sky princess cruise tips

Sky Princess Tips For Travellers

Sky Princess from Princess Cruise Tips: https://www.tipsfortravellers.com/sky-princess-tips/

On this page you can explore and discover all my Sky Princess tips. This was the first ship built by Princess Cruises to integrate their Ocean Medallion technology from scratch and build.

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A complete sky princess review: food, experiences, and more.

Page Contents

I’m becoming quite the Cruise Blogger lately. I’ve always loved this style of travel, ever since going on a cruise when I was younger.

Waking up in a different country, opening the curtains or balcony onto a new view, usually a new country. I’d never felt so excited to get up in the morning! And this why I’m so excited for this Sky Princess review.

Cruising on the Princess Cruise is a chance to have a break without worrying about any international changes, and importantly it is time to enjoy everything onboard.

From now they move onto Scenic Seacations , with UK stops and then onto Europe and the Caribbean.

Princess Cruises is a premium cruise line based locally to me in Southampton. My trip was onboard Sky Princess, one of the newest additions to the fleet. A ship that “ elevates the distinctive, contemporary design and luxurious attractions of our renowned Royal-class ships to even loftier heights ”. Well, we are about to find out.

Facts about Sky Princess

One of the newest ships in the Fleet, Sky Princess has some impressive facts. It makes her large enough to get lost, but not so large it’s overwhelming.

Sky Princess can hold 3660 guests and 1346 crew
Built in October 2019
She has 19 decks
The length of Sky Princess is 1083 feet (330 metres)
Sky Princess’s length is more than the height of the Eiffel Tower!

Click here to explore Princess Cruises booking options !!

Food & Dining on Sky Princess

Dining onboard cruise ships has come a long way in the past few years, not least onboard with companies like Princess Cruises which pride themselves on a luxury dining experience.

As with any cruise, you have some things that are included and some that are an additional charge. My advice is always to try a mixture of the two.

I was blown away with the dining on Sky Princess. Not just with the inclusive options, but also the value of the additional charges.

The Dine My Way option on the App allows you to order to the room, book tables and work it around your schedule. I’ve detailed a few of my highlights below.

Sabatini’s Trattoria : An Italian speciality restaurant serving freshly prepared handmade pasta and some amazing recipes from renowned Italian chefs. The surcharge is $25 (approx. £19.50) per person.
Cielo Main Dining Room : My favourite dinner onboard, and the best part is it wasn’t an extra charge. Fine dining and waiter service can be included. I also love that you can choose to dine here with other guests, making friends along the way. They also have a wonderful breakfast menu.
The Crown Grill : My favourite setting and décor onboard. This steakhouse features premium steak and fresh seafood, with an open kitchen and classy setting. The surcharge is $29 (approx. £22.70) per person.
Bistro Sur La Mer : French bistro style dining with a modern twist created with Chef Emmanuel Renaut. Extra charges apply to this restaurant.

*$ is USD and conversions are approximate at the time of writing (December 2023)

There’s also the Ocean Terrace Sushi Bar which has excellent reviews and a minimal surcharge (but I can’t eat much Sushi), a pizzeria which was lovely, and gelato (at a small surcharge). Oh, and a 24-hour International café! I told you the I was blown away. The International café and Pizzeria are also included, so no extra charge.

Finally, I had to dedicate a whole two paragraphs to the Ultimate Balcony Breakfast . Firstly, you can always pre-order breakfast to your room, which I love doing. There’s no charge for that and the selection is usually cereals, fruits, and croissants. However, for one morning of your cruise, go all out with the Ultimate Balcony Breakfast!

This really is something special, or a romantic surprise for your partner. Fresh salmon, a selection of meats, pastries, fruits and of course champagne.

As if that wasn’t good enough, I had bright sunshine and dolphins playing in the sea in front of me. I just didn’t have anyone to share it with, don’t get the violins out, it meant I had double the amount of food! The surcharge is $45 (approx. £35.20) for two people.

Things to do on Sky Princess

There’s no shortage of things to do onboard Sky Princess. Let’s start with the daytime. You have two main pools, a Wakeview Pool, and the Retreat (it’s adults only, but not extra). Along with several hot tubs. The main pools are more family friendly, with entertainment whilst the others are more relaxed. I liked the Retreat.

The Lotus Spa is fantastic. A range of treatments such as facials, aroma stone therapy massages, detoxifying ocean wraps and an aromatherapy suite. As well as a beauty salon. I had the hot stone massage, and it was one of the best I’ve had.

Allow some time to relax in The Enclave too, featuring a hydro-therapy pool, rain shower, heated stone beds, a Hammam steam room, the Caldarium steam room and the Loconium (a heated dry chamber which helps with detoxing the body).

If sport and fitness is your thing there is a huge sports court and the usual table tennis and a golf putting green (not really a mini golf). The fitness centre or gym onboard is one of the biggest I’ve seen on a ship and includes personal training classes such as cycling, Pilates, yoga, and a boot camp.

During the evening, after dining you have lots of options. There are original musical shows at the Theatre, which really make you feel like you’re in the West End. During our trip they were performing the Rock Opera which I loved. There was also live music in here another night.

A popular spot was the Take Five Jazz Bar , we found that hard to get a seat so get there early. Make sure you try a gin cocktail, curated by master mixologist Rob Floyd . My favourite was the Vista Bar . The live band got everyone dancing and most evenings it felt like the best atmosphere. Although the cocktails here were nowhere near as good as Take Five or Good Spirits.

For the best cocktail head to Good Spirits at Sea , where they have cocktail shows where the bartenders talk you through various cocktails and where they came from. If you make your way through the entire menu, you get a free t-shirt. I particularly like the location overlooking the Piazza where there is nearly always some live music.

Guests on Sky Princess can get all-inclusive drinks, crew gratuities, and unlimited WiFi when you upgrade to the Princess Plus Fare for £30 ($40) per person per day. Not bad hey?

For a more relaxed vibe, one of the most popular experiences on Sky Princess is Movies Under the Stars , where they show classic films on the top deck. The loungers are covered with luxury cushions, and you can wrap up in a blanket and enjoy a film.

Failing that there is always the casino, which was much bigger than other ships, and good fun. The only shame was there was not enough people for Texas Hold’em Poker, and I never win at Blackjack!

Rooms and Suites on Sky Princess

I’ve not seen such a selection of Staterooms onboard before! Talk about a room to suite every budget. I always bang on about having a balcony, once you have one you can’t cruise without it again. It makes such a difference to wake up and open the door to your latest view.

So, let’s start there. I had a Balcony Mini-Suite , possibly the finest room I’ve had onboard yet. It was generous on space and so comfortable. As you enter the room you have a large dressing room with a good size bathroom and a bath. Yes, a bath! Then you step into the bedroom and notice how the room has been carefully partitioned off to a bedroom and sitting room. There’s a TV in each and a curtain to separate it.

This is perfect for either entertaining your new friends onboard, or for when your partner of roommate wants to sleep, and you don’t. I loved this feature. There’s a good workspace, a fridge and huge doors that leads to a large and very private balcony. This is where I had the aforementioned ‘Ultimate Balcony Breakfast’.

For those with a larger budget, you must consider the Sky Suite . With just two onboard this exclusive two-bedroom suite comes with your own Suite Manager who will make sure everything is just right for your arrival. Your 1,000-square-foot suite can host up to 5 guests. But the real showstopper is the 270-degree wrap around balcony with its own view of movies under the stars.

The selection continues with the Club Class Suites, Standard Balcony Suites, Premium Oceanview, Interior Suites and Wheelchair-Accessible.

Sky Princess MedallionClass & OceanMedallion

I had to dedicate a section to the onboard WiFi, and the technology used on Sky Princess. This was again something I’ve not experienced before and will be new to a lot of cruisers.

Firstly, let’s start with the OceanMedallion ; a small wearable device a little bigger than a 50p piece that becomes your wallet, key, and location device onboard. It’s also a nice little souvenir of the trip. You use it to enter the room and pay for anything onboard.

This is linked to the MedallionClass App, and as Princess claim the “best WiFi at Sea”. A bold claim. It was good, but I’m not sure that good. However, the App was brilliant. Once you take some time to learn it, it really adds to your cruise experience (I know this kind of technology is daunting for some people).

Upon boarding, look out for the MedallionClass Orientation meeting, which gives you a tour of the App and how to use it. There are also many stations on board with people who are happy to help.

If the App isn’t for you or your phone doesn’t support it, there are countless touchscreen terminals allowing you to access virtually the same information from touching in your OceanMedallion. So, what can you do on the MedallionClass App that makes it so amazing? I’ve listed a few of my favourite features below

GPS route planning : We all know when you first board a ship it’s easy to get lost, well the App has a handy GPS route planner to get around! You can also add a “shipmate”, so you always know where your friends and family are onboard.
Order food and drink, anywhere : You can see the menus, and order a drink to wherever you are onboard or to your room. I loved this, when you know you’re ready to head back to the room why not make sure there’s a cold beer waiting. A lot of this is included in the standard package too, with no service charges.
See what’s happening with JourneyView : the live events planner shows you what’s happening right now and coming up, so you can make sure you don’t miss anything and can check how busy it is.

Please note use of the App is free but WiFi packages are extra, starting at $9.99 (approx. £7.50) per day. I recommend getting the Princess Plus Fare for £30 ($40) per person per day. This includes all-inclusive drinks, crew gratuities, and unlimited WiFi.

