group booking on princess cruises

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Club Class Benefits

Get on board with princess®.

• Club Class Dining for dinner each night, plus breakfast and lunch on sea days
• The Princess Luxury Bed
• Priority Embarkation & Disembarkation upon turnaround
• Full access to the Priority Disembarkation Lounge
• Complimentary one time Wine Set-up on embarkation day
• Complimentary Premium Evening Canapés upon request
• Complimentary Fresh Fruit upon request
• Upgraded Terry Shawl Bathrobes

PLUS OUR STANDARD MINI SUITE BENEFITS Stateroom

• Spacious staterooms up to 323 square feet with balcony
• Upgraded balcony with patio furniture (table and two chairs)
• Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors
• Separate seating area with coffee table and a sofa bed
• Twin beds that convert to a queen size bed*
• 100% Egyptian cotton linens
• Private bathroom with combination tub and shower
• Massage Shower Head
• Shampoo, conditioner and body lotion
• 100% Egyptian Cotton Terry Towels
• Waffle Bathrobe
• Welcome glass of champagne
• Fruit Basket (upon request)
• Mini-Bar (nominal fee applies)
• Refrigerator
• Daily housekeeping service
• Evening bed turn-down with chocolates on your pillow

Accessories

• Two 42” flat-panel satellite televisions
• Satellite TV
• Phone & Desk
• Digital Security Safe
• 110V, 60-cycle alternating current (AC) with standard U.S. plug fittings

*Due to some cabin configurations, the two twin beds may not convert to a queen size bed.

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Corporate & Incentive Cruises

Cruises offer the best overall value for businesses planning an offsite meeting, building an incentive for their salespeople or designing a special event for their employees, partners or clients. modern ships also provide the perfect social environment for professional groups to mix and mingle. After meetings your group can dine together in a gourmet restaurant, gather by the pool for sun and fun, experience a show, and much more. Participants who want a break from company action can retreat to the spa, find privacy on a secluded balcony, or enjoy a book in a well-appointed alcove. Many companies encourage their employees' families to come too since there are plenty of activities to entertain the spouse and kids, including extensive youth programs run by trained counselors.

Benefits of Booking a Corporate and Incentive Cruise Groups often get the best overall value--if you plan well in advance--particularly when you factor in special group amenities like complimentary wine or champagne, chocolates, cocktail parties, shipboard credits, casino credits, spa services, and private gatherings. Cruise lines will also work to brand your company's event at every opportunity with items such as ice sculptures of your corporate logo. For full charters, cruise lines will even let you set your own itinerary! To take advantage of group benefits, you must book the entire group through our Group Department.

What's Included? On a typical cruise your group will get:

• Stateroom accommodation
• Access to business facilities and meeting rooms
• Transportation to interesting ports
• Gourmet dining
• Nightly entertainment and shows
• Clubs, bars, lounges
• Pool, water sports
• Fitness center, exercise classes, spa

Business Facilities Onboard

• Large and small conference rooms with variable lighting and food & beverage services
• High-speed internet access
• Digital projectors
• Audio systems
• Showrooms for group presentations
• Informal gathering venues

The Planning Process All successful corporate and incentive groups require the involvement of a company travel manager. This professional is responsible for designing the meetings and events the company desires onboard and communicating booking details like the payment process, documentation requirements, and dining requests to all participants.

With Vacations To Go, you will get a highly trained corporate and incentive group specialist who will be your single point of contact for the planning and booking process. Your group specialist will even create a personalized webpage for your group where participants can get answers to questions about the cruise.

Every corporate and incentive group must sign a contract with the cruise line that covers the prices, amenities, terms, and conditions for their group booking. As one of the largest cruise-selling agencies in the world, we have strong buying power and access to competitive rates on every ship which enables us to negotiate the best contract on your behalf.

Tax Savings Businesses may be able to write off corporate cruises as a business expense. We encourage you to verify this with your tax professional.

Why Vacations To Go? Since our founding in 1984, we have provided more than eight million savvy shoppers with a dream vacation and have achieved the highest level of recognition possible from every major cruise line in the world for our exceptional sales and superior service. Click here for more info.

Getting Started If you already have a cruise in mind and have a group of 8 or more cabins, call one of our group specialists now at 800-514-9986 to get started. To find the right cruise now, please use the search box at the top of this page.

The Vacations To Go Group Department is open Open Mon-Fri 8am to 8pm, Sat-Sun 9am to 6pm, U.S. Central Time.

The ultimate guide to Princess Cruises ships and itineraries

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

3 things TPG loves about Princess Cruises

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

What we could do without

• The lack of big suites on most of its vessels

The Princess Cruises fleet

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Destinations and itineraries

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Who sails Princess Cruises

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cabins and suites

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Restaurants and dining

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Entertainment and activities

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

Theaters and shows

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

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

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

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

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

Other interior attractions and activities

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Top-deck attractions

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Children's programs

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What to know before you go

Required documents.

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

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

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

Related: Where can I cruise without a passport?

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

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

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

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

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

Carry-on drinks policy

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

Smoking policy

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

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

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

Electrical outlets

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

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

Drinking age

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

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

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

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

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

Princess Cruises' loyalty program

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Related: A beginners guide to cruise line loyalty programs

How much does a Princess cruise cost?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

How to book

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

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

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

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

Related: How to book a cruise using points and miles

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

Bottom line

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

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

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

Planning a cruise? Start with these stories:

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

A Guide to Planning a Group Cruise

Are you considering a group cruise for your next vacation or event? Our ultimate guide to planning a group cruise will steer you through everything you need to know to plan the perfect group cruise, whether for a family reunion, corporate retreat, church outing, or friendly get-together. We’ll provide essential information on group booking policies, discounted rates, recommended ships, and itineraries. Additionally, we will offer valuable tips for group cruises to ensure a smooth journey. So, let’s start planning your next group getaway!

Prefer to Speak to Someone? Contact the Group Cruise Experts at Our Favorite Travel Agency!

Understanding Group Cruises

Traveling with a group on a cruise is not just a journey; it’s an experience that binds relationships, creates memories, and offers unique perks. Let’s explore what group cruise bookings are and why they might be the best option for your next big event.

A group of cruisers gathers for the sail away party on a Disney Cruise ship

What Is a Group Cruise Booking?

A group cruise booking is for friends, family, colleagues, influencers and their fans, or any collective that wants to travel together on predefined cruise itineraries. This method of booking provides bulk discounts and added benefits but doesn’t offer the flexibility or capacity of chartering an entire vessel.

In group bookings:

• Participants travel as regular passengers.
• They enjoy individual freedoms but can also opt for coordinated activities.
• The group benefits from exclusive rates and perks.

Qualifications for Group Cruise Rates:

Generally speaking, you’ll probably need to meet these requirements:

• Guests : A minimum of 16 passengers.
• Staterooms : A requirement of eight or more cabin bookings.
• Occupancy Ratio : An average of two guests for every cabin.

Depending on the cruise line, there might be variations in how they define group cruises. For example, Norwegian Cruise Line offers group benefits when booking five rooms and gives you the sixth room free.

Why Opt for a Group Cruise Booking?

