrests while dining.

► Royal Caribbean also offers armless chairs, mobility assistance getting on and off the ship, and more. "Royal Caribbean International’s fleet of ships and private destinations provide access and accommodations so all guests can make the most of their time and have memorable vacations," spokesperson Khiavett Diaz said in an email.

Diaz continued, "Guests that need these services have a dedicated team (Access Department) that can help plan every aspect of their vacation with their needs top of mind."

Tips for plus-size cruise passengers

Travelers can take steps to ensure a comfortable trip. Waitt frequently uses the website Cruise Critic to research cruise lines and ships and looks at the floor plan of cabins he might stay in. He has also searched YouTube for video tours of those rooms.

Ervin recommended booking a cabin with a balcony, which gives passengers a bit more room.

"It does cost a bit more, but in our opinion, it's worth it just for the ease and the space," she said.

Travelers can also call the cruise line, as Bloomfield's friend did, to get their recommendations. In her case, the Disney representative recommended they switch to a different type of cabin where they'd be more comfortable.

Given that passengers "vary in size and mobility," Ervin said, they can always pick a room near an elevator or book an accessible cabin. She also urged guests "to not ever feel embarrassed to advocate for yourself" or to ask for what they need.

Bloomfield already has another cruise booked to Bermuda and feels it has opened a new world of travel options. "I wanted to see all these tropical places and I just felt like getting on a plane and crossing the ocean on these long plane rides was never something I was going be able to do," she said. "... I feel like (going on a cruise) changed my life."

How cruising is improving for all

Cruise lines have also taken steps to enhance the guest experience for all passengers.

On Celebrity's new Edge Series ships, for example, there are bigger bathrooms with more cabinet and counter space, and king beds "in virtually all rooms," Lomax said. The line has also simplified booking, offering three types of room rates, and guests can now complete their safety drill from the brand's app on their phone or via their cabin's TV.

Disney Cruise Line's spokesperson also pointed to the line's staterooms, the majority of which feature a "signature bath-and-a-half design." One bathroom has a sink and toilet, and another has a shower and an additional sink. Bed frames on board are elevated, giving families room to store suitcases and items like strollers, and many rooms have bathtubs and connecting doors.

"Disney Cruise Line staterooms are catered to the unique vacation needs of families, combining comfort and luxury with spaciousness and functionality," the spokesperson said by email.

Royal Caribbean has used its mobile app to streamline processes throughout its cruises. Guests can scan their passports and provide a selfie to generate a boarding pass on most sailings, and can also complete their mandatory safety briefing using a feature called Muster 2.0.

On multiple ships, the app can serve as a digital stateroom key. Passengers can also use it to control the TV and, in some rooms, the lights, curtains and temperature. "We continuously find ways to innovate (and) improve the cruising experience for our guests," spokesperson Diaz said.

Share your experience on a cruise and how it could have been better

NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

This hidden bar on a cruise ship comes complete with its own ghost

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This hidden bar on a cruise ship is not what we expected Sun Princess

Cruise lines are really pulling some tricks out of their hat with their offerings, as they attempt to entice younger and more diverse audiences onto their ships.

From ice grottos to ultimate booze cruises , other-worldly expeditions and *checks notes * robot bartenders , we’ve come a long way from hopping on board to spend a week simply sipping pina coladas on the lido deck (but, hey, we also won’t turn that down, let’s be honest).

Princess Cruises has recently launched a pretty impressive hidden gem on its newest ship the Sun Princess, called Spellbound.

And, as the name suggests, it’s got magic at its core.

Magic shows on a boat? Just about as groundbreaking as florals for spring, right? Been there, abracadabra that, we hear you.

This bar takes things to another level, though – first of all, it’s a hidden bar, tucked behind a nondescript black door on board. You’d be forgiven for walking straight past it on the way to the buffet and having no idea of the wonder that sits on the other side.

Vote for your chance to win a cruise

Do you love cruising? Are you an intrepid traveller? Maybe you just like looking at pictures of luxe ships. No matter which, we want you to vote!

Metro has partnered with the Sailawaze Excellence Awards , highlighting the very best in cruising when it comes to sustainability, wellness, entertainment and beyond.

And we need YOU to simply select what you’ve been most impressed by.

The best bit? By voting before the end of the day (May 10) you’ll automatically be in with a chance of winning a cruise for two worth £2,500.

Say bon voyage to the more traditional categories of ‘best large ship’ or ‘best luxury cruise line’ and instead ahoy to innovation, food and drink and showstopping performances.