Destinations on Sky Princess

As mentioned, the pandemic has mixed things up a little. Princess started with Seacations , a cruise with no stops and a chance to enjoy the ship and the entertainment. Now it’s moved on to Scenic Seacations taking in UK stops only.

There are options for the Mediterranean as early as the end of October! Did you think it was possible to head to the Canary Islands , Portugal and Spain as early as October 2021? Well, it is, and all from Southampton. 11-days start at £769.

From November Sky Princess will sail to the Caribbean , and there’s some really mouth-watering options on offer there. Starting from Fort Lauderdale, you can head to places like St Kitts, Dominica , St Lucia and Antigua (that’s just a few). And 11-nights start from £1,199.

Unique Features & Experiences on Sky Princess

Let’s start with the centrepiece of Sky Princess, the Piazza . It’s a useful landmark to never get lost and a hub for many of the ship’s bars, cafes, shops, and restaurants. But most importantly, it gives the feel and charm of a classic ship with some stunning modern features. Certainly, as bold as it is striking.

Vines Wine Bar has not only been voted one of the “Best Wine Bars at Sea” in USA Today but also hosts Wine Tasting and Wine Blending. Wine Blending was something I’ve never done before, we blended our own mix of red wines from Napa Valley, making your own unique flavour. It was a lovely experience and something I highly recommend, and you won’t all like each other’s blends either.

Wine Blending is $37 (approx. £27.50) per person and includes a lot of wine to blend and the cheese board. Great value.

Finally, at extra cost I recommend an afternoon at The Sanctuary . You can get general entry, which will include a choice of Bento boxes for a snack, private stewards, a hot tub, and a generally chilled and tranquil vibe (with amazing views).

You can also order al fresco massages and private cabanas. And the reason I said spend an afternoon here, as they have Afternoon Tea brought right to your sunbed. Bliss.

You can book a half day in the Sanctuary for $20 (approx. £15) per person and a full day at $40 (approx. £30).

Final thoughts About this Sky Princess Review

The biggest thing that hit me from the first moment I stepped onboard was the staff . Every single member went above and beyond to say your name, greet you and get anything you needed.

It was also my birthday onboard, which they made very special. It’s certainly worth considering booking a cruise for a celebration. Finally, I was so impressed with the MedallionClass App! It really made things easy, I just loved ordering a beer to my room before I got there, and the food selection that’s included is fantastic.

Once you have all these features and know how to use them, you’ll get off. But the clever part is that will make you come back for more, to make the most of it. It’s no wonder Princess Cruises has a lot of returning guests.

This article was supported by Princess Cruises but as always, the opinions and photos in the article are all my own, and as you can see I loved every minute of my time onboard Sky Princess!

Founder & Editor of Intrepid Escape, a huge lover of adventure, adrenaline, sport & fitness. After travelling extensively for the last 12 years, Scott started to document his travels before fulfilling an important lifelong goal by starting Intrepid Escape. He has since become a full-time Travel Writer, Videographer, Presenter and Producer.

0 thoughts on “ A Complete Sky Princess Review: Food, Experiences, and More ”

What time are the shows at night? What would be the best time for dinner so we don’t miss night entertainment.

Hi Beth! They usually have a few different times, early, middle and late so you can book which show you want and then book dinner accordingly. Have a great time!

I have been working with princess for a week trying to complete the on boarding forms. I have spent hours on hold trying to get help only to be told the system is down. Princess customer service is non exsistant Please help

Hi Dave. Sadly this isn’t something I can help with

Thanks alot,

Glad you loved your free cruise. Oh yeah, and I have no doubt getting the free cruise played no part in your glowing review.

How do you know this?

Pingback: 10 Unique Features & Experiences Onboard Sky Princess - Intrepid Escape

Is there any ballroom and/or sequence dancing on board the Sky Princess and if so, where is it held?

Sky Princess

Cruise line Princess Cruises

Southampton (England)
Fort Lauderdale (Port Everglades, Florida)
Port Canaveral (Orlando, Florida)

Sky Princess current position

Sky Princess current location is at North East Atlantic Ocean (coordinates 70.98319 N / 25.96254 E) cruising en route to Trondheim. The AIS position was reported 6 minutes ago.

Current itinerary of Sky Princess

Sky Princess current cruise is 28 days, round-trip Scandinavia Land of the Midnight Sun . The itinerary starts on 01 Jun, 2024 and ends on 29 Jun, 2024 .

Specifications of Sky Princess

Itineraries
Review
Wiki

Sky Princess Itineraries

Sky princess review, review of sky princess.

The 2019-built Sky Princess cruise ship is the 4th Royal-class vessel in the Princess Cruises fleet, together with the fleet mates Royal Princess (2013), Regal Princess (2014), Majestic Princess (2017), Enchanted Princess (2021) and Discovery Princess (2022). From the same class is also the P&O UK liner Britannia (2015).

The vessel (IMO number 9802396) is currently Bermuda- flagged (MMSI 310780000) and registered in Hamilton .

History - construction and ownership

Princess Cruises is a USA-based passenger shipping company headquartered in Beverly Hills CA. A former subsidiary of P&O Princess Cruises (1977-founded), in 2003, the company merged with Carnival Corporation - the world's largest cruise shipowner. Among Princess Cruise Lines Ltd's assets is the Caribbean private island resort Princess Cays (on Bahamas Eleuthera Island's southern end), located approx 80 km (50 mi) from Nassau .

The 3600-passenger ship Sky Princess is among the largest cruise ships sailing the seas. The vessel was built at Fincantieri shipyard, Italy and has 19 decks. Sky Princess features an impressive number (16) of bars and restaurants and a luxury spa. The ship offers unique features to her guests, such as a glass-enclosed walkway over the ocean known as the SeaWalk.

Decks and Cabins

Sky Princess staterooms (1834 total, in 38 categories) include 1438 cabins (80% of all) with step-out balconies. The ship also has 36 wheelchair-accessible and no Oceanview-category cabins. The largest are the 2-Room Sky Suites (950-1010 ft2 / 88-94 m2 plus 700 ft2 / 65 m2 terrace).

The boat has 18 decks , of which 15 are passenger-accessible and 10 with cabins.

Sky Suites (new cabin category) are Princess Cruises first staterooms for 5 people and with 270-degree top-deck views. These are also the fleet's largest cabins and with the fleet's largest balconies. Both Sky Suites are located midship on Sports Deck 18 (portside and starboard). Each Sky Suite has a wraparound terrace and provides a private view of the outdoor "Movies Under the Stars" theatre (fleet's biggest outdoor LED screen).

Shipboard dining options - Food and Drinks

There are many for-fee dining options onboard Sky Princess, but guests who would rather not pay are offered enough quality and variety to satisfy. Those who prefer tradition will choose between the three main dining rooms: Allegro, Concerto and Symphony.

Princess Cruises new ship design (Lido restaurant)

Horizon Court and Horizon Bistro are the buffet options, providing a more casual vibe. Passengers who want to have lunch in their swimsuits can take a burger from Trident Grill or a slice at Prego Pizzeria. Indoors, Alfredo's features delicious calzones, salads and thin-crust pizza. Allegro Dining Room is the only option for free dinner with traditional set dining. Passengers can eat at 5:45 p.m. or 8:15 p.m. Allegro's menus are diverse and offer a soup or salad course, an appetizer, pasta and an entree. There is also a special dessert menu.

Follows the complete list of Sky Princess restaurants and food bars.

Symphony Restaurant (midship location; offers “Anytime Dining” for Dinner; with “Wine Cellar” area serving “Wine Maker’s Dinner” for $40, capacity 12 guests)
Alfredo’s Pizzeria (121-seat; the largest complimentary pizzeria at sea)
Concerto Restaurant (forward Dining Room; offers “Anytime Dining” 5:30 p.m. -10 p.m.; serves “Wine Maker’s Dinner” package for $40)
Allegro Restaurant (aft Dining Room; offers formal dining and two fixed dinner seatings at 6 pm or 8:15 pm; “Chef’s Table Lumiere” private dining for $115, 12 guests)
OceanFront is a specialty seafood bar with a-la-carte menu (sushi, sashimi).
Crown Grill (160-seat steakhouse/seafood restaurant, reservations recommended; on select days serves British Pub Lunch, complimentary)
Salty Dog Grill (Deck 5) and Alfredo's Pizzeria (Deck 7/fleet's largest) are self-serve complimentary fast food venues. The rustic Salty Dog Gastropub is a new venue where passengers can watch sporting events, gather over small bites and drinks, and partake in Ernesto Burger by chef-partner Ernesto Uchimura (founding chef of the original Umami Burger and owner of the new LA-based restaurant and bar, Electric Owl).
Calypso Cabana (food bar offering picnic baskets, desserts, champagne and wine packages)
World Fresh Marketplace (self-service buffet restaurant, complimentary); Horizon Buffet (indoor sitting) and Horizon Terrace (outdoor seating)
Swirls Bar (ice cream)

Sabatini’s Trattoria (a la carte-priced specialty restaurant on Deck 7) offers a 3-course Italian/seafood menu. Sabatini’s is open between 6 pm - 11 pm, and reservations are recommended. This space blends the spaciousness of a contemporary setting with classic Italian accents, featuring handmade pasta courses (via partnership with celebrity chef Angelo Auriana) which are prepared daily. Sabatini’s Trattoria also offers “Sabatini’s Bites” during wine tastings.

