10 things you should know before cruising with Princess

GUEST POST: Victoria!

Princess is one of my favourite lines. I adore them! Since, Em has never sailed with them she has recruited me to offer some of my expertise. I have been on 3 princess cruises! The Emerald Princess, The Caribbean Princess and the Royal Princess. Plus, this year (this month actually) I will be setting sail on the Crown Princess.

Here are the top ten things you should know before cruising with Princess.

1. That is not waves on the logo!

(Yes, I actually thought that) It is in fact a Sea Witch.

2. Princess isn’t a formal line.

People think of Princess as a formal cruise line; that is myth. Formal night is not compulsory! No black tie needed for these ships, as long as you are wearing a collared shirt and trousers you’re more than welcome in the main dining room on formal night.

3. You can watch Movies Under the Stars.

Seriously, a big screen under the velvet sky with blankets, popcorn and cookies and milk. Do not miss that!  

4. Food food food!

On Princess there is food 24/7 – Not only does international café serve the best cake, they also serve sandwiches etc every hour of the day.

5. Anytime dining.

Much like the lack of formal dress code formal dining is not compulsory on Princess. They have a system called ‘Anytime Dining’ that operates in 2 out of the 3 main dining rooms. Basically you can show up anytime the dining room is open. If they are busy they will give you a pager much like restaurants on land. And no, you don’t have to share your table if you don’t want to.

6. Laundry

There is a bag wash or laundromat, as the Americans call it, on nearly every passenger deck. These are not free, but like most things on a ship you charge them to your cruise card so they are free for a while…The irons and ironing boards are free though.

7. The parade of the baked Alaska

This is a quirk you will only know about if you have sailed Princess previously or know someone who has sailed Princess. Their way of saying goodbye and thank you to the guests. On the last night your wait staff will carry Baked Alaska’s through the dining room, complete with candles. Whilst the guests wave their napkins in the air.

8. Drinks package

Princess do the best drinks package at sea! If you buy an alcohol package it also includes: soft drinks, fresh juice, mocktails, all hot drinks, water, ice cream shakes and on the new ships gelato and crepes from Gelato in the Piazza. Other cruise lines like NCL don’t include many of these ‘extras’.

9. Princess do not use the word atrium!

They call it the Piazza and it was designed to be like an Italian Piazza. A place for café culture complete with street entertainment. Its often an acrobat (my favourite) but it can also be musicians and dancers. 

10. Pub lunch

On sea days Princess offer a British pub lunch! This is published in the daily schedule (called the patter) and is often hosted in the Wheelhouse bar which is designed to look like a maritime themed pub. All dark wooden panelling and nautical nick knacks that please this cruise addicts soul. 

If you have never sailed Princess then I hope you do soon! They are one of the best lines at sea. I dream of them literally every hour of everyday.

Emma says: Wow! Thanks for that one Victoria, now I REALLY want to try Princess! The pub lunch, drinks package and non formal dining sounds right up my street. Also really interesting that they don’t use the word ‘atrium’ and the baked Alaska fact is a rather interesting! Doesn’t Victoria look gorgeous above?!

Have you ever cruised with Princess or would like to? Let us know in the comments!
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