Here are some compelling benefits of group cruises:

• Economical : Enjoy stable, reduced rates that don’t vary like individual bookings.
• Extra Perks : Think onboard credits, exclusive parties, and complimentary beverages.
• Personalized Experience : Design activities, meals, and excursions tailored to your group.
• Exclusive Facilities : Access meeting areas equipped with modern amenities like A/V equipment.
• Complimentary Spaces : Often, the group leader may get a free trip based on the number of cabins reserved (see next section).

With reduced rates, added perks, and customization options, group cruises can be an affordable and memorable way to vacation.

Pro Tip: Prices are based on double occupancy per cabin, so if you want the lowest prices per person, make sure that all the rooms are full.

Group Leader Benefits

Many cruise lines reward group leaders with free cabins, known as tour conductor credits, for organizing cruise bookings. The number of free cabins depends on the following:

• Total cabins booked
• Cabin type booked
• Guests paying full fare

For example, booking 16 cabins with full-fare guests may earn one free cabin. Booking 32 could mean two free. With 100 cabins, you may earn six free!

Image © Disney

A group leader does not pay the base fare for free cabins, just taxes, and fees. Free cabin type is determined by what the group books.

If you plan to organize a group cruise booking and want a complimentary fare, contact The Vacationeer or cruise lines to find out which promotion tiers are available.

Learn More About Group Leader Benefits

Comparing Group Cruises to Partial and Full Ship Charters

When planning a cruise getaway for a group, understanding the differences between group cruises and chartering parts or the entire ship is key. Let’s explore the pros and cons of each option:

Group Cruise

Description:

• Joins a regular cruise alongside other passengers.
• Typically involves reserving a block of 8 to 20 cabins, accommodating around 16 to 40 people.
• Adheres to the ship’s set itinerary and entertainment.
• Group block fares at a discount make it more affordable.
• Some exclusive amenities tailored for the group.
• Offers greater flexibility for changes.
• Limited personalization due to a fixed itinerary and entertainment.
• Shared voyage with other passengers, thus less exclusivity.

Partial Charter Ship

• Reserves approximately 30-50% of the ship’s capacity.
• Provides the luxury of customizing certain elements.
• Exclusive spaces dedicated to the group.
• Involves fixed fees and minimum spending.
• Reduced flexibility for modifications.

Full Charter Ship

• Privileges of commandeering the entire ship.
• Opportunities for a fully tailored journey.
• Offers unparalleled exclusivity.
• Complete autonomy in planning the voyage.
• Significantly more expensive, with starting costs at $1 million+.
• While offering prestige, there’s reduced flexibility in terms of adjustments.

Your choice among these options will hinge on factors like budget, group size, and the level of desired customization. Consult a travel expert like The Vacationee r for personalized advice, and see our article on How to Charter a Cruise Ship .

How to Book Your Group Cruise

Follow these steps for a seamless group cruise booking process:

• Pick a cruise line & ship catering to your group’s interests, budget, and size.
• Select desired itinerary & dates. Look for lower demand periods for possible discounts.
• Estimate headcount to determine the number of cabins needed.
• Contact the cruise line or agent to place a tentative hold while finalizing details.
• Confirm details like promo codes, pricing, amenities, and payment schedule.
• Send invitations and promote the group cruise to prospective guests.
• Collect deposits from those confirmed to join. Cruise deposits are typically $250-$500 per person.
• Submit rooming list and process the group’s initial deposits as the deadline approaches.
• Monitor bookings and release unfilled allotments if needed as the date nears.
• Final payment is typically due 60-90 days pre-cruise.
• Set sail and enjoy!

Pro Tip: Let your cruise booking agent handle logistics like promotions, invoicing, and waitlists for a stress-free process.

Important Tips:

• Book early for the best group rates and availability
• Rates are based on double occupancy per cabin
• Pay deposits on time to avoid rate hikes
• Monitor bookings and release unused rooms as the deadline nears

Booking Your Group Cruise with The Vacationeer

With its extensive network of cruise line contacts and decades of experience as cruise planners, The Vacationeer provides seamless support when coordinating any group booking.

The Vacationeer’s group cruise experts focus on delivering above-and-beyond assistance with the following:

✔ Providing insider advice on the best ships and itineraries to meet your group needs

✔ Negotiating optimal discounted rates across stateroom categories

✔ Handling the payment collection process

✔ Managing waitlists and booking adjustments

✔ Suggesting amenities to make your group feel pampered

✔ Coordinating private events, dining, transfers, and more

✔ Ensures group leader benefits are credited to you

✔ Answering any group cruise questions with stellar customer service

The best part of all? The Vacationeer provides this concierge-style service at zero added cost to you. As a group cruise booking agent, The Vacationeer works directly with the cruise lines to secure the best rates, perks, and assistance for your group’s journey.

So, if you’re ready to embark on a stress-free planning experience, contact The Vacationeer for a free, no-obligation quote right now!

“Planning our family reunion cruise was a breeze, all thanks to The Vacationeer . They handled everything from beginning to end, including securing discounted group rates and onboard credit. Thank you so much for taking care of everything for me!” -Sandi S.

Group Cruise Payment and Savings Guide

Embarking on a group cruise offers exciting experiences and significant savings. Understanding payment procedures and available discounts is key to maximizing these benefits.

Payment Details

A preliminary deposit is crucial to confirm your booking. This amount fluctuates based on the cruise line, destination, and duration.

Final Payment:

Complete payments are typically expected 60-90 days before sailing. It’s vital to be aware of this deadline to avoid any last-minute cancellations.

Payment Modes:

Cruise lines mainly accept credit cards, debit cards, and bank transfers. Always confirm accepted methods with your travel agent or cruise line.

Maximizing Group Cruise Savings

A group cruise typically offers savings between 5% and 40% off the cruise line’s published rates for individual bookings . However, the specific group cruise discount depends on several factors, such as:

• Chosen cruise line.
• Seasonality.
• Specific ship or route.
• Group size.
• Stateroom type.

Sometimes onboard credits are offered instead of fare discounts. Check with your agent for current promotions.

Top Savings Tips

• Early Reservations : Book 12+ months out to secure preferred cabins at discounted group rates
• Off-Peak Bookings : Opt for Fall and Winter when fares are lower.
• Single Supplement Offers : Some lines waive single supplements for the first guests in a cabin.
• Promotional Deals : Check for regional or time-limited group cruise discounts, reduced deposits, or perks.
• Proximity of Ports : Choosing a nearby departure port cuts associated travel costs.
• Agent Assistance : Seasoned travel agents (such as The Vacationeer) can access special rates and added benefits.

Best Cruise Lines for Group Cruises

While group cruise bookings are available across most major cruise lines, some stand out as exceptional options for group travel.

Royal Caribbean

Icon of the Seas | Image © Royal Caribbean International

Best for : Groups seeking energetic fun

With a vast fleet of innovative mega-ships, Royal Caribbean delivers thrills for cruise guests of all ages. From surf simulators and skydiving to Broadway shows and bumper cars, the action never stops onboard. Their ships offer endless dining and activity choices well-suited for larger groups seeking energetic fun.

Carnival Cruise Line

Carnival Mardi Gras | Image © Carnival Corporation

Best for : Groups looking to let loose and enjoy good times

As the “Fun Ships,” Carnival lives up to its name with a laid-back atmosphere perfect for groups looking to let loose and enjoy good times together. Their fleet offers something for everyone, with massive waterparks, comedy shows, casinos, and a lively nightlife scene. Expect a social and festive sailing!

