Just wanted to mention that once a movie is shown on "the big screen" on deck, it can be viewed in your cabin on the TV for free. Silly but useful tip.
Two things to stress that makes Princess stand out. They don't make you "check out" towels. Just take them, you don't need to sign or give them your name, room number or even wait in line and waste all that time. Also the buffet is open between meals. It is not just a "snack" you can get a full hot meal anytime from early morning to late at night.
My tip for Princess is to let them book your air. When we did our British Isles cruise, the Emerald Princess broke down in Cobh, Ireland. We were 8 hours late in leaving port for Dublin, where we were to fly home. Princess took care of everything--they kept us well informed and put us up in the Dublin Hilton for the night, then gave us a food allowance and transported us to the airport the next morning.
We also booked the air through Princess. The rate was very competitive. We weren't able to find a better flight or rate on our own. It gave us peace of mind knowing that they would help us if there were delays or cancellations.
@@chloel728I just checked into this. If we book our air travel with Princess, it’s almost $200 more expensive and it doesn’t seem like we get to choose our seats either. Did you do it through the app or a customer service agent?
@@Elley86753 We booked the trip through a travel agent. Princess Ez Air recommends that you choose the economy rate that allows ticket changes which is what we picked. We were able to choose our seats too. Many airlines don't allow you to choose seats when you get the basic economy rate. I'd suggest getting help from the customer service agent so they tell you what the options are. The app doesn't always define it clearly. Good luck.
My first cruise launches in 2 weeks! Already received my medallion and friends have gifted me Princess gift cards. Bags are packed. Housesitters engaged. I can hardly wait!
im 14. ive been on like 4 princess cruises since i was 9, and have another one booked in december. i like the simplicity and quality of the ship, because i find a lot of those ships with so many random activities to be a little bit tacky. i think that if you go on 1-2 princess cruises youll figure out what you enjoy. fyi if anyone going on the first cruise ever is my age, make friends on the first to second day. you get those memories early and create everlasting memories.
This is great advice. I went on a tour to Italy with my parents when I was your age. There was one other girl my age but we were both too shy to talk to each other until a few days from the end. We got along great and wished we had met earlier. We stayed friends for years.
I would suggest signing up to the Princess mailing list for any special promotions they may have. We were offered a free cruise earlier this year and jumped at the offer. The latest offer we took was £1 deposit per person and half price on the Princess Plus Package
One of my favorite benefits of sailing with princess is being a member of the Casino Players Club. Spend some time in the casino, yes you need to gamble to qualify, and you will automatically receive offers for discounts on cruises and maybe onboard credits. On my latest booking, we sail on Nov.25, i received 35% off my cabin fare and I received $200 to use in the casino. It’s a really valuable benefit.
So happy that formal nights is relaxed up a bit. We will dress but no gowns or ties for us. Our celebrity cruise this last spring relaxed it a bit now and we thoroughly enjoyed it and were much more comfortable.
Hi Ilana, I so enjoy your videos and they really get me psyched for an upcoming cruise. I'm leaving on my 12th Princess cruise on Saturday. Princess has my loyalty because of their wonderful food and service. My best tip is to order bottled water before you go if you will be needing it. A dozen bottles was around $7. If you wait, they are (I think) $3 each on board. They are waiting in your cabin when you arrive. It's very good to have them for bringing ashore at ports. The cruise I'm going on is a repositioning cruise from NYC to FL. It will be my 5th time on this repo and there are lots of other repeaters. Our Facebook group has hundreds of members. It's wonderful with lots of sea days which I love. Have you ever done a video on repositioning cruises? They are awesome!
Thanks Ilana. We’ve sailed with Princess for the past ten years and were not aware of the ‘refer a friend’ or ‘referral program’ that you mentioned. Always love tuning in to your channel because you are such a reliable provider of worthwhile information. Happy cruising.😊
I enjoyed the room service, just have to be very specific, we ordered french fries which were very good but we forgot to order ketchup, lesson learned.
Just got back from a 14 day Panama Canal cruise on Island Princess. It’s a smaller ship that fits through the old original canal and we loved it. The food was very good. We found out around day 10 that there is a vegan menu in the dining rooms and I wished I had known that sooner. We had a balcony cabin on deck 7. Loved the large closet next to the bathroom, and made use of the drawers. We loved the Medallion and wore it on the lanyard. It’s much more convenient than a cruise card. The ship’s “house band” is Asian Soul and they are outstanding. I would take a cruise just because they are on it. They are getting off the ship in about a month to take a break and I’ll be waiting to see which ship they are on next. The Italian specialty restaurant, Sabatini is outstanding and you get a lot of food for $35 per person. On MSC last year we thought the specialty restaurants were too expensive so we skipped them. We are 60 and 71 years old. Most passengers looked to be 60 and up. The cruise was continuing on its world tour for 100+ days. We found that the Horizon Court buffet food was excellent with a wide variety. Silverware is on the tables. You can get your own soft drinks and waiters come around frequently to ask if you want any beverages. They are quick about cleaning the tables. We look forward to cruising on Princess again.
Have done 22 Princesses cruises,20 day Caribbean next week and then 2nd World Cruise January 2025 on the Island Princess. Generally VERY well looked after,staff,food,accommodation etc as well as our Cruise Planner keep us very satisfied and cared for. 20:33 .
@@silviaeastonborges5204 The Island was probably my least favorite ship. I didn't mind that it was small but was missing the International Cafe and a few other odd things about it. I would go on it again for a really good price/itinerary but it would be my last choice.