Bistro Sur La Mer (cover charge US$35 per person) was an authentic Parisian bistro with a fine dining dinner menu featuring French cuisine by Michelin-star chef Emmanuel Renaut. In 2023, La Mer was replaced with "The Catch by Rudi" - Princess Cruises' first seafood-dedicated restaurant (introduced on Enchanted Princess) via partnership with celebrity chef Rudi Sodamin, who is also the Head of Princess Culinary Arts (onboard dining program).

The menu is predominantly of seafood dishes based on the freshest catch (sustainably sourced seafood from the current itinerary's ports of call) but also includes surf-and-turf options (including prime beef steaks), as well as vegetarian dishes, gourmet appetizers and desserts.
The specialty dining experience features creative and engaging food presentations, distinctive settings, and guests being welcomed at the tables with a cocktail crafted by Rob Floyd/celebrity mixologist and liquid chef).
The menu features "The Daily Catch" items (showcasing the freshest sustainably sourced seafood from local ports of call), international fusion influences (playful twists on seafood favorites like Asian-fried calamari), Rudi Sodamin's contemporary interpretations of classic dishes (like lobsters with garlic butter crust), and signature inventions from his personal repertoire (like Towering Trio, Whole Dover Sole). The Seafood Trolly is a true feast as the dish is piled high with fresh lobster tails, shrimps, oysters, mussels, and other seafood.
The Catch by Rudi's wine selection is carefully curated to pair with seafood. The waitstaff is knowledgeable (sommelier instructed) to offer recommendations for white, red, rose, and sparkling wines from various coastal wine-growing regions.

The Catch by Rudi's cover charge is US$39 pp and is also included in the Princess Premier package (premium add-on).

In April 2024 Princess Cruises announced that starting September 14th (2024) fleetwide would be introduced 3 distinct main dining/dinner table service options – Traditional, Reservable, and Walk-in Anytime. By the new program (introduced with Sun Princess) on each ship are allocated 3 separate dining rooms - one for Traditional dining (offering early and late dinner seating), one with Reservable times, and one for Walk-in Anytime (open-seating). The new options are integrated with the OceanNow service, allowing anything to be ordered anytime, and delivered anywhere onboard.

Shipboard entertainment options - Fun and Sport

The bulk of performance action takes place in the 2-level Princess Theater (decks 6 and 7). This is the ship's main show lounge with palladium-style seating and grand-style evening show productions.

Princess Cruises new ship design (Theater Lounge)

Theatre lounge doesn't offer tables or drink holders, so if you order one preshow or come with a drink, you'll have to hold it. The entertainment program is excellent and varied, with a beat that is quite innovative. In addition to the production shows, the Princess theatre hosts other acts including vocalists and instrumentalists.

In comparison to Royal-Class Princess ships, Sky Princess has the new Wakeview swimming pool (aft-located) plus 2 deep-water top deck swimming pools and Retreat Pool (adults-only), also more Jacuzzis (including 2 cantilevered, over the deep-water pools). The expanded Sanctuary area offers new design and twice as many private cabanas as the sisterships. Vista Lounge is also redesigned. Princess Live is a new cafe serving quick bites, specialty teas and barista-made coffees.

Follows the complete list of Sky Princess lounges, clubs and other entertainment venues for kids, teens and adults.

The Piazza Atrium (3-deck open floor area; features live performances entertainment and lobby Bar Piazza)
Princess Fine Arts Gallery; Photo Gallery & Shop; Limelight photo studio; Platinum Studio
International Cafe (24-hour specialty coffee bar and patisserie)
Vines Bar (wine/seafood/sushi bar)
Gelato (the largest ice cream bar at sea)
Library (with Internet stations); Internet Cafe (24-hour)
Princess Sky Theatre (2-level musical and show productions; hosts workshops, seminars, game shows)
Celebrations Shop; Calypso Cove Shop; Essence Shop; Meridian Bay Shop; Facets Shop
Club 6 Disco & Bar; Churchill’s Lounge & Bar (cigar bar); Bellini’s Bar; Crooners Lounge & Bar; Princess Live Lounge; Vista Lounge; Concierge Lounge (Suite guests only); SkyLight Bar; Seaview Bar
Princess Casino (gambling lounge and bar)
Wheelhouse Bar (piano bar during the day and an English pub nightly)
Lotus Spa complex; Beauty Salon; Fitness Center (with Aerobics Studio)
Wedding Chapel
Movies Under the Stars (LED screen outdoor cinema)
The Game Lounge (Video Games Arcade); Teen Center; Youth Center; Remix Disco & Lounge (teen club)
The Sanctuary (adult-only sundeck / open-air relaxation complex)
SeaWalk (glass-bottomed cantilevered walkway, 18 m/60 ft long)
Fountain Pool area; Retreat Pool area
Princess Sports Central - Center Court (volleyball, basketball, European football); Tennis Tables, Game Lounge virtual gaming, The Greens golf nets, Golfing Cage, Laser Shooting; Jogging Track
"Take 5" (located on deck 6 midship-portside) is world's only jazz theater at sea. The new jazz-themed bar lounge features a chic setting, live performances by renown jazz musicians (including iconic female singers), hand-crafted premium cocktails (developed by Rob Floyd/master mixologist), guest performers, late-night themed parties, daily enrichment programming (with engaging speakers and workshops). Custom media content is displayed on lounge's TV screens.

On the sisterships Enchanted and Sky, Princess Cruises introduced the exclusive "Jim Henson’s Inspired Silliness" - a 30-min live production show themed on Jim Henson’s hilarious puppetry works. James Maury Henson (1936-1990) was a US puppeteer, animator, cartoonist, actor and filmmaker best-known as the creator of "The Muppets" (TV show created in 1955). The cruise company's new production show (hosted at Princess Theater) includes singers and dancers, high-tech visuals, comedy acts and professional puppetry. The show starts with a video introduction by James Henson's son (Brian) and features new puppets from Henson’s Creature Shop plus newly designed characters.

The Experience Center (Deck 18 aft-starboard) has max capacity 6 people and no age restrictions. This is ship's Escape Room hosting the "Phantom Bridge" game that combines physical and virtual/digital elements for unique puzzle-solving experiences at sea. The attraction is part of Princess Cruises' onboard enrichment program (Discovery at SEA) and offers interactive (real-world + virtual) adventure gaming experiences with 700+ different outcomes. Phantom Bridge's gaming sessions last 23 min each and allow passengers to navigate the virtual cruise liner, watch as the generated simulations change, uncover the clues and solve puzzles (current game's mystery). The implemented technologies include a physical steering wheel and touch-screen surfaces (in the room), projection mapping, top-notch sound-, lighting- and digital effects, hidden physical elements (throughout the ship).

Itineraries

Sky Princess itinerary program starts with an inaugural Mediterranean cruise season in Europe. The program includes all 10 voyages with 8 different itineraries. The inaugural cruise was scheduled for October 20, 2019.

The 7-night maiden voyage (October 20) is a one-way Adriatic and Mediterranean cruise itinerary from Piraeus-Athens to Barcelona, visiting the ports Kotor Montenegro, Corfu Greece, Messina Sicily (Italy), Naples Italy. In November 2019, the ship offers a Transatlantic repositioning cruise (Nov 17 - Dec 1) from Europe to Florida-Caribbean (14-day crossing from Barcelona to Fort Lauderdale).

The Caribbean cruise program is based on 7-day roundtrips from homeport Fort Lauderdale (starting December 1, 2019).

Summer 2020 the ship spends in Northern Europe, being homeported in Copenhagen (Denmark) , Warnemunde-Rostock (Germany) and St Petersburg (Russia) . Baltic Sea cruises are priced between USD 2300-2800 pp. Fall 2020 the liner is homeported in NYC New York for 7-day "Canada and New England" cruises (priced ~USD 1000-1100 pp).

Sky Princess - user reviews and comments

Photos of sky princess.

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Other Princess Cruises cruise ships

Caribbean Princess
Coral Princess
Crown Princess
Diamond Princess
Discovery Princess
Emerald Princess
Enchanted Princess
Grand Princess
Island Princess
Majestic Princess
Regal Princess
Royal Princess
Ruby Princess
Sapphire Princess
Star Princess
Sun Princess

Sky Princess Wiki

The vessel's powerplant includes four Wartsila marine diesel engines (model 46F, 2x 12V and 2x 14V) with combined power output 62,4 MW (83,700 hp). The propulsion system is based on two azipods with combined power output 18 MW (24,000 hp).

The ship has Fincantieri Monfalcone yard/hull number 6268, volume 145281 GT-tons, DWT-deadweight tonnage 11772 tons, LOA length 330 m, beam 38 m (max width 47 m/including the Navigation Bridge's wings), max draught 8,6 m.

In April 2016, Princess Cruises (via Carnival Corporation ) signed a shipbuilding order for 2 new liners , scheduled for deliveries in 2019 (Sky) and 2020 ( Enchanted ). These are 4th and 5th Royal-class ships (same-designed as Royal, Regal and Majestic ) constructed at Fincantieri Monfalcone shipyard as part of a previous agreement between Carnival Corporation (shipowner) and Fincantieri (shipbuilder). At that time, Carnival Corp had a total of 16 shipbuilding orders, with scheduled deliveries between 2016-2020. All these new liners are fleet's largest and feature Movies Under the Stars (outdoor theatre), Piazza Atrium, 80% balconied staterooms, new dining venues.