Norwegian Cruise Line

Image © Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd

Best for : Groups who appreciate flexibility

Norwegian is an excellent choice for groups that value flexibility and freestyle cruising. Their “Freestyle Cruising” concept means no set dining times, relaxed dress codes, and freedom to customize your experience. Norwegian’s ships offer upscale amenities, including specialty dining, Broadway entertainment, casinos, and indulgent spas.

Princess Cruises

Discovery Princess | Image © Princess Cruises

Best for : Mature travelers

With a focus on destination immersion, Princess transports groups to globe-spanning ports of call from Alaska to Australia. While onboard, groups can savor fine dining, enrichment activities, and relaxing pampering at the Lotus Spa. Sophisticated yet approachable, Princess is an appealing choice for travelers over the age of 40.

Disney Cruise Line

Disney Wish | Image © Disney

Best for : Family reunions or multi-generational groups

Disney Cruise Line excels at creating magical escapes, especially for family reunions and multi-generational groups. Disney cruise ships blend world-class entertainment with family-friendly amenities. From Broadway-caliber shows to areas for kids and teens, Disney offers something for guests of all ages. Adding to the magic is the exceptional dining options , with a range of cuisine options to satisfy every taste. Their exclusive island destinations like Castaway Cay and Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point further add to the Disney enchantment.

Note : While Disney doesn’t provide group cruise discounts , booking far in advance can yield excellent rates. Disney allows booking up to four staterooms together on a single reservation , and you may be able to book other reservations for side-by-side and connecting (internal door) staterooms as a cluster if you book early enough. Though you’ll sail with regular passengers, the signature Disney touches will make your group voyage extra special.

To book Disney Cruise Line as a group and enjoy outstanding Disney onboard credit , reach out to The Vacationeer .

Need Help Picking the Best Cruise Line for Your Group Cruise?

Ideal Itineraries for Group Cruises

With cruise regions spanning the globe, where should your group set sail? Popular options include:

Caribbean Cruises

Best for : Families, friend getaways, company retreats

The Caribbean is a top group cruise destination for fun in the sun. Relax on sandy beaches one day and explore colonial towns the next. Family groups will love snorkeling adventures and waterslides between islands.

Bahamas Cruises

Best for : Quick getaways, young professionals, corporate treat

Just a short jaunt from Florida, the sunny Bahamas offer a quick escape with island vibes. Snorkel with vibrant marine life between relaxing on picturesque beaches.

European Cruises

Best for : Mature travelers, enrichment groups, corporate trips

Sophisticated groups should consider a European voyage to classic capitals and Mediterranean coastlines. Admire historic sites and savor fine cuisine on an enriching group cruise.

Alaska Cruises

Best for : Nature lovers, multi-generational family trips

Breathtaking wilderness and wildlife make Alaska a bucket list group cruise. Watch glaciers carve fjords as you bond with loved ones against unforgettable backdrops.

Group Cruise Planning Timeline

For smooth sailing, follow this general timeline when coordinating a group cruise (adjusting as needed based on the specifics of your cruise):

• 12-18 months before : Set goals, pick desired cruise line, and ship through research and agent advice. Send save-the-date announcements.
• Twelve months : Select preferred itinerary and dates. Place a tentative hold on cabins with the cruise line.
• 10-11 months : Confirm group cruise booking terms, including promotions, pricing, and deposits.
• Nine months : Begin recruiting group and collect deposits with booking invites.
• Six months : Provide the rooming list to the cruise line and process the group’s initial deposits — book add-ons like transfers and shore trips.
• Ninety days : Final payment due. Release unfilled staterooms if needed. Complete online check-in.
• Sixty days : Finalize details with cruise line and agent. Make any waitlist requests.
• Sailing day : Set sail and relax on your fabulous group cruise!

Frequently Asked Questions About Group Cruises

Planning a group cruise involves many details. Here are answers to some common questions to help you prepare.

How early should I book a group cruise?

Aim to book at least 12 months in advance, or as early as 18 months for peak seasons. This allows you to secure the best cabins at discounted group rates before they sell out.

What is the best month to go on a group cruise?

If looking for deals, October – December and January – March tend to have lower rates since kids are in school. School breaks and holiday weeks are peak periods for demand and prices.

What is included in the cruise fare?

The base fare covers your accommodations, meals, onboard entertainment, and basic activities. You’ll still pay extra for things like shore excursions, spa services, specialty dining, and alcohol.

Should group cruises buy travel insurance?

Yes, travel insurance provides valuable protection in case any members need to cancel due to covered circumstances. Opt for the “cancel for any reason” upgrade for the most flexibility.

Can we bring decorations for our group?

Yes, you can bring banners, signs, and decorations. Just confirm with your booking agent. Some items like confetti or sticking materials may be prohibited.

How formal are group cruise dinners?

Attire ranges from smart casual to formal nights. Pack a mix of sundresses, polos, nice jeans, jackets, and cocktail attire. Check your cruise’s dress code.

Get a Free Quote for Your Group Cruise

Gathering a group for a cruise is an excellent way to reconnect with loved ones and share an amazing travel experience.

When you book as a group, you’ll receive discounted rates and exclusive perks not available to individual passengers. Most cruise lines offer streamlined group booking programs.

But organizing a group cruise can be daunting, so it’s best to turn to a trusted planner to make sure everything is take care of. For assistance coordinating every step from promotion to sailing – at no added cost to you – contact the group cruise experts at The Vacationeer . With their insider advice and group cruise tips, you can create seamless memories with your group.

The Vacationeer has established strong connections with top cruise lines , enabling them to obtain the best discounted rates . These rates are often superior to those found online . Additionally, they often provide exceptional onboard credit, which can be used towards additional expenses not covered by the cruise fare.

Don’t miss out on the savings and perks – contact The Vacationeer now to start planning your next group cruise adventure! Bon voyage!

“I couldn’t imagine organizing our corporate retreat in the Caribbean without the help of The Vacationeer . They made the booking process a breeze!” – Bryan T.

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The Princess® Celebration Group Program

Enjoy perks to customize your groups needs.

Whether it's a birthday to anniversary, reunion or other special occasion, our new group program lets you celebrate a special event on your cruise with your choice of incredible perks. Your celebration just got better when cruising together.

What is a Celebration Group?

• Friends or family traveling together
• Wedding parties
• Birthday celebrations
• Graduation parties

Group Travel Perks

Base group fare Pricing with options to upgrade to Princess Plus® or Princess Premier® for added value.

A dedicated Princess® expert to plan your group vacation every step of the way.

When life happens, keep your selected staterooms.

Both first and second guests in a stateroom can be changed up to 21 days before you sail.

Get points you can use for amenities.

Early access to Dine My Way℠ reservations.

Possible Amenities

• Cocktail parties
• A bottle of wine per stateroom
• Onboard spending money
• Assorted canapés

Tour Conductor (TC) Credits

A Tour Conductor is the organizer of a group sailing together. Princess awards one Tour Conductor (TC) credit for every eight staterooms a group books, which can be used on a ninth stateroom.

1 TC = 8 staterooms You can also use points to buy down the TC ratio to be 1:7, 1:6 or 1:5, which means your group could get one Tour Conductor credit for every 7 (1:7), 6 (1:6) or 5 (1:5) staterooms you book.