I did Discovery Princess Alaska in May and it was fantastic. I loved every second. The food was glorious, the medalion was so handy, the guest speakers were so informative and entertaining. I loved the upscale feel. The change in the packages made premere the way we are going to go in the future because of gow we eat and drink and enjoy the ship. I also highly recommend going to the lotus spa thermal suite its amazing, book this early along with your specialty dining. The crew was spectacular and went above and beyond. Cant say wnoigh good things about Princes. Have 2024 Caribbean and 2025 Norway booked. Will probably do a few short ones in-between those dates
Excellent explanation of Princess--we prefer cruising with them. Love the Princess Plus for the 2 of us. Food is great and frankly we prefer not to have slides and zip lines but the new ships may go with them which may be a disaster for those of us who prefer and more mature adult experience without the ship being totally full of kiddos making alot of noise because they have a perfect balance for all ages the way they have it!! Go with princess Air as if you run into issues--Princess handles it for you and you will get to the ship or back home thanks to their great care....
Our first cruise was to Alaska and my husband and I chose Princess. We loved our experience with them! We went to Alaska for our 30 th wedding Anniversary in 2006 and found out we enjoyed cruising . Since then we have been on several more cruises with Princess and have never been disappointed. Princess is always our first choice for cruises. Have fun in Alaska it is beautiful there and Happy Anniversary.
Appreciate your videos so much! I booked Princess to Alaska in June 2024. I have listened to everything you say & recommend, you’re incredible. Thank you for sharing your insights.
Was that an Alaska sailing? Curious about your opinion of Discovery.....was there anyway to enjoy the pools or hot tubs? We love the design of the ship and the shows but RC ones have an indoor swimming area it seemed. Ofc, we may be busy with excursions anyway😄
MJ, swimming in Alaska is not usually something most people are doing when cruising in Alaska. It is often chilly and there is so much to see and do, even with the indoor covered pools, I hardly ever see anyone using them. Very different than a Mexican Riviera or Caribbean cruise.
@@mimijulene6307 I guess we aren't the majority. Swimming is life for us, only thing that helps with arthritis symptoms! Plus, we'd rather the kids swim of possible too. We have found HA, RC & Carnival for sure have indoor family pools.
This is a very informative video. Thanks. The very first cruise we took was on Princess. I remember doing some laundry as packing skills were limited. If we were to go back, we would use the plus or premium plan
Re: Princess Patter versus Events list - Pre-Medallion, the paper copy was called the Princess Patter simply because it contained more than the daily events list. It contained information on the port ( if it was a port day), some short snippets of world news, and sometimes a short bio of a ship's officer. Other misc. articles might be included as well. However, since Medallion, they only provide a one sheet "Events list" for most passengers, generally because some are used to carrying the list of activities around with them. It is probably a generational thing, but it is convenient for those who don't want to use their phone for that. Hence, the name change form "Princess Patter" to Events list.
I verified my veteran status through ID Me, and received a $250 OBC for a 15-day Princess Ocean to Ocean Panama Canal cruise! Thank you so much for sharing so many cruising tips & tricks.
We went on our first cruise with Princess to Alaska in April and we booked our 2nd one from Sydney Australia through several islands and then Hawaii then to San Francisco. It's a 26 day cruise and it will also be on the same ship, the Grand Princess. The military benefit is worth looking into! The Primer package we found to be worth it since you get better seats at the entertainment and you don't have to think about all what has been paid for and what you're going to get charged for! The large bottles of water you have to pay for but the little ones you can get for the asking! When you order drinks, if they don't have what you ordered they won't let you know always and they will show that it was delivered. So make sure that you know what you are ordering. We had a great time and we are really looking forward to our next cruise which will be 26 days long! Thank you for all that you do to inform all of us for the information that you have!
Love their outdoor Movies. We did an Alaskan cruise, so it got cold but was was fun for us. You sold me on the upgrades when we go on the our next cruise with them.
Thanks Ilana. My wife and I are doing our first Princess cruise in December. I've learned a lot watching your videos, along with following Cruise Critic. We're doing the Premier service for the all-inclusive feel.
FYI, unless it has changed since July, nobody mentions that at the International Cafe are cakes that are part of the Premium Desserts. They are the ones that are right by the checkout counter and never cut into. And they never cut them because any time you order a slice, they send someone off running to a kitchen somewhere to bring you back a slice. And IMO, they are way better than the sundaes because the sundaes are filled with gummies and stuff, that don't really go with a sundae. Plus, unlike the sundaes, you can get these 24/7. :)
This will be our fifth cruise with Princess, and my husband was a headliner entertainer on Princess back in the 80s. I prefer Princess. We sail Reserve Collection (Club Class) and have the Premiere package. At the end of the trip, we have no extra charges. It is good for our peace of mind. We board the Emerald Princess tomorrow. I have the storm doesn’t effect our cruise too much, but it wont effect our enjoyment of being on the ship.
You are going on the ship that Allison from Let’s Go Travel Tips vlog is debarking from on Saturday. She is cruising the New England and Canada itinerary and she had a wonderful time. She did a sail away vlog every day of her trip and it was amazing to watch. Hope you have a beautiful cruise!
@@ShelleyFick Oh! I will have to find her channel, as we are a group going on Emerald in February 2024..will be good to get a Birds Eye View of the ship, and a virtual tour!
We just booked our first cruise and first princess cruise. Already have learned a lot for next time assuming my husband enjoys it. We are just keeping with the standard level because we thought our time share would have covered more but like I said we’ve learned a lot All ready 😅
Hi Ilana, just love to watch your videos. Thank you for the info re Princess. I have sailed with Princess 5 times and will again next May. Love seeing the recent pictures since I last cruised with them in 2018. Looking forward to your next video. :-)
We are cruising on Sapphire Princess next June to Alaska, so this is great! We went ahead and purchased Princess Premier. Between the drinks, pictures, and gratuities it just made sense. Bonus getting priority seating at the shows! 😂
Sailing first time with Princess cruise on 27/4/24 starting form Florida port Lauderdale how was your experience ? What are the main things to expect? Do we have to book excursions while we here or we can book when there
I would like to thank you for all the information that you have given very excellent information I am the really thinking of going on a cruise with a princess so thank you very much you have you brought a lot of good points up of what people can do like the cruise when I'm on the princess
Thank you very much for such an informative video. We are 4-star mariner with Holland, Elite with Celebrity and for the first time, we are trying Princess in January. Really excited about it.