Vote for your favourite here now .

It’s also Victorian-themed, to give it that real added zest, with mind-bending entertainment performed by magicians as they (the travellers, not the magicians) sip on theatrical cocktails served with sleight of hand.

Spellbound has been created in conjunction with the reknown Magic Castle, a private club in Hollywood for magicians and enthusiasts, which specialises in teaching and performing magic. It’s this crop of spellbinding men and women who will be performing on the cruise line’s latest ship, too.

With its ornate décor that includes magical artefacts, vintage curiosities, and interactive special effects, the bar, and its series of themed rooms, is meticulously designed to capture the essence of this exclusive club (which will set you back $149 (£118) to enter for an evening).

For instance, in the Music Room, guests will meet the spirit of Isabella (of course) who will share her stories of sailing on Sun Princess. The venue will also feature a vintage Parlor Bar featuring Artemis the owl who is revealed through interaction with skilled illusionists before entering the intimate 30-seat, Spellbound theatre, to experience close-up magic that will blow guests’ minds.

So, knowing all this, it perhaps comes as no surprise Princess Cruise is up for a gong in Sailawaze’s Excellence Awards in the entertainment category.

But, it’s got some strong competition.

It’s up against Norwegian Cruise Lines’ Norwegian Prima, which features the world’s first venue that transforms from a three-story theatre into a Vegas-style nightclub, the world’s first freefall dry slide and a three-level racetrack at sea. Add the legendary GLOW party with DJs on decks, fantastic dance music and glow sticks, and the Norwegian Aqua, due 2025, which will boast Aqua Slidecoaster, the first rollercoaster and waterslide hybrid.

Then there’s P&O’s Mission Control – the cruise line’s first multi-sensory immersive submarine simulation game, exclusive to Arvia. Navigate through danger, mysteries, and puzzles in incredibly realistic 3D ocean environments in one of two one-hour experiences: a family-friendly adventure suitable for all ages and an adult-oriented adventure.

Marella Cruises’ Exchange Speakeasy Bar is an exclusive, hidden-away adult-only venue that’s also nominated. It’s got a unique cocktail menu not found elsewhere on the ship with live music and immersive entertainment in the evenings.

Over to Carnival Cruise Lines, and its new ship Carnival Jubilee, which features Currents, a technology-rich underwater-themed area spanning two decks. Its promenade also transforms into an immersive experience with evening showcases of otherworldly destinations during drinks and dinner, while Soundwaves Jukebox, a music-activated visualiser, brings guest-chosen songs to life through images and light displays. That’s before we even get to the interactive gameshow…

The other nominations

Food & beverage.

Virgin Voyages

Aqua Expeditions

TUI River Cruises

Windstar Cruises

Explora Journeys

Regent Seven Seas Cruises

P&O Cruises

Riverside Luxury Cruises

Emerald Cruises

Amawaterways

Swan Hellenic

Princess Cruises

MSC Cruises

Royal Caribbean

COLLABORATIONS

Ambassador Cruise Line

A-Rosa Cruises

Carnival Cruise Line

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines

Oceania Cruises

Havila Voyages

Pandaw Expeditions

Holland America Line

CroisiEurope

Hurtigruten

Celebrity Cruises

VIVA Cruises

Disney Cruise Line

Saga Cruises

A- Rosa Cruises

SUSTAINABILITY

AE Expeditions

The Majestic Line

Portsmouth International Port

Royal Caribbean’s nomination includes AquaTheater, which showcases acrobatics, synchronised swimming and high-dives, plus an ice arena that displays spins, lifts and jumps by world-class professional figure skaters. On board cruisers can also enjoy Broadway musicals, including the first rendition of The Wizard of Oz at sea.

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Princess Cruises drink packages: Are the line’s inclusive options deals or duds?

There's nothing worse than being hit with an unexpectedly sizable bill on the last day of your sailing. It's important to budget for extras like drinks, Wi-Fi and crew gratuities — the drinks especially can really add up and surprise even the most seasoned cruisers.

That's why Princess Cruises offers a variety of drink packages. You can pay up front to avoid nasty surprises later. The options range from nonalcoholic and soda packages to inclusive plans that bundle together additional services for more comprehensive savings. But are you really saving money versus purchasing your soft drinks and cocktails a la carte?

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Let's dive into the four options, corresponding costs and what's included so you can determine if a Princess Cruises drink package or all-inclusive bundle is worth booking.