In late-January 2017, Carnival Corporation announced 2 more shipbuilding orders. The new ships were ordered for the fleets of Princess (Royal-class / Discovery Princess ) and Holland America Line (Pinnacle-class / Nieuw Rotterdam ). Carnival had signed an MoA (memorandum of agreement) with Fincantieri to construct both vessels, with scheduled deliveries in 2021 (for HAL, at Marghera yard) and 2022 (for Princess, at Monfalcone yard). By the time when both contracts were finalized (February 2017), Carnival Corporation had a total of 19 new ships scheduled for deliveries between 2017-2022.

The vessel's construction officially started with the steel-cutting ceremony on September 8, 2017. On July 5, 2018, at Monfalcone shipyard was held the keel-laying ceremony, traditionally signifying the start of its physical construction. The process is mainly an assembly of pre-fabricated blocks (modular components) joined together at the yard's drydock facility.

Sky Princess was officially delivered to Princess Cruises on October 15, 2019, at Monfalcone Shipyard. The ceremony was attended by Laura Castelli (France's Deputy Minister of Economy and Finance), Giuseppe Bono (Fincantieri's CEO), Micky Arison (Carnival Corporation's Chairman), Arnold Donald (Carnival Corporation's President and CEO), Stein Kruse (Group CEO for the subsidiaries Holland America, Seabourn, Carnival Australia, Carnival UK), Jan Swartz (Group President of the subsidiaries Princess Cruises and Carnival Australia).

Sky Princess is the 17th vessel built by Fincantieri for Princess Cruises. As of October 2019, Fincantieri built a total of 95 cruise liners (since 1990), of which 68 for Carnival Corporation and 49 being on order or under construction .

Fun facts: It takes 3 million man-hours to build a Royal-class liner. For its construction are used 37,000 tons of steel. For instance, about 12,000 tons of steel were used for constructing the Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles . The paint used for the vessel is 95,000 gallons (360,000 L), which is two times more than the quantity consumed for Golden Gate Bridge (re-painted annually). The electrical cables wiring the whole vessel are long 2484 ml (4000 km) which is enough to link NYC with LA .

The vessel was launched/floated out from drydock on February 14, 2019. On the same day (Feb 14th) was held the keel-laying ceremony for the sistership Enchanted Princess (2021) and the steel-cutting for the 6th/final ROYAL-Class liner Discovery Princess (2022). Sky Princess' float-out was led by godmother Kerry Ann Wright (2nd officer for Princess Cruises) nominated as Madrina by her fellow crew. The ship's 6-day Mediterranean Sea trials were successfully completed in early-September.

Princess Cruises Sky Princess was officially christened on December 7, 2019, in Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale Florida USA) . The liner has two godmothers (former NASA personnel) - Kathryn Patricia Hire (1959-born, former astronaut, now US Navy Reserve Captain) and Frances "Poppy" Northcutt (1943-born, NASA Apollo Program engineer).

The ship's first commanding officers were Heikki Laakkonen and Michele Tuvo (Captains), Fabio Braccelli and Mladen Ratkovic (Chief Engineers), Terri Cybuliak and Richard Harry (General Hotel Managers), Giovanni Cardile and Brian Whelan (Staff Captains).

Sky Princess refurbishment 2023 review

The ship's first drydocking was in 2023 (2023 (April 19-May 6).

The 16-day project (conducted at Damen Verolme Rotterdam in Rotterdam Holland ) was mainly for regularly scheduled maintenance works and minor technical upgrades. 2023 (April 19-May 6) Rotterdam Holland

It involved ~700 contractor workers in addition to the ship's own ~1200 crew members.

The works included installing a new air lubrication/hull system, underwater hull cleaning and painting, renovation of some staterooms and public spaces. "The Catch by Rudi" (new seafood restaurant) replaced the "Bistro Sur La Mer".

Inaugural itineraries 2019

The following tables show the ship's "Inaugural Cruise" itineraries (by destination) as departure dates, call ports, port times and regions. Prices shown are per person (USD), lowest category Inside Cabin rates based on double occupancy.

7-day "Inaugural Cruise" (Athens to Barcelona) - prices started from USD 1890 pp

14-day Inaugural Transatlantic cruise (repositioning from Europe to Florida-Caribbean) - prices started from USD 1260 pp.

3-day "Sky Princess Inaugural Getaway" (maiden Caribbean voyage)

7-day inaugural Western Caribbean cruise - from USD 830 pp

14-day inaugural Caribbean East/West Adventurer cruise - from USD 1590 pp

7-day inaugural Eastern Caribbean cruise - from USD 800 pp

Princess Cruises: 15 Tips, Tricks and Insider Secrets

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Princess Cruises Tips and Tricks You Need to Know

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

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

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

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

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

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

15 Epic Tips First Time Cruisers Need to Know

25 Recommended Amazon Items to Bring on a cruise

10 Ways to Prevent and Avoid Seasickness on a Cruise

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Read more: 12 Top Reasons to Cruise with Princess Cruises

Princess First-time Cruiser Tips

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

1. Princess Cruise Cabins

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

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

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

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

2. Princess Cruises Dining Options

dinner main dining room life well cruised

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

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

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

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

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

Alfredo’s Pizzeria Tip

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

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

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

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

3.What food isn’t included?

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

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

4. Are drinks and coffee included?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

5. Bonus for Foodies: Princess Fan Favorite Foods

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

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

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

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

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

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

Princess Cruises - Best Tips, Tricks and Secrets PIN image

6. Princess Love Boat Nostalgia

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

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

7. Hooray for Room Service!

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

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

8. Princess Cruises Discounts and on board credit benefits

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

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

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

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

9. Princess Cruises OceanMedallion Ships

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

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

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

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

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

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

Princess Cruises Tips and Secrets PIN image

10. Princess Cruises MedallionNet – Internet and Wifi

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

11. Future Cruise Deposits and Booking On-board

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

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

How does booking on-board work?

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

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

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

15 Princess Tips and Tricks you wish you knew sooner

12. Princess Cruises Loyalty Program

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The British Pub Lunch

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

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

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

Afternoon Tea

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

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

14. Princess Cruises Shore Excursions Tips

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

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

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

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

princess cruise tips and advice first timers

15. Princess Cruises Glossary and Cruise Lingo Acronyms

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

These are just a few:

MDR – main dining room

IC – International Cafe

FCC – Future Cruise Credit

OBC – On board credit

TA – Travel Agent

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

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

Princess Cruises Embarkation Day – What to expect

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

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

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

Recap:15 Awesome Tips for First-Time Princess Cruises

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

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

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

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

Happy Cruising!!

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

Best Tips for Cruising on Sky Princess

Sky Princess, Princess Cruises, Travel Tips, Best Travel Tips, Best Cruise, Caribbean Cruise, Plus Size Travel, Musings of a Curvy Lady

I’m about that #CruiseLife. It’s such a fantastic way to travel and visit new places.

I’ve been on a couple of different cruise lines over the years. I mean, there are just so many options when it comes to cruising but there is a reason why I always come back to Princess Cruises. They’re like family.

Whether I’m meeting a new crew on a brand new ship or seeing familiar faces on a ship I’ve been on before I know I will be welcomed with genuine and happy faces ready to really help me have the best vacation ever.

The Princess Cruise’s staff and crew are award winning and for good reason. The exceptional service goes beyond just the basics. I’ve seen first hand how the captain of Sky Princess help a couple have their dream wedding aboard his ship when it was looking like it wasn’t;t going to work out. That’s just one example of how amazing the Princess Cruises team is and how they go over and beyond for their guests.

From your captain to your steward; they are all looking out for you to have the best time on board and at port.

Another reason to pick Princess is because of all the incredible deals and offers they have. When you create an account with Princess Cruises you gain access to all the Princess perks! Oh and the more you cruise with them the more perks offered.

Right now they are having a great promotion that has never happened before. It’s the best way to experience a Princess Cruise for the first time.

WHAT TO PACK

Okay so you picked your Princess Cruise so now what do you bring?

No worries. I’ve learned through mistakes and triumphs what are cruise life necessities. Here is a list of what you will need while at sea.

PASSPORT – you’re not going anywhere without this
Cash for tipping tour guides and locals
At least one formal outfit and two outfits per day (plain white tees are great to pack and so easy to style)
Pashmina/ Scarf
Loungewear/ Sweats
Swimwear and coverups
Cheap Sunglasses (DO NOT BRING YOUR DESIGNER SUNNIES — you’re guaranteed to lose them!)
Sunscreen – FACE + BODY
Electronic Fan
Comfortable sneakers, flats, flip flops and water shoes or flip flops
Clorox Wipes (for my germaphobes)
Flushable Wipes + Poopourri
Wrinkle Release Spray
Travel Size Laundry Detergent + Bleach + Softener
Motion Sickness/Anti Nausea Medications + Tylenol / Advil + Pepcid
Vitamins, Emergen-C, Airborne, Gummies
Underwater camera
Portable cell phone battery
Travel Adapter for international cruises
Crossbody or backpack
Deck of Cards

WHAT TO DO ON SEA DAYS

Excursion on port days are so much fun but you’re definitely going to be at sea for a day or two. So what do you do on port days?