Howdy Ilana, already subscribed and hit the like button, What I don't like about Princess is most things were included. Now unless you get Princess Plus Package or Princess Premier package nothing is included. They are trying to make up for the shutdown in one shot. My wife didn't like the Sanctuary areas. Crown Grille is good. You do get an onboard credit for military service. Been on Princess Cruises before.
Thanks so much! I know, it’s disappointing that some things that were included are now extra. In that case standard is still best & then pick & choose where you want to add on
We hadn't heard about the Catch by Rudi. Looks like a welcome addition to the Princess's Specialty Dining offerings. We'll have to try the Catch on our next Princess Cruise if our ship has this restaurant. Thank you Life Well Cruised for all this information!
You should work for Princess, I just used the online chat to ask about stars under the sky, and the Sanctuary. I was told you have to book for the cruise and I have no idea about the price, you had more info on the Sanctuary than the chat person. Also I never did get an answer about the star thing, if it is every night, if there is a cost.
We have travelled with the Princess Lines several times now. We are about to embark on our third cruise around New Zealand and earlier this year we sailed from Brisbane to Tasmania. On our first cruise we were told that as you accrue sailing nights with the Cruise Line you were entitled to extra benefits. So far I do not think this has happened. I will be asking for advice as we board for our trip in the next three weeks. We have sailed with Carnival - but never again, the kids were allowed to do as they pleased; and with P & O to Cairns. We had our hand in our pockets for most of the trip and did not have the opportunity to attend free performances each evening. I hope this next trip will be a memorable one.
My first cruise to Alaska was on the Ruby Princess. I’m taking my friend to Alaska on Norwegian Encore in October 2023. Hope we’re not disappointed! My mom went for her 3rd (all on different Princess ships) Alaska cruise last year & was really disappointed. I guess Covid ruined it for a lot of cruises
I saw another video about the Encore which didn't paint it in the best light... curious to hear your experience. On another note, the Discovery Princess is the newest one for Alaska and it doesn't sound like they made it for cold climates!
@@MJ-gj6mj I was very disappointed in Norwegian. Granted my Princess cruise was prior to Covid & seems Covid ruined everything. Still, I was disappointed in food, the beds were really hard, some of the bartenders were very rushed & rude. I know it’s hard to find good workers but the cruise industry has a lot to be desired since Covid
$60 US every day is still EXPENSIVE if people don't use the internet or drink or need the other perks much. If it is a 7 to 12 or 100 day cruise, this really adds up to lots of $$$. If only people can buy on specific days only. Buying by the day would have really been appealing!!!
Coming from Australia to San Francisco they dropped US ofat Pier 80 in the industrial Port and it took the ONE Bus Four Hours to get US to the Criuse Center at the Wharf. This was no premium Service and pur First and Last Cruise with Princess
Very nicely done! You've given us a great deal of information in a very short amount of time. I've cruised several times before, but this will be my first time cruising with Princess. Thanks to you, I have a much better idea of what to expect.
There is a difference between FCC (future cruise credit) which the cruise line gives like during Covid and sailing were interrupted and FCD (future cruise deposit). When you are on a Princess ship you can purchase FCD which can be applied to a future cruise. Not only does it do the deposit, it also gives OBC as well. This IMHO is a good deal.
I love your presentations and you are very informative Wr have a brother n law that wants to be a Debbie downer what can we do to keep him happy im sorry we are going on a cruise on vision of the seas in August 2024
Been on two Princess ships before but some years ago.. Love their ships, however like any holiday there is always a penalty to pay for single passengers that I feel a bit unfair as some people have no op tion but the travel alone or just dont go on holiday. I like that they have allowed one bottle of wine per person on embarkation to drink in the cabin.
Is there a kettle in your room on Sky Princess Balcony cabins? As i have seen that you cant take your own travel kettle. Secondly can you get an Irish coffee ( coffee with alcohol and cream on top) from any bar or international cafe ( or just in casual dining?
I don't drink alcohol or eat or drink sugar so the extra packages are a waste for me. I miss the coffee card and what was once complimentary like Alfredo's. As elites, value for loyalty has gone, except the laundry. I'm grateful for that especially on the longer cruises, but they've dropped the free wifi which I now have to add to the cost. There is a lot of 'nickel and diming' on most cruises these days.
Travelling as a couple, can you just do Princess Plus for one of you, after all, when I go up to a bar, I order drinks for us both? We’re on a 23 cruise next year and paying $120 extra a day for both of us is out of the question. Thanks.
Changes: no more free tote bag, no more chocolates on the pillow, and Princess Patter is now on one piece of paper instead of several. And, one towel animal added.
My suggestion is book with Holland America, unless you are only interested in the ship. I've taken several Inside Passage Cruises. We were on the Royal Princess. We couldn't see much scenery when we were inside. The shops and bars were on the outside against the windows blocking our view. There was a place with some nice comfy chairs by some windows but the windows were covered. Also, at night we watched a movie on the deck but had a hard time finding blankets. They were so stingy with the blankets. I took a blanket to my stateroom so I could take a nap and the cabin attendant came in to clean and wanted the blanket, so I didn't have anything to cover up with unless I got into the bed. Even on the deck our view of obstructed. I'm interested in seeing the place I'm visiting, not watching entertainment and getting drunk. Food was good. Several people came a pleaded with us to buy the drink package. We did not give in. We drank juice, tap water and hot chocolate. We don't drink alcohol, coffee or tea. I actually got through a whole week not drinking anything carbonated.