Note: A Celebration Group with a reduced TC ratio can earn a maximum of 12 TC credits.

How to Book a Group

Two Ways to Book

To book a group you'll need to get assistance from either a Princess Specialist or your preferred Travel Advisor. They'll take care of all the details to ensure everyone in your group is well taken care of.

Contact a Princess Specialist or call your Travel Advisor

Eligibility

• Available for residents of the U.S. or Canada who set up new groups.
• Minimum of 5 staterooms, maximum of 20 staterooms held for 60 days from group creation. Maximum size for groups is 99 staterooms.
• Celebration groups may be created on cruises of 3 to 24 days where group space is available.

Princess Group Promise

Princess is committed to responding within three business days of any group inquiry before or after your cruise experience. If you're not satisfied, we'll make it right, or we'll refund the value of that service. That's the Princess Promise .

Celebration Group Program Terms & Conditions

View Terms & Conditions

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Celebrate your love with Princess Perfect Weddings.

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We work with a world-wide network of recruiting agencies to select only the most qualified crew, be aware fraudulent cruise employment opportunities.

We have recently been made aware of fraudulent entities around the world claiming to represent Princess Cruises as recruitment partners. We are working closely with our Security department and local police authorities in various countries to prevent individuals from wrongly representing themselves as Princess recruitment partners. We strongly suggest that you only discuss employment opportunities with the agencies/partners listed here. If you have any suspicion about the nature of an ad or website claiming to recruit on behalf of Princess Cruises, please contact the approved Princess agency located nearest your place of residence.

Authorized Recruitment Partners Please contact the recruitment agency that is closest to your permanent residence. The agencies listed below are the only agencies authorized by Princess Cruises to recruit on our behalf, and their activity is monitored by our corporate office.

Princess Cruises is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin, disability or protected veteran status.

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Group Travel

By Mahewa , May 12, 2021 in Princess Cruises

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Assuming cruises are happening again, I will be getting married on a Princess cruise in March.  We think we'll have 40-60 guests.  Based on old posts here, it seems like there are good benefits to getting a travel agent to book the group (free berths, group amenity points, etc.), but I am having real trouble finding a travel agent to do this.  I've contacted four different Commodore Certified TAs, and have yet to get a reasonable plan.  Only one of them has had the follow through to get us rates and information about how this would work.  Those rates are 30%-50% higher than what can be booked on Princess's site right now.  Is that normal?  To make sure there wasn't a misunderstanding, I asked if these rates were ones that included drinks/wifi/gratuities, because that's what they were close to (and even higher in some cases).  The TA said no, that these are just the base fares plus taxes and fees.  She also informed me that she would be retaining the credit for any free berths based on the number of people.

To those of you who have had good experiences with TAs booking for groups, how did you find them?  Or is there any way to get the benefits dealing directly with Princess? Sorry if this isn't the right place for this post.  Just frustrated and looking for guidance.

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It doesn't sound like you've connected with very helpful TAs.  The one that I've used for over 10 years does do groups and still discounts the fare for all other cruises by 8 - 9% off what you would find on the Princess website.  It may actually look higher because the TA will add in the port fees whereas Princess lists them separately.  Could it be that the TAs you've talked to are doing the same thing?

2 minutes ago, azbirdmom said: It doesn't sound like you've connected with very helpful TAs.  The one that I've used for over 10 years does do groups and still discounts the fare for all other cruises by 8 - 9% off what you would find on the Princess website.  It may actually look higher because the TA will add in the port fees whereas Princess lists them separately.  Could it be that the TAs you've talked to are doing the same thing?

You'd think it would be something like that, but it's not.  She's telling me an IB interior rate would be $604 per person (including taxes and fees).  When I find an IB room on the same cruise on Princess's site, it is $316 per person, plus $115 in taxes and fees, making it $431 per person.  I can add on the drinks/wifi/gratuities, and it's still slightly cheaper than the rate she's giving me.

For cabins with 3rd or 4th passengers, it's just at bad.  That same room would be $1,590 for 4 people, but the TAs rates would make it $2,256. I'm mainly confused as to why it's been so hard to find someone who seems interested at all.  I would think travel agents would jump at the chance to book 20-30 cabins, but I don't claim to understand the industry.

31 minutes ago, Mahewa said: You'd think it would be something like that, but it's not.  She's telling me an IB interior rate would be $604 per person (including taxes and fees).  When I find an IB room on the same cruise on Princess's site, it is $316 per person, plus $115 in taxes and fees, making it $431 per person.  I can add on the drinks/wifi/gratuities, and it's still slightly cheaper than the rate she's giving me.   For cabins with 3rd or 4th passengers, it's just at bad.  That same room would be $1,590 for 4 people, but the TAs rates would make it $2,256. I'm mainly confused as to why it's been so hard to find someone who seems interested at all.  I would think travel agents would jump at the chance to book 20-30 cabins, but I don't claim to understand the industry.

TAs have been rocked by the pandemic and many have been working for over a year for virtually nothing so you may have found one who is tired and stressed.  But I still think there are good ones out there, I know mine is a gem.  Unfortunately the rules of this forum don't allow TA recommendations on these boards so your best bet is to keep looking - or if you have any friends who are frequent cruisers, ask them.

Call Princess and ask for group bookings.  They have a department that does this or at least they used to.

How many of the group are new Princess cruisers?  

1.  You can get on board credit for referring all of these passengers....BEFORE they begin the booking process.

2.  New Princess passengers have a different rate than Captain Circle members.  If a new member is paired with a loyal member, they will receive the loyalty fare.

3.  Keep looking.  I have a fantastic travel agent but she rarely discounts cruises.  But she has pulled off miracles for me.  I prefer her service to any price cut.

4.  You are correct.  Trying to coordinate this many cabins can be a nightmare.  Find a TA that is patient and will to work with you.

5 minutes ago, cr8tiv1 said: How many of the group are new Princess cruisers?     1.  You can get on board credit for referring all of these passengers....BEFORE they begin the booking process.   2.  New Princess passengers have a different rate than Captain Circle members.  If a new member is paired with a loyal member, they will receive the loyalty fare.   3.  Keep looking.  I have a fantastic travel agent but she rarely discounts cruises.  But she has pulled off miracles for me.  I prefer her service to any price cut.   4.  You are correct.  Trying to coordinate this many cabins can be a nightmare.  Find a TA that is patient and will to work with you.

Thanks, I hadn't thought of points 1 or 2.  Looking at what a new passenger would pay does make up some of the difference in price, but definitely not all of it. To be clear, I'm not looking for someone who's going to rebate their commission, offer deep discounts, or otherwise compete with the pricing of the big internet travel firms.  But I don't feel like I can, in good conscience, recommend that my guests book with a TA who will be charging them hundreds of dollars more than they'd pay if they booked through Princess's website. Given that I'm not asking for discounted fares and am bringing them 20-30 cabins worth of business, it also seems fair to ask that we get the benefit of both the tour operator credits and GAP points, but I'm open to being educated if that's too much to ask based on what's common in the industry.

4 hours ago, cr8tiv1 said: How many of the group are new Princess cruisers?     1.  You can get on board credit for referring all of these passengers....BEFORE they begin the booking process.   2.  New Princess passengers have a different rate than Captain Circle members.  If a new member is paired with a loyal member, they will receive the loyalty fare.   3.   Keep looking.  I have a fantastic travel agent but she rarely discounts cruises.  But she has pulled off miracles for me.  I prefer her service to any price cut.   4.  You are correct.  Trying to coordinate this many cabins can be a nightmare.  Find a TA that is patient and will to work with you.