First thing first, you’ve got to check you Princess Patter. It’s Princess Cruises daily newsletter. Every night in your stateroom you are provided with a list on the next day’s activities. One of my sea days had 87 activities! You’re bound to find one that you like. From comedy shows, dance competitions, trivia, of course my favorite the live entertainment from the Stars of Sky Princess, Rock Opera and 5Skies.

Exploring the ship and walking the SKY DECK.

Judging a dance competition with some of the sky princess crew..

Hangin’ out with some of the stars of Sky Princess before their show Five Skies.

You are going to love sea days just as much as port days, promise.

We loved hanging with my favorite bartenders Juan and Jorge at the Seaview Bar on the lido deck. They make the best drinks and are so talented. Juan even tried to teach me some of his moves.

Sky Princess, Princess Cruises, Travel Tips, Best Travel Tips, Best Cruise, Caribbean Cruise, Plus Size Travel, Musings of a Curvy Lady, bar crawl, bar tender

Princess Cruises doesn’t play around when it comes to the food served on their ships. They’re known for the finest dining at sea and their newest ship is no exception.

Sky Princess offers so many different meal options that are already included in your cruise. You can dine at their main dining that features Michelin star rated chefs. For a more casual setting you can dine at the Horizon Buffet or Slice Pizzeria.

On the lido deck, The Salty Dog became one of my personal favorites serving up street tacos, hot dogs and the most delicious gourmet hamburgers – The Triple Smoke Burger is just *chef kiss. After lunch grab a soft serve cone and chill by the pool.

Another favorite and new dining option that’s also included with your cruise is at Alfredo’s Pizzeria . Voted “Best Pizza at Sea” by USA Today, Afredo’s serves up sizzling hand-tossed pizzas along with delicious Italian appetizers and of course beer and wine. You can watch your personal size pizza baked fresh in the oven at their open bar seating area.

The International Cafe is open around the clock and has the yummiest sandwiches, coffee and deserts. A perfect pick-me-up on the go.

There are so many food options that are included in your price. You won’t ever have to worry about eating the same kind of food. But if you are interested in trying the fine dining options, you can’t go wrong with the Crown Grill , Sabatini’s or the newest specialty restaurant Bistro Sur La Mer and the Ocean Terrace Sushi Bar located in the beautiful atrium – the glistening town hall of Sky Princess.

MAKE SURE TO RELAX

With so many activities on and off the ship it can get overwhelming. You might just tucker yourself out!

Remember you’re on vacation and you need to have time to relax too! Sky Princess has so much to offer when it comes to relaxation and rejuvenation. They’ve relaunched the Sanctuary, Lotus Spa + Enclave on Sky Princess with new design concepts that make it the perfect spot to get some R+R.

The Sanctuary is an adults only private area with it’s own private pool, hot tub and 8 cabanas. The new design is breathtaking with endless ocean views. This is the ultimate chill day. Snack on drinks and light refreshments served by the private area crew too.

The Lotus Spa is probably my favorite place on Sky Princess. If you book any treatments try and get Rosemary or Melissa. They have super powers in their fingers, I swear.

I loved my Biotech Facial and Massage – I’ve might have fallen asleep and snorted myself awake.

Now that’s relaxed!

Aboard the Sky Princess you’re guaranteed to have a great time. The new ship has so much to offer in terms of technology, entertainment, dining and service. You’re going to love cruising with Princess.

Leave me your cruise questions below!

Princess Cruises, Sky Princess, Princess Cays, Eleuthera, Bahamas, Caribbean Cruise, Caribbean Vacation, Plus Size Travel

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3 thoughts on “ Best Tips for Cruising on Sky Princess ”

Love your cruise musings, amazing tips thank you.

We are on the sky princess and i need some tights/panty hose/or hold up stockings for formal night ? Non of the onboard shops have them for sale. Just wondered if you know if they are sold anywhere onboard, or if any of the restrooms have them in dispensing machines ?

Thank you for your help

I didn’t see anything like that unfortunately. I’m so sorry!

Wow! This was nice, very nice. I had fun watching it. Thanks so much for sharing.

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Everything cruisers need to know about the new Sky Princess ship

It's been a long time coming, but there's finally — finally! — a new ship for North American fans of Princess Cruises: the just-unveiled, 3,660-passenger Sky Princess.

Yeah, sure, the "Love Boat line" rolled out a fancy new vessel, Majestic Princess, just two-and-a-half years ago. But, initially at least, that ship was aimed exclusively at the China market. It's been more than five years since travelers based in North America had an all-new Princess ship to call their own.

So, if you're a loyal Princess cruiser, that means you're probably pretty excited about Sky Princess, which departed from Athens on Sunday on its inaugural voyage. After getting a sneak peek at the vessel over the weekend during a short pre-inaugural "shakedown cruise," I will say this: There's more on board than you might think.

At first glance, Sky Princess appears to be almost identical to the last few vessels unveiled by the line. It has the same central Piazza lined with cafes, bars, shops and restaurants, and its signature steakhouse, Lotus Spa and namesake theater are all right there where you'd expect to find them.

But it doesn't take long to realize that, in its hallmark quiet and subtle way, Princess has made significant changes to this vessel — as compared to Majestic Princess and its two predecessors, Regal Princess and Royal Princess, all of which share the same basic architecture. All four are part of the Royal Class, which began rolling out in 2013.

As is always the case with Princess, you won't see any radically over-the-top new features such as the deck-top roller coaster that Carnival is planning for its soon-to-debut Mardi Gras, or the record-size water slide that Royal Caribbean just added to its Navigator of the Seas. Compared to most of its big-ship rivals, Princess is known for a more serene, almost "old school" sort of cruising that isn't about a lot of deck-top amusements.

The fifth-biggest brand after Royal Caribbean, Carnival, MSC Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess has none of those upper deck flashes: no giant water parks, go-kart tracks, rock climbing walls or kiddie splash zones. And that's on purpose. Princess executives long ago decided not to engage in what they call the "amusement park arms race" taking place between lines operating big, resort-like ships . Princess is a line that sticks to the basics, with top decks mostly featuring relaxing pool and lounge zones.

But you will find several new elements on Sky Princess that are groundbreaking in their own way, as well as quite a few tweaks to the basic Princess ship design that, for the most part, make it much better. Indeed, for Princess regulars, this might just be the best Princess ship yet. Here's what to expect if you book a cruise on Sky Princess.

How to book a cruise using points and miles

The biggest suites ever on a Princess ship

Perhaps the most noticeable additions to Sky Princess are the giant twin Sky Suites that lord over the main pool area on the top of the ship.

Measuring more than 1,800 square feet a piece, these are by far the biggest suites ever on a Princess vessel, which hasn't really toyed with big suites. They're also the first cabins at the line that can accommodate more than four people. With two bedrooms plus a living room with a pullout sofa, they're designed for up to five people.

That said, as I saw during a tour of the two complexes, these aren't the sort of truly epic suites with huge interior living spaces you'll find on the latest Royal Caribbean or Regent Seven Seas ships. If that's what you're after, Princess still isn't your line.

It turns out, more than half the touted square footage of the Sky Suites is occupied by giant wraparound balconies, leaving less than 1,000 square feet for the interior spaces (which, a bit to my surprise, almost seemed cramped). What the suites do offer is a pretty awesome home-theater experience. From lounge chairs on their elevated balconies, you have an eye-level view across the pool deck to the ship's massive Movies Under the Star LED screen, which plays films at night. Not only is this the best seat in the house, but (for an extra charge, yet to be set) you can pick the movie that will play on the giant screen. In other words, if you're staying in one of these suites, you can subject the entire vessel to your movie preferences.

My take? Clearly, the balconies steal the show. Princess claims they're the biggest balconies in the cruise industry, which is a bit of a stretch (the massive Regent Suite on Regent Seven Seas' Seven Seas Explorer has more balcony space). Still, they're absolutely stellar for entertaining. If you're traveling with a big group of friends or an affinity group, we could see booking one of these suites just to use as the ultimate party-at-sea spot — that is, if you can afford it. The Sky Suites also come with the highest price tag ever for a Princess cabin, with fares for seven-night sailings starting around $7,000 per person.

New balcony cabins and smaller suites, too

Eagle-eyed Princess fans will notice that Sky Princess is a tad bulkier at its front than earlier Royal Class vessels. The line has added a partial deck to make room for not just the giant Sky Suites, but also 52 more cabins.

These include 38 new balcony cabins and six ocean-view cabins around the adults-only Retreat area on Deck 17. But the big story (in addition to the Sky Suites) is the addition of six new Penthouse Suites, which are more than twice the size of standard balcony cabins and feature wide balconies. There also are two new forward-facing Window Suites that are even larger. Though they lack balconies, they sit at the corners of the front of Deck 17, and offer spectacular views over the bow.

In all, Sky Princess boasts 46 suites: 10 more than earlier vessels in the Royal Class. That's a big increase, and a sign that suites are in hot demand at the line. If you're the kind of Princess cruiser who wouldn't be caught cruising in anything smaller than a minisuite, you'll be pleased with the inventory on this ship.

Of course, there's a downside to all the added suites and cabins. By ever so slightly increasing the passenger count on Sky Princess as compared to its older sisters, these extra rooms are ever so slightly making the public areas of the vessel a bit more crowded.