We took a 16 day cruise in July 2023 on the Emerald Princess to Hawaii. We have never cruised Princess before, we normally cruise Carnival and have been on 2 Royal Caribbean cruises. I loved the medallion. I loved being able to have drinks and snacks delivered to me anywhere on the ship. We chose the Princess Plus which was great for cocktails and coffee. The staff was friendly, the service was mediocre, with a few exceptions where we had a couple of bartenders who were excellent. We did not do any specialty dining, and maybe we should have. We all felt that the food was terrible, no flavor, the desserts were awful. Having cruised with Carnival for years, and knowing that Princess is owned by the same company, we expected more, better even. So we were highly disappointed with the food. The entertainment was ok. The adult only pool would've been better if it wasn't partially in the shade. There weren't a lot of activities for my 20 year old and my 16 year old, so they got a little bored. We enjoyed Hawaii, we love cruising, I guess we were just expecting Princess to be a step above Carnival as far as food and service and we found that it wasn't.
TY so much for this informative comment! It is so hard to find reviews pertaining to teens or young adults. I was leaning towards Princess for Alaska bc they're supposed to be the best for that. However, the ship doesn't seem to have an indoor pool and RC does which seems like a give-in for Alaska. The NCL Encore shows didn't appeal to the teens at all. We have also done Carnival previously but the last one literally had a bloody brawl at the start of a show and it was an 8 day sailing.
Great video as usual Illana. On our last 2 Princess cruises there have been 2 or 3 formal night plus a white and gold night. You need to keep an eye on the Princess Patter to see which night is which. The white and gold night was on a different night to the one we had been originally told in an email. It wasn’t one of the ‘official’ formal nights.
We’ve been on many Princess cruises especially in Europe. Looking forward to sailing on the Enchanted again. Is Gigi’s still included? Where is this Juice bar I heard about? Thanks for all you do for us cruisers.
We've been cruising with Princess since 2013 and I can say they went down hill very fast. They seemed an exclusive cruise line at one time, but those days are past. The buffet was the worst food and service I've experienced at sea. The crew in many of the outlets just didn't seem to care as they use to; poor customer service. We will probably pick another cruise line next time we cruise. I hope they bring back those days when the crew actually cared and the food is elevated like it use to be. I may be critical in this comment but I was in the hospitality industry for about 45 years and Princess is not quite hitting the mark.
Just wanted to mention that once a movie is shown on "the big screen" on deck, it can be viewed in your cabin on the TV for free. Silly but useful tip.
Thank you!
nice tip😊
Two things to stress that makes Princess stand out. They don't make you "check out" towels. Just take them, you don't need to sign or give them your name, room number or even wait in line and waste all that time. Also the buffet is open between meals. It is not just a "snack" you can get a full hot meal anytime from early morning to late at night.
nice😊
Not only are we first time princess cruisers , this is our first cruise period. Very excited
Very exciting!!
Us too and we’re in our 70’s
u picked well 😊 excited for u guys!!! u will have FUN n most of all IMO u will relax w princess 😌
My tip for Princess is to let them book your air. When we did our British Isles cruise, the Emerald Princess broke down in Cobh, Ireland. We were 8 hours late in leaving port for Dublin, where we were to fly home. Princess took care of everything--they kept us well informed and put us up in the Dublin Hilton for the night, then gave us a food allowance and transported us to the airport the next morning.
We also booked the air through Princess. The rate was very competitive. We weren't able to find a better flight or rate on our own. It gave us peace of mind knowing that they would help us if there were delays or cancellations.
@@chloel728I just checked into this. If we book our air travel with Princess, it’s almost $200 more expensive and it doesn’t seem like we get to choose our seats either. Did you do it through the app or a customer service agent?
@@Elley86753 We booked the trip through a travel agent. Princess Ez Air recommends that you choose the economy rate that allows ticket changes which is what we picked. We were able to choose our seats too. Many airlines don't allow you to choose seats when you get the basic economy rate. I'd suggest getting help from the customer service agent so they tell you what the options are. The app doesn't always define it clearly. Good luck.
Wow, what great service.
The drinks are really high in calories. I am staying away from the drinks and desserts.
My first cruise launches in 2 weeks! Already received my medallion and friends have gifted me Princess gift cards. Bags are packed. Housesitters engaged. I can hardly wait!
You will have a wonderful time I'm sure!!
Awesome!! Have an amazing cruise!
Enjoy your cruise. You will have a great time.
Have a fantastic time. You will LOVE it! ❤
Bring plenty of cash
im 14. ive been on like 4 princess cruises since i was 9, and have another one booked in december. i like the simplicity and quality of the ship, because i find a lot of those ships with so many random activities to be a little bit tacky. i think that if you go on 1-2 princess cruises youll figure out what you enjoy. fyi if anyone going on the first cruise ever is my age, make friends on the first to second day. you get those memories early and create everlasting memories.
This is great advice. I went on a tour to Italy with my parents when I was your age. There was one other girl my age but we were both too shy to talk to each other until a few days from the end. We got along great and wished we had met earlier. We stayed friends for years.
I would suggest signing up to the Princess mailing list for any special promotions they may have. We were offered a free cruise earlier this year and jumped at the offer. The latest offer we took was £1 deposit per person and half price on the Princess Plus Package
I love the Love Boat horn! Makes me smile to hear it!
Me too!!
I liked it too.
Your videos are so thorough and helpful! Keep up the great work!
Glad you like them! Thanks so much
One of my favorite benefits of sailing with princess is being a member of the Casino Players Club. Spend some time in the casino, yes you need to gamble to qualify, and you will automatically receive offers for discounts on cruises and maybe onboard credits. On my latest booking, we sail on Nov.25, i received 35% off my cabin fare and I received $200 to use in the casino. It’s a really valuable benefit.