What are the various Princess Cruises drink packages?

Princess Cruises offers four drink packages , including a couple of nonalcoholic drink plans. Each is designed to help you save money and not worry about the price of individual drink orders throughout your cruise.

However, it's important to note that Princess does things a bit unconventionally for the industry: There is no option to buy a stand-alone alcoholic drink package. If you want an inclusive alcohol package, you'll have to pay for the all-inclusive package that includes drinks alongside Wi-Fi, prepaid gratuities and access to such additional perks as specialty dining, fitness classes and free room service delivery.

Each package is available for purchase on board during the first two days of the sailing or pre-cruise through the Cruise Personalizer booking platform. (Packages are not available for pre-purchase within three days of sailing — if you've waited that long to decide, you'll need to make the purchase on board.)

Packages must be purchased for every day a passenger is sailing (you can't pick and choose days), they may not be shared and they are nontransferable and nonrefundable.

Zero-Alcohol Package

Love indulging in specialty coffees and teas, fizzy sodas, fresh juices and smoothies, cozy hot chocolate, zero-proof mocktails, bottled water and Red Bull energy drinks? Then the Zero-Alcohol Package (previously known as the Coffee & Soda Package) is primed to please your palate. This package is also a great way to get your fill of sparkling and still water bottles, which can be handy for pouring into your reusable bottle and taking ashore on excursions.

There is no age restriction for this package, and it may be used on Princess' private islands and at all onboard dining venues, bars and public spaces with beverage service.

Classic Soda Package

For those with a serious fountain or canned soda habit who don't dabble in fancy coffees or crave bottled water, the Classic Soda Package delivers much-needed refreshment. Beyond the unlimited sodas, this package includes canned fruit juices (excluding the fresh juice bar), mocktails and smoothies.

As with the Zero Alcohol Package, this package has no age restrictions, and it may be used on Princess' private islands or anywhere on board that offers beverage service.

Princess Plus Package

Princess' entry-level bundled drink package offers guests a savings of 54% (based on a seven-night cruise) on several of the cruise line's extra-fee offerings.

First, let's look at the drinks included with Princess Plus: all the nonalcoholic beverages included in the Zero-Alcohol Package, plus cocktails, spirits, wine and beer up to $15 each. (Items selected beyond this price will be charged only the difference in price.) Interested in purchasing a bottle of wine? You'll get 25% off as part of your package perks, and this discount also applies to one-liter bottles of water.

Age restrictions do apply to this package, and exclusions to this package include minibar items, souvenir glassware and bottles of spirits or wine.

Now, let's examine what else comes with the Princess Plus Package because the beverages are just the beginning:

Wi-Fi: You get internet access , including streaming and video chat, on a single device.
Crew gratuities: The Plus Package includes pre-paid gratuities (which the line calls "crew appreciation"), saving you $16 to $18 per day (depending on cabin type).
Premium desserts: Indulge your sweet tooth twice a day with complimentary desserts from the Gelateria, Swirls or Coffee & Cones.
Unlimited juice bar: Choose from four juice blends and two power shots (ginger and turmeric), including antioxidants (fruit only), cleansing (vegetables only), immunity (fruit and vegetable) and energy boost. Each juice is a 6-ounce serving.
Fitness classes: Work off those premium desserts with two complimentary fitness classes from Xponential during your sailing. Options include Pure Barre, Yoga Six and Stretch Lab.
Casual dining meals: Dine out twice at no extra charge at casual sit-down restaurants, such as Alfredo's (pizza), Kai Sushi and pop-ups like Planks and Steamers.
OceanNow delivery and room service delivery: Craving a cocktail at the pool? A snack while you read in the library? Just order and it'll be delivered to you, no matter where you are on the ship — including your room. (You'll still pay the cost of the food, drink or OceanNow device; the line will waive the delivery fee.)

Princess Premier Package

Impressed with what you see in the Princess Plus Package but want even more? The Princess Premier Package offers guests savings of 66% off because of the extra value in bundling together even more perks.

When it comes to beverages, you'll get all the same access as the Plus Package, but with this selection, drinks up to $20 are covered (instead of being capped at $15). The package also covers a one-liter bottle of still or sparkling water each time you dine at a specialty restaurant.

As with the Plus Package, guests who choose the Premier Package will receive 25% off bottles of wine and one-liter bottles of water. Age restrictions apply to this package, and exclusions to this package include minibar items, souvenir glassware and bottles of spirits or wine.