Sky Princess wasn't running anywhere near full during the pre-inaugural "shakedown cruise" I boarded, so I couldn't really get a sense of whether the extra passenger count will be noticeable. But it's not a huge increase. At double occupancy of two passengers per cabin, we're talking about an additional 108 passengers across a vessel designed for 3,660 people. That's only a 3% jump.

A revamped pool and sun decks

Princess went into big-time tinkering mode when it came to the top decks of Sky Princess. Again, you won't find any industry-first attractions, but there is more pool, hot tub and lounge space on the vessel than on any of the earlier Royal Class ships.

At the heart of the change is a revamp of the main pool area on Deck 16, also known as the Lido Deck. There are now two large pools (instead of one large pool and a smaller plunge pool), as well as three hot tubs, up from two on the earlier vessels; expanded lounge areas; and a relocated SeaView bar (which devout Princess cruisers will note no longer has nearly as good a sea view).

The additions were made by removing the mid-deck dancing fountain feature found on other Royal Class ships and drastically scaling back the over-the-ocean SeaWalk feature, which was initially touted as one of the signature attractions of the class.

Other top-deck changes include a doubling of the number of hot tubs (from two to four) in the sunning areas along the sides of Deck 17. There's also a new pool at the very back of the ship on Deck 16, dubbed the Wake View. It's backed by a bar and just behind the Horizon Court buffet in a space that, on earlier Royal Class-ships, is just a bar zone. The adults-only Retreat Pool and extra-charge Sanctuary near the front of Sky Princess have also been reconfigured.

Here, Princess hits a home run. It's great that Princess added more places on the top decks to soak, whether in a pool or a hot tub. On a ship designed for more than 3,000 people, there really can never be too many places to get your toes wet, particularly on a sea day. The changes to the main pool area, in particular, also have improved the flow of people across the deck.

New twists on dining and entertainment

The interior public areas of Sky Princess have been tweaked quite a bit, too, though not in a way that anyone but a rabid Princess lover might immediately notice. As top executives like to say, Princess is a line that doesn't do "revolution" when it comes to the design of each new vessel. It's all about "evolution," and in a gradual, don't-upset-the-apple-cart sort of way. Princess likes its (many) regulars to see a consistent product as they hop from vessel to vessel around the world.

So, the basic layout of the ship's main interior public decks (Decks 5 through 7) is pretty much the same as on earlier Royal Class ships, but with a somewhat lighter color scheme palate of neutral creams, browns and blues, with a few splashes of yellow and orange thrown in for good measure. As is Princess tradition, it's nothing flashy like you'd find on a Carnival or Norwegian Cruise Line ship. Classy continues to be the mantra.

What has been added, as compared to early ships in the series, is a French eatery around the Piazza, Bistro Sur La Mer, with dishes by chef Emmanuel Renaut (whose restaurant in the French Alps boasts three Michelin stars). In a location that had been a lounge on the Royal Princess and Regal Princess, it comes with a $29 per person cover charge, just like the signature Crown Grill steakhouse. The concept first debuted on Majestic Princess in Asia.

There's also, finally, al fresco restaurant seating at two of the restaurants around the Piazza (the bistro and a redesigned Alfredo's pizzeria across the way). Princess is sort of late to the party when it comes to al fresco dining, which has been a growing trend at lines like Norwegian and Royal Caribbean.

The Sky Princess designers also tinkered with the layout of one of the hottest places to grab a cocktail on Royal Class ships: The centrally-located bar outside the Crown Grill (named the Wheelhouse Bar on earlier vessels, now the Crown Grill Bar). The rectangular bar for this venue was, notably, moved from the side of the space to the center and reoriented to face the crossing corridor, which is no longer set off with waist-high dividers. This makes the space feel far more open and inviting. The bar also got a new lineup of concoctions dreamed up by mixologist Rob Floyd (of Paramount Network's "Bar Rescue").

Other changes include the addition of a jazz venue next to the casino; a revamped Gelato outlet; a more contemporary aesthetic in the main dining rooms; and an overhauled menu at the line's extra-charge Italian restaurant, Sabatini's.

In a final piece of the puzzle, Princess also is joining the escape room craze with its first escape room on a ship. Alas, this still wasn't ready over the weekend, so I couldn't test it, and it's not expected to open until December.

I would give high marks to most of the changes to interior spaces, though I might quibble with some of the new menu offerings. Despite being the creation of a superstar chef, the dishes I tasted at Bistro Sur La Mer seemed oddly uninspired. I ordered a filet mignon that was skimpy (read: thin and small) and overwhelmed by a chunky wine sauce and sautéed onion. If you have a good cut of beef, there's no reason to smother it with so much "stuff." Similarly, the dishes coming out of the kitchen at Sabatini's were a letdown, not just to me but other cruise writers on board.

That said, it could be that these restaurants just were having a bad day. This was, after all, a pre-inaugural cruise, when it's perfectly normal to still be working out the kinks in advance of "real" passengers arriving. That's the whole point of a shakedown. Princess only took delivery of Sky Princess from the Fincantieri shipyard a day before we sailed, which means the chefs in these restaurants barely had time to unpack their knives before we sat down to order. The fact they could turn out filet mignon at all is sort of remarkable.

Lots of high-tech features

First, I should say that Sky Princess has stunningly fast internet — at least for a cruise ship. For the past few years, Royal Caribbean's Zoom internet has been the gold standard for fast internet on ships , way ahead of what other lines offer. But Princess clearly caught up. If you pay the $9.99 per day fee to hook up a device, you really will be able to stream Netflix shows, just like the line promised. Retiring early to my cabin one night, I had no trouble binge-watching several episodes of the French-Belgian thriller "Black Spot" (the dubbed version, of course).

But fast internet is just the beginning when it comes to new technology on display. Sky Princess is the first Princess ship purpose-built to work with the line's new suite of high-tech OceanMedallion features, some of which are breaking ground in the cruise industry. Already available on four of Princess's 17 other vessels, the features include the ability to order a wide array of food and drinks to any place you happen to be on the ship via an app (think: Uber Eats, but at sea) and to find and chat with friends and family via an app no matter where they are on board.

In both cases, the technology relies on each passenger carrying around a poker chip-size, RFID-tagged "medallion" that lets the ship know his or her location at every moment. More than 7,000 sensors embedded around the vessel pick up the signals emitted by the medallions.

Issued before boarding, the medallions allow for a lot of cool things. Perhaps the coolest is that, assuming you have your medallion with you, your cabin door will magically unlock as you approach it: No more rooting around for lost keys.

In what might strike some as a bit Big Brother, the medallions also tip off crew that you're approaching, allowing them to address you by name — and maybe offer a favorite aperitif.

Big Brother or not, some of the features, such as the app-based ordering, are game-changing. Sitting in a comfy chair near the ship's Crown Grill steakhouse, with no server in sight, I used Princess's MedallionClass app to order my favorite cocktail, a sidecar, directly to my location. A few minutes later, a smiling server appeared with the drink on a tray. Since the ship knew where I was, thanks to the medallion in my pocket, she had no trouble finding me. She could see my location (and a picture of me) on her Princess-issued mobile device.

On the flip side, I could track my order from start to finish on the app. It very cutely showed a little ship "sailing" across the screen from "ordered" to "preparing" and "serving."

The app also makes settling bills for such transactions seamless. The server with my sidecar didn't ask me to sign anything, since the transaction had been recorded electronically.

Incidentally, the drink was free. To get more passengers to try the MedallionClass app, Princess is making the first drink you order with it gratis. Which is great, because sidecars on Sky Princess cost nearly $12!

In addition to food and drinks, you can order a wide range of retail items such as sunscreen and clothing by app to wherever you are on board. The app also allows you to check your bill, book shore excursions, buy a beverage package and play interactive games. In what could be a dangerous innovation for those who love to gamble, the app also allows for the playing of casino games from anywhere on board, including your room.

A handful of hiccups

Princess executives are super excited about the new medallion-related technology — so excited, they've made it a core element of recent marketing efforts. But after trying it out for a few days, I think they jumped the gun a tad. I would have waited on the rollout until it was a bit more refined.

Perhaps the most obvious flaw is that it takes not one but four different apps to access all the medallion-based features. In addition to the main MedallionClass app, which handles several functions, there are separate apps for shipboard navigation, game playing and casino play. Believe it or not, this is an improvement, as it initially took even more apps to run everything. Princess is in the process of streamlining the system.

The MedallionClass app also still lacks some basic functions, like the ability to make dining and spa reservations on board (or even see what options are available in those areas). It can be a bit wonky, too, if you don't have your medallion close to your device. I struggled to order a drink when my medallion was in my back pocket instead of on a lanyard around my neck — talk about cruise wear.

And not to pile on too much, but I also will say the four apps eat up a stunning amount of storage space on devices. On my iPhone, the cumulative count was nearly 2 gigabytes.

What it costs

Sky Princess will sail several voyages in the Mediterranean over the next month before repositioning to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for seven-night trips to the Eastern and Western Caribbean. The Eastern Caribbean trips will feature stops in St. Thomas, St. Maarten and Princess Cays, the line's private island in the Bahamas. The Western Caribbean itinerary will bring calls in Belize City, Belize; Roatan, Honduras; and Cozumel and Costa Maya, Mexico.