Us too! Except I only got $100 :(
Good tip
Headed out on enchanted princess only paid port fees /taxes. Great casino offers.. I can never get sanctuary even if we run!😢
So happy that formal nights is relaxed up a bit. We will dress but no gowns or ties for us.
Our celebrity cruise this last spring relaxed it a bit now and we thoroughly enjoyed it and were much more comfortable.
Thanks for the info
We did notice some men who insisted on coming to dinner wearing caps - I mean, why???
Hi Ilana, I so enjoy your videos and they really get me psyched for an upcoming cruise. I'm leaving on my 12th Princess cruise on Saturday. Princess has my loyalty because of their wonderful food and service. My best tip is to order bottled water before you go if you will be needing it. A dozen bottles was around $7. If you wait, they are (I think) $3 each on board. They are waiting in your cabin when you arrive. It's very good to have them for bringing ashore at ports. The cruise I'm going on is a repositioning cruise from NYC to FL. It will be my 5th time on this repo and there are lots of other repeaters. Our Facebook group has hundreds of members. It's wonderful with lots of sea days which I love. Have you ever done a video on repositioning cruises? They are awesome!
Thanks Ilana. We’ve sailed with Princess for the past ten years and were not aware of the ‘refer a friend’ or ‘referral program’ that you mentioned. Always love tuning in to your channel because you are such a reliable provider of worthwhile information. Happy cruising.😊
I enjoyed the room service, just have to be very specific, we ordered french fries which were very good but we forgot to order ketchup, lesson learned.
We are Elite on Princess and we LOVE this line. Our all time favorite ships!
Just got back from a 14 day Panama Canal cruise on Island Princess. It’s a smaller ship that fits through the old original canal and we loved it. The food was very good. We found out around day 10 that there is a vegan menu in the dining rooms and I wished I had known that sooner. We had a balcony cabin on deck 7. Loved the large closet next to the bathroom, and made use of the drawers.
We loved the Medallion and wore it on the lanyard. It’s much more convenient than a cruise card.
The ship’s “house band” is Asian Soul and they are outstanding. I would take a cruise just because they are on it. They are getting off the ship in about a month to take a break and I’ll be waiting to see which ship they are on next.
The Italian specialty restaurant, Sabatini is outstanding and you get a lot of food for $35 per person. On MSC last year we thought the specialty restaurants were too expensive so we skipped them.
We are 60 and 71 years old. Most passengers looked to be 60 and up. The cruise was continuing on its world tour for 100+ days.
We found that the Horizon Court buffet food was excellent with a wide variety. Silverware is on the tables. You can get your own soft drinks and waiters come around frequently to ask if you want any beverages. They are quick about cleaning the tables.
We look forward to cruising on Princess again.
Have done 22 Princesses cruises,20 day Caribbean next week and then 2nd World Cruise January 2025 on the Island Princess. Generally VERY well looked after,staff,food,accommodation etc as well as our Cruise Planner keep us very satisfied and cared for. 20:33
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Of every cruise ship I have done in more than 50 yrs., had never been on one that I didn’t like, until I went on the Island Princess… never again!
@@silviaeastonborges5204 The Island was probably my least favorite ship. I didn't mind that it was small but was missing the International Cafe and a few other odd things about it. I would go on it again for a really good price/itinerary but it would be my last choice.
I did Discovery Princess Alaska in May and it was fantastic. I loved every second. The food was glorious, the medalion was so handy, the guest speakers were so informative and entertaining. I loved the upscale feel. The change in the packages made premere the way we are going to go in the future because of gow we eat and drink and enjoy the ship. I also highly recommend going to the lotus spa thermal suite its amazing, book this early along with your specialty dining. The crew was spectacular and went above and beyond. Cant say wnoigh good things about Princes. Have 2024 Caribbean and 2025 Norway booked. Will probably do a few short ones in-between those dates
Excellent explanation of Princess--we prefer cruising with them. Love the Princess Plus for the 2 of us. Food is great and frankly we prefer not to have slides and zip lines but the new ships may go with them which may be a disaster for those of us who prefer and more mature adult experience without the ship being totally full of kiddos making alot of noise because they have a perfect balance for all ages the way they have it!! Go with princess Air as if you run into issues--Princess handles it for you and you will get to the ship or back home thanks to their great care....
Love the tips. My husband and I just booked with discovery princess. Our first ever cruise! We will both be 61. So excited.
We’re sailing Princess for the first time in two weeks. Thank you for this video. ❤️💯
I've enjoyed your videos more than the others while reviewing and studying Cruises lately.
Definitely considering Princess for our 50th wedding anniversary in 2025 to Alaska. Never sailed with them before but you sold me with this video
Our first cruise was to Alaska and my husband and I chose Princess. We loved our experience with them! We went to Alaska for our 30 th wedding Anniversary in 2006 and found out we enjoyed cruising . Since then we have been on several more cruises with Princess and have never been disappointed. Princess is always our first choice for cruises. Have fun in Alaska it is beautiful there and Happy Anniversary.
@@pamelamartel7361 why thank you so much. We’re so looking forward to it. I dream, eat and sleep cruising. 😀😃😀
Appreciate your videos so much! I booked Princess to Alaska in June 2024. I have listened to everything you say & recommend, you’re incredible. Thank you for sharing your insights.
I am booked for June 2024 to Alaska also. The 16th
Yes on Princess last October..the Discovery..you hit the nail on the head Ilana, you covered everything I could think of and more thank you!!