Similarly to the Plus Package, the Premier Package also includes:

Prepaid crew gratuities
Unlimited juice bar
OceanNow delivery and room service delivery

You'll also get access to even more services and experiences (some upgraded, removing limitations), including:

Wi-Fi: You'll have access on four devices, instead of just one.
Premium desserts: You can order unlimited complimentary desserts (versus two per day).
Fitness classes: You can sign up for unlimited fitness classes fee-free (versus two per sailing). Casual dining meals: You can enjoy unlimited casual dining meals for free (versus two per sailing).
Specialty dining meals: This package includes two meals during your cruise, at Crown Grill, Sabatini's or one of the line's other specialty restaurants .
Photo package: You'll get unlimited digital images downloaded to your device plus three prints as a keepsake souvenir.
Princess Prizes: With the Premier Package, you're automatically enrolled in Princess Prizes. This is your chance to win cruise prizes (a seven-night cruise for two in a balcony stateroom is awarded on every cruise to one lucky player), shopping gift certificates, exclusive onboard experiences and more.
Medallion accessory: The Princess Medallion is a quarter-sized wearable device that speeds up embarkation, unlocks your stateroom door and enables onboard payments. This package includes a free accessory, such as a clip, so that you always have it handy.
Reserved theater seating: No more rushing to the production shows after dinner because you'll have reserved seating. Seats are held in special sections and are marked with special seat covers.

Related: The ultimate guide to Princess Cruises ships and itineraries

What do Princess Cruises drink packages cost?

Each of Princess' four drink packages has a price that scales with its value. Here's what you can expect to pay per guest, per day:

Classic Soda Package: $14.99
Zero-Alcohol Package: $29.99
Princess Plus Package: $60
Princess Premier Package: $80

The prices listed above do not include an automatic 18% service charge per day for the Classic Soda and Zero-Alcohol packages, so factor that into your travel budget if you decide to purchase a package.

When calculating cost, it's important to note that the first and second guests in a cabin must each book the same Plus or Premier Package; however, the third and fourth guests are not obligated to do so, which saves money for a family traveling with children.

With the Premier plan, Wi-Fi, specialty dining and the photo package are shareable, which allows a family of four with two parents to have their children's devices on Wi-Fi, take home family photo keepsakes and enjoy one specialty dining experience with their entire family.

One final point worth mentioning: The Plus and Premier plans aren't unlimited when it comes to alcohol. There's a limit of 15 alcoholic beverages over a 24-hour period, which runs from 6 a.m. to 6 a.m.

Related: 7 extra-charge items on cruise ships that are worth the cost (and 7 that aren't)

When's the best time to buy Princess drink packages?

There's no time like the present to purchase your drink package, so if you're positive you'll want it, feel free to select that option when booking your cruise — or any time prior to three days before your sailing.

Once on board, time is of the essence when it comes to purchasing a Princess drink package, as these bundled offers are only available for purchase on the first two days of your cruise (the day you embark and the next day of the voyage only). After that cutoff, it will be too late to take advantage of these packages.

Another reason to plan ahead? Both the Plus and Premier packages are capacity controlled and, if sold out, might not be available for all cabin categories at the time of booking.

You can either sign up during your first two days on board (you will see various crew members promoting the packages or you can upgrade directly through the cruise line's app) or you can add these packages onto your booking ahead of the cruise by logging into your Cruise Personalizer. If you prebook a package, it is nonrefundable within three days of sailing.

Related: Which cruise ship activities should you book ahead of time?

What drinks are you allowed to bring on board?

If you don't want to purchase a plan, you might think you can BYOB in order to save money on drinks when you cruise. You have a few options, but they are limited.

For instance, if you were planning to bring your own soda, sparkling water or juices on board, you can do so on embarkation day if carried in your hand luggage (not checked). You are limited to a maximum of 12 sealed cans (not bottles) of 12 ounces each or less per person. Guests will be asked to discard open beverages in plastic containers prior to boarding (so don't show up with a Big Gulp in hand).

If you wish to bring alcohol on board, Princess allows one bottle of wine or champagne (750mL in volume or less) per guest of legal drinking age, which must be presented to security during embarkation. A $20 corkage fee applies if guests wish to consume said bottle in the ship's public areas. (It's free to enjoy in your cabin).

Also, a $20 corkage fee also applies to each additional bottle beyond the one-bottle-per-guest-per-voyage allowance. How many bottles you can bring in total is unknown; the fine print simply says, "Limitations apply, and wine brought in quantities deemed to be excessive by the vessel or security will be refused."