+1 on that comment.

Keep looking and asking around on other sites for a good TA. Interview some of the popular ones, like you would for a job. If you have 40+ people cruising- you will make that TA some serious $. They should be prepared to work a bit for it.

JF - retired RRT

18 hours ago, Mahewa said: To be clear, I'm not looking for someone who's going to rebate their commission, offer deep discounts, or otherwise compete with the pricing of the big internet travel firms.  

Suggestions:

Do as @franktown suggested and just call Princess.

After you've applied for the "friends" OBC for the never cruised with Princess passengers as @cr8tiv1 suggested, have all your wedding party make their own reservations with Princess or with a TA.

You're overthinking this (or are you planning on paying the fare for all of these guests?) If your guests are to be responsible for their own fares, you're better off letting them handle their own bookings. 

Lest split a few hairs here.  It used to be that for every x number cabins in your group, you got a free  berth  in a cabin grade of the lowest common denominator.  So if the largest number of cabins booked was inside, that berth would be in an inside cabin.  If you book double that required number, yu would get the second berth in the cabin.  EM

I had for Dec 2021,  2 mini suites and 4 balconies booked with my CDN agent.  When I asked her about a group price, she was able to get a group price for the Balconies filling the extra cabins needed to make a group from others through her company.

I cancelled my Dec 2021 cruise and booked Dec 2022 when it opened up. My agent was able to get group pricing for both Mini suites and balconies.

Princess only allows so many group rates for each sailings.   Princess makes the group price.

On 5/12/2021 at 4:18 PM, Mahewa said: I'm mainly confused as to why it's been so hard to find someone who seems interested at all.  I would think travel agents would jump at the chance to book 20-30 cabins, but I don't claim to understand the industry.

Did you find someone new yet?

That makes no sense.  When my friend booked a group cruise through my agent, he got the same rates as the cruise line website and got additional perks (onboard credit) and earned the free berth as well.

44 minutes ago, Steelers36 said: Did you find someone new yet?  

No.  I tried several more people and ended up setting up the group through one of Princess's vacation planners.  I think that will be fine, though I think (and hope) they guy we're dealing with doesn't understand how back-to-back cruises work.  Even though we're in the same cabin for both trips, he said that we would have to pack up our stuff, see if the steward would stow it, and then disembark and come back on the ship through the normal check-in process.  Everything I've read online has indicated that we'll be able to leave our stuff in our cabin and just meet up with the other back-to-back cruisers to clear customs.  That may require us to leave the ship, but it definitely didn't seem like we'd have to do the whole check in process again from scratch.  The Medalionclass app already shows the two cruises as a single trip.

5 minutes ago, Mahewa said: No.  I tried several more people and ended up setting up the group through one of Princess's vacation planners.  I think that will be fine, though I think (and hope) they guy we're dealing with doesn't understand how back-to-back cruises work.  Even though we're in the same cabin for both trips, he said that we would have to pack up our stuff, see if the steward would stow it, and then disembark and come back on the ship through the normal check-in process.  Everything I've read online has indicated that we'll be able to leave our stuff in our cabin and just meet up with the other back-to-back cruisers to clear customs.  That may require us to leave the ship, but it definitely didn't seem like we'd have to do the whole check in process again from scratch.  The Medalionclass app already shows the two cruises as a single trip.

Well he is a doofus for sure.  Has he completed the training?

You are correct - he is wrong.  Yes, Medallion will be a single trip. 

Sorry you could not get a good TA. 

2 hours ago, Mahewa said: No.  I tried several more people and ended up setting up the group through one of Princess's vacation planners.  I think that will be fine, though I think (and hope) they guy we're dealing with doesn't understand how back-to-back cruises work.  Even though we're in the same cabin for both trips, he said that we would have to pack up our stuff, see if the steward would stow it, and then disembark and come back on the ship through the normal check-in process.  Everything I've read online has indicated that we'll be able to leave our stuff in our cabin and just meet up with the other back-to-back cruisers to clear customs.  That may require us to leave the ship, but it definitely didn't seem like we'd have to do the whole check in process again from scratch.  The Medalionclass app already shows the two cruises as a single trip.

If you did find a good TA, could you transfer your cruise from doofus to the TA?  I would suggest that you also contact Princess and request that your cruise be transferred from doofus to someone at Princess who has more than half a brain.

cruisingrob21

That's a lot of business that some TAs gave up, even if they were mostly inside cabins (lower commissions).  But I'll say it's also a lot of work.  The last large group I booked (as a home based TA under a larger agency) was 17 cabins, 4 spreadsheets, 34 invoices, and a LOT of musical chairs to get everyone booked, moved around to the cabin they wanted, and initial and final payments.  And there were frequent changes almost weekly so I definitely worked for my commission.  For instance,   members of large groups don't always like rooms near each other - 50 year old siblings and their spouses sometimes want cabins to be as far apart as possible 🙂

What saved me time was that 3 of the cabins paid for the rest so I was able to run 3 or 4 of their credit cards to get everyone covered.  Sometimes the group rates (if they aren't booked way in advance) aren't any better than published promo rates but there are additional group perks that are given regardless.  Also, some agencies are only allowed a certain number of groups per month and they may have already met that limit meaning all bookings would be individual.  Large groups can get free cabins after reaching certain thresholds but it's risky for agencies to do that because in the event the group has some folks cancel and the number of cabins in the group fall below the threshold, the agent will have to call the group leader and tell them they have to pay for a room that was going to be free.  Usually the agency just takes the "free room" as a bonus commission to avoid that whole issue.

It's still too bad you had to ultimately book with a PVP...a jr agent could have really cut their teeth on a commission like that while learning the tricks of the trade.  If you do another voyage like this ask around to see if you can find someone who does it as a side job from home as those folks work under less "agency pressure" and can devote more attention to fewer bookings.  I mostly book for family, friends, and friends of friends and don't advertise because I still have a regular day job. I only have 4-5 clients at any given time and do this work because it's fun.

1 hour ago, donaldsc said:   If you did find a good TA, could you transfer your cruise from doofus to the TA?  I would suggest that you also contact Princess and request that your cruise be transferred from doofus to someone at Princess who has more than half a brain.   DON

Transfers can only be made within something like 30 days of the original booking.  Not sure a PVP will even allow it since the commission is either the PVPs or Princess keeps it.  It's their rules...

15 hours ago, phabric said: Princess only allows so many group rates for each sailings.   Princess makes the group price.

There are groups and then there are groups.

One kind is a group set up by a TA that really does not have to involve any people that know each other or even meet each other on the cruise.  TAs set up these groups usually as soon as bookings open and gradually fill positions in the group until all the slots are gone. These TA groups usually have a discount from Princess. The good TAs share this discount with those in the group and thus those in the group pay a lower fare than if they had booked without being a part of a group. The TAs that have these groups also get "amenity points" that can be used to provide perks (OBC, specialty dining, wine, etc.) to the customers or can be used instead to increase the commission for the TA. This appears to be the type of group that Phavric was a part of.