Have an amazing cruise! I hear Discovery is so beautiful
Was that an Alaska sailing? Curious about your opinion of Discovery.....was there anyway to enjoy the pools or hot tubs? We love the design of the ship and the shows but RC ones have an indoor swimming area it seemed. Ofc, we may be busy with excursions anyway😄
MJ, swimming in Alaska is not usually something most people are doing when cruising in Alaska. It is often chilly and there is so much to see and do, even with the indoor covered pools, I hardly ever see anyone using them. Very different than a Mexican Riviera or Caribbean cruise.
@@mimijulene6307 I guess we aren't the majority. Swimming is life for us, only thing that helps with arthritis symptoms! Plus, we'd rather the kids swim of possible too. We have found HA, RC & Carnival for sure have indoor family pools.
This is a very informative video. Thanks. The very first cruise we took was on Princess. I remember doing some laundry as packing skills were limited. If we were to go back, we would use the plus or premium plan
My first princess cruise is on 2nd of December to New Zealand for 13 days. Looking forward to it!
I have never been on a cruise but I have a booking on princess for March 2025 and I can’t wait
Re: Princess Patter versus Events list - Pre-Medallion, the paper copy was called the Princess Patter simply because it contained more than the daily events list. It contained information on the port ( if it was a port day), some short snippets of world news, and sometimes a short bio of a ship's officer. Other misc. articles might be included as well. However, since Medallion, they only provide a one sheet "Events list" for most passengers, generally because some are used to carrying the list of activities around with them. It is probably a generational thing, but it is convenient for those who don't want to use their phone for that. Hence, the name change form "Princess Patter" to Events list.
We're first timers and will be on the Enchanted Princess in April!
I verified my veteran status through ID Me, and received a $250 OBC for a 15-day Princess Ocean to Ocean Panama Canal cruise! Thank you so much for sharing so many cruising tips & tricks.
That’s fantastic! Thanks for sharing
We went on our first cruise with Princess to Alaska in April and we booked our 2nd one from Sydney Australia through several islands and then Hawaii then to San Francisco. It's a 26 day cruise and it will also be on the same ship, the Grand Princess. The military benefit is worth looking into! The Primer package we found to be worth it since you get better seats at the entertainment and you don't have to think about all what has been paid for and what you're going to get charged for! The large bottles of water you have to pay for but the little ones you can get for the asking! When you order drinks, if they don't have what you ordered they won't let you know always and they will show that it was delivered. So make sure that you know what you are ordering. We had a great time and we are really looking forward to our next cruise which will be 26 days long! Thank you for all that you do to inform all of us for the information that you have!
Love their outdoor Movies. We did an Alaskan cruise, so it got cold but was was fun for us. You sold me on the upgrades when we go on the our next cruise with them.
Going on our first ever cruise, with Princess Crown, to Mexico. Very excited and can't wait!
Very exciting!
Great video, thank you.
Thank you so much for your videos. 😊
You are wonderful at this!!!!!!!
Thanks Ilana. My wife and I are doing our first Princess cruise in December. I've learned a lot watching your videos, along with following Cruise Critic. We're doing the Premier service for the all-inclusive feel.
This was so unbelievably helpful thank you so much
FYI, unless it has changed since July, nobody mentions that at the International Cafe are cakes that are part of the Premium Desserts. They are the ones that are right by the checkout counter and never cut into. And they never cut them because any time you order a slice, they send someone off running to a kitchen somewhere to bring you back a slice. And IMO, they are way better than the sundaes because the sundaes are filled with gummies and stuff, that don't really go with a sundae. Plus, unlike the sundaes, you can get these 24/7. :)
good tip
Are you able to get snacks/desserts at the international cafe included with standard fair?
Very timely. Leaving Monday on my first Princess cruise. Thanks Ilana!
Yay!! Enjoy 🛳️
This will be our fifth cruise with Princess, and my husband was a headliner entertainer on Princess back in the 80s. I prefer Princess. We sail Reserve Collection (Club Class) and have the Premiere package. At the end of the trip, we have no extra charges. It is good for our peace of mind. We board the Emerald Princess tomorrow. I have the storm doesn’t effect our cruise too much, but it wont effect our enjoyment of being on the ship.
You are going on the ship that Allison from Let’s Go Travel Tips vlog is debarking from on Saturday. She is cruising the New England and Canada itinerary and she had a wonderful time. She did a sail away vlog every day of her trip and it was amazing to watch. Hope you have a beautiful cruise!
I believe Allison is disembarking tomorrow. She was a week ahead of us. I have been watching all of her RUclips videos
That sounds amazing!! Enjoy
@@ShelleyFick Oh! I will have to find her channel, as we are a group going on Emerald in February 2024..will be good to get a Birds Eye View of the ship, and a virtual tour!
We have never cruised on Princess. Celebrity Edge class are our favorite ships.
New princess cruiser! Does Princess offer a priority boarding for an extra fee? Like carnival’s faster to the fun? Thanks for the tips!!
We just booked our first cruise and first princess cruise. Already have learned a lot for next time assuming my husband enjoys it. We are just keeping with the standard level because we thought our time share would have covered more but like I said we’ve learned a lot All ready 😅
Hi Ilana, just love to watch your videos. Thank you for the info re Princess. I have sailed with Princess 5 times and will again next May. Love seeing the recent pictures since I last cruised with them in 2018. Looking forward to your next video. :-)
We are cruising on Sapphire Princess next June to Alaska, so this is great! We went ahead and purchased Princess Premier. Between the drinks, pictures, and gratuities it just made sense. Bonus getting priority seating at the shows! 😂
Just came back from my first cruise on Princess. I loved the entertainment. Definitely something that stood out to me.
Sailing first time with Princess cruise on 27/4/24 starting form Florida port Lauderdale how was your experience ? What are the main things to expect? Do we have to book excursions while we here or we can book when there
I would like to thank you for all the information that you have given very excellent information I am the really thinking of going on a cruise with a princess so thank you very much you have you brought a lot of good points up of what people can do like the cruise when I'm on the princess
Loved sailing on Sapphire a few years ago, a fantastic time had by all. Looking forward to sailing on Diamond this December ❤❤
Theme Nights/Dress: how do we know, in advance of the cruise, what the Theme may be, so that we can pack accordingly?