As of Monday, Eastern Caribbean trips were available from $649 per person, not including taxes and fees of $136.80. That works out to about $112 per night, per person, with taxes and fees for a package that includes your lodging, transportation and meals. The Western Caribbean trips are starting at $789 per person, plus another $150.23 in taxes and fees. That's closer to $132 per night, per person.

Yes, there's a premium to go to the Western Caribbean.

Of course, the rates are just for one person and based on "double occupancy" of your cabin, so the per room rate really is twice that amount. It also doesn't include extra charges you ring up on board. While meals are included at several onboard restaurants, you'll pay extra for the Crown Grill steakhouse and other specialty dining destinations. And you'll also pay extra for drinks. Most beers at Sky Princess bars run from $6.25 to $6.75, and wine starts at $8 per glass ($32 for the least expensive bottle).

The aforementioned fares are also for the least-expensive, windowless "interior" cabin. There are all sorts of cabin categories on Princess ships, including those bigger balcony cabins and suites, at a wide range of price points. And pricing for cruises fluctuate week-by-week depending on demand, just as they do with flights. The rates above are for sailings during off-season weeks. You'll pay more for more popular times of year, such as over Christmas.

One other thing for which you'll need to budget is the automatic service gratuity that Princess adds to bills, which runs $14.50 per person, per day for most cabins. Suite passengers pay more.

The best credit cards for booking cruises

Bottom line

Princess has made significant changes to Sky Princess as compared to earlier vessels in its Royal Class series and, for the most part, they are all for the better. I've sailed on nearly all the line's new ships over the past couple decades, and I have no qualms saying Sky Princess is the best I've seen. The technological enhancements on the vessel, in particular, are impressive (if still in need of a little work).

Of course, one thing to keep in mind is that, whatever the changes, Sky Princess still is a Princess ship. If you haven't liked Princess vessels in the past, you're not going to suddenly fall in love with this one, even if it has more hot tubs and cabin doors that unlock when you approach.

Princess also appeals to an older demographic than lines such as Carnival and Norwegian. The average age of passengers is around 57, and you'll usually see a lot of couples on board in their 50s, 60s and 70s. These aren't people necessarily craving roller coasters and skydiving simulators at sea. Princess gets some families with kids, too — just not the kind expecting an amusement park experience.

Sky Princess℠ Fact Sheet

Class : Royal Class (#4)

Guest Capacity: 3,660 (lower berths)

Tonnage: 141,000

Builder: Fincantieri Cantieri Navali Italiani, Monfalcone

Italy Maiden Voyage: October 15, 2019

Naming Ceremony: December 3, 2019 (Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA)

U.S. Maiden Voyage: December 4, 2019 (Ft. Lauderdale, FL, USA)

Length: 1,083 feet / 330 meters

Height: 217 feet / 66.1 meters

Breadth: 126 feet / 38.4 meters

Maximum Speed: 22 knots

Number of Decks: 19

Guest Staterooms: 1,830 total:

2 Sky Suites (featuring the largest balconies at sea)
44 Suites with private balconies
374 Mini-Suites with Private Balconies
311 Deluxe Balcony Cabins
753 Balcony Cabins
6 Deluxe Oceanview Cabins
340 Inside Cabins

Accessible Staterooms: 38

Connecting Staterooms: 100

Crew: 1,346

Registry: Bermuda

Food & Beverage:

Three Main dining rooms (Estrella, Cielo, Soleil)
Sabatini's Italian Trattoria
Alfredos Pizzeria
Crown Grill & Bar
World Fresh Marketplace – including The Pastry Shop, Slice Pizzeria, Swirls
The Salty Dog Grill
International Café – coffee, snacks, light meals and Gelato
Vines Wine Bar
Chef's Table Lumiere
24-hour room service

Showrooms/Lounges:

Princess Theatre
Princess Live! & Café
Take Five – jazz lounge
Bellini's – Italian-inspired cocktails
Vista Lounge
Ocean Terrace Seafood Bar
The Mix – Lido Deck bar in between Slice Pizzeria and Salty Dog Grill
Wake View Bar
Churchill's Cigar Bar
SeaView Bar

Key Venues and Guest Services:

The Sanctuary – adults only relaxation and spa services area
Movies Under the Stars poolside screen
Lotus Spa with the Enclave & Salon
Fitness Center, Princess sports Central & jogging track
Piazza, Casino
The Experience Center, Internet Café & Library
Photo Gallery, Fine Art Gallery
The Shops of Princess
Concierge Lounge
Camp Discovery™ Youth and Teen Center
The Treehouse (Ages: 3 – 7)
The Lodge (Ages: 8 – 12)
The Beach House (Ages: 13 - 17)
Guest Services Desk (Reception)
Future Cruise Reservation Center
Captain's Circle Desk
Shore Excursions Desk
Medical Center

Pools & Hot Tubs:

4 Pools – 2 top-Deck Pools, Retreat Pool and Wake View Pool

More Information: princess.com/skyprincess

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25 Princess Cruise Tips and Tricks You Should Know

The Island Princess cruise ship - tips for cruising

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

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

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

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

Our best Princess cruise tips

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

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

23. The ship bartenders are like hidden concierges

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

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

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

Check out these great deals on Princess Cruises

Princess cruise tips: things to do before you sail

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For us, we often prefer to have a private tour that we can customize to our needs. Our logic being that we only get a limited amount of time in port, and often it’s somewhere we might never visit again. So when group tours don’t meet our needs, we turn to local experts. Handpick your guide here

Read next: Cruise Port Tips To Help You Choose the Best Shore Options

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Medical resuce at sea off the coast of Australia.

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

I agree to receive email updates and promotions.

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

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

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

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

There are two booking options:

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

Check out these great deals on Princess Cruise s

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

Princess cruise tips and tricks: dining

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Princess cruise hacks and tips: drinks

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

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

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

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

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

All that said, our two best tips:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

More Princess cruise tips and tricks

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

Relaxing out the outdoor pool on the Island Princess

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

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

One of the pools on the Island Princess cruise ship

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

Our interior cabin on the Island Princess

Princess Cruises wifi hacks

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

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

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

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

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

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

More Princess cruise hacks

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

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

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

The Island Princess docked in Vancouver Canada

Check out the great deals on Princess Cruises

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

MedallionClass

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

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

Save for later

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

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

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

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

Cruisers might also like:

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

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

About Rhonda Albom

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

Reader Interactions

May 12, 2024 at 3:50 pm

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

Kenny Lloyd

January 8, 2024 at 1:14 pm

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

December 29, 2019 at 7:02 pm

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

December 29, 2019 at 2:44 pm

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

December 29, 2019 at 4:56 am

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

December 29, 2019 at 12:09 am

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

Ana Palombini

December 28, 2019 at 11:28 pm

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

December 23, 2019 at 11:30 am

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

December 23, 2019 at 7:59 am

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

January 23, 2020 at 10:32 am

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

Charlotte Lint

December 21, 2019 at 2:00 am

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

December 20, 2019 at 5:20 am

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

December 20, 2019 at 2:02 am

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

December 20, 2019 at 12:58 am

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

November 23, 2019 at 7:39 pm

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

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

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

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

Rhonda Albom

November 24, 2019 at 1:04 pm

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

November 26, 2019 at 10:05 pm

OK Great ~ Thanks Rhonda 🙂

November 13, 2023 at 1:00 am

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

September 13, 2019 at 6:48 pm

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

September 9, 2019 at 12:38 pm

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

September 9, 2019 at 12:44 am

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

September 8, 2019 at 11:05 am

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

December 18, 2019 at 7:22 pm

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

September 6, 2019 at 12:22 am

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

Brooke of Passport Couture

September 4, 2019 at 4:01 pm

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

Cheryle Matthew

September 1, 2019 at 12:04 pm

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

September 3, 2019 at 6:07 pm

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

Benjamn Williams

April 6, 2019 at 7:06 am

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

Kirk Murray

August 6, 2018 at 11:25 am

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

October 10, 2017 at 7:51 am

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

Fly With Shaunak

May 22, 2017 at 12:43 am

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

May 22, 2017 at 8:33 am

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

April 12, 2017 at 9:29 pm

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

April 12, 2017 at 10:13 pm

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

May 22, 2017 at 9:08 pm

Lucky you Rhonda!

May 23, 2017 at 5:11 pm

Elizabeth Merryweather

March 16, 2019 at 6:08 am

have you ever been to Alaska ?

March 16, 2019 at 7:45 am

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

August 14, 2016 at 10:27 am

I love to cruise!

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

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

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

August 16, 2016 at 9:44 am

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

Paula McInerney

August 14, 2016 at 8:48 am

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

August 14, 2016 at 9:39 am

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

Marcelle Simone Heller

August 9, 2016 at 1:24 am

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

August 9, 2016 at 8:25 am

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

Sandra Moore

May 11, 2018 at 11:33 am

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

August 8, 2016 at 4:37 pm

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

August 9, 2016 at 8:22 am

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

June 16, 2017 at 3:35 pm

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

June 17, 2017 at 10:14 pm

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

August 8, 2016 at 2:46 pm

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

August 9, 2016 at 8:20 am

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

Paul F. Pietrangelo

August 7, 2016 at 11:18 am

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

Cruisin Paul

August 8, 2016 at 1:22 pm

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

August 7, 2016 at 10:07 am

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

August 8, 2016 at 1:21 pm

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

June 10, 2018 at 4:19 pm

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

August 7, 2016 at 9:48 am

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

August 8, 2016 at 11:30 am

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

Lady kendal jaggar

August 9, 2016 at 12:06 am

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

August 9, 2016 at 8:23 am

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

August 15, 2016 at 7:04 am

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

August 16, 2016 at 9:50 am

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

August 7, 2016 at 3:42 am

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

August 7, 2016 at 8:34 am

Why not go on a honeymoon cruise?