The other kind is a group of people have a relationship with one another. This is the type group that Mahewa has. It is with this type group that a free cabin is awarded for every x cabins booked. This type group might end up being a part of a TA group with the discounts and amenities. Or it could just be a group that pays the Princess price and does not get any discount (other than that free cabin) or special amenities.

I never thought that group travels can be way cheaper than regular travel. In any case, I need to try cruising with a bunch of friends to check it out 

On 5/12/2021 at 12:51 PM, Mahewa said: We think we'll have 40-60 guests. 

If the PVP did not set it up, contact Diana Hall at [email protected] to reserve an extra room for your private group 'meet & greet' in addition to the wedding / reception. Its a simple email. Ppl may or may not show up but IMHO it's a nice touch

10 hours ago, Roger88 said: I never thought that group travels can be way cheaper than regular travel. In any case, I need to try cruising with a bunch of friends to check it out 

They were with my PVP although we were just 14 (7 rooms) so no free berths but we got free specialty dinner + more OBC. Love OBC

12 hours ago, cruisingrob21 said: If you do another voyage like this ask around to see if you can find someone who does it as a side job from home as those folks work under less "agency pressure" and can devote more attention to fewer bookings.  I mostly book for family, friends, and friends of friends and don't advertise because I still have a regular day job. I only have 4-5 clients at any given time and do this work because it's fun.

I have wondered about doing this myself, as I have been doing some of it for free already.  Is there a minimum business you need to do with Princess, for example, in order to maintain TA credentials?

1 hour ago, Steelers36 said: I have wondered about doing this myself, as I have been doing some of it for free already.  Is there a minimum business you need to do with Princess, for example, in order to maintain TA credentials?  

Yes and no...if you want to create your own agency you can go that way and register with princess, but I'm not sure how hard or easy that is.  Obviously starting a business is a big time commitment in and of itself and it may cost you more in operating expenses than it's worth especially since most cruise lines increase agency commissions based on how many bookings an agency made in the previous year.  The standard is 10% but that's after taking out taxes and non commissioned fare proportion.  It can take several hundred agency bookings to get up to 15%.

The other option is to join a home based umbrella agency where you work as an independent contractor which is pretty common in the world of TAs.  Note that many of these agencies charge upfront registration fees, continued membership fees and take a percentage of your commission. 

There are others that charge nothing up front but take a larger percentage of commission.  They have some training but most of it is informal.  They may or may not have additional fees or annual booking minimums (ie you must book x number of trips or reach a commission of $y each year or else you are out).

Some companies will do a better job of training you than others.  I enjoy doing the work on an informal basis because, even when I just book for myself I have good control over my bookings from the Princess booking system.  My joke with my clients are that I don't always have the best prices, but I have better hold music, am available pretty much all day every day, and changing cabins, dining times etc can be done just with them sending me a text message.  

I can't mention my host agency on CC but they are quite big and actually do much more of their business with RCCL brands than Carnival brands, as well as lots of land resort providers.  While sometimes things get very confusing help is found via an online group of other agents or a pretty quick phone call to my team leader.  Learning 9 cruise line booking software is a bit tricky as some are much better than others, and some belong in the 1990s (but do their job just fine once you understand it).

If you're interested in learning more, search around.  Since it's more of a hobby for me that actually earns enough for me to pay for a solo cruise every other year, it's worked out well.  I've also learned not to book for some very picky friends who are very frugal, and only only book short inside cabin cruises.  I may only make $20 commission in their booking but it may take 6 hrs of back and forth with them and cruise line to get everything just right for them.  

Last thing I'll say, if you don't book with an agent you are leaving money on the table.  For some people, it's worth it to book everything online thru the cruise line website, but every agency has commissions that can be turned into onboard credit.

15 minutes ago, cruisingrob21 said: Yes and no...if you want to create your own agency you can go that way and register with princess, but I'm not sure how hard or easy that is.

We honestly tried looking into this and it seemed like an impenetrable circle.  Princess seems to require you to have an "ARC/IATAN certificate, CLIA certificate, TICO certificate, or TIDS certificate".  When we looked into each one of those, they seemed to require that you already be an experienced travel agent or have a letter of recommendation from a major carrier.  So if you can't make bookings without one of those certificates and can't get one of those certificates without already being a travel agent, I'm unclear on how anybody gets started.

1 hour ago, Ombud said: If the PVP did not set it up, contact Diana Hall at [email protected] to reserve an extra room for your private group 'meet & greet' in addition to the wedding / reception. Its a simple email. Ppl may or may not show up but IMHO it's a nice touch

Thanks for the tip!

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What Is the Deck Plan of the Brilliance of the Seas?

From shopping to nightlife, the Brilliance of the Seas deck plan offers endless options! Explore our guide & plan your onboard activities.

Book Brilliance Of The Seas

A magnificent experience that provides a special fusion of luxury, adventure, and enjoyment is known as cruising. One of the many vessels adorning the seas is Brilliance of the Seas, a magnificent feat of design and engineering. Everything about Brilliance of the Seas is elegant and comfortable, from the exterior to the well-thought-out interior design. We examine the Brilliance of the Seas deck plan as well as all of her amenities and features in this in-depth tour.

A Detailed Amenities and Features of the Brilliance of the Seas Deck Plan

On Deck 2, the Lower Promenade welcomes guests as they Set sail on Brilliance of the Seas. The ship's main atrium, where guests check in and start their journey, is located on this deck, which also functions as a hub of activity. The main dining room of the ship is located on Deck 2 , where guests may have fine cuisine while taking in expansive ocean views.

As they continue through Brilliance of the Seas , they will arrive at Deck 3, also referred to as the Promenade deck. Here, customers may peruse a range of stores selling everything from luxury apparel to duty-free merchandise. Additionally, guests can try their luck at a variety of thrilling games at the ship's casino, located on Deck 3.

Deck 4 offers a wide range of entertainment and recreation options . Visitors can watch Broadway-style shows in the main theater or dance hard in one of the ship's exciting nightclubs. Deck 4 also has a number of clubs and pubs that are great for socializing with other passengers and having drinks.

Deck 5 continues the Promenade experience with more stores, bars, and lounges for visitors to enjoy. The ship's art gallery, which features an incredible collection of international artwork, is also located on this deck.

On the approach to Deck 6, guests will find themselves on the Upper Promenade, which offers amazing views of the surrounding waterways. Here, guests can take a stroll around the terrace or relax in one of the many comfortable seating areas. In addition, visitors can check out books and magazines from the ship's library on Deck 6 to read while at sea.

For those looking to unwind and soak up the sun, Deck 7 is the perfect spot. Here, spacious sundecks and loungers surround the enormous outdoor pool known as the Lido deck. Deck 7 also offers an array of casual dining alternatives, such as a buffet restaurant and a barbeque by the pool.

Deck 8, dedicated to wellness and health, houses the ship's spa and fitness center . Enjoy a variety of services, such as facials and massages, or work up a sweat in the cutting-edge gym. Deck 8 also has a jogging track for people who want to stay active while at sea.

Keeping with the theme of leisure, Deck 9 offers a peaceful haven away from the ship's activity. The adult-only solarium features a big indoor pool, hot tubs, and cozy loungers for guests to enjoy. Furthermore, Deck 9 provides a range of accommodation choices , including spacious interior cabins and suites with private balconies.