I would like to know this too
Thank you very much for such an informative video. We are 4-star mariner with Holland, Elite with Celebrity and for the first time, we are trying Princess in January. Really excited about it.
Glad it was helpful! Enjoy
Lots of great info!! Been on Princess before but going on Princess Discovery with hubby in Feb. Glad we did Princess Plus!!
Thanks Ilana!!!
That’s awesome!
Where did you purchase your handbag. 12:17 minutes into the video? I love it!
Thank you! Had no clue of the military benefit!
My bigest complaint sailing on other cruise lines is NO LAUNDRY!!!!! Princess is so easy to love.
Princess is the cruise line we like the most. Even my 10 year old son loves Princess ❤
Fun! Thanks for sharing
Did he like the shows aboard/entertainment? I know they all have the kids clubs....just curious for activities to do together.
Heading on my first princess cruise next month. This was very helpful.
That’s awesome! Enjoy
Thank you for this video! First princess cruise on regal in February. I'm trying to gather information to be prepared. Your video helped alot!
That’s awesome!! We really like Regal Princess. Enjoy
Howdy Ilana, already subscribed and hit the like button, What I don't like about Princess is most things were included. Now unless you get Princess Plus Package or Princess Premier package nothing is included. They are trying to make up for the shutdown in one shot. My wife didn't like the Sanctuary areas. Crown Grille is good. You do get an onboard credit for military service. Been on Princess Cruises before.
Thanks so much! I know, it’s disappointing that some things that were included are now extra. In that case standard is still best & then pick & choose where you want to add on
We hadn't heard about the Catch by Rudi. Looks like a welcome addition to the Princess's Specialty Dining offerings. We'll have to try the Catch on our next Princess Cruise if our ship has this restaurant. Thank you Life Well Cruised for all this information!
It’s relatively new. Actually Sabatinis menu was updated too. Very good
You should work for Princess, I just used the online chat to ask about stars under the sky, and the Sanctuary. I was told you have to book for the cruise and I have no idea about the price, you had more info on the Sanctuary than the chat person. Also I never did get an answer about the star thing, if it is every night, if there is a cost.
I would like to see more Princess cruises out of NYC. ❤
Great tips, I love cruising.
Our favorite cruise 🚢 line!❤
We heard that all drinks on packages still have 18% gratuity added. Same with speciality restaurants 😮
We have travelled with the Princess Lines several times now. We are about to embark on our third cruise around New Zealand and earlier this year we sailed from Brisbane to Tasmania. On our first cruise we were told that as you accrue sailing nights with the Cruise Line you were entitled to extra benefits. So far I do not think this has happened. I will be asking for advice as we board for our trip in the next three weeks. We have sailed with Carnival - but never again, the kids were allowed to do as they pleased; and with P & O to Cairns. We had our hand in our pockets for most of the trip and did not have the opportunity to attend free performances each evening.
I hope this next trip will be a memorable one.
My first cruise to Alaska was on the Ruby Princess. I’m taking my friend to Alaska on Norwegian Encore in October 2023. Hope we’re not disappointed! My mom went for her 3rd (all on different Princess ships) Alaska cruise last year & was really disappointed. I guess Covid ruined it for a lot of cruises
They are different, but I think you’ll enjoy NCL too
I saw another video about the Encore which didn't paint it in the best light... curious to hear your experience. On another note, the Discovery Princess is the newest one for Alaska and it doesn't sound like they made it for cold climates!
@@MJ-gj6mj I was very disappointed in Norwegian. Granted my Princess cruise was prior to Covid & seems Covid ruined everything. Still, I was disappointed in food, the beds were really hard, some of the bartenders were very rushed & rude. I know it’s hard to find good workers but the cruise industry has a lot to be desired since Covid
I am thinking of going on princess in May first time. Thanks for the video
Absolutely loved the horn!
p.s. (Not well known) Order a spiked 'custom' desert. Yes, a small bottle of your selected alcohol is included if you ask.
$60 US every day is still EXPENSIVE if people don't use the internet or drink or need the other perks much. If it is a 7 to 12 or 100 day cruise, this really adds up to lots of $$$. If only people can buy on specific days only. Buying by the day would have really been appealing!!!
Great Info. Thanks For Sharing 😊
Coming from Australia to San Francisco they dropped US ofat Pier 80 in the industrial Port and it took the ONE Bus Four Hours to get US to the Criuse Center at the Wharf. This was no premium Service and pur First and Last Cruise with Princess
I have my list now thanks to YOU.... 12/3/23 on Regal Princess out of Galveston.... Is this the actual LOVE BOAT!!??
Excited in Houston
Exciting!! No, the original love boat no longer sails with Princess. There are some interesting Love Boat memorabilia/photos onboard
Very nicely done! You've given us a great deal of information in a very short amount of time.
I've cruised several times before, but this will be my first time cruising with Princess.
Thanks to you, I have a much better idea of what to expect.
There is a difference between FCC (future cruise credit) which the cruise line gives like during Covid and sailing were interrupted and FCD (future cruise deposit). When you are on a Princess ship you can purchase FCD which can be applied to a future cruise. Not only does it do the deposit, it also gives OBC as well. This IMHO is a good deal.
I love your presentations and you are very informative Wr have a brother n law that wants to be a Debbie downer what can we do to keep him happy im sorry we are going on a cruise on vision of the seas in August 2024
Leave him at home lol..sorry just kidding!