Mary(The World Is A Book)

August 6, 2016 at 3:30 pm

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

August 6, 2016 at 9:37 am

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

August 6, 2016 at 10:22 pm

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

Comedy Plus

August 6, 2016 at 3:43 am

Good things to know if cruise ships are your thing.

Have a fabulous day. ☺

August 6, 2016 at 9:16 pm

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

stevebethere

August 6, 2016 at 12:27 am

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

Have a cruisetastic day 🙂

August 6, 2016 at 9:15 pm

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

Alex J. Cavanaugh

August 6, 2016 at 12:00 am

Sounds like you could spend your whole day eating.

August 6, 2016 at 9:14 pm

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

Trekking with Becky

August 5, 2016 at 9:24 pm

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

Great work! 😀

August 6, 2016 at 9:13 pm

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

Lyn aka The Travelling Lindfields

August 5, 2016 at 8:12 pm

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

That’s exactly why I wrote this 🙂

Lydia C. Lee

August 5, 2016 at 6:39 pm

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

August 6, 2016 at 9:12 pm

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

August 5, 2016 at 4:31 pm

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

August 6, 2016 at 9:10 pm

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

August 28, 2017 at 9:01 am

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

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However, the facial recognition software still has bugs to work out and you will have someone else's pictures when you go to look at your pictures. Overall, loved the shop and the crew. Read full review. 185 cruise tips for Sky Princess by real cruisers including, The Princess lines are very traditional but they do have activities for a younger ...
Everything you need to know about Sky Princess
Everything you need to know about Sky Princess. When a cruise ship is added to a fleet, it's exciting, but when that ship features a Michelin-star chef, exceptional Wi-Fi, 15 decks, films screened under the stars and the largest balconies at sea, "exciting" doesn't quite cut it. Allow us to introduce you to Sky Princess ®: one of the ...
Sky Princess Cruise Ship Review
Check out Cruise Critic's expert review of the Sky Princess cruise ship for the best insider tips on deck plans, cabins, food, entertainment and more.
Sky Princess Tips For Travellers
On this page you can explore and discover all my Sky Princess tips. This was the first ship built by Princess Cruises to integrate their Ocean Medallion technology from scratch and build. ... I travelled as a guest of Princess Cruises on a 4-night shakedown cruise of Sky Princess from Venice to Athens after they took delivery of the ship. Share ...
7 Things You'll Love About Sky Princess
Sky Suites. Pool and Sun Decks. Take Five Lounge. Escape Room. Thermal Suite. 1. La Mer. This French bistro first debuted on Majestic Princess, which only sails in Australasia, so it's still new ...
A Complete Sky Princess Review: Food, Experiences, and More
Tips & Guides, Travel A Complete Sky Princess Review: Food, Experiences, and More. Posted on December 14, 2023 March 4, 2024 by Scottie T. Page Contents. Facts about Sky Princess; ... Food & Dining on Sky Princess. Dining onboard cruise ships has come a long way in the past few years, not least onboard with companies like Princess Cruises which ...
Sky Princess Reviews, Ship Details & Photos
Including Sky Princess reviews, ship details, photos, dining, and more! Sky Princess is a large ship, carrying 3660 passengers and 1346 crew, and sails from Ft. Lauderdale (Port Everglades), Florida and Port Canaveral, Florida. ... Find the perfect cruise with weekly tips and cruise deals for as little as $30/night! Enter your email. Save Big.
Sky Princess
On December 7, 2019, Princess Cruises honored two pioneering women of the U.S. Space Program: Captain Kay Hire, and engineer Poppy Northcutt, who served as the godmothers, and officially named Sky Princess. Captain Hire began her 30-year NASA career as a mechanical systems engineer, helping to launch more than 40 space missions.
Sky Princess Cruise Ship Review
Check out Cruise Critic's expert review of the Sky Princess cruise ship for the best insider tips on deck plans, cabins, food, entertainment and more. ... Find a Sky Princess Cruise from $474.
Sky Princess Reviews from Travelers
Ship: Sky Princess. If you are young (less than 40) or with family with kids, the cruise is NOT for you. Nice and quiet for older couples with enough activities to enjoy the whole week. Very little oriental food in buffet, main dinning or specialty restaurants. Very friendly and courtesy staff and clean ship.
Sky Princess
Sky Princess. 272 reviews. All photos (174) Traveller ( 164) Common Areas ( 20) Dining and Bars ( 7) Itineraries for this ship. Itinerary. 14 Night Cruise to the Baltic Sea.
Sky Princess Itinerary, Current Position, Ship Review
The 2019-built Sky Princess cruise ship is the 4th Royal-class vessel in the Princess Cruises fleet, together with the fleet mates Royal Princess (2013), Regal Princess (2014), Majestic Princess (2017), Enchanted Princess (2021) and Discovery Princess (2022). From the same class is also the P&O UK liner Britannia (2015).. The vessel (IMO number 9802396) is currently Bermuda-flagged (MMSI ...
Top 11 Things To Do On The Sky Princess Cruise Ship
Order Food Delivery Around the Ship. Grab a Slice From Slice. Watch a Movie Under The Stars. Find Street Art On The Sports Deck. Melt Away Stress in the Enclave. Do a Sky Princess Bar Crawl. Eat At a Specialty Restaurant. Eat Breakfast In Bed. Watch Sunrise and Sunset at Sea.
What's New on Sky Princess? Great Theater, New Suites ...
The 18th ship in Princess Cruises' fleet, Sky Princess debuted in October 2019 with a wonderful balance of innovative new features and amenities, and signature favorites that Princess veterans ...
Top Sky Princess Tips From Travelers
Sky Princess Cruise Reviews - Tips 4.3 (261 Reviews) Photo Gallery Photo. Photo Gallery Photo. Photo Gallery Photo. View all 1250 Photos. Close. Follow Share. Tweet. Copy Link Tips. Cruises from $ Overview Cabins Dining Onboard Activities Deck Plans ...
Princess Cruises: 15 Tips, Tricks and Insider Secrets
Princess Cruises Tips and Tricks You Need to Know. If you're going on a Princess cruise, here are some cruise tips you should know before you cruise. ... I'd like to see if there are any videos or the suites, other than the Sky suite (i.e. the Owner's suite)and that class of suites. Also can you tell me what changes are to be expected due ...
Best Tips for Cruising on Sky Princess
From comedy shows, dance competitions, trivia, of course my favorite the live entertainment from the Stars of Sky Princess, Rock Opera and 5Skies. Exploring the ship and walking the SKY DECK. Judging a dance competition with some of the Sky Princess crew. Hangin' out with some of the stars of Sky Princess before their show Five Skies.
Sky Princess
Sky Princess, the latest ship from Princess Cruises, is the fourth vessel in the Royal Class of ships. While she shares many of the same design elements and ...
Sky Princess Cruise Ship Review
Check out Cruise Critic's expert review of the Sky Princess cruise ship for the best insider tips on deck plans, cabins, food, entertainment and more.
First look at the new Sky Princess cruise ship
There also are two new forward-facing Window Suites that are even larger. Though they lack balconies, they sit at the corners of the front of Deck 17, and offer spectacular views over the bow. (Courtesy of Princess Cruises) In all, Sky Princess boasts 46 suites: 10 more than earlier vessels in the Royal Class.
Sky Princess Cruise Ship Review
Check out Cruise Critic's expert review of the Sky Princess cruise ship for the best insider tips on deck plans, cabins, food, entertainment and more. ... Find a Sky Princess Cruise from $472.
Sky Princess
On December 7, 2019, Princess Cruises honored two pioneering women of the U.S. Space Program: Captain Kay Hire, and engineer Poppy Northcutt, who served as the godmothers, and officially named Sky Princess. Captain Hire began her 30-year NASA career as a mechanical systems engineer, helping to launch more than 40 space missions.
Sky Princess Cruise Ship Review
Check out Cruise Critic's expert review of the Sky Princess cruise ship for the best insider tips on deck plans, cabins, food, entertainment and more. ... Find a Sky Princess Cruise from $468.
Sky Princess℠ Fact Sheet
Length: 1,083 feet / 330 meters. Height: 217 feet / 66.1 meters. Breadth: 126 feet / 38.4 meters. Maximum Speed: 22 knots. Number of Decks: 19. Guest Staterooms: 1,830 total: 2 Sky Suites (featuring the largest balconies at sea) 44 Suites with private balconies. 374 Mini-Suites with Private Balconies.
25 Princess Cruise Tips and Tricks You Should Know
8. Bring a power strip. One common complaint of cruise ship cabins is the limited number of electrical outlets, often only one. Carrying a small power strip, we have resolved that problem for ourselves, and we can now charge all our devices or dry my hair whilst hubby uses a different electronic device. 9.
Find Sky Princess Cruises (with Prices)
Lowest pricing is based on our 3rd party pricing supplier and valid as of May 25th, 2024. Find Sky Princess Cruises: Find and plan your next Sky Princess cruise with Cruise Critic's Cruise Finder ...