A journey up Deck 10 will take passengers to the Panorama deck, which provides breathtaking views of the nearby waterways. This deck houses the ship's outdoor theater screen, where guests may watch blockbuster films beneath the stars, as well as extra sleeping quarters.

If you're seeking adventure, then you belong on Deck 11. This deck has the ship's rock-climbing wall, which makes it a great area for daredevils to test their limits. All ages can enjoy the mini-golf course and other sports courts on Deck 11, such as basketball and volleyball.

Deck 12 continues the idea of outdoor fun by offering a selection of recreational opportunities. Here, visitors can try their skills on the ropes course or unwind in one of the ship's cooling pools. Deck 12 has a ton of bars and lounges that are perfect for relaxing with a refreshing drink and taking in the amazing views.

Related:   Best Things to Do on Brilliance of the Seas

In summary, the deck plan of Brilliance of the Seas  provides a variety of facilities and entertainment options to suit every taste. Brilliance of the Seas offers something for everyone, from fine restaurants and spas to exhilarating outdoor experiences. A fantastic high-ocean journey awaits you on Brilliance of the Seas, whether your goals are adventure, entertainment, or relaxation.

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6 Tips For Cruise Room Upgrades

By Donna Heiderstadt | Published on May 21, 2024

Everyone loves an upgrade — and they're especially memorable if you booked an inside-stateroom but dream of balcony views or suite indulgences. The good news: Scoring cruise room upgrades is simpler than you think.

Royal Caribbean offers several ways to earn stateroom upgrades. You can also use loyalty points accrued from previous sailings or apply credit card points to offset part of your cruise fare. Other tactics for scoring cruise room upgrades require a bit of a gamble, including a program called Royal Up.

To take advantage of potential upgrades, the best strategy is to book the least-expensive stateroom you'll be content with during your cruise and then plot your way to a next-level upgrade — from an inside to an ocean-view stateroom or an ocean-view to a balcony stateroom, for example. With continued loyalty and a bit of savvy planning, you might even be able to upgrade from a balcony stateroom to an exciting suite. Read on for everything you need to know about upgrades before your next sailing.

1. Bid For An Upgrade With Royal Up

There's nothing to lose and a lot to gain with Royal Up , Royal Caribbean's bid-based stateroom upgrade program. Once you've booked your room on any Royal Caribbean sailing, you can see if your cruise is Royal Up eligible. If so, you'll be able to bid for an upgrade to a higher category — everything from ocean-view and balcony cruise staterooms to spacious cruise suites.

The process is simple and straightforward. At some point after you've booked, you'll be invited to browse all available stateroom categories and select a dollar amount you're willing to pay for an upgrade. There will be a minimum bid listed, but it's advantageous to make an offer that's a bit higher than the minimum. You can also bid on multiple staterooms, which increases your chances of getting upgraded. Don't worry: You'll only pay for the one upgrade you are offered.

After placing your bids, watch for an email from Royal Caribbean notifying you that a bid has been accepted. This can happen anytime up to two days before your sailing. You can't reject the upgrade, and you'll be charged immediately for the amount you bid. If your bid isn't accepted, however, you'll keep the stateroom you originally booked and you won't be charged anything extra.

Every Royal Up bid is priced per person based on two people occupying a stateroom. The good news for families or groups of friends sailing in the same stateroom: You'll only be charged extra for the first and second guest, even if you have third, fourth or fifth guests staying with you. That makes cruise room upgrades for the entire family — or a cabin full of your besties — that much sweeter.

2. Book Your Cruise During A Free Upgrade Promotion

During certain times of the year, especially the cruise industry's annual "wave season" from January to March and the early fall shoulder season, you might see free balcony upgrade promotions online or in your email inbox. With these deals on select sailings, you can snag a balcony stateroom for the same fare as an ocean-view stateroom or even an inside stateroom. Extra tip: Royal Caribbean's Crown & Anchor® Society members get notified first, so make sure to join if you haven't already.

3. Gamble On A Guaranteed Stateroom

When you make what's known as a guarantee (GTY) booking with Royal Caribbean, you'll get the lowest price and be guaranteed a room within the category you booked, whether that's interior, ocean-view, balcony or suite. There's even a chance, depending on which categories of cruise staterooms sell out, that you could be bumped to the next category or even higher. It's a gamble though because you don't get to choose your stateroom location and won't know its location until close to your sail date or even until check-in. But if you're a risk-taker or don't particularly care where you sleep, you could find yourself enjoying an unexpected free upgrade. So long, ocean-view and hello, balcony stateroom!

4. Consider Using Crown & Anchor® Points

By cruising often with Royal Caribbean and accruing points with its Crown & Anchor® Society loyalty program , you become eligible for discounts on balcony and suite accommodations; depending on the cruise's length and price, this can be equal to a free upgrade. Discounts begin at the second-level status of Platinum, which is achieved when you earn 30 points, the equivalent of 30 nights in a cabin or 15 nights in a suite. The discounts increase in value with every subsequent level reached. If you book a cruise that's more than six months out, the discount will be greater.

The ultimate score when it comes to upgrades is a free cruise. Crown & Anchor members will receive a Milestone Cruise Certificate for a free sailing for two people in a balcony stateroom when they reach the top-tier status of Pinnacle Club (700 points). A complimentary sailing for two in a junior suite is available at 1,400 points — and then every 350 points thereafter.

5. Use Credit Card Points To Upgrade

Using credit card points to pay for an upgrade is also a smart strategy. Depending on your specific credit cards, you might be able to use points to pay for a portion of your cruise fare. For example, if you see an inside stateroom fare for $800 per person and a balcony fare for $1,100 per person, you might be able to book the balcony by using points to pay for the $600 fare difference for two people, thus earning a free upgrade. If you are a Royal Caribbean loyalist, having the Royal Caribbean Visa Signature Card  (with no annual fee) can earn you a sea of rewards — including a fast track to cruise room upgrades.

6. Track When Prices Drop

If you book a Royal Caribbean cruise and reserve an inside or ocean-view stateroom because a balcony is priced several hundred dollars higher, make it a point to track stateroom prices on royalcaribbean.com  regularly. You'll need to do this before your voyage's final payment and cancellation date, which is 75 or 90 days before departure, depending on cruise length. If you find a lower price for a balcony, request an upgrade by calling Royal Caribbean customer service or your travel adviser and asking to switch your booking to an available balcony.

To check out the latest Royal Caribbean cruises, visit royalcaribbean .com .

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Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie 'lose chance of working royal role thanks to Harry and Meghan'

Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie have a chance to step up and work as senior royals but this is unlikely to happen right now, a royal correspondent claims

• 11:55, 23 May 2024

Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie will never have a chance of a bigger role within the Royal Family because of their continued support of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle , a royal correspondent claims.

Prince Andrew's daughters joined forces with their cousin, Prince William , as they attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday. Around 8,000 guests were invited to celebrate the work of volunteers, military personnel and members of the public - and senior royals spoke to the attendees despite soggy weather conditions.

Royal aides said William personally invited the other "young members" of the Royal Family to accompany him for the day, including Beatrice and Eugenie, Zara and Mike Tindall and Peter Phillips. King Charles and Queen Camilla , who hosted the first two garden parties this year, including one last week to celebrate the creative industries, did not attend Tuesday's event.