Glad you enjoy them! If possible, chat about expectations and plan to only meet for dinner, as an example
Big thank you for that very informative information...👍🇬🇧
Been on two Princess ships before but some years ago.. Love their ships, however like any holiday there is always a penalty to pay for single passengers that I feel a bit unfair as some people have no op tion but the travel alone or just dont go on holiday. I like that they have allowed one bottle of wine per person on embarkation to drink in the cabin.
Is there a kettle in your room on Sky Princess Balcony cabins? As i have seen that you cant take your own travel kettle.
Secondly can you get an Irish coffee ( coffee with alcohol and cream on top) from any bar or international cafe ( or just in casual dining?
I went in th princess cruises!
I don't drink alcohol or eat or drink sugar so the extra packages are a waste for me. I miss the coffee card and what was once complimentary like Alfredo's.
As elites, value for loyalty has gone, except the laundry. I'm grateful for that especially on the longer cruises, but they've dropped the free wifi which I now have to add to the cost.
There is a lot of 'nickel and diming' on most cruises these days.
Travelling as a couple, can you just do Princess Plus for one of you, after all, when I go up to a bar, I order drinks for us both? We’re on a 23 cruise next year and paying $120 extra a day for both of us is out of the question. Thanks.
Changes: no more free tote bag, no more chocolates on the pillow, and Princess Patter is now on one piece of paper instead of several. And, one towel animal added.
@norinechang2564 oh we just sailed princess discovery to Alaska end of July we had towels animals and a plate of chocolates in the room.
This will be my first cruise
My suggestion is book with Holland America, unless you are only interested in the ship. I've taken several Inside Passage Cruises. We were on the Royal Princess. We couldn't see much scenery when we were inside. The shops and bars were on the outside against the windows blocking our view. There was a place with some nice comfy chairs by some windows but the windows were covered. Also, at night we watched a movie on the deck but had a hard time finding blankets. They were so stingy with the blankets. I took a blanket to my stateroom so I could take a nap and the cabin attendant came in to clean and wanted the blanket, so I didn't have anything to cover up with unless I got into the bed. Even on the deck our view of obstructed. I'm interested in seeing the place I'm visiting, not watching entertainment and getting drunk. Food was good. Several people came a pleaded with us to buy the drink package. We did not give in. We drank juice, tap water and hot chocolate. We don't drink alcohol, coffee or tea. I actually got through a whole week not drinking anything carbonated.
First Princess next week (Seattle-Auckland) on the Royal. Can’t wait.
Awesome! Enjoy 🛳️
The Love Boat, on the show, was the original Pacific Princess.
I didn't know about the shareholder credit. You just got me $350!!!
We cruised with princess this summer for the first time. We were not allowed to use our shareholder benefit and the military benefits together. FYI.
going in 2 weeks so excited
Hi, I would like to book a room with balcony 4 adults. How do they set up a beds for that? Thanks
We took a 16 day cruise in July 2023 on the Emerald Princess to Hawaii. We have never cruised Princess before, we normally cruise Carnival and have been on 2 Royal Caribbean cruises. I loved the medallion. I loved being able to have drinks and snacks delivered to me anywhere on the ship. We chose the Princess Plus which was great for cocktails and coffee. The staff was friendly, the service was mediocre, with a few exceptions where we had a couple of bartenders who were excellent. We did not do any specialty dining, and maybe we should have. We all felt that the food was terrible, no flavor, the desserts were awful. Having cruised with Carnival for years, and knowing that Princess is owned by the same company, we expected more, better even. So we were highly disappointed with the food. The entertainment was ok. The adult only pool would've been better if it wasn't partially in the shade. There weren't a lot of activities for my 20 year old and my 16 year old, so they got a little bored. We enjoyed Hawaii, we love cruising, I guess we were just expecting Princess to be a step above Carnival as far as food and service and we found that it wasn't.
We were on Emerald to Hawaii too! We appreciate white flour so much more after that cruise!!! 😂
TY so much for this informative comment! It is so hard to find reviews pertaining to teens or young adults. I was leaning towards Princess for Alaska bc they're supposed to be the best for that. However, the ship doesn't seem to have an indoor pool and RC does which seems like a give-in for Alaska. The NCL Encore shows didn't appeal to the teens at all. We have also done Carnival previously but the last one literally had a bloody brawl at the start of a show and it was an 8 day sailing.
First time Princess cruiser. Going to Alaska in May 2025.
Great video as usual Illana. On our last 2 Princess cruises there have been 2 or 3 formal night plus a white and gold night. You need to keep an eye on the Princess Patter to see which night is which. The white and gold night was on a different night to the one we had been originally told in an email. It wasn’t one of the ‘official’ formal nights.
Great to know!!
What is white and gold night?
@@Mom23kitties You wear white and gold outfits.
Where or when do you find out the formal nights for the cruise. We leave on the Caribbean princess at the end of the month. Did I miss it in the app?
@@duke2945 Formal nights are usually held on sea days.
We’ve been on many Princess cruises especially in Europe. Looking forward to sailing on the Enchanted again. Is Gigi’s still included? Where is this Juice bar I heard about? Thanks for all you do for us cruisers.
We've been cruising with Princess since 2013 and I can say they went down hill very fast. They seemed an exclusive cruise line at one time, but those days are past. The buffet was the worst food and service I've experienced at sea. The crew in many of the outlets just didn't seem to care as they use to; poor customer service. We will probably pick another cruise line next time we cruise. I hope they bring back those days when the crew actually cared and the food is elevated like it use to be. I may be critical in this comment but I was in the hospitality industry for about 45 years and Princess is not quite hitting the mark.
Have booked Sky Princess for 2026. It will be my first Princess Cruise so I will be a little lost!! Love your videos. Have you been on Sky?
Check my enchanted princess med cruise video as the ship is very similar. You’ll love it!
Princess Elite with over 22 cruises.
Nice!