Finally, passengers agree to surrender alcoholic beverages that are purchased duty-free from the vessel's gift shop or at ports of call. They'll be delivered to your cabin prior to disembarking the voyage. (Be sure to account for those in your checked luggage on the way home.)

Related: Can I bring alcohol on a cruise ship? A line-by-line guide

Are Princess drink packages worth the money?

You'll need to do a bit of math to figure out if the drink packages are worth the price.

If you're considering the Classic Soda or Zero Alcohol packages, start by calculating how many sodas, specialty coffees, juices, smoothies and mocktails you think you'll drink on a daily basis. Then do the math: sodas typically cost $2.50 each, specialty coffees and teas $3-$4, juices $8 and smoothies $10. If it's just two or three drinks each day, these plans likely won't be worth it.

But if you drink at least six sodas each day, or several sodas and a mocktail or smoothie, the Classic Soda Package starts to make sense. Or, if you plan to start your day with a vanilla latte or energy drink, enjoy a few sodas with your meals and by the pool, hit the juice bar after the gym, and partake in a pre-dinner mocktail, then purchasing the Zero Alcohol Package could be the way to go. Just remember that you'll need to keep up the same drinking pace on port days as you do on sea days to break even.

For the Plus and Premier packages, there's a lot more to calculate, but the value of each is a no-brainer before you even get down to the nitty gritty numbers of each individual perk.

With the Plus Package, if you assume that most cocktails are $10-$15 each, beers are about $7 apiece and glasses of wine are $10-$20 each, it's easy to spend $30 or more a day if you plan to have one beer by the pool, a glass of wine at dinner and a post-dinner nightcap. Once you add in the prepaid crew appreciation (a minimum of $16 per day), and Wi-Fi for one device (14.99 per day), you're already paying $61 per day a la carte — yet the cost of this package is only $60 per day.

Related: 8 best drinks to order with a cruise ship beverage package (and 3 to avoid)

Without adding in the value of premium desserts, fitness classes, the unlimited juice bar, two casual dining meals ($14.99 each) and room service and OceanNow delivery, you've already come out ahead.

The value continues with the Premier Package. Let's assume the same $30 per day on alcohol and $16 on crew appreciation, but now you have access to up to four devices on Wi-Fi ($40), bringing your total to $86 per day a la carte — yet this package only costs $80 per day. Add in the value of two specialty dining meals (starting at $35 per person), unlimited digital photos and three prints, unlimited premium desserts and fitness classes, unlimited juice bar and casual dining meals and Ocean Now and room service delivery, and you've found a great package deal.

It's important to note that both guests sharing a cabin must purchase the same bundled package (Plus or Premier). Be sure to double that price in your calculations if you're traveling as a couple, or discuss with your travel companion prior to the trip to ensure you're on the same page about purchasing a package.

Bottom line: Is a Princess Cruises drink package right for you?

Now that you have all the facts and figures, take a look at your everyday lifestyle when it comes to beverage consumption — do you already have a Starbucks addiction or a four-soda-a-day habit, enjoy a glass or two of wine with dinner and seek out juices and smoothies when you're feeling a bit low-energy? Your routines aren't likely to trend downwards on a cruise. In fact, you'll probably indulge a bit more since you're on vacation and have easy access to plenty of options.

Unless you believe you're going to be satisfied with the basic beverages included in the cruise fare — tap water, drip coffee, hot and iced tea, milk, lemonade and juice from a dispenser at breakfast — you will end up spending some amount of money on extra beverages. If you don't enjoy the feeling of being nickled and dimed every time you place an order, the Classic Soda and Zero Alcohol packages will lead to a stress-free vacation with no ugly surprises on the last day.

As for the Plus and Premier packages, you have no choice but to pay the crew appreciation (as you should!) and there's little chance you'll go without Wi-Fi on a cruise — so if you plan on having any beverages at all, especially ones containing alcohol, you'll see massive savings with these packages — Princess claims 54% and 66% respectively off the retail value on a seven-night voyage.

The choice is yours, so choose the option that will best enhance your vacation and save you stress and money. Remember that the more you save, the more future cruise vacations you can afford to book.

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Zero-Alcohol Package: $29.99. Princess Plus Package: $60. Princess Premier Package: $80. The prices listed above do not include an automatic 18% service charge per day for the Classic Soda and Zero-Alcohol packages, so factor that into your travel budget if you decide to purchase a package.