READ MORE: Prince Harry and Meghan 'leave Kate Middleton deeply upset with new brand operation'

The Daily Mail's royal correspondent Rebecca English wrote in her column that William's relatives were proud to support him at the event and in particular, Beatrice and Eugenie's attendance showed the Prince of Wales' "easy relationship" with his cousins. Ms English wrote: "It's a warmth that goes all the way back to fun family summers at Balmoral, Christmases at Sandringham – and now finds expression in the very modern medium of shared family WhatsApp groups."

Eugenie and Beatrice, who are occasionally seen at summer events and at Palace receptions, chatter to guests and appeared happy to participate in the event, Ms English added. For the garden party, Eugenie wore a white satin dress and 50s style headwear studded with flowers, while her sister Beatrice donned a £750 crimson Beulah dress and checked headband.

According to the royal correspondent, the event has raised questions about the future shape of the Royal Family and the "much-needed vitality" brought by the younger generation. Ms English argued that Beatrice and Eugenie have a possibility to take on a bigger role within the family, which is something their father Andrew wished for his daughters in the past.

However, according to Ms English, while the two sisters might take part in more events, they both have their own careers and younger children so it is unlikely they will become full-time working royals. Apart from their royal and charity commitments, Beatrice works for US-based tech company Afiniti while Eugenie is a director at art gallery Hauser & Wirth.

The royal correspondent said the two sisters, as well as Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall, are unlikely to be asked to support the working royals on a more permanent basis even if they are "badly needed" as there is "deep concern" at Buckingham Palace that "changing direction in this way would play into Harry and Meghan's hands." Ms English wrote: "The Sussexes had been told very firmly by the late Queen Elizabeth that their preferred option of being 'half-in, half-out' royals while pursuing lucrative commercial careers was simply unacceptable.

"This ruling was partly down to the Queen's personal sense of service. But it also owed something to her quiet belief that Harry and Meghan's allegiance to the almighty Dollar might supersede anything they promised to Queen and Country." But Ms English said that since Harry and Meghan were not allowed to continue working as royals while seeking commercial deals elsewhere, this means that there can be "no relaxation of the rules" for any younger royals.

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She added: "It is full time or nothing. The occasional garden party aside, more substantial roles for William’s cousins are out of the question – for now, at least."

It comes as a royal author claimed Kensington Palace - the home of the Prince and Princess of Wales - has a "serious concern that Beatrice and Eugenie are becoming increasingly close to Harry and Meghan ." Prince Harry believes that his two cousins can "sympathise" with him the most given his current situation and estrangement from his father and brother, according to Tom Quinn.

Speaking exclusively to The Mirror , he said: "There is serious concern at Kensington Palace that Prince Andrew‘s daughters Beatrice and Eugenie are becoming increasingly close to Harry and Meghan. Beatrice and Eugenie are moving across to what one Kensington Palace official described as 'the dark side'."

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A ghost pianist and color-changing cocktails: Inside Princess Cruises' hidden magic club

The pianist at a lounge on Princess Cruises’ new ship played the theme song from “Titanic” while guests sipped their cocktails.

It may seem like dark humor, but the musician is a ghost, after all. As the story goes, Isabella lives inside the space entertaining guests (she even takes requests).

In actuality, the instrument – which appeared to play itself – is part of Spellbound by Magic Castle, a new venue on the Sun Princess that combines dinner, drinks and magic. The speakeasy-like space was created in partnership with the Magic Castle , a legendary private club in Los Angeles.

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Denise Saviss, the cruise line’s vice president for entertainment experience, said during a recent sailing that the Magic Castle has been a “well-protected secret.”

“As a members-only club, you can only attend by invitation, but they are keen to expand, and a partnership with us was a really great way to do that where we have a ton of international guests who may not ever get over to Hollywood and therefore it's not in reach,” Saviss said. 

USA TODAY got a preview of Spellbound during a cruise ahead of its opening next month. Here’s what guests can expect.

What is Spellbound like?

Guests will start the evening with dinner in the Horizons Dining Room, choosing from a menu not found elsewhere on board (our preview did not include the dinner portion). They will then be escorted through an inconspicuous black door off the ship’s Piazza into Spellbound’s small foyer. There, a voice on a speaker tells the story of the Larsen family, who opened the Magic Castle in 1963, for a few minutes.

We were prompted to say the magic words (“Open sesame”), and the fireplace in front of us moved aside to reveal a music room and the Parlor Bar, lined with art and artifacts curated with help from the Magic Castle. A pair of handcuffs used by famed escape artist Harry Houdini even hung on one wall.

Isabella and her companion, a white bird named The Professor, can be seen in a portrait in the music room. She is the cousin of another ghost, Irma, who lives at the Magic Castle in California.

“Irma never loved to travel, but Isabella did,” said Kerry Lovegrove, Princess’ director of entertainment experience. “She traveled probably one too many times across the Atlantic, and then all of a sudden she was lost at sea. So she suddenly found the Sun Princess being built in Monfalcone and thought she’d attach herself onto that ship.”

Isabella disappears from view when she’s ready to play. The Professor, meanwhile, moves over to a nearby birdcage to enjoy the music (I saw him swaying to “My Heart Will Go On” at one point).

Behind the bar, a library holds its own not-so-hidden treasures. I picked up a gold rotary phone and heard someone ask “How can I help?” before changing their mind and hanging up. Guests might also see books float and fall, according to Lovegrove.

Even the drinks appear enchanted. One cocktail I ordered, The Magician, featured butterfly pea tequila that turned from blue to purple as the server poured it into the glass (also containing mezcal, lime, grapefruit, serrano peppers and agave).

Spellbound hosts magic in the bar as well as its 30-seat theater. Before theater seating opened, Mark Gibson kept us glued to his card deck, at one point finding the card a fellow guest chose by cutting the deck with the assistance of a tiny plunger. Woody Aragon also used cards in the theater, including asking an audience member to call someone who wasn’t in the room to pick one. (Spoiler: he named their chosen card correctly.)

The Parlor Bar magician will stay on the ship for a couple of months at a time, and the magician performing in the theater will change every cruise or two, but all are vetted by the Magic Castle team.

When will Spellbound by Magic Castle open?

Spellbound will open April 8 and is now available to book. Guests must be at least 13 to enter and just like at the venue’s Hollywood namesake, there is a mandatory dress code (my invitation called for cocktail attire).

The cruise line also will host its second Magic Castle Conjurer’s Cruise themed sailing on Sun Princess in November.

How much does Spellbound cost?

The experience costs $149 per person, including dinner, entertainment and unlimited drinks. 

Spellbound will offer three theater shows a night and can accommodate a total of 90 guests (30 each night). Once they’re in the space, they can stay as long as they like (until it closes for the night). There are dinner seatings at 5, 7 and 9 p.m., and Spellbound is expected to close around midnight, though there is no hard closing time.

Best times to go on a cruise: We broke it down by region

Lovegrove said the venue serves as a new home base for magic, which already proved popular with Princess guests in other spaces on its ships. “If you love magicians, this is the spot for you.”

The reporter on this story received access to this sailing from Princess Cruises. USA TODAY maintains editorial control of content.  

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at [email protected].

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: A ghost pianist and color-changing cocktails: Inside Princess Cruises' hidden magic club

Restaurant Globus

RESTAURANT GLOBUS, Elektrostal - Restaurant Reviews & Photos - Tripadvisor

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